1 Nephi 4

Jehovah

And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands? 1 Nephi 4:1–3

Nephi strengthens his brothers by remembering the Lord who parted the Red Sea for Moses and brought Israel out of captivity. Paul teaches that the Lord who led Israel through the sea was Christ, and the crossing itself is a type of deliverance and baptism.

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

• alludes to Exodus 14:21-22 — The LORD divides the Red Sea and Israel goes through on dry ground.
• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 — Israel passed through the sea, and the Rock that followed them was Christ.

Jehovah

And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise. 1 Nephi 4:14

At the crisis point, Nephi remembers the Lord's own covenant words. What settles his decision is the voice of the premortal Christ.

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

• quotes 1 Nephi 2:20 — The original promise the Lord spoke to Nephi.

The law of Moses pointing to Christ

Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law. 1 Nephi 4:15–16

Nephi's people need the law of Moses. Later Nephites teach that they kept that law while looking forward to Christ, because all of it pointed to Him.

• interpreted by 2 Nephi 25:24-25 — Nephi's people keep the law of Moses and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ until the law is fulfilled.