In his first book (1 Nephi), Nephi repeatedly focuses on his relationship with his father Lehi. He repeats the theme that he was not only obedient and "did believe all the words which had been spoken by [his] father" (1 Nephi 2:16, 11:5), but that he sought to know the things which his father knew (1 Nephi 2:16, 10:17; 11:3). Furthermore, he repeatedly parallels his own experiences with those of his father Lehi and testifies that both of them were obedient to all the commandments of the Lord (see 1 Nephi 16:8), and that it was through the Lord's power that they were able to accomplish what they did (see 1 Nephi 5:8). In emphasizing this covenant relationship, Nephi invites parallels not only to Abraham (1 Nephi 15:18) but to all "the fathers" (1 Nephi 3:19, 15:14). (It is worth noting that of Abraham, God said, "I know him, . . . he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord"--Genesis 18:19.) Most especially Nephi invites parallels to Christ himself.
Jeffrey R. Holland writes that the relationship between Christ and His Father is one of the sweetest and most moving themes running through the Savior's ministry. Jesus' entire being, His complete purpose and delight, were centered in pleasing His Father and obeying His will.
In all His mortal ministry Christ seems never to have had a single moment of vanity or self-interest. When one young man tried to call Him "good," He deflected the compliment, saying only one was deserving of such praise, His Father ( Luke 18:19).
In the early days of His ministry He said humbly, "I can of mine own self do nothing: . . . I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30).
Following His teachings, which stunned the audience with their power and authority, He would say: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. . . . I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true" (John 7:16, 28). Later he would say again, "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak" (John 12:49).
To those who wanted to see the Father, to hear from God directly that Jesus was what He said He was, He answered, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: . . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:7, 9). When Jesus wanted to preserve unity among His disciples, He prayed using the example of His own relationship with God: "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are [one]" (John 17:11).
Even as He moved toward the Crucifixion, He restrained His Apostles who would have intervened by saying, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11). In that most burdensome moment of all human history, with blood appearing at every pore and an anguished cry upon His lips, Christ sought Him whom He had always sought--His Father. "Abba," He cried, "Papa," or from the lips of a younger child, "Daddy" (Mark 14:36). When that unspeakable ordeal was finished, He uttered what must have been the most peaceful and deserved words of His mortal ministry. At the end of His agony, He whispered, "It is finished: . . . Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (John 19:30; Luke 23:46). [Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Hands of the Fathers," in the Ensign, May 1999, pp. 14-16]