nephi journey to the promised land map

The Journey of Lehi’s Family

Featured Artwork from the Museum's Collection

Lehi’s Journey: “Blessed Art Thou” (1 Nephi 2:1)

The Plates of Brass: “I Will Go and Do” (1 Nephi 3:7)

Nephi’s Vision: “I Had Desired to Know” (1 Nephi 11:1)

The Liahona: “A Round Ball of Curious Workmanship” (1 Nephi 16:10)

Nephi’s Bow: “I Did Arm Myself with a Bow” (1 Nephi 16:23)

Nephi’s Ship: “Put Forth into the Sea” (1 Nephi 18:8)

The Promised Land: “And the Lord Was with Us” (2 Nephi 5:11)

Internal Map

Promised Land (I Nephi)

Journey to the Promised Land

Contributed by Elder Michael R. Murray, North America North West Area Seventy

Many people’s lives have been defined by long journeys. Leaving the homeland and traveling long distances over land and sea to a hopeful better life. What might be the motivation? Escaping poverty or persecution. Seeking religious freedom. Seeking gold! Rejoining a family that previously went ahead. Or maybe simply for adventure. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said, “I believe that every life is a collection of individual ‘journey stories.’”( Your Wonderful Journey Home )

Many of my direct ancestors left home on perilous journeys searching for a better future.

Charles Ross was a g-g-g-grandfather. He was born in northern Scotland in 1794. In 1818 Charles sailed to Canada to join up with the Hudson’s Bay Trading Company. He became a fur trader, living in remote postings in northern and western Canada. The difficulty of daily survival in these primitive outposts makes today’s TV survival shows look like literal walks in a park.

While living at a tiny fur trading post on the northern coast of British Columbia with his indigenous wife Isabella and 9 children, he wrote a letter to his older sister Elspeth. It would take six months for the letter to reach her. By the time her response letter had been received, Charles had died. Elspeth was experiencing her own difficult journey story, beginning in Scotland, then sailing with her husband and young children to South America where advertised fertile farm land never materialized, and then -- close to starvation -- ending up as a refugee with her family in Guelph, near today’s Toronto.

Here is a snippet from Charles’ 1843 letter to his sister Elizabeth:

“[Of] our way of life in this dreary wilderness nothing can be more dark and insipid (e.g. bland, uninteresting ). The [fur trading] posts we occupy, though [there are] many, are far between [from each other], and [we] seldom have any [communication] with each other, [not more often] than once a year, and then for the most part is for the purpose of exchanging cargoes of merchandise for cargoes of furs. There is no society—[thus a] person … must divert himself the best way he can with his own thoughts.” Such was Charles Ross’s journey story.

In the scriptures many long trips are recorded – and in each case they are given an identical name – a Journey to the Promised Land.

In the Old Testament, the Promised Land is the land promised and subsequently given by God to Abraham and his descendants. The promise was first made to Abraham ( Genesis 15:18-21 ), then confirmed to his son Isaac ( Genesis 26:3 ), and then to Isaac's son Jacob ( Genesis 28:13 ).

The Promised Land can be a distant land where a better life is waiting. But the term can also be a metaphor for one’s own life journey. Are not we all on our own, personal journeys to a hopeful celestial Promised Land? Through the restoration of the gospel came the restoration of lost knowledge, and a clear understanding of where we came from, why we are here, and the ultimate destination in this journey.

Elder David A Bednar of the Twelve Apostles has taught, “The Father’s plan is designed to provide direction for His children, to help them become happy, and to bring them safely home to Him with resurrected, exalted bodies.” ( We Believe in Being Chaste )

In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin gives the basic travel instructions: “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth.”

Every journey itself is fraught with trails, detours, delays, disappointments and discouragement. Of course! Of all religions, philosophies and belief systems, the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints understands this, accepts this and even embraces this. The natural man will want to give up. Or, when the going gets tough, to rationalize stopping at a halfway point and calling it quits. By doing so, such a persona puts at risk his or her eternal destination and destiny.

