“They Did Point the Finger of Scorn at Me”

Brant Gardner

The vision returns to an intimate setting here. The vision began with the family, expanded to the entire world, and returns to the family. When the vision concludes by stressing the difference between sons who partook of the fruit and sons who did not, it becomes clear why Lehi prefaces his account with concern for Laman and Lemuel.

Redaction: Nephi makes an interesting editorial slip in verse 33. He has reported the dream in Lehi’s words and apparently has played no significant role in it, except to partake of the fruit. However, the mockers point scornfully “at me and those that were partaking.” Because Nephi tells his father’s experiences as background for his own experiences, he is replicating the pattern here of first drawing on Lehi’s account, then explaining its personal connection to him. Thus, he tells the story of Laban in great detail precisely because it was so important to him. Likewise, Nephi begins with a reasonably faithful narrative of his father’s vision but concludes hurriedly, anxious to get on with his real purpose, which is discussing his own vision. Unconsciously, he shifts himself into the narrator’s position.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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