Our Stake President asked us to read an unmarked Book of Mormon, looking specifically for examples of the Savior’s atonement. The last time I KNOW I read through an unmarked copy of the Book of Mormon was in 1991. I can’t remember if I have read an unmarked copy since I received that set of scriptures and started marking.

Even though I read the Book of Mormon at least once a year, this journey through unmarked words has impacted me so much that I may never mark my scriptures again, because I realize that every time I come to the “same” verse, I’m a different person with different needs and expectations.

I don’t recall having so many thoughts and questions while reading 1 Nephi 5 before. Admittedly, I’ve looked at it as a “filler” chapter finalizing the brass plates acquisition story. But I learned a lot while reading it with unmarked scriptures. One of my favorite realizations was that 1 Nephi 5 recorded Sariah’s journey to full conversion.

Sariah’s Fear and Mourning

Sariah truly mourned the loss of her sons. Nephi recorded that the brothers’ return from the mission to get the brass plates in Jerusalem filled their parents with joy.

Lehi and Sariah welcome Nephi and his brothers after they retrieve the Brass Plates.

“And also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly mourned because of us. For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying; behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.”

Nephi recorded his father’s remarkable conversion. We don’t know what Lehi’s “church status” actually was prior to his visions and the commandment to prophesy. Maybe Lehi kept his covenants perfectly, so stepped into the prophet-leader role easily. Maybe in all of his travels, Lehi wasn’t able to attend church with his family as often as he’d liked. Did he struggle moving into a leadership role? We don’t know. All we know is that Lehi and Sariah were goodly parents and the Lord called Lehi to preach, and Lehi obeyed the commandment.

Only a couple of stories highlight women’s conversion in the Book of Mormon. I’m grateful for Sariah’s. Again, we don’t know Sariah’s church status. Did she serve piously in her callings while serving others? Was her faith shaken or strengthened by Lehi’s fervor? Was she embarrassed or proud of Lehi’s fervor?

How did she feel about leaving Jerusalem? This question, we know the answer to. Even if she knew it was the right decision at the outset, her tenuous fears bubbled to the surface when her boys returned to get the brass plates. She complained. Lehi was a visionary man. They left the land of their inheritance. Moses said they should never forsake their inheritance. Now, they were stuck in the desert. Her sons were dead. What would happen to them now? She knew. Death by wilderness.

This sounds a lot like her ancestors.

“And they were sore afraid…And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? … is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”

Moses told them to fear not. “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

Now I Know

Lehi and Sariah take their family to the promised land.

Lehi told Sariah that because of his experiences in Jerusalem, he knew the goodness of God and he knew that if he had not left Jerusalem, he would have perished. He expected to find the promised land. He knew their sons were safe.

Her sons’ safe return cemented her faith in the Lord and in Lehi as the Lord’s prophet. “Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.”

The Lord’s commandment to acquire the brass plates seemed to solidify each family member’s ultimate direction–towards or away from the Lord. Lehi continued to unapologetically declare that he was a prophet. Laman drew the lot to talk to Laban first—he could have stepped up to his role as a righteous leader, but he lacked faith and didn’t seek the faith he needed to step up successfully. Lemuel followed Laman’s lead. Nephi’s faith became unshaken. He’d confirmed the Lord required the task and expended the faith to carry it out. Sam followed Nephi. Zoram joined the family and followed Nephi.

And in her wilderness,  Sariah faced her fears—identifying the weak spots in her faith. I imagine her seeking sanctuary to pray, crying her heart out to the Lord. Her conversion didn’t come easily. When her sons returned, then she knew of a surety.

The next, and last time, the scriptures mention Sariah’s name is while Lehi recounts his vision of the Tree of Life. Sariah stood with Nephi and Sam, not knowing where to go until Lehi guided them. “And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit. And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.”

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

Thank you, Sariah, for keeping it real, for showing real concern and struggle. Thank you, Sariah, for demonstrating the power of a mother’s love for her children. Thank you, Sariah, for teaching us how to wholeheartedly believe, to worship, to praise the Lord. Thank you, Sariah, for being an example of how to joyfully partake of fruit even while in your wilderness.

“And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.”

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