Six Hundred Years From the Time My Father Left Jerusalem

Lehi's Tent

This evening I have been studying the first few chapters of the Book of Mormon and thought I would share the notes I made. These notes are based on 1 Nephi 2:6-7.

This tent was a temple:

River of water: Genesis 2:10 - "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads."

(The temple/tabernacle was a representation of the Garden of Eden [see here])

Altar of Stones: Exodus 20:25 - "And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it."

Lehi's tent was the place of sacrifice and burnt offerings: 1 Nephi 7:22 - "And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.

Additionally, a contemporary of Joseph Smith, named Fayette Laphm, who interviewed Joseph Smith Senior, stated that he (Joseph Sr.) told him that the Book of Mormon stated that while wandering in the wilderness, the Lord directed Lehi's family to construct a tabernacle. This information is not contained in our current Book of Mormon, so presumably this was information that was contained in the lost 116 pages:

"They [Lehi's family] were directed to stop and get materials to make brass plates upon which to keep a record of their journey; also to erect a tabernacle, wherein they could go and inquire whenever they became bewildered or at a loss what to do." (Source)

Lapham also stated that upon arriving in the New World, Lehi's family found an object and that one of their company, presumably Lehi or Nephi, entered the tabernacle to inquire what the object was. This information is also missing from our current Book of Mormon, so also must have been contained in the lost 116 pages:

"They also found something of which they did not know the use, but when they went into the tabernacle, a voice said, 'What have you got in your hand, there?' They replied that they did not know, but had come to inquire; when the voice said, 'Put it on your face, and put your face in a skin, and you will see what it is.' They did so, and could see everything of the past, present, and future . . . The gold ball stopped here and ceased to direct them any further; the family took possession of the country; their descendants became a great nation; among them were prophets who foretold the coming of Christ." (Source)