1 Nephi 10

1 Nephi 10

1 Nephi 10:  1-6

things of my father and brethern.......................Nephi wants to make sense of his family division
made an end............................................Lehi ends his speech about the dream and his family situation
great city destroyed..................................the prophecy of the fall of Jerusalem and enslavement
return again.............................................the enslavement period will eventually end
possess the land......................................the nation will be reestablished
600 years, a Messiah....................................Christ will be born in 600 years
the Redeemer..........................................because of mankind's fallen state, the Redeemer necessary
how many.............................................the prophets all point to the Christ, everyone of them

Lehi teaches his sons what will take place for the next 600 years.

1 Nephi 10: 7-10

a forerunner to the Christ..................................John the Baptist
Prepare ye the way.............................................His mission was to prepare the world for Christ's ministry
I am not worthy..........................................this great prophet will teach with great humility
he standeth................................................will be a contemporary of the Messiah prophet
baptize in Bethabara..........................................a prophecy of the Aaronic Priesthood.  A great "bishop"
baptize the Messiah...........................................his great calling,
the great sign..............................................John the Baptist will recognize the Lord and receive a witness
take away the sins of the world............................Christ will redeem all his true followers

Lehi mentions the culmination of the work of the faith/religion before the advent of the Lord.  John will finish off the pre-Messianic age, the greatest of all the prior prohets.  At the moment of the Lord's arrival to his mission, he will receive a witness.

1 Nephi 10: 11-12

dwindling in unbelief.....................................the children of Israel will have strayed far from the gospel
slain the Messiah.........................................these children will actually kill the Messiah
rise from the dead.....................................Christ will be the first to resurrect
manifest in the Spirit.......................................the Holy Ghost will make the Lord known to true seekers

The earthly mission of the Lord will end in the Lord's death and resurrection.  These necessary events will lead the way for all men to enjoy the atonement.

1 Nephi 10: 13-16

what is expedient.......................................Nephi can write more.  He elects not to.  He will chose what he feels is necessary for his record
house scattered......................................many years into the future, the children of Israel will be scattered all over the earth
Olive tree...............................................a symbol of the House of Israel.  Many parables about the olive
in a tent.................................................this event, like others, occurs during the first encampment

Some of the purpose of Nephi's writings in the record are to aid in the reassembling of the House of Israel at a much later date.

1 Nephi 10: 17-

Nephi curious.........................................seeks a spiritual witness of what he has learned
gift of the Holy Ghost................................a gift predicated on the diligence of the person who seeks the Spirit
same yesterday, today, and forever.......................the Lord words according to the eternal law
repent............................................Universally decreed to be the foundation for forgiveness and eternal life
shall find........................................promise, those diligent receive the witness
mysteries of God.............................can tap into eternal blessings that surpass all earthly gifts
eternal round....................................it doesn't matter when one does this,  all may experience it
remember justice................................the Lord will judge all men.  therefore repent and receive forgiveness
sought to do wickedly..........................if a person has not intention of repenting, he will suffer
no unclean thing..................................only the forgiven can stand blameless before God
Holy Ghost gives authority........................the witness of Nephi borne.  We can have the same

Nephi makes it clear how he heard the teachings of his father and received a witness about it.  He has a testimony in Christ and the other details about his future coming and purpose.  He expounds that all people can receive a similar testimony through the Holy Ghost.  Ultimately, we need the testimony for the Savior to perfect our eternal lives.

This chapter makes it clear that the Book of Mormon is primarily about gaining and maintaining a testimony of the Lord and his mission.