1 Nephi 10: 1-16 in more depth

Come Follow Me Manual

1 Nephi 10:2–16

Ancient prophets knew about Jesus Christ’s mission and testified of Him.

The account of Lehi’s vision surely made an impression on his family, but he still had other eternal truths to teach them about the Savior’s mission. As you read 1 Nephi 10:2–16, think about why the Lord would want Lehi’s family—and all of us—to know these truths. Consider what you could tell your loved ones to invite them to turn to the Savior. After studying Lehi’s vision and teachings, what are you, like Nephi, inspired to learn “by the power of the Holy Ghost”? (1 Nephi 10:17).

Scriptures

CHAPTER 10

Lehi predicts that the Jews will be taken captive by the Babylonians—He tells of the coming among the Jews of a Messiah, a Savior, a Redeemer—Lehi tells also of the coming of the one who should baptize the Lamb of God—Lehi tells of the death and resurrection of the Messiah—He compares the scattering and gathering of Israel to an olive tree—Nephi speaks of the Son of God, of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of the need for righteousness. About 600–592 B.C.

1 And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon ^athese plates of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; wherefore, to proceed with mine account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my brethren.

2 For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his ^adream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews—

3 That after they should be destroyed, even that great city ^aJerusalem, and many be ^bcarried away captive into ^cBabylon, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should ^dreturn again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance.

4 Yea, even ^asix hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a ^bprophet would the Lord God raise up among the ^cJews—even a ^dMessiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had ^atestified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.

6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a ^alost and in a ^bfallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.

7 And he spake also concerning a ^aprophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—

8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: ^aPrepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.

9 And my father said he should baptize in ^aBethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should ^bbaptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.

10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the ^aLamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.

11 And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the ^adwindling of the Jews in ^bunbelief. And after they had ^cslain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should ^drise from the dead, and should make himself ^emanifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.

12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an ^aolive tree, whose ^bbranches should be broken off and should be ^cscattered upon all the face of the earth.

13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the ^aland of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

14 And after the house of ^aIsrael should be scattered they should be ^bgathered together again; or, in fine, after the ^cGentiles had received the fulness of the ^dGospel, the natural branches of the ^eolive tree, or the ^fremnants of the house of ^gIsrael, should be grafted in, or ^hcome to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.

15 And after this manner of language did my father prophesy and speak unto my brethren, and also many more things which I do not write in this book; for I have written as many of them as were expedient for me in mine ^aother book.

16 And all these things, of which I have spoken, were done as my father dwelt in a ^atent, in the valley of Lemuel.

For further study I have copied parts of the Student Manuals for Seminary and Institute for any who want them all in one spot. They are available in the Gospel Library App and on the Church's website. If you read them in one of those spots you can make your own notes and record your own insights and the scriptures now have Book of Mormon videos linked IN the actual scriptures via a photo icon in the margins for a visual aid.

Seminary Student Manual

1 Nephi 10:1–16

Lehi prophesies

After relating his vision of the tree of life, Lehi prophesied about future events. His prophecies are recorded in 1 Nephi 10:1–16. Read 1 Nephi 10:4–6, and mark the answers to the following questions in your scriptures:

• When did Lehi prophesy that the Messiah—the Savior—would come?
• What did Lehi say would happen to those who do not “rely on this Redeemer”?

Institute Student Manual

1 Nephi 10:11–14. Scattering and Gathering of Israel

• Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained why Israel was scattered and what some of the considerations are in the gathering of Israel:
  “Why was Israel scattered? The answer is clear; it is plain; of it there is no doubt. Our Israelite forebears were scattered because they rejected the gospel, defiled the priesthood, forsook the church, and departed from the kingdom. They were scattered because they turned from the Lord, worshipped false gods, and walked in all the ways of the heathen nations. … Israel was scattered for apostasy. The Lord in his wrath, because of their wickedness and rebellion, scattered them among the heathen in all the nations of the earth.
  “What, then, is involved in the gathering of Israel? The gathering of Israel consists in believing and accepting and living in harmony with all that the Lord once offered his ancient chosen people. It consists of having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, of repenting, of being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of keeping the commandments of God. It consists of believing the gospel, joining the Church, and coming into the kingdom. It consists of receiving the holy priesthood, being endowed in holy places with power from on high, and receiving all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through the ordinance of celestial marriage. And it may also consist of assembling to an appointed place or land of worship.
  “Having this concept of the scattering and gathering of the chosen seed, we are able to understand the prophetic word relative thereto” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 515).
• For more information on the scattering of Israel, refer to “Brief History of the Scattering of Israel” in the appendix (page 415). For more information on the gathering of Israel, refer to “The Gathering of Israel” in the appendix (page 416).

1 Nephi 9 in more depth

1 Nephi 9

Why did Nephi make two sets of plates?

The Lord’s “wise purpose” in having Nephi create two records became clear centuries later. After Joseph Smith translated the first 116 manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon, he gave the pages to Martin Harris, who lost them (see Doctrine and Covenants 10:1–23). But Nephi’s second set of plates covered the same time period, and the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to translate these plates rather than retranslate what had been lost (see Doctrine and Covenants 10:38–45).

