Hi Gramps,
I have a question regarding Nephi’s age at the beginning of the Book of Mormon. I have been told more than once that Nephi was about 15 when his family left Jerusalem. Is there any written information that upholds this information?
Jen, in Ohio
Dear Jen,
The only direct information that we have concerning Nephi’s age at the time of the beginning of the Book of Mormon is found in 1 Nephi 2:16, where we read that he states at the time that he received a visitation from the Lord he was exceedingly young,
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature...
Although exceedingly young, Nephi still was old enough to lead his brothers back to Jerusalem and recover the Brass Plates of Laban, so the assumption has been made that he was about fifteen or sixteen years of age at the time.
-Gramps