In 600 BC, the prophet Lehi is warned by God to flee wicked Jerusalem with his family and take refuge in the wilderness. It doesn't take long for contention to arise within the family.

By God's command, youngest son Nephi leads his older brothers back to Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates from Laban, a powerful and wealthy man. The brass plates contain the family genealogy and the holy scriptures current to that time.

The sons try asking Laban for the plates without success; then they attempt to purchase the plates with the gold and silver father Lehi abandoned when he fled into the wilderness. Laban sends servants to capture the sons of Lehi to kill them and retrieve their treasure. The sons survive but become discouraged. Nephi won't give up and they return. Nephi relies on the Spirit, not knowing what to do beforehand. The Lord directs Nephi to a drunken Laban and is instructed to slay Laban, which he does reluctantly. Dressed as Laban, he enters Laban's palace and fools the treasury keeper to give him the brass plates and they return to Lehi with plates in hand.

Again, by God's command, Nephi leads his older brothers back to Jerusalem for the last time and enlists Ishmael and his family to flee Jerusalem and join Lehi's family in the wilderness. Ishmael's heart is softened and he complies.