1 Nephi 1

Jehovah

And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly. 1 Nephi 1:6

A pillar of fire is how Jehovah showed His presence to Israel in the wilderness. Lehi's call begins with the same sign of the premortal Lord's presence.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Exodus 13:21 — The LORD went before Israel by night in a pillar of fire.

Jesus Christ

And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God. 1 Nephi 1:8–10

Lehi sees God the Father on His throne, then "One" coming down from heaven, brighter than the noonday sun, with twelve following Him. This is the Son of God and His Twelve Apostles. The unnamed "One" works as a hidden title.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quoted by Alma 36:22 — Alma quotes Lehi's vision of God on His throne surrounded by numberless concourses of angels.

Jesus Christ

And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read. 1 Nephi 1:11

"The first" most naturally means the One who led the twelve, so Christ Himself gives Lehi the book of prophecy and tells him to read. The wording could also mean the first of the twelve, which is why confidence is medium.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Ezekiel 2:9-10 — Ezekiel's prophetic call also comes with a book handed to him from heaven, written with lamentation and woe.

Jehovah

And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish! 1 Nephi 1:14

Lehi praises the Lord God Almighty, the premortal Jehovah, for His mercy: none who come unto Him will perish. "Come unto" Him is the invitation the whole Book of Mormon later centers on Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Revelation 15:3 — The song of Moses and the Lamb uses the same praise: "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty."

Messiah

Messiah — the Anointed One

And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world. 1 Nephi 1:19

Lehi openly prophesies that a Messiah will come and redeem the world, and this is the testimony that made the Jews angry. It is the first time the Book of Mormon names Christ by title.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him

• the same title in 1 Nephi 10:4 — Nephi gives Lehi's fuller prophecy: a Messiah, a Savior of the world, would be raised up among the Jews.
• fulfilled by Luke 2:11 — The angel announces the birth of a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Jehovah

And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. 1 Nephi 1:20

Nephi states the theme of his record: the Lord's tender mercies give the faithful power to be delivered. The deliverances that follow in his book show that same Lord at work.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by 1 Nephi 8:8 — Lehi prays for mercy according to the multitude of the Lord's tender mercies.