Nephi begins with rhetorical questions that serve as accusations. The first question is how Laman and Lemuel could not hearken unto Jehovah’s word. The obvious response to this is that Laman and Lemuel are not much different from so many of us who have heard God’s word and not obeyed it. This is not a particularly powerful question, but it is only the introduction of the theme.
Nephi asks how it is that they have forgotten that they have seen an angel. Certainly, they have not forgotten. It is not the seeing that they have forgotten, but the message. This would be the incident we would most expect to have had an impact on Laman and Lemuel, yet somehow, they have managed to forget the message. Again, as would most of us, they probably find some way to rationalize the experience so that it becomes more mundane and loses its previous spiritual power.
When Nephi asks if they have forgotten what Jehovah did for them when they obtained the plates of brass, he is using a strong example from his life, but perhaps one that was not so strong for his brothers. The most miraculous events happened out of the brothers’ vision and knowledge. For Nephi, the experience was formative. For the brothers, it simply happened.
Nephi’s argument concludes by using the idea that Jehovah has directly intervened in their lives, and is powerful to do all things. The conclusion is “wherefore, let us be faithful to him.” When Nephi encourages them to be faithful, he is urging action, not belief. For Nephi, faithfulness lies in the doing. Remember that he had said that he would “go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded” (1 Nephi 3:7).