Lehi is the patriarch of the beginners of the Nephites and Lamanites. He is a prophet of the Lord.
In "The Tree of Life," he is voiced by the late Tony Larimer. In all other appearances (the first two produced), he is voiced by the late Gene Pack.
In "Nephi and the Brass Plates" and just the flashback from "Journey to the Promised Land," Lehi has a shorter, fluffy, full beard, In "The Tree of Life" and the rest of "Journey to the Promised Land," he has a longer, shaggier beard.
Additionally, in "The Tree of Life," Lehi wears a red headdress, as opposed to the yellow one everywhere else.
(Note: the following appearances are in chronological order.)
Nephi and the Brass Plates[]
At the beginning, as his then-youngest son Nephi narrates, Lehi is shown to be a prophet. He prays to the Lord, asking Him what He will do to Jerusalem, which was a beautiful, but wicked and rebellious city. A pillar of fire appears.
Lehi tells the people they must repent, as the Lord said so, or He will destroy Jerusalem and them. They naturally do not believe him, and they try to kill him, but the Lord protects him and he gets away.
That night, the Lord speaks to him in a dream, and he thanks Him for the dream. His wife Sariah asks him what the Lord wants this time.
Lehi wakes Nephi, the latter then asking him what is wrong. Lehi explains his dream and warning: they all have to leave Jerusalem tonight, or the inhabitants will kill him.
He is shown again with his unnamed kid daughter riding with him as they are leaving. The girl asks him when they'll go back home. He says they won't, for the Lord has promised them a new home in a new land, but understands she likes their old home. He explains the promised land and how it's beautiful, as he saw it in a dream: green trees, wide (or is it "white") rivers, plenty to eat, lots of rain and sunlight, and all the things one would love (including silver and gold). Days later, Nephi acknowledges to Sam that he had prayed and learned from the Lord that their father was telling the truth.
After just arriving in the desert, Lehi reveals to his sons that the Lord told him to send them back to Jerusalem to get the plates of brass. The reason is that without them, his grandchildren will never learn God's commandments in the promised land. He laments that Laman and Lemuel think he is crazy to send them back, which Nephi denies is the case (that Lehi is the one sending them back). Sam agrees with that, saying it is the Lord who is sending them. Nephi vows to go and do what the Lord said because only by preparing a way for one to do so does He give commandments to the children of men. Lehi happily remarks that the Lord has blessed him.
As their sons depart, Sariah worries for the sons, as Laban (the man who has the plates) is evil. Lehi assures her that the Lord is with them.
At the end, when Sariah sees her sons (and a man named Zoram) returning to them, she happily calls her husband for it, and so they both rejoice, and then (as Nephi narrates) they both offer sacrifices to the Lord for thanks, and then Lehi studies the plates and teaches what they are about.
The Tree of Life[]
Lehi is the protagonist and narrator of this volume. In His dream, He beholds a tree whose fruit is whiter than any other white thing he had seen (including his own hair). He takes a bite of it, and it fills his soul with great joy. He beckons all of his family to come and partake of the precious fruit. He tells them to follow the iron rod on a strait and narrow path, as there are many dangers on the way. Sam guides Nephi to the rod, and Nephi tells his mother Sariah that he'll lead. Lehi encourages them to keep coming. He also wants Laman and Lemuel to come to the tree. Lemuel almost obeys, but Laman stops him and encourages him to find an easier way, so neither touches the rod, much to Lehi's grief. Something seems better to them.
Lehi then sees numberless concourses of people. Some look to see him, but others consider a different path. Among them are a man named Limhi and a woman named Jezebel. Jezebel objects to following Nephi, but Limhi objects to going a way that's too dark. A man informs Jezebel of a party. She immediately accepts and dismisses what Nephi had said (that the way to the tree via the iron rod is the safest way), thinking he never enjoys himself. Limhi protests her departure, but she assures him she'll be back.
Meanwhile, there is another family: a woman with two sons (the oldest being a 16-year-old Aaron and a little one named Abel). Abel gets scared of whatever the unfamiliar phenomenon is (unfamiliar even to their mother), but Aaron accuses him of being "such a baby," saying it's just fog or something. The woman tells her sons to hold on tight to the rod. Abel does, but Aaron, "not being a child," dismisses the idea, as he can walk without holding on to something. Another woman says they'll be fine just as long as they hold on to the rod.
Another group consists of two men named Erastus and Endor. Endor considers following Nephi, but Erastus says they are men of knowing, and as such, don't cling to superstitions, and talks him into letting go of the rod.
Back to the righteous part of Lehi's family, they make it to the tree, which Sam points out to be beautiful. Nephi helps his mother get up the steep part between the path and the area with the tree. Lehi rejoices in their arrival (hugging his wife), and tells them to come partake of the fruit. They do, and as Sariah mentions, it is wonderful.
