Now we will commence our study of the Book of Mormon. We start with the opening chapter written by the brilliant young prophet named Nephi. He begins by telling us something about himself. Here is Wendell Noble.
Nephi turns out to be a very modest biographer. In this first verse he pays tribute to his parents and then tells us only two things about himself. First, Nephi says he suffered many afflictions, but he doesn't tell us he was almost murdered five times -- four times by his own brothers. He doesn't tell us about nearly starving to death during an eight-year journey through the Saudi Arabian wilderness. He doesn't tell us about building a ship and traveling half way round the world.
He also sweeps over his fantastic spiritual experiences by simply saying he was highly favored of the Lord. But it is only later that we find out that he was shown 2600-2700 years of future world history. He saw everything the prophet Isaiah saw. He saw the life and ministry and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He saw the restoration of the gospel in the latter days. Here is one of the truly great prophets in all scriptural history.