KnoWhy #268 - Why Is Lehi Depicted as Similar to Moses? (2 Nephi 3:9-10)

Throughout 1 Nephi, and perhaps most clearly in the account of Lehi’s farewell speech to his family (see 2 Nephi 1–4), Lehi is depicted as being like the prophet Moses. The fact that Nephi portrays his father as a Moses figure demonstrates that Nephi was in touch with ancient Israelite traditions that were popular in Jerusalem at the time. BYU Professor Noel B. Reynolds explained that the actual events that Lehi and his family had to go through “made it easy for Lehi to portray himself as a Moses figure.” The appearance of Lehi as a “type” of Moses, leading his people in a divinely-directed exodus experience, strengthens the recognition of the Book of Mormon as an authentic ancient text.