"Thou and Thy Brothers", 1 Nephi 3:1-4

1 Nephi 3:1-4

Upon returning from speaking with the Lord, Lehi meets Nephi and gives him instructions to return to Jerusalem for the scriptural record. Why didn't the Lord prompt them to have the foresight to gather the records before they left? There are several considerations.

• Lehi's exiled status may have made it difficult to impossible to accomplish this thing on his own.
• Perhaps this was a way of emphasizing the importance of having the scriptures in their possession. (Sacrifice helps us to appreciate what we have sacrificed for. )
  
• Nephi had just spoken with the Lord, where the Lord had given him a promise that if he kept all the Lord's commandments he would be made a ruler and teacher (1 Nephi 2:22). Much quicker than he had anticipated, the Lord was going to prove to Nephi the fulfillment of His promises.
  

This new commandment came by way of Lehi, yet Lehi was not to come with his sons back to Jerusalem. This is thus setting up the perfect catalyst for Nephi to test the Lord's promise. This first experience with Nephi and his brothers would define their relationship from here out.

There is a parallel between this experience and the account of Zion's Camp (from Joseph Smith's time) in regards to the training of future leaders.