So, I let each of them speak their minds before I revealed my plan to them thanks to Ninsun, my patron goddess. As they spoke, I will not pretend that I listened closely. I had already determined the course of action. I desired to discover how laborious would my persuading need to be to bend the others to my thinking, I felt very pleased with what I had come up with--such a crafty way to indulge Father's babblings so that we could still keep our inheritances.
Sam usually allies with Nephi on all matters to my advantage but did not agree with the lad this time! He took the belief that Father may be right to leave and take us into the wilderness! I could not believe my ears though I did not show Sam.
By all the elements of creation and by my life, I fail to understand why Sam would suppose father in his right mind would leave all that we have built in Jerusalem. I would swear that father was a party to some religious cult! I see I would need to work on Sam.
Lemuel of course started quoting scripture, which caused us all to be smitten in the head until he finished. I determined quickly that Lemuel would hearken to my words easily. He has always followed my counsel, he and Nephi has. Sam, was not always so convinced. Though Nephi agreed with Lemuel and me, I could tell from his raised brow that this time, he also considered Sam’s words. I knew what I had to do to gain them now that I knew where they stood.
“I have known Father to never tell a lie,” Nephi stated correctly. “Why would he start lying now? He must have seen the visions he claims, or he is mad.”
We all looked at him with agreement but for which opinion I am not sure. Is he mad? Is he sane? I am sure he was mad! I decided to give my brilliant plan to my brothers. I looked at Nephi who did so in return expectantly towards me.
Nephi irritated me that he had such a confident look with his beardless face. He felt confident in me; yet, his trust bothered me. It was as if he expected something from me that I could not give him. I knew it, but he did not know it. It seemed as though he challenged my authority by supporting my authority! Nephi cheered my every whim as youngling brothers tend to do, but Nephi was near a man if not one intellectually and physically. I distrust such childlike trust he has in me. I put it out of my mind.
“This is my plan brothers,” I started. “We go into the wilderness with enthusiasm. Once we are there, Father will have such a difficult time without his lounging seat and sacks of wine that he will long to return to the house where the servants will be waiting. Father is old and accustomed to easy living now. He will not want to remain in the wilderness. We will need to protect him and Mother from getting injured, but we will return in days if I am correct.”
“Cruel, but effective,” Lemuel admitted. He clicked his tongue and shook his head in agreement. I smiled within myself until I saw the look on Sam’s face--always this one!
Nephi was shaking his head in agreement also until he saw Sam. Sam is of a sturdy spirit and will not act on foolishness, though I have hope that he will indulge my plan. I could see no foolishness in indulging father and supporting him in his endeavor knowing the flies and the heat will change his mind about what he supposed the Lord instructed him. With his even face and features, he reminded me of a leaf. The edges are even all around except at the stubborn stem! I needed all of their support to convince Father to return to Jerusalem after this foolishness of his in the Wilderness.
“Sam,” I pleaded. “We will not cause them discomfort. We will just allow them to know the difference between living in the wilderness and at home. Years have passed since Mother or Father have left the comforts of the city.”
“Laman,” Sam responded lowering his head in submission. “I have always respected your counsel, but men in the city have threatened Father’s life, which is why he must flee. If he is truly in danger, we must leave to protect his life. We must make sure that he is safe for more than days in the wilderness. We may need to wait for much longer."
“He will not teach, Sam,” Lemuel argued. “If he does not teach that the city will be destroyed and that the Messiah should come people would not be angered by him.”
“Once Father has made up his mind about something, he never relents,” Sam reminded us. “The threats to his life have been made and he is Master Lehi and elder of the council! He has angered some fierce men causing a stir among the people. I am confident that those dangers will not pass in a few days or weeks. It may take years!”
Sam is right. Ninsun may have not given me the stroke of genius I hoped for. Father would not abandon a commandment from his god if he thinks it is right. We would have to take him back to the city if he ever were to return—doing so against his will. I would not allow Father and Mother to suffer. I decided to oppose anyone who prevented me from taking Father back to the city. I would not have his death upon my hands to stain my inheritance!
I noted to myself that Father needed protection—protection that I could provide with Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi’s help if they followed me. If I had to stand alone, it would be problematic.
“As God is my witness and as I live, I will not allow Father to perish in the wilderness,” I swore to my brothers. “I have readied the supplies and all manner of provisions and charged the servants with keeping the house until our return. Father visited Ishmael and planned to leave with the sun before the city gate closes today.”
“We will humor him in this journey, “Nephi said blankly. “What if Father can never return to his house. We would have to seek a new inheritance. Father and Mother are goodly parents and have taught us much in the languages of the people. We owe them protection, brothers. We owe them help, even if it is in another land.”
We nodded in silence making a vow to protect Mother and Father and to keep them in the wilderness until the rancor dissolves in Jerusalem about the strange ones. Never had I thought that Father would become one of those that went about the city.
“What of the treasure and precious things,” Nephi questioned with his annoying brow raised. I could see that this was to be a long trip. Nephi had a habit of pointing out the unpleasant things. And interrupting my thoughts!
“Leave that to me Nephi. I will convince Father to take some treasure just in case we need to barter for trade."
It came to pass that at my Father’s house, we took all that was set to journey in the wilderness. Mother and Father added provisions to those I supplied; several asses and goats a few camels and foul. We prepared fruit that was drying and strips of meat for weeks of wilderness life as if we would camp like the travelers, nomads. There was no room for the treasure.
My heart sank as I approached Father, for I knew that he had prepared a speech for me for he knew that I would insist on including the treasures. Father possessed an enormous amount of wealth in gold and jewels.
“Father,” I pleaded, “How will we pay for safe passage so that robbers will not attack us or thieves who steal in the night? How will we protect our women from them being alone in the wilderness and uncovered in the sun to shine upon us and scorch our skin?”
I spoke many words to Father and he listened with patience giving me hope that he would consider. Though I trust the servants to care for the home while we went on this wilderness retreat, I did not trust that the treasure, my birthright, would all be accounted for upon our return.
“God will protect us and guide our paths if we are obedient …” Father started to prattle and I could not believe what he said. He went on with his prattle about keeping commandments. I did not understand why he used his authority to speak words that he says came from his god. Adonai has provided all the laws we needed through Moses, yet Father found it good to add more.
Once he stopped speaking, Lemuel joined as we called Father a visionary man with dreams that he believed came from God. His god did not make known such things to us, yet we are obligated to obey Father as our leader. I could not help but harass Father at every turn, going against my own plan to make it a happy leaving. I spoke to him about it until we approached the gate of the city. I could see my brothers had seen my plan collapse. If I forcefully opposed Father without a just means, I could lose my family!
I began to accept the fact that we were leaving. I told Father I would run back and check with the servants once more. As I ran, I decided to see how far Father would go with this plan of his, or the one he says “God” gave him.
I looked about things in the home and decided if I wanted to leave my special cloak so that it would be safe when I return. I decided to keep Ninsun safely protected in my cloak on my person and invited two servants to travel with me making us quite the group of travelers. If Father wanted to leave behind his wealth, I would hide most of it. I left the charge of the property with one servant, an older man who would not make the trip.
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