Still, many people wander away from the rod and get lost in the darkness. The examples showing are Erastus and Endor, but Erastus could not care less. He says they are pursuing knowledge. Endor says he knew more when he was holding on to the rod. Erastus snaps for him to go back if he's so worried, but he can't. He is lost and turned around. Aaron strays farther, kicking a stone, and gets mad at his mother when she worries about him getting lost. Then there is another stranger who cries out of regret for not holding on to the rod. Back to Lehi's good family, Nephi comforts him, as he grieves over any people getting lost. He then beholds another sight: a great and spacious building, filled with people. The people in the building are dressed in exceedingly fine clothes and point their fingers and make fun of anyone who has partaken of the fruit. Of a couple, the woman starts wandering away from the rod, but the man stops her. She protests, saying she has missed out on too much already. The man disagrees and protests her departure, but she just ignores him and leaves for the building. Lehi protests this. In fact, a lot of people let go of the rod and feel their way to the building. A woman encourages this. Another couple considers leaving. Actually, the woman (known as Sarah in the coloring book) doubts this is a good idea due to what Nephi had said. The man (known there as Peter) encourages her to do it "just for a little while," promising they'll return to the rod, and they leave.
Back to Limhi, he holds fast to the rod, and with Nephi's help, comes forth to partake of the fruit. Jezebel (getting a kiss from her party informer) taunts Limhi for missing all the fun. Though Lehi tells him not to pay any attention to that, Limhi is ashamed, drops the fruit, and turns away from the tree (punching Nephi in the face for trying to stop him), but then falls into forbidden paths, to Lehi's grief.
In said forbidden paths is a large filthy river between the tree and building. At its end is a fountain of filthy water. Aaron falls in, much to his mother and Abel's sorrow. A man is about to fall, and another tries to help him. Aaron clings onto a rock, with another man trying to get on and push him off, as there isn't enough room for both of them. That man and another get swept away, and Aaron gets to shore. Back to the two men, the man in distress loses his grip, seeing as he feels like "it's not worth it," and the other man grieves. Aaron tries climbing the cliff, repenting of his foolish ways. He almost falls, but Nephi catches him, and he and a chain of righteous men (including Sam), pull him up. Aaron's mother and brother hug him in relief, with the former thanking Nephi.
Lehi then sees Laman and Lemuel in the building, and they make fun of him. Suddenly, the building crumbles, and upon watching this, Sam and Nephi are not too happy. Laman and Lemuel (the latter holding onto the former's legs) hang on for dear life as a lot of people die from falling or having pieces of building fall on them.
Nephi leads the righteous people into saving lost souls ("Heaven's at Hand"), including Endor and another man. They then get to the tree, and Aaron picks a piece of fruit for Abel. In fact, lots of people rejoice at the Tree of Life. The multitude there turn into angels, and the tree and its surroundings turn into Heaven.
Journey to the Promised Land[]
Lehi first appears in a flashback (in his "Brass Plates" appearance) in which during their desert stay, he finds a brass ball called the Liahona outside his tent, as his son Nephi explains to the latter's daughter.
In the land of Bountiful, as Lehi's youngest son Jacob is picking little orange fruits off a high branch, Lehi tells his oldest two sons that the land they are in is not the promised land, and they must go on. Laman and Lemuel get angry with him for this, respectively saying that there is an ocean in the way (Laman said this) and that this is a good land [with] plenty [of food] to eat (Lemuel said that). Lehi tells them that the Lord wants them to become a mighty nation, and they cannot do it in this land. Laman expresses tire of hearing what the Lord wants, and Lemuel complains that their children, having been born in the desert, had never even seen a city, for which Laman adds blame to their father's visions, and then says from then on, instead of obeying him (Lehi), they're going to obey him (Laman). Lehi says the Lord is in charge, and until they learn that, they are in danger of destruction. As he leaves, Jacob overhears them plotting to kill their father, just so he can't convince anyone else that the land they are in is not the promised land, and then reports this to Nephi, who would later mention this to the bad brothers as they are interfering with the ship construction.
After the ship is constructed, Lehi, with the help of all of his adult sons (including Laman and Lemuel this time), pulls (some push) it into the water, and Nephi and Sam carry him to shore as they are cheering. After the ship is loaded and the sail is raised, Lehi checks on his sad wife. She explains she is sad that the land they've been in was so good to them, and it is hard to leave. Lehi comforts her, assuring her that they will be going somewhere even better: the promised land.
Lehi, among most relatives, is saddened when Laman and Lemuel have become wicked again by tying Nephi for trying to rule over them. Lehi is about to answer Sam's call of distress because the Liahona is no longer working, but Laman stops him. Lehi chews Laman out in part for blaming the malfunction on Sam and tells him to untie Nephi. Laman refuses, as he is in charge. A storm starts due to Laman and Lemuel's wickedness, and it becomes so bad that after the sail is lowered, Lehi tells everyone to get below deck.
After three days, Laman's wife laments that her baby hasn't kept any food down in three days and asks how long the storm can last. Lehi answers that it can last until her husband repents. She complains that Laman won't listen to her. Lehi tells her that her baby is going to die, and that it will be Laman's fault. This prompts Jacob to go above in anger.
After Laman and Lemuel finally repent, untie Nephi, apologize to him, and tell him to stop the storm, Nephi prays for this and the safe journey. Lehi, among others, rejoices when all is calm again.
When the ship lands on the promised land, Lehi guides Sariah to safety, and then he, among all family members (including Laman and Lemuel), thanks the Lord for their safe arrival.
Mormon and Moroni[]
Proving that chronologically "The Tree of Life" goes before "Journey to the Promised Land," archival footage of Lehi's vision is used during the "Oh, My People" song montage as an adult Mormon is writing on the golden plates.