KnoWhy #442 - Why Did Nephi Want to Know the Mysteries of God? (1 Nephi 2:16)

1 Nephi 2:16 states that Nephi wanted to know the “mysteries of God.” When this is understood in its ancient context, it seems likely that Nephi specifically wanted to know the information his father had learned from the Lord in 1 Nephi 1. In this chapter, Lehi stated that he “thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels” (1 Nephi 1:8). In Lehi’s time, a vision like this meant that the prophet was being allowed into the divine council, where he would receive his call and learn what he needed to say to the people. The decrees of this council were referred to as the “mysteries of God.”