1 Nephi 1:9-15

Lehi’s vision continues and he sees “God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.” 1 Nephi 1:8

He then sees “One” descending out of heaven and his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. The footnote in this verse refers to the first vision in Joseph Smith-History in the Pearl of Great Price. Verse 16 of Joseph Smith-History rehearses Joseph’s experience with the “thick darkness” that surrounded him prior to the Father and the Son appearing.

Please excuse my digression for a few minutes at this point. One of the great blessings of regular temple attendance, and serious inquiry of the Lord on the meaning of the Endowment, has been an understanding that the temple experience has many meanings. One that has become apparent to me is that the endowment is not only an allegory of Adam and Eve, but is also an allegory of our own existence: From the pre-existence, to this life, to returning to our Heavenly Father. I don’t think it is a mere coincidence that Lucifer is in the act of trying to destroy Adam and Eve just prior to the Father and the Son coming to meet Adam and Eve. I think it is a very similar circumstance to the power of darkness that overcame Joseph Smith prior to his vision. I haven’t yet concluded what the meaning of this is, but I don’t think it is a coincidence.

Lehi then appears to have seen the twelve apostles. I’m not sure of the significance of their brightness exceeding that of the stars. We all know the sun, moon, and stars are often compared to the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial kingdoms. I welcome thoughts on this idea.

Next Lehi is given a book. I’ve tried to do some research into what this book was but have been unable to find much. I did however, find the following at the Maxwell Institute:

Preserved in the Book of Mormon are seven of Lehi's inspired dreams and visions. Nephi mentions Lehi's dreams and visions being in his record: "[Lehi] hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams" (1 Nephi 1:16). Lehi himself considered that he was "a visionary man" (1 Nephi 5:4).

The earliest vision recorded in the Book of Mormon is the one that probably began Lehi's own record. Nephi describes it briefly: "As [Lehi] prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly. And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen" (1 Nephi 1:6-7). Nephi gives nothing more of the vision's content, but it may have included Lehi's call to the role of prophet, for soon afterward Lehi began to preach to the people (see v. 18; also 1 Nephi 2:1).

Nephi begins his summary of Lehi's second vision, the vision wherein he sees a book, by emphasizing that "being thus overcome with the Spirit, [Lehi] was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God" (1 Nephi 1:8). Lehi then saw "One descending out of the midst of heaven" and "twelve others following him" (1 Nephi 1:9-10).

Nephi continues: "The first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read" (1:11). Lehi then read of Jerusalem's wickedness and of its impending destruction. This same warning was the core message of other prophets in Lehi's time at Jerusalem (see 1 Nephi 1:4). Although Nephi does not mention it here, at some point in the vision Lehi also learned that the Messiah would come and save humankind: Lehi "testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world" (1 Nephi 1:19). Nephi also includes two apparent direct quotations from Lehi's record—his warning to Jerusalem (1 Nephi 1:13) and his psalm rejoicing in God's power and goodness (1 Nephi 1:14).

Much of what he read in the book was concerning the pending destruction of Jerusalem.

What is most impressive to me is the prayer that Lehi offers in verses 14-15.

14 And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish! 15 And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him.

It is my prayer that I can love and praise God as Lehi did. This only comes by honoring God and keeping his commandments. Only He can change my heart.