In view of the visions that followed directly after Lehi (and Nephi) searched the plates of brass “from the beginning” (1 Nephi 5:10), Lehi and Nephi probably received their visions while pondering, studying, and trying to convey the message of the brass plates to others. The visions that followed these scriptures undoubtedly added to their spiritual insight and made them great teachers (D&C 33:8) of gospel principles. In the same way, visions and revelations were granted to Joseph Smith (see the headings in the D&C).
Chronologically speaking, one might wonder how much time it took Lehi and Nephi to read through the gospel teachings contained in the Brass Plates. Nephi mentions that the plates of brass contained:
1. The five books of Moses (1 Nephi 5:11)
2. A record of the Jews up to the reign of Zedekiah (1 Nephi 5:12)
3. Prophecies of the holy prophets to Jeremiah (1 Nephi 5:13)
4. A genealogy of Lehi’s ancestors (1 Nephi 5:14)
It is interesting to note that when prophesying about the Bible, Nephi said that it was “a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many … [in the Bible]” (1 Nephi 13:23). [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See the commentary on 1 Nephi 13:23] [See Appendix A]
1 Nephi 5:10 He did search [the records] from the beginning ([Illustration] “Lehi took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning,” by A&OR. [W. Cleon Skousen, Treasures from the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1, p. 1062]
1 Nephi 5:10 Lehi took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and did search them from the beginning ([Illustration] Lehi Studying the Plates of Brass. Lehi “found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph.” Artist: Clark Kelley Price [Thomas R. Valletta ed., The Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families, 1999, p. 16]
1 Nephi 5:10 Lehi took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning ([Illustration] Lehi Studying the Plates of Brass. Artist: Clark Kelley Price. [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Ensign, January 1988, p. 28]