1 Nephi 2:1 - 2:5

1 Nephi 2:1 For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life.

The Lord appears to Lehi in a dream. Lehi is told that he is blessed because he had gone forth and told the people the things he was commanded to by the Lord. Lehi is informed that that there are plots to have him killed by those who now consider him an enemy of the state.

1 Nephi 2:2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.

Lehi is commanded to leave Jerusalem and take his family and depart into the wilderness.

1 Nephi 2:3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

Lehi did as he was commanded and did leave town.

1 Nephi 2:4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.

He left behind all his gold, silver and other precious possessions and left only with what he needed to survive in the desert. Namely food, and tents. He probably had pack animals and weapons to fend against the lawless who live in the wilderness and live by raiding travelers.

The reaction by the family must have been all over the spectrun of emotions. I can image the discuss of some for their fathers decision to leave a comfortable home, family and friends. I can only imagine their frustration at their father Lehi for not keeping his mouth shut about the public danger.

1 Nephi 2:5 And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.

The family consist of Lehi, his wife Sariah, his four sons: Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi. Although it is mentioned later there are daughters as well. The group could have consisted of 10, 12 or more people with all the required items needed to live in the desert for an undetermined period of time.