Sariah had repeated the accusation that Laman and Lemuel had made against Lehi, that he was a visionary man. It was an epithet intended to paint him as foolish, and deny his prophetic calling. In Sariah’s case, the death she had imagined for her sons was more than proof that Lehi was not inspired.
Lehi’s response was measured, and loving. Yes, he was a visionary man. That vision had told them to leave Jerusalem, and he believed that it would save their lives. Jerusalem would be destroyed. Jehovah had told him so, therefore he knew it.
Jehovah had called his sons on this mission. The promise of their safe return was at least implicit. Therefore, Lehi believed it. At that point, he would have been mild comfort. Certainly, she wanted to believe, but Sariah could not truly rejoice until her sons had returned.
Verse 5 is also important because it confirms that Jehovah had given Lehi the land of promise. Even though Nephi mentions the promised land before his father did, it is certain that it would have come to Lehi first. As the prophet and head of the family, we should expect that he should be first for that promise.