1 Nephi 5:18 - 5:22

1 Nephi 5:18 That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.

Lehi had it revealed to him that the plates or at least the material engraved on the plates would go to all peoples and nations that would inhabit the earth, which would include his own descendants. The Bible is certainly the fulfillment of this prophecy.

1 Nephi 5:19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.

Further more, the plates themselves would never tarnish or disappear with age. I assume he is referring to the plates themselves as well as the material on them. Lehi also prophesied many other events that his descendants would be involved in. We can do the same.

Reading the prophesies in the Book of Mormon, we can get a good idea what will happen to our descendants as the Second Coming approaches. And maybe we should tell our descendants about them in our own words. We are entitled to know their future and what we are their ancestors would want to be aware of to avoid some if not all the unpleasantness that will take place.

1 Nephi 5:20 And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.

So up to this point in the narrative, Lehi and Nephi had done all that the Lord had commanded them to do. Would that be nice to say within ourselves. And maybe we can. I can pray everyday, read my scriptures regularly, complete all Church assignments as best as I can, etc. Maybe one can say he has kept the commandments as given to them by the Lord.

1 Nephi 5:21 And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children.

One of these commandments was the obtaining the brass plates. After reading them, it was not hard to reason why the Lord wanted them to be in Lehi’s possession. They contained the Law of Moses and the ordinances and all the commandments connected with it. The important reason for having them was that Lehi would have his own copy of these things which would be available for his family and his descendants wherever they would find themselves in the future.

1 Nephi 5:22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.

Anyway Lehi could see the wisdom of having the plates which they would take with them to their new home.