Nephi notes that after failing in their first attempt to obtain the brass plates, "we went down to the land of our inheritance, and we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our precious things" (1 Nephi 3:22). Brant Gardner notes that while not specifically stated, it might be reasoned that Lehi left servants in charge of the family holdings. It would be hard to imagine that a significant wealth such as Lehi apparently had accumulated could go for very long entirely unguarded. Certainly the lands and goods were not sold nor exchanged prior to the journey into the wilderness, a fact which doubtless encouraged Laman and Lemuel's assumption that they could return to their former life (see 1 Nephi 2:11). Brant Gardner, "Brant Gardner's Page, Book of Mormon Commentary, [http://www.highfiber.com/] ~nahualli/LDStopics/1Nephi/1Nephi 3, p. 9]
1 Nephi 3:23 After we had gathered these things [gold and silver and precious things] we went up again unto the house of Laban ([Illustration]): Nephi and His Brothers at the House of Laban. Artist: Ronald Crosby. [Mary Pratt Parrish, The Book of Mormon Story, p. 10]