Redaction:The context might suggest that Nephi was seeking information about shipbuilding, but it is much more likely that Nephi is adding a spiritual aside. He was communicating with Yahweh. Certainly some of his questions related to the ship, but Nephi is not overly impressed with technology. For example, he considers the Liahona a “small” thing (1 Ne. 16:29). “Great things” are almost certainly things of the Spirit.