1 Nephi 5:10

10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning.

It is generally understood that the brass plates were made of a copper and tin alloy. Although, technically that would make bronze. True brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and there is some discussion of whether the ancients had the recipe for brass or not. I tend to side with the record the way it was written, and believe the brass plates were brass, not bronze. (www.learnthebible.org/straining-at-brass.htm)

1 Nephi 5:9

9 And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.

Under the Law of Moses, sacrificial offerings were a common way of showing gratitude to the Lord. This particular offering would have probably been a peace offering, which “presupposed that the sacrificer was at peace with God; they were offered for the further realization and enjoyment of that peace. The characteristic rite was the sacrificial meal. A feast symbolized fellowship and friendship among all its partakers and providers, and also a state of joy and gladness.” (Bible Dictionary, p. 766, “Sacrifices”)

1 Nephi 5:8

8 And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.

I am sure that Sariah was well aware of the dangers of her sons’ mission. They were returning to Jerusalem, where Lehi was a wanted man. They were crossing harsh wilderness country full of dangerous animals and men both. I’m sure that after they returned safely and told their story of miraculous deliverance, with Zoram as evidence of their truth, Sariah’s testimony of Lehi’s visions only increased. She may not have seen any direct evidence that this was the Lord’s mission for Lehi, but rather she was accepting it on faith. Now here were her sons giving evidence, tangible evidence, that this mission really was from God.

• 1 Nephi 3:7

1 Nephi 5:7

7 And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold their joy was full, and my mother was comforted.

Imagine the joy and relief our Heavenly Parents must feel when we return from our earthly missions spiritually safe.

1 Nephi 5:5–6

5 But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.

6 And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.

Lehi shows a lot of faith here in the promise he received from the Lord of giving him a land of his own for his inheritance. He uses his own great faith to strengthen Sariah, telling her that the Lord had brought them this far and He would continue to take care of them. This is not all. As I indicated in my notes for 1 Nephi 2:20, this Promised Land seems to be more than just dirt and plants. It seems to be symbolic of a more spiritual or eternal inheritance. After all, Lehi did not live long after they arrived in the Promised Land to enjoy it. And although he couldn’t know about that at this point in the narration, I’m sure Lehi was aware of the more spiritual inheritance. Sariah, at this time however, was concerned for the lives of her sons, so that is what Lehi appropriately focused on: their temporal promise and safety.

• Hebrews 11:16

1 Nephi 5:4

4 And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her, saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.

Lehi’s response is not a rebuke to his wife, nor is it even an expression of anger or frustration. He freely admits to being a visionary man. Unlike those who complain against visions, though, Lehi sees it as a good thing that saved him and his family from certain destruction had they stayed in Jerusalem. Besides, to deny that you had seen the Lord in a vision would not be a good thing. Joseph Smith was right on when he said, “who am I to withstand God? I had seen a vision; I knew it and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.” (JS-H 1:25)

Lehi was looking at a real, physical manifestation of the Proverb that tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (PRO 29:18) This is true on several levels, not just the physical sense, as it seems Lehi refers to here. A careful reading shows the most important way visions can help us: to know the goodness of God. Once we know that, we can leave the “world” or worldly attitudes that would cause us to perish spiritually.

• Joseph Smith—History 1:24–25
• Proverbs 29:18

1 Nephi 5:2–3

2 For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.

3 And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father.

Even good, faithful people, such as Sariah, struggle sometimes with things they do not understand. Here Sariah has been worried sick about her sons who have gone on such a dangerous mission that they may not return alive. Who knows what delays they may have experienced beyond what was described. Apparently they did not return in the amount of time they agreed upon. That is hard on a worrying parent. She starts second guessing herself, and maybe, as in this case, takes her worries out on her husband. This is not to justify murmuring or complaining; it is just a recognition of how that murmuring could be a temptation in some cases. On the other hand, murmuring and complaining could lead to mocking and eventually to apostasy. It needs to be taken seriously and avoided. I think it would be a mistake to assume from these verses that Sariah’s faith was lacking. We all have our moments of weakness, even the best among us.