Nephi ended a section where Lehi had attempted to encourage Laman and Lemuel, but Laman and Lemuel showed that they followed Jerusalem rather than their father. That segment ended with the statement that “my father dwelt in a tent.”
The new part of the story contrasts Nephi with both Laman and Lemuel. Nephi will begin to build his case that even though he is a younger son, it will be he who fulfills the expected roles of family leadership. Nephi is the antithesis of Laman and Lemuel. It is possible that Nephi also had periods of melancholy on their difficult journey in the wilderness, but he will not write that part of his story. Nephi is writing with a purpose that pushes gray into darker black, and makes white whiter.
Where Laman and Lemuel call their father a visionary man, Nephi calls upon Yahweh to verify their father’s mission. The message is simple, he says “I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.” Nephi tells Sam, and Sam believes. That will be Sam’s narrative function. He will recognize the truth and support Nephi. We hear little more of him than that.
In expected contrast, Nephi says the same to Laman and Lemuel as he did to Sam. Sam believed. Laman and Lemuel would not hearken.