These verses summarize their total time in the wilderness, eight years. They enumerate both their afflictions and their blessings as they head nearly eastward from then on. Nephi also gives us another precept, or what he wants us to learn from the past eight years in the wilderness. (v. 3)
While the commandments of God must be kept, it must be remembered that we have our agency and do not personally have to keep the commandments. If we do not keep the commandments the Lord has given us, he will get someone else to fulfill the things we were commanded to do. Even the Prophet Joseph was so warned: “Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall” (D&C 3:9).
The Lord brought Lehi’s people through the wilderness in spite of the opposition of many. When Laman failed to live up to his foreordained leadership role, the Lord had Nephi “waiting in the wings” so to speak. Our foreordained mission in this life is also based upon our keeping the commandments here and now.