Why did Nephi Write this book?

There are some specific truths that Nephi hoped we would learn by reading this book. His introduction gives a brief overview of his family and their travels and struggles (see the paragraph under the book title, before chapter 1). He wrote that he would show “that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Nephi 1:20). He also explained that his purpose was to “write of the things of God” in order to “persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved” (1 Nephi 6:3–4; see also Jacob 1:1–4).



As you read 1 Nephi, therefore, be aware that he is teaching us to come unto Jesus Christ and be saved. He uses the experiences of his family to demonstrate the Lord’s power to save the faithful both in this life and in the life to come.