Question
Gramps,
If Laman and Lemuel were married to two of Ishmael’s daughters, did they accompany Lehi’s family when they left Jerusalem to travel into the wilderness?
Julia
Answer
Julia,
Thank you for your question. Let me give you a little history as to how Ishmael’s family ended up in the wilderness with Lehi’s family.
Sometime after the Lord had sent Nephi and his brothers to obtain the plates from Laban, the Lord once again commanded Nephi and his brothers to return to the land of Jerusalem. They were to bring Ishmael and his family into the wilderness. You can read about this in 1 Nephi 7:1-5:
1 And now I would that ye might know, that after my father, Lehi, had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone; but that his sons should take daughters to wife, that they might raise up seed unto the Lord in the land of promise.
2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that I, Nephi, and my brethren, should again return unto the land of Jerusalem, and bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness.
3 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with my brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.
4 And it came to pass that we went up unto the house of Ishmael, and we did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that we did speak unto him the words of the Lord.
5 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our father.
Not only did Laman and Lemuel marry one of Ishmael’s daughters but Nephi did as well. You can read about this as well in 1 Nephi 16:7:
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my brethren took of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife.
So as you can see, Ishmael’s family didn’t leave Jerusalem to follow Lehi and his family into the wilderness at first. Some time had passed before Nephi and his brothers were commanded to return to the land of Jerusalem for his family.
Gramps