1 Nephi 2:1-2 -- Dreams and Obedience part 1

The first thing that chapter 2 reports is that the Lord spoke to Lehi in a dream. Through this dream Lehi receives some praise and some instructions. I wonder if Lehi saw the Lord in his dream and he dreamed of the Lord talking to him to tell him these things. When I think of other scriptural dreams, they are often something that needs interpreting. It seems to be much more direct according to how I read it. If it was a dream like those of one of Lehi's ancestors, Joseph of Egypt, he would have had to receive the Lords message to him through interpretation. We will see that Lehi packs up his whole family and leaves Jerusalem after this dream. Dreams can be a way for the Lord to communicate to us, but I think it would take a great deal of faith to leave everything behind because of a dream that you had. Lehi was absolutely obedient.

So, the dream itself includes the Lord letting Lehi know how blessed he is because of his faithfulness and preaching of the Gospel. Then in verse 2 Lehi is told to take his family into the wilderness. If I think about that for a little bit, I can see where Laman and Lemuel are coming from, "so Dad, you had a dream and now we are leaving everything we've ever known, to live in the wilderness?" I like that Lehi was commanded to take his family, and not just save himself (or just the kids that wanted to go). He was to get his family out of the wickedness. There is some symbolism in taking your family out of wickedness and towards the promised land. Take them with you! It doesn't even mention where they are headed yet. So did Lehi know where they were headed? Did he just obey and hope for the best. When the Lord asks you to do something, it's probably going to work out for you better if you follow his will.

In the next entry we will examine the effects of Lehi's obedience.