This statement comes after the return from Jerusalem. While Nephi does not give us the relative timing of their arrival in the valley and the two return trips to Jerusalem (for the plates and for Ishmael’s family), the logic of their situation suggests that those journeys occurred sooner rather than later after their arrival in this valley. If we make this assumption, the statement that they gathered seeds is somewhat problematic. The family would have brought seeds with them from Jerusalem, and they do not leave this location until we see the command to leave in 1 Nephi 16:9. Interestingly, 1 Nephi 16:11 mentions gathering seeds again. The most likely scenario explaining these two references to gathering seeds is that they occur at two different times. In this verse, we probably have an indication of the passage of a season in the valley after which seeds are gathered for the future years. Even though Nephi does not clearly tell us how much time has passed, it is possible that this verse was intended to serve that function. This would contrast with the seed gathering in 1 Nephi 16:11 that precedes their departure from the valley. That event took place perhaps a harvest season after this seed gathering.
Redaction: The 1830 edition does not have a chapter break here, but it is a logical place for one, as the 1879 edition reflects. This episode is clearly the end of one story and the beginning of another. Interestingly, this verse is intercalated between one large story (the successful recruiting of Ishmael’s family) and another (Lehi’s dream of the tree of life). Between these two large stories is a single verse. Why?
Until later in 2 Nephi, Nephi’s narrative combines the group’s history and his personal history, with events in the first category serving as a background for Nephi’s spiritual development. Verse 1 is part of that historical structure. Lehi’s dream and its effect on Nephi do not occur immediately after their arrival. On the contrary, probably considerable time passed. Verse 1 gives us a general impression of time passing and of the party’s activities in settling into their new existence.
Possibly, Laman’s and Lemuel’s rebellion prompted Lehi to pray, thus leading into his vision. In his own record, there might have been a causal relationship between their attack on Nephi and Lehi’s vision which confirmed that they had been distanced from the rest of the family.