“Having Great Desires to Know of the Mysteries of God”

Brant Gardner

After describing Laman and Lemuel’s murmurings (vv. 11–14), Nephi introduces his own story. He may have had some of the same reservations as Laman and Lemuel; but rather than reacting with skepticism, he sought divine confirmation of his father’s prophetic calling (v. 16). After receiving that confirmation, Nephi testified to Sam, who thus became Nephi’s first convert.

Scripture: The relationship of Nephi and Sam demonstrates two gifts of the Spirit: “To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful” (D&C 46:13–14).

In this case, Nephi sought and received direct confirmation of his father’s words. It seems likely that his character drove him to resolve such questions definitively, for he followed the same pattern when he wanted to understand Lehi’s dream of the tree of life. Sam, in contrast, did not seem compelled to ask Yahweh directly for confirmation. Hearing Nephi’s explanation was sufficient for him to accept it as true. Apparently Sam accepted all or most of what Nephi had learned, as Nephi made “known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested” (v. 17). Both are gifts of the Spirit, and neither is superior to the other. Both methods lead to the same end. Both Nephi and Sam remain faithful and follow their father. Sam receives the same blessing as Nephi (2 Ne. 4:11).

Redaction: “And my father dwelt in a tent” terminates the narrative focus on Lehi. To this point, Lehi is the major figure. Lehi is a prophet who preaches in Jerusalem. Lehi is the one whose life is threatened. Lehi is the one who leads his family out of Jerusalem into the wilderness. Lehi is the one who exhorts his sons to righteousness. Nephi serves as an observer, a faithful recorder.

Within just a few verses, however, the narrative focus shifts to Nephi, revolving on Laman and Lemuel’s dissent. Nephi dutifully describes Lehi’s expressed desires for Laman and Lemuel, but then openly describes their rebellion and its causes. He concludes with the terminating statement: “and my father dwelt in a tent.”

The next verse reintroduces the “I” of the narrative, not in a parenthetical comment or an introduction but as the narrative’s protagonist. Indeed, the text is no longer an excerpt from the book of Lehi but truly the beginning of the book of Nephi. He positions himself as a foil to Laman and Lemuel. Confronted with the need to know whether Lehi’s visions are true, Nephi asks Yahweh, receives direct confirmation, and strikes out firmly toward his own mission as the prophet of the New World. This also establishes Laman and Lemuel as the quintessential “others” necessary for the culturally dictated ethnogenetic story. (See 1 Nephi, Part 1: Context, Chapter 2, “Introduction to 1 Nephi.”)

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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