L is for Lehi

My A to Z blogging theme is characters in (people from) the scriptures. Since my blog is a book blog, this theme would fit right in and help me strengthen a weakness at the same. How fantastic is that?!  This challenge is a blessing. Thank you A to Z Challenge team!  *Book: LDS quad combo scriptures: KJV Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price. (p)1989, (c)1979.

The Prophet Lehi preaching in Jerusalem, By Del Parson

Thus far we've been discussing people from the Holy Bible.  Today I'm pleased to feature a person from the Book of Mormon, prophet Lehi.  Lehi was a prophet in Jerusalem, an Israelite of the Tribe of Manasseh, during the reign of king Zedekiah (approx. 600BC).  "At that time, the Jews, because of their wickedness, had fallen under the control of the powerful Babylonian empire. The prophet Jeremiah warned the Jews to submit to Babylon or be destroyed (see Jeremiah 27:12–13 ). The prophet Lehi was also called to warn them to repent (see 1Nephi 1:18–19 ). The Jews, however, chose to listen to the counsel of false prophets who prophesied that Babylon, not Judah, would be destroyed (see Jeremiah 28:1–4 ). They rebelled against Babylon and about 586 B.C. the kingdom of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, were destroyed and many Jews were taken captive into Babylon." (Book of Mormon Seminary Student Guide).

The prophet Lehi had seen vision of this destruction and preached to the people to repent.  The Jews did not listen but sook to destroy his life instead.  The Lord warns Lehi to depart out of the land of Jerusalem and ultimately guided to the promised land (the Americas), the setting for the Book of Mormon ..the history and God's dealings with the people who lived there (see quote below found in Mormon.org). 

I love Lehi's story accounted by his righteous son Nephi.  The accounts of the people found in the Book of Mormon bring richness to principles of living a good life and draw insight from the history of others who found dealings and strength of God's love and power, as those found in the Holy Bible.

Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land. By Arnold Friberg

The Book of Mormon is the word of God, like the Bible. It is Holy Scripture, with form and content similar to that of the Bible. Both books contain God's guidance as revealed to prophets as well as religious histories of different civilizations. While the Bible is written by and about the people in the land of Israel and surrounding areas, and takes place from the creation of the world until shortly after the death of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon contains the history and God’s dealings with the people who lived in the Americas between approximately 600 BC and 400 AD. The prophets in the Book of Mormon recorded God's dealings with His people, which were compiled by a prophet named Mormon onto gold plates.
Before these faithful Christians perished, their record was safely hidden away. Joseph Smith obtained these ancient records in 1827, and with the gift and power of God, Joseph was able to translate the ancient writings into what we have today. The Book of Mormon, along with the Bible, testifies that Jesus Christ is our divine Redeemer and that by living according to His gospel we can find peace in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come. Go HERE to read more.