Nephi has born a powerful testimony of the mission of the atoning Messiah. It was a sermon that was not given to support those who already knew and lived it, but one to guide those who needed it. That such guidance was needed is clear in this closing. Nephi is “left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men.” Nephi appears to be coming to the end of his life, and this sad statement suggests that all is not well in his community. If his Nephite nature were living well according to the narrow path of the Messiah, if they were doing the law of Moses, he might not have needed to preach it so completely, and he would not have had such reason to mourn. This sad view of the state of his nation will become more apparent when we see that people in the book of Jacob.
In verse 8, Nephi grieves to have to tell the people that they should pray. It is the evil spirit that teaches not to pray, and it appears that was not a theoretical opposition. Rather, it appears that it is the rule that Nephi wishes would be contradicted by seeking the Spirit through prayer.
Finally, Nephi declares that the Father would “consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” Once again, Nephi insists that the doctrine of Christ is not about what we believe, but what we do to progress along the path to eternal life. Standing still, while believing that there is an end, will not reach that end.