Why Did Sariah Complain?

 

Q: Why did Sariah Complain?

 

While Nephi and his brothers were struggling to get the Brass Plates, Lehi and Sariah stayed at their camp. Lehi had strong faith which allowed him to completely trust his sons to the Lord's care, but Sariah wasn't there yet. This considerable period of being separated from her children, not knowing what was happening to them, must have been a stressful trial for her, and this on top of the fact that she'd just left her comfortable home for the wilds and uncertainties of the desert. It appears from the record that fears of her sons' undoing swirled through her mind as Satan attempted to undermine any belief she might have in her husband's supposedly inspired words.

 

At some point, after contemplating what life would be like without her precious sons, she could stand it no longer. She accused Lehi of being a visionary--not a compliment in this case--of leading them into the desert to die, and lamenting the loss of her sons, whom she now believed to be dead. We can infer from her words that she had traveled little, if ever, through the desert with her husband, who was well-accustomed to its harsh environment and topography. Looking at this incident with total objectivity, we might see in her behavior one source of Laman and Lemuel's abundant complaining.

 

Acting in a way consistent with a true man of God and understanding husband, Lehi frankly admitted that he was a visionary man. But in a poetic way that smacks of Near Eastern culture, he goes on to say that if he hadn't seen the works and warnings of God in a vision, he and his family would have stayed in Jerusalem and died like everyone else there when doomsday came crashing down. But, he said, instead of letting him perish with Jerusalem's wicked people, the Lord had given him a land of promise. This is the first time in the record that Lehi mention's this. He also consoled his wife by telling her that he knew God would bring their sons safely back to camp.

 

Sure enough, all four of Sariah's sons made it back to the River Laman. What was even more astounding is that they had the Brass Plates and a new member of their party, the faithful Zoram. Sariah was deeply comforted, and this trying experience served as a strong witness to her that the Lord's promises, as expressed through her prophet husband, were sure and true. Like Nephi, she bore witness that she knew the Lord had protected them, and had given them power to accomplish what He'd commanded them to do. Unlike Laman and Lemuel, who had difficulty seeing the Lord's hand in their accomplishments, Sariah's spiritual vision increased because her faith had increased, and she could see His hand clearly now.

Consistent with the Law of Moses--and as people who truly kept it--after their sons arrived, they offered sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord as a way of thanking Him. Their thanks was sincere, and this was likely an occasion of great gratitude on the part of Sariah. Perhaps as never before, because the stakes had never been this high, did she feel devout love for her Heavenly Father and His Son. They had brought her sons safely home, and the fact that God had helped them overcome the powerful but wicked Laban to obtain the Plates must have been marvelous in her eyes.