Nephi’s conclusion answers the unarticulated (or at least unrecorded) resistance of Laman and Lemuel to his sermon. He knows that they have rebelled against similar teachings in the past and probably will reject what he has just said. Even though he has called them to repentance indirectly—leaving them to make personal application of the Isaiah passages that he considers so relevant—he here becomes blunt, leaving them without excuse. However successfully they might dismiss the authority of Nephi or Lehi, they cannot wave away the brass plates, a source even they must respect.
Rhetoric: Nephi complains of being weak in writing but powerful in speaking (2 Ne. 33:1). This particular sermon, even in written form, explains some of that power. He presents his theme, develops it with logical arguments that his audience must accept, reiterates his message with parallel concepts, and concludes with a clarifying summary. Although he is uncompromising in his message, he is not accusatory in tone. It seems clear to the reader that he is chastising Laman and Lemuel; but unless they are sufficiently sensitive to hear the message and act on it, they may miss the point of many of these passages. (See the commentary accompanying 1 Nephi 9:6 for how “and thus it is, amen” functions in Nephi’s prose.)
Text: With this chapter’s end, the book of 1 Nephi also concludes.