Now let’s focus on a well-documented journey to a Promised Land. A journey found in the Book of Mormon – that of Nephi and his extended family. His journey is symbolic of our life journey – and we are encouraged to “liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning,” ( 1 Nephi 19:23 ).

Nephi’s journey required boats. But he was not a boat builder. He had most likely seen boats, but he had never built a boat. Yet, if God said to build a boat, Nephi would build a boat.

A normal problem solver – and Nephi had already proven that he was very good at solving problems – would have studied the boats in the local area, talked to local boat builders, perhaps hired 1-2 experienced helpers, and would get started on the project – that of building a boat like all the other local boats.

But Nephi was not a normal problem solver -- he had formed a pattern in his life, that when difficult and important assignments were given – ones that required responsibility and leadership and clear vision – he didn’t rely on his own problem solving abilities. He sensed that the eventual consequences of these assignments were so great, that he sought help from heavenly sources – the source from whom the original assignment came.

And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters. ( 1 Nephi 17:7-8 )

Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things. ( 1 Nephi 18:2-3 )

The ship got finished.

And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land. ( 1 Nephi 18:8 )

From this story of Nephi building a ship and then sailing with his extended family to their Promised Land, we can learn two very important imbedded principles that are essential for our own trips:

1. Nephi didn’t know how to build a boat. So he went to the mount often to get instructions. The mount of yesterday is the temple of today.

2. And the key instruction given to him while on the mount was this: I will show you how to do it. It won’t be done after the manner of men. A regular run of the mill boat wouldn’t do … in the journey I’m sending you on, it will sink. And you must get to the Promised Land. So come often to the mount to get more instructions .

What are we to do with these two principles?

If we resort to being uninspired or fear-driven problem solvers, we’ll likely design the wrong boat and we, and our precious cargo, will sink. We must build our boats – that is, come up with creative solutions for our difficult challenges -- not after the manner of men. We must get help from a heavenly architect.

And to do this, we must go to the mount often. The mount is a metaphor for the temple.

Following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he made this great promise, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,” ( Hebrews 13:5 ). This promise is the glue that holds our boats together in the greatest of storms and trials. I testify that this is true and have used this promise in my many trials.

Your journey story is unique and is yours alone, as it should be. And your journey story it is now forming you and defining you. You are a god or goddess in embryo. As we align ourselves with the will of God, moving forward step by step, He will improve us line upon line, precept upon precept. A little bit here and a little bit there. We will grow, and mature and gain wisdom. Incrementally and almost imperceptibly we can become more like Him. This plan, the Plan of Happiness, is designed for all and available for all.

Might we thus all be striving to arrive at the same place, His Promised Land. This is our journey story, this is our destiny.

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Archaeological Evidence for 7 Locations on Lehi’s Journey to the Promised Land

To view this article on Book of Mormon Central, CLICK HERE .

Cover image by Matt Cutler, Book of Mormon Central.

When Lehi embarked on his journey around 600 B.C., little did he know that millions of people would read and wonder about his story thousands of years later. While there is still much to learn about the people and stories in the Book of Mormon, some of the best archaeological evidence to support the Book of Mormon comes from Lehi’s journey to the promised land.

Seven notable locations are specifically mentioned in 1 Nephi as points along Lehi’s journey: Jerusalem ( 1 Nephi 1:4 ), the “borders of the Red Sea” ( 1 Nephi 2:6 ), the Valley of Lemuel ( 1 Nephi 2:8 ), Shazer ( 1 Nephi 16:13 ), the camp of the broken bow ( 1 Nephi 16:17–18 ), Nahom ( 1 Nephi 16:34 ), and Bountiful ( 1 Nephi 17:5 ).

