1 Nephi 2

Jehovah

For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life. 1 Nephi 2:1–2

The Lord, Jehovah, speaks to Lehi in a dream, blesses him, and commands him to take his family into the wilderness. In Latter-day Saint understanding, the premortal Christ is the one guiding Lehi's family.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Sacrifice as a similitude

And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God. 1 Nephi 2:7

Lehi's first act in the wilderness is an altar and an offering. Under the law of Moses, sacrifice was a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten, so this worship points to Christ.

• interpreted by Moses 5:7 — The angel explains that sacrifice is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.

Creator

And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them. 1 Nephi 2:12

Laman and Lemuel murmur because they do not know the God who created them. The Book of Mormon later names Jesus Christ as the Creator of all things, under the Father's direction.

• interpreted by Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ is called the Creator of all things from the beginning.

Jehovah

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. 1 Nephi 2:16

Young Nephi prays, and the Lord visits him and softens his heart so he believes his father's testimony, including the testimony of the Messiah. The text does not say whether this visit was seen or felt.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Jehovah

And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart. 1 Nephi 2:19–24

The Lord speaks to Nephi in the first person. He makes the covenant promise that shapes the whole Book of Mormon: keep My commandments and you will prosper in a land of promise. This is the premortal Christ, who later visits these same people in that land.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• quoted by 1 Nephi 4:14 — Nephi recalls these words of the Lord before he obtains the brass plates.