In 1 Nephi chapter 1, we are introduced to Nephi and his father Lehi.  The first thing we learn is that Nephi was “born of goodly parents,” that he has experienced many trials in his days, and that he is highly favored of the Lord, “having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God.”  Having established his credentials, he proceeds to tell us he is making a record of his proceedings.  (1 Nephi 1:1.)

We soon learn that in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, Nephi’s  father Lehi was praying to the Lord and received a vision, which among other things included the coming destruction of Jerusalem.  Lehi is called to prophesy to the Jews, to preach repentance unto them, and as a result the people seek to take his life, and he and his family are forced to flee into the wilderness.  The Lord commands Lehi to leave his wealth and his possessions, and take his family, and provisions, and tents, and depart into the wilderness. (1 Nephi 2:2-4.)

After traveling for what is believed to be 2 to 3 weeks, Lehi’s family sets up camp in the wilderness.  We are introduced to Nephi’s mother, Sariah, and to his elder brothers, Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.  Laman and Lemuel are described from the beginning as “murmuring against their father” and otherwise being rebellious in nature.  It is established early on that they do not agree with their father’s decision to leave Jerusalem.

In chapter 3, Nephi and his brothers are commanded to return to Jerusalem to obtain brass plates, which contain a record of the Jews and the genealogy of Lehi’s forefathers.  They must secure these plates from Laban, a notorious military commander who seizes the family’s property and attempts to have the boys murdered.

In the next chapter, the Spirit of the Lord guides Nephi to kill Laban, to wear his armor as a disguise, and thereby to convince Laban’s servant, Zoram, to bring him the brass plates and accompany him outside the walls of the city.  Zoram joins Nephi and his brothers, and travels with them back to their father’s tent.

Lehi studies the brass plates and finds that they contain the five books of Moses; a record of the Jews from their earliest days down to the reign of Zedekiah; the prophecies of the holy prophets; and a genealogy of Lehi’s fathers, from which we learn that Lehi was descended from Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt by his brothers, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord.  (1 Nephi 5:11-14.)

In chapter 6, Nephi deviates from his narrative to explain that he is not giving us a full record of these things, but that he wants to reserve space in his record to write about the things of God:

For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. (1 Nephi 6:4.)

In essence, Nephi tells us that he is not interested in sharing every detail of their lives, but that he is sharing enough details to show the hand of the Lord in all of their dealings, and to persuade men to come unto God.

In chapter 7, the Lord commands Nephi and his brothers to return once again to Jerusalem, this time to convince Ishmael and his family to join them in the wilderness and to travel with them to the promised land.  On their way to Lehi’s camp, Laman and Lemuel and two of Ishmael’s daughters and two of Ishmael’s sons rebel against Nephi, and attempt to take his life.  Nephi prays for deliverance and is saved, and Laman and Lemuel beg him for forgiveness.

Ishmael’s family includes himself, his wife, five daughters, and two sons and their families.  By the time they join Lehi’s family, the entire company is now made up of at least 18 people:

Lehi and his wife Sariah

Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi

Zoram

Ishmael and his wife

Ishmael’s 5 daughters

Ishmael’s 2 sons and their families (assuming 2 wives gives us 18 people, if their families included children as well, that number would be larger.)

Although the scriptures don’t give an exact timeline of these events, it seems safe to assume that Lehi and his family traveled for several weeks before setting up their camp.  Also, their mission to obtain the brass plates would have taken at least 4 to 6 weeks, figuring 2 to 3 weeks each way, plus a minimum of several days in Jerusalem to obtain the plates.  Their journey to bring Ishmael’s family down into the wilderness would also have taken at least 4 to 6 weeks, and it would likely have taken several weeks, if not months, for Lehi to read everything contained on the brass plates.  I would not be surprised to discover that these seven chapters cover a period of time of at least four to six months, if not more.