1 Nephi 15:1-15

Chapter 15

Lehi's seed are to receive the gospel from the Gentiles in the latter days—The gathering of Israel is likened unto an olive tree whose natural branches shall be grafted in again—Nephi interprets the vision of the tree of life and speaks of the justice of God in dividing the wicked from the righteous. About 600–592 B.C.

The vision ended and Nephi returned to Lehi’s tent.  When he arrived, his brethren were arguing with each other about Lehi’s words.[1] 

Lehi’s words were hard to understand unless you asked the Lord what they meant.  Paul wrote:

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth [GR explores, investigates] all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  even so the things of God knoweth no man, but [JST 1 Cor. 2:11 ... except he has] the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10 - 12

The problem was that his brethren had hardened their hearts and would not ask the Lord.  This saddened Nephi, considering what he had seen about the future of his people.  He had seen the destruction of his people.  Now he has to face his bickering brothers.

He went to them and asked what the problem was.  They were arguing over Lehi’s words.  They could not understand what he taught.  Nephi responded, “Have ye inquired of the Lord?” (1 Nephi 15:8).  They had not “for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us” (1 Nephi 15:9) ["because we are not prophets," in other words[2]].

Why, Nephi asks, won’t you keep the Lord’s commandments?  Why will you perish rather than turn to the Lord?  The Lord promised that, if you ask in faith, keeping His commandments, you will receive an answer.  James would later write:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth [GR reproaches, censures] not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering [GR doubting, hesitating].  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:5 - 6

Nephi explains to them about the olive tree.^[3]  The house of Israel, Nephi explains, is the olive tree.  They are now broken off from the olive tree, a branch of the house of Israel. 

He clarifies that Lehi’s vision deals with “the grafting in of the natural braches through the fullness of the Gentiles” (1 Nephi 15:13) in future days, when our people will dwindle in unbelief, after Christ’s mortal ministry,

After Christ’s ministry, the day will come when our descendants will know of their relationship to the house of Israel.  “And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews. And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers” (2 Nephi 30:4 - 5). 

They will learn “that they are the covenant people of the Lord” (1 Nephi 15:14).  They will also learn they are the covenant people of the Lord and they will learn about their ancestors.  Jacob would later teach, “this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people” (Jacob 3:6).

Most importantly, “they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved” (1 Nephi 15:14).  “According to these prophetic words, the descendants of Lehi will lose their awareness of the covenant; nevertheless, at a future date they will learn of it, embrace it, and gather to the Lord so that he can protect and save them.”[4]

Noel Reynolds adds:

While explaining the great vision that he and his father Lehi had experienced during their first camp in the wilderness, Nephi prophesied to his brothers that the time would arrive when their own descendants would come again "to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved" (1 Nephi 15:14).[5]

“And then at that day will the1y not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting God, their rock and their salvation?  Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine?  Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God?” (1 Nephi 15:15).

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[1] Nephi does not identify who these brethren are.  Was it just Laman and Lemuel?  Was Sam involved?  What about the sons of Ishmael?  We don’t know.

[2] The Book of Mormon and Dialogic Revelation, Terryl L. Givens, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 13, 2013.

[3] For a more complete discussion about Nephi’s words, see Nephite Uses and Interpretations of Zenos
Noel B. Reynolds, the section headed Nephi.

[4] Treaties and Covenants: Ancient Near Eastern Legal Terminology in the Book of Mormon, Stephen D. Ricks, and RoseAnn Benson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 13, 2013.

[5] The True Points of My Doctrine, Noel B. Reynolds, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 13, 2013.