Watch: Compelling Book of Mormon Evidence for Lehi’s Journey through Arabia

1. Jerusalem

Lehi’s story begins in Jerusalem, he having dwelt there “all his days” ( 1 Nephi 1:4 ). Jerusalem is perhaps the most archaeologically scrutinized city in the entire world, as it is important to three major world religions and is the epicenter of many events in the Bible. As such, we have a good amount of archaeological information about how people lived in Jerusalem in 600 B.C. To learn all about what Lehi’s Jerusalem was like, you can read  Glimpses of Lehi’s Jerusalem , available on the Book of Mormon Central Archive.

There are a few things about the way Nephi describes Jerusalem that match well with what we know about the city in 600 B.C. Nephi describes his writing as “the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians” ( 1 Nephi 1:2 ). Interestingly, archaeologists have  discovered pottery in Israel that contains Egyptian hieratic  in combination with some conventions of the Hebrew language.

When Nephi and his brothers go back and forth to Jerusalem to get the brass plates and the family of Ishmael, they always refer to Jerusalem’s elevation in consistent ways. Whenever they go towards Jerusalem, they “go up,” and whenever they leave Jerusalem into the wilderness, they “go down.” This is consistent with how  ancient Israelites perceived Jerusalem geographically, and even theologically . Jerusalem was located in the Judean hill country, elevated above the surrounding regions. Because Jerusalem was also the home of Solomon’s temple, journeys toward the city were seen as a heavenly ascent to a sacred place.

While these are only two pieces of evidence, explore the articles and books below to get a sample of all the archaeological evidence for Jerusalem that coincides with how Lehi and Nephi describe their home city.

2. The Borders of the Red Sea

When Lehi and his family travel south, they describe traveling both “by” the borders of the Red Sea, and “in” the borders of the Red Sea ( 1 Nephi 2:5 ). Researchers George Potter and Richard Wellington believe that “borders” may refer to mountains or cliffs adjacent to the Red Sea coast. The Gaza branch of the Frankincense trail reaches the northern tip of the Red Sea, and then proceeds south along the Red Sea coast, which is flanked in by a formidable mountain range. After reaching the proposed location for the Valley of Lemuel, the Frankincense trail then proceeds inland to join with the main vein of the Frankincense trail as it goes south to Yemen. As Lehi and family reached the Red Sea coast, they would have well surpassed the 3-day travelling requirement for Israelites to offer their own sacrifices outside the Jerusalem temple, as Lehi demonstrates in  1 Nephi 2:7 .

3. The Location of the Valley of Lemuel

In 1 Nephi 2, Lehi and his family settle their camp in a valley with a river, whose mouth opens into the Red Sea. Lehi “called the name of the river, Laman” ( 1 Nephi 2:8 ) and called the valley after his son Lemuel. Researchers have remarkably identified a location that matches Lehi’s description of a valley that is “firm and steadfast, and immoveable” ( 1 Nephi 2:10 ), and a river that is “continually running” ( 1 Nephi 2:9 ).

Wadi Tayyib al-Ism is an impressive valley located today in northwest Saudi Arabia along the Red Sea. It is approximately a 3-days journey away from the northern-most tip of the Red Sea ( 1 Nephi 2:6 ), and it has sheer granite walls rising about 2000 ft to form a formidable valley. Most significantly, Wadi Tayyib al-Ism has a small stream (that during flood seasons and in ages past was much more like a river) of water that flows all-year long, even during the dry season—a rare find in the deserts of Arabia.

Our best clues for the location of Shazer come from its name. The etymology of Shazer has had several proposals. Some have proposed it means “to twist, to intertwine,” possibly a reference to the gnarled and twisted acacia trees that may have populated the area. High Nibley and others have suggested it derives from a common Palestinian place-name “shajer” meaning “trees, forest, woody, wooded.” Matt Bowen has most recently proposed that Shazer may come from a Semitic word meaning “gazelle,” referring to the abundant resources for hunting that Lehi’s family may have encountered.

