It is fascinating that Nephi’s first argument defends his father as a prophet. Certainly he saw value in reminding the reluctant Laman and Lemuel that Yahweh had commanded their flight and why. Although there is no indication that Lehi identified a time for Jerusalem’s destruction, returning to the land of Jerusalem might also have stiffened Laman and Lemuel’s resistance, since Jerusalem obviously had not been destroyed. Nephi reminds them that the entire journey is undertaken in obedience to Yahweh and in their own best interests, even though those best interests will not become apparent until the future.