Sam was the third son of Lehi and Sariah, younger than Laman and Lemuel and older than Nephi. He is first named among the sons who traveled with Lehi from Jerusalem into the wilderness toward the Red Sea (1 Nephi 2:5). When Nephi told him what the Lord had manifested by the Holy Spirit, Sam believed his words (1 Nephi 2:17).
When Nephi returned from obtaining the brass plates wearing Laban’s clothing, Sam fled with Laman and Lemuel, supposing he was Laban (1 Nephi 4:28). As the families journeyed in the wilderness, Laman, Lemuel, and members of Ishmael’s family rebelled against both Nephi and Sam (1 Nephi 7:6). In recounting his vision, Lehi said he had reason to suppose that Nephi and Sam, and many of their seed, would be saved (1 Nephi 8:3); in the dream itself he saw Sam, with Sariah and Nephi, come to him and partake of the fruit, while Laman and Lemuel would not (1 Nephi 8:14-16).
Before his death Lehi blessed Sam, saying he would inherit the land like his brother Nephi and that his seed would be numbered with Nephi’s seed (2 Nephi 4:11). When the Lord commanded Nephi to separate from his brethren, Sam and his family went with him, among those who believed the warnings and revelations of God (2 Nephi 5:6). The record names Sam with Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph as “just and holy men” (Alma 3:6).