Regardless of which etymology you follow, it appears that the name for Shazer is related to fertility for either fauna or flora. Nephi describes that the location is approximately a four-day journey south-southeast from the valley of Lemuel. As it turns out, Wadi Agharr (also known as Wadi Sharma), located in the northern Hijaz mountains, is a fertile valley with an oasis over fifteen miles long, and is the appropriate distance away from the proposed Valley of Lemuel.

5. The Camp of the Broken Bow

The location of the place where Nephi broke his bow ( 1 Nephi 16:18 ) is known with the least certainty. The best clue we have comes from 1 Nephi 16 where Nephi states that they “did go forth again in the wilderness, following the same direction, keeping in the  most  fertile parts of the wilderness, which were in the borders near the Red Sea” ( 1 Nephi 16:14 , emphasis added). After they hunted for food, they continued their journey southward in “the  more  fertile parts of the wilderness” ( 1 Nephi 16:16 , emphasis added).

It appears that as the family traveled southward, the fertility of the land and the family’s opportunities for food grew scarcer. That is indeed what we find along the Frankincense trail, with cultivated land being as far as 50 miles apart from each other in this part of modern-day Arabia. Interestingly, it is in this region near the halt of Bishah that a particular type of olive tree grows that is suitable for crafting a bow. When Nephi broke his steel bow, he likely would have used the wood from the Attim or wild olive tree to craft his wooden bow ( 1 Nephi 16:23 ).

Unlike all the other places Lehi stopped, it appears he did not give this place a name. Instead, Nahom was likely already given as a name for this location by the residing population ( 1 Nephi 16:34 ). If the place was called Nahom back in Lehi’s time, you might expect to be able to find it in the archaeological record, and that’s exactly what we  find in southern Arabia , along Lehi’s trail. Researchers found the name “Nehem” on a 1763 map of Arabia, and then in 1997, German archaeologists  discovered an altar that dated back to Lehi’s time , with an inscription containing the name “NHM.”

The location of the Nehem tribal area in southwestern Arabia also corresponds well with Lehi’s position along his journey. Nephi recounts that after leaving Nahom they “did travel nearly eastward from that time forth” ( 1 Nephi 17:1 ) until they reached Bountiful, which is likely located along the coast of Oman.

7. Bountiful

After traveling due eastward, Lehi’s family eventually reaches the coast of the Arabian Peninsula in modern-day Oman. Researcher Warren Aston has identified Khor Kharfot, an inlet in the Dhofar region, as a potential location for Bountiful. He also identified  twelve requirements that must be present  in the vegetation and landscape to qualify, as described in 1 Nephi 17–18. Khor Kharfot matches well Nephi’s description of having fresh water, fruit, honey, access to the coast, mountains and cliffs, ore for tools, and timber for shipbuilding. George Potter and Richard Wellington have alternatively identified Khor Rori as an ideal fit for the location of Bountiful.

Evidence that supports the narratives in the Book of Mormon is ever increasing. While we still have much to learn about the ancient world and how it correlates with the Book of Mormon, the stories in 1 Nephi fit right at home in 7th century Israel. The locations of Lehi’s journey are beginning to be identified, and details about his experiences in the wilderness correlate well with what we know about the ancient Near East. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has encouraged members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to embrace and seek after evidences of the gospel of Jesus Christ:

In making our case for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, I believe God intends us to find and use the evidence He has given—reasons, if you will—which affirm the truthfulness of His work…Thus armed with so much evidence of the kind we have celebrated here tonight, we ought to be more assertive than we sometimes are in defending our testimony of truth.

As members of the Church take to heart the commission to be more assertive in defending our testimonies by studying and researching evidences, the Book of Mormon will surely get better with age.

Jeffrey R. Holland, “ The Greatness of the Evidence ,”  Chiasmus Jubilee  August 17, 2017.

Watch the video below for a summary of all the evidences for Lehi’s journey to the Promised Land.

For further references and notes on each of these sites, CLICK HERE .

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He may have gone another way

The Book of Mormon is not a book of geography, and, so far as known, no one knows the exact route Lehi and his family traveled from Jerusalem to the great sea they crossed to the promised land, but it is interesting to look at some possible routes.

