Nephi’s Vision

The Angel Who Shows Jesus’ Future Advent

1 Nephi 11:13–15

All of a sudden, Nephi sees the city of Jerusalem and a beautiful young woman; an angel appears to guide Nephi.

And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. and I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me:

“Nephi, what beholdest thou?”

And I said unto him:

“A virgin,
most beautiful and fair
above all other virgins.”

1 Nephi 11:16–17

The angel asks Nephi about what he understands about the Messianic prophesies; Nephi confesses his lack of knowledge and understanding.

And he said unto me:

“Knowest thou the condescension of God?”

And I said unto him:

“I know that he loveth his children;
nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.”

1 Nephi 11:18

The angel explains that the young woman is the mother of the Son of God.

And he said unto me:

“Behold, the virgin whom thou seest
is the mother of the Son of God,
after the manner of the flesh.”

1 Nephi 11:19–21

Nephi sees the infant Jesus.

And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying:

“Look!”

And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me:

“Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the son of the Eternal Father!”

1 Nephi 11:21–23

The angel explains that the tree in Lehi’s vision represents Jesus, the embodiment of the love of God.

“Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?”

And I answered him, saying:

“Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.”

And he spake unto me, saying:

“Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.”

1 Nephi 11:24–25

Nephi sees the life of Jesus; the iron rod, the fountain, and the tree are all representations of Christ and his gospel.

And after he had said these words, he said unto me:

“Look!”

And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.

And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.

1 Nephi 11:26–27

Nephi sees Jesus’ baptism.

And the angel said unto me again:

“Look and behold the condescension of God!”

And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.

1 Nephi 11:28

Nephi sees Jesus teaching his people, and his rejection.

And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.

1 Nephi 11:29

Nephi sees the twelve apostles.

And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the Spirit from before my face, and I saw them not.

1 Nephi 11:30–31

Nephi sees the miracles and healing of Christ.

And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying:

“Look!”

And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them. And he spake unto me again, saying:

“Look!”

And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.

1 Nephi 11:32–33

Nephi sees Jesus’ execution on the cross.

And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying:

“Look!”

And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record. And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.

1 Nephi 11:34–36

Nephi sees the demise of the large building of Lehi’s vision; it represents the ultimate failure of those who oppose the Lord.

And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord.

And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying:

“Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying:

“Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”