Randall Spackman states that for many years people have assumed that when Lehi said, "I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed" (2 Nephi 1:4), his statement implied that Lehi's group did not know of the destruction of Jerusalem until they were in the New World. This would mean that they would have had to leave Jerusalem at least 12 to 14 years prior to 586 B.C., the year that Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. However, Spackman has pointed out that at any time following his vision in the first year of Zedekiah's reign, Lehi could have factually proclaimed, "I have seen a vision in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed." Lehi did not need another vision to confirm Jerusalem's destruction. Furthermore, according to 2 Nephi 25:9-10, the destruction of Jerusalem came "immediately after my father left Jerusalem." [Randall Spackman, "An Introduction to Book of Mormon Chronology" F.A.R.M.S., p. 14] [See Appendix A]
2 Nephi 1:4 I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed ([Illustration]): Destruction of Jerusalem. Lehi prophesied that Jerusalem would be destroyed because of its wickedness. Artist: Gary Kapp. [Thomas R. Valletta ed., The Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families, 1999, p. 19]