Most writers on this subject believe Lehi traveled from Jerusalem to the Gulf of Aqaba (also Akabah and Acquaba), following the Frankincense Trails, south down the Arabian Peninsula to approximately the 19th parallel. They feel Lehi turned east at Najran in Arabia to travel across the lower portion of the Arabian Peninsula to Salalah Oman.Using the verses from the Book of Mormon that record Lehi's travels, another route might be proposed. This one would take Lehi from Jerusalem to the Gulf of Suez, southeast along the African side of the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, then east across the horn of Africa to the "great sea," or Arabian Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean. The land Bountiful perhaps would be present-day Somalia.

Lehi was commanded to take his family, leave his home and go into the wilderness. (1 Ne. 2:4) After arriving in the "borders" --which may be the territorial borders between Egypt and the Babylonian Empire-- near the shore of the Red Sea, Lehi and his family traveled for three more days and then pitched their tents in a valley by the side of a river of water. The family spent some time camped in this valley, which Lehi named Lemuel. (1 Ne. 2:5-16.)

The river seems to have been important to Lehi's family, for it is mentioned several times in the passage that records their stay, and Nephi mentioned specifically that the family crossed this river when they resumed their journey into the wilderness. (1 Ne. 16:12.)

Many writers have implied that this river was merely a wadi or a dry wash that flowed after a thunderstorm. But Nephi said the river flowed continually: "And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!" (1 Ne. 2:9)

There are no natural rivers running into the Red Sea, but there is another possibility that should be considered. Anciently there was a portion of the Nile River that ran into the Red Sea through a canal dug by the Egyptians. In the early 20th century B.C., possibly during the reign of the Pharoah Sesostris I, the Egyptians dug a canal from the Nile Delta to the Red Sea near the present port of Suez. Pharaoh Necho II began to restore it About 600 B.C., and the restoration was completed about 500 B.C. by the Persian conqueror Darius I.

This freshwater canal may have been the river Laman. It flowed down a natural valley called the Wadi Tumilat (sometimes called the At-tymaylat Valley) and linked the Pelusiac branch of the Nile with the Red Sea. It had a large flow of water that allowed transport of grain from the Nile Valley for shipment to Mecca. This waterway was used, modified, destroyed, and rebuilt over a period of several hundred years. It was finally put out of commission by Caliph Abu Jaafar Adbullah al-Mansur in the 8th century A.D.

Lehi's party could have camped on the east side of this waterway in a natural valley. The river or canal would have been flowing continually into the mouth of the Red Sea. Crossing the river was probably not a simple task, hence Nephi's mention of the event.

Lehi's use of the word "fountain" in his admonition to his son has more significance when the River Laman is considered to be this ancient canal that brought fresh water from the Nile into the Red Sea.

After Lehi's party crossed the River Laman, they traveled four days in a south-southeast direction and pitched their tents again in a place they called Shazer. (1 Ne. 16:13) Along this route, there are several places with springs and trees that could have provided a rest stop for Lehi's family. The word shazar, pronounced "shazer" by the Arabs, means "trees." (See A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 114, by Daniel H. Ludlow.)

The seashore along the west side of the Gulf of Suez runs in a south-southeasterly direction, which fits the description given in the scriptures. There is a narrow plain between the Red Sea and the mountains to the west, along which Lehi's party could have traveled as they went down the west side of the Gulf of Suez and then continued south-southeast along the Red Sea. The continuation of the journey is described in 1 Ne. 16:14.

The west side of the Red Sea is a very arid region. The route I am suggesting would have taken Lehi and his family through present-day Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia. They would have traveled across barren, uninhabited stretches of desert.

This route seems to explain several things about the scriptural account of the journey. First, the account does not mention that the family made contact with any other people. The Frankincense Trails, which many people feel Lehi and his family followed, were some of the most heavily traveled roads of the ancient world. It would seem very unlikely that the family could have traveled these trails without encountering many other people. If they had traveled along the west side of the Red Sea, we can account for the silence of the scriptures about fellow travelers.

