Sariah is Ishmael's sister. From journal of Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph told stories to his family about things like that regarding information in the Larger plates.
God generally uses familiar things to teach us.
As we read 1 Nephi consider what is YOUR personal Liahona.
People who read book of Mormon daily, will have a greater testimony of things desirous.
Opportunities to share things of a significant nature. The more diligence we give to those things (the discussions with our children) the greater ability and power we have.
Remember it is by small and simple things that all great things come to pass.
I remember the time I wrote that scripture on post it's and put them all over campus thinking my peers would not get blessings other ways, and because of all of the blessings promised that if only they read the book of Mormon.
The story of Brother Carver in the book "All About Faith" he explained that a testimony comes in different ways. Heart, mind, hands....
When Nephi waded through trials he was happy and thought it was well, whereas when Laman and Lemuel suffered they just murmurred and we're negative and we're unhappy, but if we can remain like Nephi and remain positive then we will start to be blessed.
Reminds me of that song "Count Your Many Blessings" song.
Everyone will have a trial of faith, where do YOU look for answers.
Nephi's now, why was it steel? And why weren't his brother's?
Nephi is recorded of crying to the Lord and his heart was softened so it was not always soft. That makes him happier.
The Lord provided light by night as they fled the Egyptians is perhaps another example of a miracle that demonstrated God's love for his children and his consequent ability to accomplish seemingly impossible things.
