1 Nephi 7

Faith in Christ

Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him. 1 Nephi 7:12–13

Nephi teaches his brothers that the Lord works mighty things for those who exercise faith in Him. It is an early statement of the first principle, faith in the Lord.

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

Jehovah the Deliverer

But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound. 1 Nephi 7:17–18

Nephi prays to the Lord in faith, and his bands are loosed. It shows the "power of deliverance" Nephi promised to show in 1 Nephi 1:20, and it gently pictures the Lord who looses every kind of band.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• fulfils 1 Nephi 1:20 — Nephi promised to show that the Lord's tender mercies make the faithful mighty unto the power of deliverance.

Sacrifice as a similitude

And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him. 1 Nephi 7:22

The united families offer sacrifice and burnt offerings. Under the law these offerings pointed forward to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

• interpreted by Moses 5:7 — Sacrifice is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.