Second, if Lehi was following well-known trails, why did the Lord give him the Liahona, and why did Laman and Lemuel accuse Nephi of leading them into a "strange wilderness"? (1 Ne. 16:380 Routes like the Frankincense Trails were in common use at least 900 years before Lehi's day. However, if his party had traveled through what is today Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia, they indeed would have needed a Liahona, for they would have been in a "strange wilderness" with few people around to guide them.

Third, why did they live on raw meat, and why did the Lord command them not to build fires? (1 Ne. &:2, 12) If they had been on well-traveled trails, surely other people would have been building fires. If, however, they were in an unfamiliar area with little knowledge of who or what surrounded them, it may have been unwise and unsafe to build fires.

Fourth, in their journey down the west side of the Red Sea, Lehi's group would have passed through Egyptian territory. This could help to explain the many references Lehi and Nephi make to Egypt. Nephi frequently used examples drawn from the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt. (1 Ne. 4:2-3; 5:14-15; 17:23, 27, 40; 19:10) These examples would have had especially powerful effects upon his family if they had been traveling in the very area where these events took place. It is also interesting to note that Lehi named his two sons born in the wilderness Jacob and Joseph, after his ancestors who lived in Egypt.

Fifth, Lehi's party would have likely chosen to travel through territories where the people were friendly to the Jews. Egyptian territory was friendly. In fact, there were numerous cities in Egypt where Jews had settled. Also, the territory along the Gulf of Suez and then south along the Red Sea was largely uninhabited. The populations of the Sudan and Ethiopia were located along the Nile or in the highlands. Somalia likewise had a sparse population. The people along the route through Edom, Midian, and Arabia were not friendly to Jews. In fact, they had a long tradition of great hatred toward the Hebrews. When the Chaldeans besieged Jerusalem, the Edomites joined them and excited them to utterly raze the city and temple. This was only 11 years after Lehi left Jerusalem. There were few, if any Jews, living in the towns and territories of the Edomites.

The end of the wilderness journey was the land Bountiful. In this area, Nephi and his brothers constructed a ship and prepared to sail to the promised land. (1 Ne. 17:1-6)

In present-day Somalia, there is a place that could well have been the land Bountiful, for it matches the location and bounty of the area described in the scriptures. The Nogal Valley, which runs from northwest to southwest, is a low depression, that, despite sparse rainfall, is relatively well watered. Its name means "the fertile land," since it was once very fertile. In recent years, however, erosion has caused rapid loss of its rich soil and thick vegetation.

Lehi's wilderness journey from Jerusalem to the place where the ship was constructed was an arduous journey. Whether the family traveled down the Arabian Peninsula or down the west side of the Red Sea to the horn of Africa is not known, but at least the Book of Mormon reader has two possible routes to consider.

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On Our Journey To The Promised Land, Let’s Learn From Lehi’s Family

Posted by Giulia | Aug 14, 2018 | Eternal Family

“What’s your promised land?”

It was a question thrown to us by our wise Young Single Adult Teacher. Even after six years, the question still rings in my mind. At 20, my “promised land” meant finding my eternal companion – the man of my dreams – and getting married in the temple. Now that I am 27 and married, the promised land equates to a family rooted in the gospel, financial stability, and a righteous life that’s ready to face our Maker. Whenever I think of my “promised land,” my heart is filled with happiness and hope.

All of us has our own “promised land” – an event, an achievement, a person, or a goal that we know can bring us immense happiness. Yes, reaching the promised land is possible but the road leading to it is surely one filled with briars, thorns, and a lot of detours. Whenever I think of the journey towards the land of promise, I always remember Lehi’s family. Interestingly enough, 1 Nephi 18 not only narrates the inspiring journey of Lehi’s family – it also teaches us lessons we need to remember as we travel to our own land of promise.

As we journey with out families to our promised land, asking help from the Lord is most important.

