The Spirit of the Lord did not answer the question concerning the interpretation of the symbol directly. He withdrew his visible presence, but the manifestation continued. Nephi saw first the City of Jerusalem, and then the City of Nazareth. And in this city he saw a beautiful Virgin. (v. 13)
And then the heavens were opened to him, and he saw an angel come down and stand before him. From now on, it is this heavenly messenger who acts as interpreter. "What beholdest thou?" he asks. (v. 14) The answer is, "A Virgin, most beautiful and fair." (v. 15)