The story begins with Lehi: a prophet.

Once upon a time there was a man and his family. They were a typical family with a mother, father, brothers and sisters. Sometimes the brothers didn't get along with each other or their parents. Sound familiar?

Lehi and his family lived in Jerusalem just before the Babylonians decimated the Jewish nation. He was a prominent citizen that enjoyed a modicum of wealth. He lived a pretty cushy life until the country started to unravel. There was a lot going on at the time. Prophets, Lehi among them, were everywhere warning the people to repent and change their ways or be destroyed by the Babylonian war machine. You know how that story ends - they didn't listen and Judah was carried off to Babylon en-mass.

But let's back up a little. Lehi, as I said was a prophet and so was universally disliked even to the point of receiving death threats. Knowing that Lehi could accomplish much more by leaving Jerusalem before things got out of control, the Lord told him to gather up his family, food and other supplies and take off into the wilderness. God had plans for Lehi that didn't include a martyrs death. God wanted Lehi to travel to a new land far far away where he and his family would become the progenitors of a new civilization.

Say what? Excuse me?

That would have been my response but like every good prophet Lehi obeys the Lord, packs up and leaves his life and wealth behind. At first he has precious little to go on. As his adventure unfolds God will reveal more details but for now Lehi is acting entirely on faith...and some of his children don't like what is happening one bit... but more about them later.

This exciting turn of events is the beginning of the Book of Mormon stories. We will be joining Lehi and his family on their journey where we will share his deprivations in the desert, family arguments, the love of a son for his father, high hopes, dashed dreams and, above all else Lehi's absolute loyalty to God's commandments.

Before our next chapter begins, ask yourself if you have ever really done anything based entirely on faith. We have all had our lives shaken up in ways that have brought us to our knees. Life hurts so badly sometimes but most of the time if we have faith and stick to our core values we will come out on the otherside better for having fought the good fight and a little stronger for the next wave of trials and tribulations - and they keep on coming.

Get ready Lehi because you're in for the ride of your life.....