The Lord Will Show Us Great Things

The task given to Nephi to build a ship for their journey to the land of promise was nothing short of daunting. One of the reasons Nephi was confident was because he relied on the instructions of the Lord. Nephi “prayed oft unto the Lord” and the Lord guided him, teaching him how to build the ship and also showing him “great things.”

Reaching the goals we have set for ourselves can also be daunting. Most of the time, we don’t know what will happen next. There will be times when doubt will settle in. During discouraging moments, let’s take time to ask “Do we have enough faith to rely on the Lord?” In the journey towards our promised land, let’s be like Nephi. Let’s continually pray, and ask what the Lord would have us do next, and trust in the promise that He will show us great things. Let’s strive to reach our goals “after the manner which the Lord has shown unto [us]” and not by the “manner of men.” Then, like Nephi, we will also see great things.

Sin and Rebellion Prevents Us From Reaching The Promised Land

When our goals are not guided by the will of the Lord, chances are, we’ll eventually feel lost. Goals seem to be out of reach. We can sometimes become clueless, not knowing what to do next, or what to pursue. There will be times you might feel that blessings are elusive.

Sin and rebellion prevents us from reaching the promised land. Just like the Liahona stopped working when Laman, Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael bound Nephi, our personal Liahona – the Holy Ghost – stops guiding us when we do things that are contrary to the commandments of the Lord. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf worded this perfectly when he said:

“Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.” (“Living the Gospel Joyful,” Ensign, Nov. 2014)

When we sin and when we follow our own will above that of the Lord, we can lose the inspiration that tells us what the Lord wants and has prepared for us.

Repentance Leads Us Back

Fortunately, there is a way to get back on track – repentance. When Laman and Lemuel recognized their wrongs, they repented and freed Nephi, and the Liahona started working again.

Like what happened to Lehi’s family, repenting from our rebellion and sin can put us back on the right path towards the promised land. The “manners of men” are so loud that sometimes, we can’t hear the Lord’s instructions to us. When we turn back to Him and mute the world out, we can receive inspiration from the Lord clearly – the kind that will help us to reach our goals. When we follow the manner that the Lord has shown, we can do greater things.

The Promised Land Brings Happiness

In the last verse of 1 Nephi 18, Nephi wrote about the bounties of the promised land. Nephi’s family left their riches in Jerusalem but they were greatly rewarded when they reached their promised destination. The Lord can also help lead us to our promised land just like He did for Nephi’s family. The road towards our goals may l seem bleak, unclear, and sometimes scary. But when we trust the Lord, do all we can to keep the Liahona working, and repent of our sins and rebellion, the Lord will help us reach our land of promise.

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“Nephi’s Family Crosses the Ocean,” Book of Mormon Stories for Young Readers, 2018

“Nephi’s Family Crosses the Ocean”

Book of Mormon Stories for Young Readers

Nephi’s Family Crosses the Ocean

Illustrations by Apryl Stott

Read about this story in 1 Nephi 17–18 .

Nephi’s family traveled in the wilderness for eight years. At last they came to a beautiful place. It was near the sea, and it had lots of fruit and honey to eat. Everyone was so happy!

But their journey was not over. Heavenly Father told Nephi to build a ship. He showed Nephi how it should look. He promised the ship would take them to a wonderful new land.

First Nephi made tools. Then he started building. Nephi’s brothers Laman and Lemuel complained. They didn’t believe he could build a ship. Nephi knew their family could trust Heavenly Father.

When the ship was finished, Nephi’s family began their ocean journey. One day Laman and Lemuel got angry with Nephi and tied him up. A big storm came and blew the ship back. The brothers repented, and Nephi guided the ship safely on its way.

Finally Nephi’s family reached the shores of a new land. Nephi and his family were happy because they knew Heavenly Father led them there.

Heavenly Father always keeps His promises!

Coloring Page

Our Families Are Special

Click on the picture to download.

Illustration by Apryl Stott