1 Nephi 11

Son of the most high God

Son of the most high God — the Son of the Father

And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired. 1 Nephi 11:6

The Spirit of the Lord shouts praise to God and blesses Nephi for believing in the Son of the most high God. Nephi's faith in Christ is the reason he is allowed to see the vision.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in 1 Nephi 10:17 — Nephi's faith on the Son of God, who was the Messiah.
• the same title in Luke 1:32 — Gabriel says the child shall be called the Son of the Highest.

Son of God

Son of God — the literal Son of the Father

And behold this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God. 1 Nephi 11:7

The sign promised to Nephi is that, after the tree, he will see a man come down from heaven and testify that He is the Son of God. The tree vision is meant to lead to Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to 1 Nephi 1:9 — Lehi saw One descending out of the midst of heaven.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 11:8 — The Nephites see a Man descending out of heaven.
• the same event in 1 Nephi 12:6 — Nephi sees the Lamb of God descending out of heaven to his seed.

Tree of Life

And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me: Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow. 1 Nephi 11:8–9

The tree of life is shown as pure and precious above all. As the chapter unfolds, its meaning (the love of God) is revealed through the birth of the Son of God, so the tree points to Christ as the greatest expression of God's love.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in 1 Nephi 8:10-11 — Lehi's tree whose fruit was white and most sweet.
• interpreted by 1 Nephi 11:21-22 — The Lamb of God is shown, then the tree is explained as the love of God.
• alludes to Alma 32:41-43 — The word planted grows into a tree springing up unto everlasting life; Alma 33:22-23 makes the seed faith in the Son of God.

Birth of the Son of God to a virgin

And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. 1 Nephi 11:13–18

Six hundred years early, Nephi sees Mary in Nazareth and is told she will be the mother of the Son of God 'after the manner of the flesh.' Jesus had a mortal mother and an immortal Father.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Isaiah 7:14 — A virgin shall conceive and bear a son.
• fulfilled by Luke 1:26-35 — Gabriel is sent to a virgin in Nazareth; the child shall be called the Son of God.
• the same event in Alma 7:10 — Alma foretells He shall be born of Mary, a virgin.
• the same event in Mosiah 3:8 — His mother shall be called Mary.

Condescension of God

And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? 1 Nephi 11:16–17

Condescension means coming down. The angel asks Nephi if he understands that God would come down: the Father giving His Son, and the Son leaving His glory to be born, live, and die among us. Nephi answers that God loves His children.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in 1 Nephi 11:26 — The angel shows the condescension of God again in Christ's ministry and death.
• alludes to John 3:16 — God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son.
• alludes to Mosiah 3:5 — The Lord Omnipotent shall come down from heaven among the children of men.

Lamb of God

Lamb of God — the sacrificial Lamb God provides

And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. 1 Nephi 11:20–21

Nephi sees the infant Jesus in Mary's arms, and the angel names Him the Lamb of God and the Son of the Eternal Father. Even as a baby, He is the Lamb who will be sacrificed for us.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in 1 Nephi 10:10 — Lehi's prophecy that John would bear record of the Lamb of God.
• the same title in John 1:29 — Behold the Lamb of God.
• the same title in 1 Nephi 13:40 — The Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father.

Tree of Life

And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? 1 Nephi 11:21–23

Right after seeing the Christ child, Nephi understands the tree: it is the love of God. The angel asked about the tree immediately after showing Jesus, teaching that God's love is most fully given in His Son.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to John 3:16 — God's love shown by giving His Only Begotten Son.
• interprets 1 Nephi 8:12 — Explains the fruit Lehi tasted that filled his soul with joy.
• the same title in Revelation 22:2 — The tree of life in the paradise of God.

Ministry

And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him. 1 Nephi 11:24

Nephi sees the Son of God living and teaching among people, and many worshipping Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Mosiah 3:5 — He shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles.
• fulfilled by Matthew 14:33 — They in the ship worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Fountain of living waters

And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God. 1 Nephi 11:25

The word of God leads to the fountain of living waters and the tree of life, both symbols of God's love. Placed between scenes of the Son of God's ministry, these symbols point to Christ, who calls Himself the living water.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to John 4:10-14 — Jesus offers living water springing up into everlasting life.
• the same title in Jeremiah 2:13 — The LORD is the fountain of living waters.
• interprets 1 Nephi 8:19-20 — Explains Lehi's rod of iron and the path to the tree.

Redeemer of the world

Redeemer — the one who buys back and frees

And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God! 1 Nephi 11:26–27

Nephi sees the condescension of God in the Redeemer of the world, the same one Lehi prophesied of, and the prophet John who went before Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in 1 Nephi 10:5 — Lehi spoke of this Redeemer of the world.
• fulfils 1 Nephi 10:7-8 — The prophet who would prepare the way of the Lord.

Baptism of Christ

And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove. 1 Nephi 11:27

Nephi sees the Lamb of God baptized by John, and the Holy Ghost descend upon Him in the form of a dove.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils 1 Nephi 10:9-10 — Lehi foretold that John would baptize the Messiah.
• the same event in Matthew 3:16 — The heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 31:8 — The Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a dove.

Ministry

And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them. 1 Nephi 11:28–29

Nephi sees Jesus teach with power, draw crowds, be rejected, and call twelve followers.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfilled by Luke 4:28-29 — The people of Nazareth thrust Him out of the city.
• the same event in John 1:11 — He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
• the same event in Luke 6:13 — He chose twelve, whom He named apostles.

Healing ministry

And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out. 1 Nephi 11:31

Nephi sees the Lamb of God heal the sick and cast out devils, showing His power over sickness and evil.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Mosiah 3:5-6 — Healing the sick and casting out devils.
• fulfilled by Matthew 4:24 — They brought the sick and those possessed with devils, and He healed them.

Son of the everlasting God

Son of the everlasting God — the Son of the Father

And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record. 1 Nephi 11:32

Nephi sees the Lamb of God arrested and put on trial. The irony is powerful: the Son of the everlasting God, who will judge the world, is judged by it.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfilled by Matthew 26:57 — They laid hold on Jesus and led Him to Caiaphas.
• the same event in Mosiah 15:6-7 — Abinadi: He shall be led, crucified, and slain.

Crucifixion

And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. 1 Nephi 11:33

Nephi sees Christ crucified and testifies that He died for the sins of the whole world.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils 1 Nephi 10:11 — Lehi foretold that they would slay the Messiah.
• the same event in 3 Nephi 27:14 — Jesus: my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross.
• the same event in John 3:14 — The Son of man must be lifted up as the serpent in the wilderness.

Lamb of God

Lamb of God — the sacrificial Lamb God provides

And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord. 1 Nephi 11:34–36

The angel calls the Twelve 'the apostles of the Lamb.' They belong to Christ, and those who fight against His witnesses will fall like the great and spacious building.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Revelation 21:14 — The twelve apostles of the Lamb.
• the same title in 1 Nephi 12:9 — The twelve apostles of the Lamb shall judge the twelve tribes.