Redaction: After affirming the present reality of prophecy, Nephi admonishes his readers to put their lives in order. From a purely literary standpoint, these verses are an aside that might be seen as detracting from the story to come. For Nephi, however, they describe the very reason for what is to come. Nephi’s experience with the Spirit was not the first spiritual experience of his life, but it certainly was the most intense. It established him (personally, if not in the group) as a recipient of revelation. He is asserting his credentials to speak: He is a man of God, one acquainted with the ultimate mission of the Atoning Messiah, and one who has received Yahweh’s will. These are strong claims on the reader to hearken to what he will say.
Text: There is no chapter break here in the 1830 edition.