For more about the plates mentioned in 1 Nephi 9, see “A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon”; 1 Nephi 19:1–5; 2 Nephi 5:29–32; and Words of Mormon 1:3–9.

Scriptures

CHAPTER 9

Nephi makes two sets of records—Each is called the plates of Nephi—The larger plates contain a secular history; the smaller ones deal primarily with sacred things. About 600–592 B.C.

1 And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the ^avalley of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates.

2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the ^aplates [IE the full account is on larger plates; the special account of his ministry is on the smaller plates of Nephi. See Jacob 3:13–14. See also 1 Ne. 1:17 (16–17); 6:1; 10:1; 19:2, 4; Omni 1:1; W of M 1:3 (2–11); D&C 10:38 (38–40).] upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi.

3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special ^apurpose that there should be an account engraven of the ^bministry of my people.

4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the ^aother plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.

5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a ^awise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.

6 But the Lord ^aknoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all ^bpower unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.

For Further Study I've copied sections from the Student Manuals for Seminary and Institute. These can be found in the Gospel Library App (where you can also make notes) or online, but if you want everything in one stop without opening multiple windows, I've provided them here.

Seminary Student Manual

1 Nephi 9

Nephi makes two sets of plates

In 1 Nephi 9 (see also chapter 6), Nephi explained that he was commanded to make two sets of records—these are known as the small plates and the large plates of Nephi. The small plates were to contain the sacred history of his people—the ministry of the prophets and the revelations of the Lord—and the large plates were to contain the secular history (see 1 Nephi 9:2–4). Nephi used the phrases “these plates” and “other plates” to refer to the two sets of plates the Lord commanded him to make. In the margin of your scriptures by 1 Nephi 9, write a note like the following to help you remember which set of plates Nephi was referring to: “these plates” = small plates (sacred); “other plates” = large plates (secular).

As you study the Book of Mormon you will come to understand why Nephi kept two sets of records. Nephi was inspired to make an abridgement, a shortened version, of his father’s account (found in 1 Nephi 1–8) on the small plates. Nearly 1,000 years later the prophet Mormon was directed by the Lord to include the small plates of Nephi with the gold plates (see Words of Mormon 1:7). Both men did not know why they were to do what they did (see 1 Nephi 9:5), but they followed the Lord’s command.

6. 
   As you read 1 Nephi 9 in your personal study, reflect upon and record in your scripture study journal why it is important to obey the Lord even when we don’t fully understand His reasons.

Institute Student Manual

1 Nephi 9:1–5. “A Wise Purpose”

• Although Nephi had already begun a record of the secular history of his people, the Lord inspired him to make a second record containing the religious history of his people. The following list clarifies the differences and similarities between the two accounts:
  1. Verses 1–5 in 1 Nephi 9 are an account taken directly from the small plates.
  2. When Nephi used the term these he was referring to the small plates.
  3. When Nephi used the term those or other he was referring to the large plates.
  4. The large plates were first made about 590 B.C.
  5. The small plates were made 20 years later, about 570 B.C.
  6. Nephi’s explanation of why the Lord commanded him to make a second record (the small plates) is in 1 Nephi 9:5.
  7. The large plates cover a period from 570 B.C.–A.D. 385 and cover the account of kings, wars, and history.
  8. The small plates cover a period from 570–130 B.C. and give an account of the Nephite ministry.
  Although Nephi did not know the reason for the duplicate record, he trusted that it was “for a wise purpose” (1 Nephi 9:5) that was known to the Lord (see commentary for Words of Mormon 1:7 on page 134).
• Elder Marvin J. Ashton (1915–94) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed that we can obey as Nephi did, even when we do not understand the reason: “Sometimes when we are asked to be obedient, we do not know why, except the Lord has commanded. Nephi followed instructions even though he didn’t fully understand the wise purpose. His obedience resulted in blessings to mankind all over the world. By not obeying our present-day leaders, we plant our seeds in stony places and may forfeit the harvest” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1978, 76; or Ensign, Nov. 1978, 51).

1 Nephi 9:6. “The Lord Knoweth All Things”

• Elder Neal A. Maxwell testified that there is no limit to God’s knowledge:
  “Some have sincere faith in the existence of a God but not necessarily in a revealing and omniscient God. Other sincere individuals question God’s omniscience, wondering, even though respectfully, whether even God can know the future. But an omniscient and revealing God can at any present moment disclose things future. This is possible because ‘in the presence of God, … all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord’ (D&C 130:7). Thus God ‘knoweth all things, for all things are present before [his] eyes’ (D&C 38:2). He told Moses, ‘There is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all’ (Moses 1:6).
  “No qualifiers on the scope of God’s knowledge appear in holy writ. Instead, we read: ‘O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.’ (2 Nephi 9:20.)” (If Thou Endure It Well [1996], 46).