“My Father Dwelt in a Tent in the Valley… Lemuel”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet
The family of Lehi may have remained in the Valley of Lemuel for an entire season, making preparations to continue their journey. For that period Nephi recorded only that which was given him and his father by revelation, that being what we know as 1 Nephi 8-15. Matters of purely temporal concern were not recorded on the small plates. Nephi’s preoccupation was with writing the things of God (see 1 Nephi 6:3-4). In so doing, Nephi established an appropriate pattern for all who would seek to edify and bless future generations through the keeping of personal records. He gave his greatest attention to those things of greatest worth.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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