Lehi was called to take his people out of Jerusalem (see 2 Nephi 1:1–4). His son Nephi was visited of the Lord and was told they would be led to a land of promise, choice above all other lands (see 1 Nephi 2:19–20). Lehi took Ishmael and his family with them (see 1 Nephi 7:2–5). The families of Jared and his brother and others were led out of the land when the Lord confounded the language at the time of the building of the great tower (see Ether 1:33–35). The brother of Jared was visited of the Lord, and told they would be led to a land choice above all other lands (see Ether 1:38–43; 2:5–8). The parallels between the two groups continue as we follow the Jaredites coming to and inhabiting the same land of the America’s under the promises and conditions of the Lord.
The Lord prepared the stones for the brother of Jared to place in the vessels and shine for the men, women, and children to cross the great deep (Ether 6:2–3). The Lord provided the Liahona to lead the people of Lehi to the promised land (see 1 Nephi 16:9–10, 26–29). The Liahona was used to get the people across the great water (see 1 Nephi 18:12, 21–22). Both groups were instructed to gather food to subsist upon the water (Ether 6:4, cp. 1 Nephi 18:6). Both groups commended themselves unto the Lord to be able to get to the land of promise (Ether 6:4; cp. 1 Nephi 18:3–5).
Joseph Smith was prepared and became a servant in the hand of the Lord to establish the Church among the Gentiles upon the same choice land as the Nephites and the Jaredites had been established. He was called Gazelem and given a stone to bring the people out of darkness (see Alma 37:23–25). As Alma had promised his son Helaman, just as the Liahona had led the Nephite fathers to the Americas, the word of Christ led Joseph Smith through his trials and tribulations (see Alma 37:38–45). Mormon also promised great blessings from the Lord to the person who would bring the Book of Mormon forth (see Mormon 8:14–16, 25). Furthermore, Joseph Smith was given the very same Urim and Thummim that the brother of Jared had been given.
1 Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the miraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea. [D&C 17:1]
The Lord brings about his purposes through his servants the prophets.