Lehi is referring to the state of probation which began with the fall of Adam. He is also making reference to the long lifespan of those who lived in the days of Adam. Adam lived 930 years, Seth lived 912 years, Methusaleh has the record with 969 years, and Noah lived 950 years. After the flood, something happened. Lifespans began to be cut much shorter. This was according to will of God, And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years (Gen 6:3). This can be seen in the lifespans of Abraham-180 years and Joseph-110 years. Lehi’s reference is instructive because he gives us at least one reason why the lifespans were so long for the early fathers, that they might repent while in the flesh…and their time was lengthened.
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. (Alma 34:32-24)