1 Nephi 10

Nephi summarizes a conversation his father had with his brothers about the Jews and about Christ.

Vs 4-6 A Messiah, a Savior will "raise up" among the Jews. All men are lost save we rely on this Redeemer.

Vs 7-10 John the Baptist's mission is described

1. Cry in the wilderness to prepare for the Lord
2. Baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan
3. Behold and bear record that he baptized Christ

Vs 13-15 We gentiles are an olive tree, whose branches have been broken and scattered. We need to be led "with one accord" into the land of promise. This is the gathering, after the receiving of the fullness of the gospel. Before we can gather we must receive. Before we can help others come unto God, we must have made the journey ourselves.

Vs 16 "All this was done as my father dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel." Like Jacob in the Old Testament, who dwelt in a tent (Gen 25:27), Lehi of the BOM is going into the wilderness and starting a "New" tribe of Israel. The shortest verse in the BOM 1 Nephi 2:15, "and my father dwelt in a tent" again makes this same correlation. This phrase also helps divide 1 Nephi into 3 stories. The first story is fleeing Jerusalem, which ends in 1 Nephi 2:15. The second story ends in 1 Nephi 10:16 when they have retrieved the brass plates, gotten wives, and Lehi shares his visions with his family. The last narrative section ends in 1 Nephi 16:6 after Nephi himself shares with us his dreams and exhortations. Each unit consists of a prophetic experience and a result of that experience. The first unit focuses solely on Lehi. The second unit focuses on Nephi and Lehi. And the third unit focuses solely on Nephi. I think in fact, the chapter reads better if it ends here and the next one starts with vs 17. Try reading it this way, it seems to flow better, does it not?

Vs17 Now we see the shift towards Nephi and away from Lehi. Nephi is desirous to 1)see, 2)hear, and 3)know of these things. These are the three pillars of faith. They do not necessarily come in this order, nor do you always have all 3 at once, but I think eventually, the goal for all of us, is to have all three pillars. Usually I am in the hearing category of faith. I listen to talks, read talks, and discuss spiritual things. I often have point number 3 (to know), but rarely, do I have point number one. On occasion however, I have seen people living the gospel so purely, that I feel like I have seen a vision, and have completed the trifecta of faith.

Vs 18-19 God is the same throughout all time, meaning he will always forgive, he will always love, he will always call us out to be better, and we can always trust in His plan.