Nephi mentions “visions” as answers to his prayers. He records no visions except for his lengthy vision of the tree of life, which probably was not at night, given that he was actively pondering Lehi’s vision. Does this statement suggest that Nephi had many other visions which he did not record, or does it suggest that he was being poetic rather than literal? It is also quite possible that he is quoting a phrase from his Old World inheritance which would interpret visions in the nighttime as modes of divine communication.
And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. (Gen. 46:2)
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up. (Job 4:12–15)
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. (Dan. 7:7)