Lehi is only days from death. This amounts to his deathbed testimony or sermon. The content, as expected, is a last minute plea to his wayward sons. Lehi has lectured them several times in the past but to little avail. Nephi has previously recorded, he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words (1 Nephi 8:37). Lehi longed for the day when his sons would return to the Lord, like the prodigal son. He longed to celebrate their return, to "kill the fatted calf" for them. Unfortunately, this day never came.