Literary: In the oral discourse Nephi has now arrived at the point in his sermon that he intends to commit the people to following the course he has outlined. This he begins by not only restating them, but by restating the authority by which he pronounces them. These are principles that were shown to Nephi. This phrase very clearly underlines the revelatory nature of what Nephi has taught, and thus the ultimate source is the Lord, and not Nephi.