The angel to Nephi is the messenger who appears to Nephi during his vision of the tree of life and interprets what he sees. He comes down as the heavens open, stands before Nephi, and asks him what he beholds (1 Nephi 11:14). He directs Nephi to behold the condescension of God (1 Nephi 11:26) and identifies the figures and symbols Nephi’s father Lehi had seen in his earlier dream.
The angel then shows Nephi the ministry of the Lamb of God among the children of men, including the healing of the sick and afflicted, the Lamb being taken and judged by the world, his crucifixion, and the gathering of the nations to fight against the twelve apostles (1 Nephi 11:30-36). He explains that the multitudes who fight the apostles are housed in a large and spacious building that represents the pride of the world, and that the building falls (1 Nephi 11:34-36).
The angel shows Nephi the fate of his descendants: three generations passing away in righteousness, their garments made white in the blood of the Lamb (1 Nephi 12:11), the seed of Nephi’s brethren overpowering Nephi’s seed (1 Nephi 12:19), and those who survive dwindling in unbelief (1 Nephi 12:22). He then shows Nephi the formation of a church described as most abominable above all others, which slays the saints of God (1 Nephi 13:5), the wrath of God upon the seed of Nephi’s brethren (1 Nephi 13:11), and later records that would come forth among the Gentiles to establish the truth of the records of the twelve apostles and restore the plain and precious things taken away (1 Nephi 13:40).