Nephi, the son of Helaman (chief judge and grandson of Alma), is, along with his younger brother, Lehi, privileged to have the training and counsel of a father whose leadership is anchored in the eternal values of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Beneath the canopy of this righteous heritage, the two young men “grow up unto the Lord” (Helaman 3:21). In due course, Nephi succeeds his father as chief judge, serving in that office “with justice and equity” (verse 37) until circumstances require that he devote his full time to preaching the gospel among the people, since “they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good” (Helaman 5:2). Both Nephi and Lehi spend the remainder of their lives serving the cause of the gospel. They hearken faithfully unto the counsel of their father to act with full commitment according to the example of their noble namesakes from Jerusalem, Nephi and Father Lehi, and their successors down through the generations. As we shall see, the young disciples of the Lord make remembrance and obedience the operating principles of their lives. “And they did remember his [their father’s] words; and therefore they went forth, keeping the commandments of God, to teach the word of God among all the people of Nephi” (Helaman 5:14). The two brothers enjoyed great success in their ministry, especially among the Lamanite people in subsequent missionary efforts.
Nephi, great-grandson of Alma, is a paragon of worthy obedience and leadership. From the Book of Mormon, we learn that he finds such favor with the Lord through unwavering righteousness that he is granted the promise of heavenly fulfillment of whatsoever thing he might request (see Helaman 10:5). In addition, Nephi is granted sealing powers transcending earthly boundaries (see Helaman 10:7). With these powers Nephi exhibits righteous priesthood influence among his countrymen, invoking the intervention of the Lord to bring the hardhearted people to repentance through famine, and then causing relief to be administered when the people return to the ways of righteousness: “And behold, the people did rejoice and glorify God, and the whole face of the land was filled with rejoicing; and they did no more seek to destroy Nephi, but they did esteem him as a great prophet, and a man of God, having great power and authority given unto him from God” (Helaman 11:18).
Nephi serves as chief judge in Zarahemla from around 39 BC until around 30 BC (see Helaman 3:37; 5:1). Thereafter, he and his brother travel from city to city preaching repentance and reclaiming souls for Christ, including “the more part of the Lamanites” (Helaman 5:50). Nephi plays a central role in keeping the people attuned to the word of the Lord at a time of widespread wickedness. Around AD 1, Nephi’s ministry ends, and he turns the sacred records over to his eldest son Nephi. “Then he departed out of the land, and whither he went, no man knoweth” (3 Nephi 1:3). Shortly thereafter, his son Nephi, in anguished prayer over the disbelief of many of the people, hears the words of the Lord announcing His imminent arrival in the sphere of mortality (see 3 Nephi 1:13).