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EIGHT
~~~
"Girls, leave the platters for now. Be seated," Father said. He looked serious. "I have something of great importance that I wish for all to hear." Though it was not a feast day, or even the Sabbath, Father had asked my married brothers and their families to come up and share the evening meal with us.
At his words, the friendly chatter in the room quieted. We set the dishes down and settled back on our cushions with everyone else. All eyes were riveted on Father.
He took a deep breath. "For the last three nights, I have had a dream." He glanced around to see if all were listening. "Either a dream, or as some would call it, a night vision."
Not Father, too.
Bathsheva knew something, she placed a hand on his arm. "In my dream," he continued, "I was warned that we must leave Jerusalem."
Of all that Father might have said, this was expected by no one. The room went completely still, and then a multitude of voices started at once.
Father raised up a hand. "Patience. Before asking questions, first, hear what I have seen." He swallowed. "A terrible day is coming—I know not when—but Jerusalem will be overrun by ravaging armies." He let that sink in, then went on. "You have heard the prophecies. Jeremiah has spoken of it repeatedly, and also Lehi prophesied of it, along with many others. Now, I have seen it for myself, in a night vision. Three times."
Mischa began, "But Father, with so much talk going on, it was just a nightma—"
He silenced her with a look.
"As I was saying, I have dreamt this very dream, three nights past. This is more than enough witness for me to know of a surety this is from God. And the message of the dream is plain: For our family to survive, we must leave Jerusalem. There is no other way."
We looked around at one another.
"Others have left already," Father was saying. "And the household of Lehi is one of them."
My heart sank. So that was what had become of them. I would never see Nephi again.
Then Father added, "And we are to join them."
I looked up. What did he say?
"In my dream," Father continued, "the sons of Lehi returned to the city, and came to our house, bearing witness that God had commanded Lehi to leave Jerusalem, and they had obeyed and had taken their journey into the wilderness. And then, God spoke to Lehi again, instructing his sons to return to Jerusalem, and seek for our family to join them."
Everyone stared at Father.
"Lehi's sons explained that the Lord wished for our two houses to join together as one, and establish a new home in a place we would be guided to, by the Lord. A promised land, where we would be safe ... to multiply, and replenish the land."
