According to Nephi, Lehi offers sacrifices on three occasions in the wilderness: when the travelers attain their first campsite, when Nephi and his brothers return with the brass plates, and when Nephi and his brothers arrive at the camp with Ishmael’s family. The narrative explains that Lehi offers these sacrifices to thank the Lord for His blessings. In the Old Testament, the Lord requires such sacrifices (“peace offerings”—see Leviticus 3), and travelers make these offerings to seek the Lord’s protection on their journeys (see Psalm 107).
Nephi tells of two instances where his father’s sacrifices are burnt offerings. Burnt offerings were required as a penance for sin rather than a symbol of gratitude. As we shall see, Lehi makes a burnt offering when Nephi, Sam, Laman, and Lemuel arrive at the first camp with the brass plates. Laman and Lemuel have assaulted Sam and Nephi, and Laban has been slain. Although the Lord had commanded Nephi to kill Laban, we can assume that Lehi did not want to take any chances. Furthermore, when his sons arrive with Ishmael’s family, Lehi offers burnt offerings because Laman and Lemuel have tried to bind Nephi and leave him to die.
Joseph Smith could not have known which sacrifices and offerings the Mosaic Law required of travelers. (See Echoes, 62–64.)