Text: This verse begins chapter 3 in the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon and marks a shift in narrative focus from Lehi to Nephi. In the current edition’s chapter 9 (1879–1981) Nephi explained that the purpose of these plates was to record things of spiritual worth. Given that aim, it is significant that he records Lehi’s description of his tree of life vision in chapter 8, then interjects his explanation of the plates in chapter 9, and then reports Lehi’s exposition of his vision in chapter 10. When Nephi inserted our current chapter 9, he did so to let us understand why this record exists. That insertion was placed in the text to highlight what comes next. Nephi was told to write about “the ministry” (1 Ne. 9:3–4). When Nephi picks up again, he is therefore noting the most important part of that “ministry,” the teaching of the Atoning Messiah. (See commentary accompanying 1 Nephi 9:1 for more information on the reason for inserting the text of our chapter 9.)
Nephi told us that he did not write all of his father’s vision (1 Ne. 8:29). After the specifics of the vision, Nephi records Lehi as covering some important topics, but not necessarily in the context of the Tree of Life dream. Lehi speaks of the Messiah, covering his birth, baptism, mission, and death (1 Ne. 10:4–11). This will be the theme of Nephi’s vision, recounted in 1 Nephi 11:13–34. Lehi discusses the future of Israel (1 Ne. 10:12–13). Nephi covers this topic in our chapter 12. The difference, however, is that Lehi’s Israelites are in the Old World, and Nephi’s are in the New. Lehi sees that the future Gentiles will come to know the Messiah (1 Ne. 10:14). Nephi sees the future of the Gentiles as they bear upon his descendants (1 Ne. 13–14).
Nephi doesn’t give us enough information to be able to tell if his father saw these things just as Nephi did. However, the fact that Lehi speaks of the same themes as those that appear in Nephi’s vision strongly suggests that the part of Lehi’s vision that Nephi did not cover was this more prophetic and less symbolic section dealing with a vision of the future. In that prophetic experience, however, it appears that Nephi’s vision was more focused on the future of Lehi’s descendants in the New World, and Lehi’s was more general to the Old World.
History: Nephi serves a dual role in this early community as both ruler (“reign”) and spiritual leader (“ministry”). Both roles emerge from the character he developed throughout the struggle of the journey where he provided, against continuous resistance, both political and spiritual leadership. It is important to remember that cultures of this period, including the early Lehites, did not differentiate between spiritual and temporal matters. Furthermore, the spiritual concerns articulated first by Lehi sent them on their journey, shaped their physical survival, and brought them to a new and unknown land.