It was the custom among the Nephites to meet at the call of their ruler at some sacred place where they could receive any message they had to deliver. Jacob had imparted the word of the Lord to the Nephites from the temple his brother, Nephi, had caused to be erected; King Benjamin sent heralds throughout all the land to proclaim a conference at the temple in Zarahemla; in similar manner King Limhi now ordered his people to present themselves at the temple in Lehi-Nephi where they "would hear the words he should speak to them."