The Spirit of the Lord Which was in Our Father

1 Nephi 15:12 - 18, NC 1 Nephi 4 par. 3

Behold, I say unto you that the house of Israel was compared unto an olive tree by the spirit of the Lord which was in our father. And behold, are we not broken off from the house of Israel? And are we not a branch of the house of Israel? And now the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the gentiles is that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief — yea, for the space of many years and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men — then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the gentiles, and from the gentiles unto the remnant of our seed. And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel and that they are the covenant people of the Lord. And then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers by him. Wherefore, 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. And then at that day, will they not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting God, their rock, and their salvation? Yea, at that day, will they not receive strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God? Behold, I say unto you, yea, they shall be numbered again among the house of Israel; they shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive tree, into the true olive tree; and this is what our father meaneth. And he meaneth that it will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the gentiles. And he meaneth that it shall come by way of the gentiles, that the Lord may shew his power unto the gentiles for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel. Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days, which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim 1 Nefi 4 par. 3

Behold, I say unto you that the house of Isra’el was compared unto an olive tree by the spirit of yhwh which was in our father. And behold, are we not broken off from the house of Isra’el? And are we 
not a branch of the house of Isra’el? And now the thing which our father means concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the Milo HaGoyim is that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief — yes, for the space of many years and many generations after the Mashiach shall be manifested in body unto the children of men — then shall the fulness of the besorah of the Mashiach come unto the Goyim, and from the Goyim unto the remnant of our seed. And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Isra’el and that they are the covenant people of yhwh. And then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the besorah of their Redeemer, which was taught unto their fathers by him. Wherefore, 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. And then at that day, will they not rejoice and give praise unto their El Olam, their rock, and their salvation?  Yes, at that day, will they not receive strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yes, will they not come unto the true fold of Elohim?  Behold, I say unto you, yes, they shall be numbered again among the house of Isra’el; they shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive tree, into the true olive tree; and this is what our father means. And he means that it will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the Goyim. And he means that it shall come by way of the Goyim, that yhwh may show his power unto the Goyim for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Y’hudim, or of the house of Isra’el. Wherefore, our father has not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Isra’el, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days, which covenant yhwh made to our father Avraham, saying, In your seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Can we see here that Nephi considers the words of his father Lehi to be scripture?

He makes the comment to his brothers that I say unto you that the house of Israel was compared unto an olive tree by the spirit of the Lord which was in our father.

This is what the Lord has declared about words spoken by the power of the spirit.

Firstly, my servant Orson was called by his ordinance to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the spirit of the living God, from people to people and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with and expounding all scriptures unto them. And behold and lo, this is an example unto all those who are ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth. And this is the example unto them that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the holy ghost. And whatever they shall speak, when moved upon by the holy ghost, shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O you my servants. (D&C 68:1 - 5, T&C 55 par. 1)

I don't know if Orson Hyde ever attained to what the Lord invited him to attain to, what the Lord is offering here, but I would like to apply what the Lord declared here to Lehi and Nephi to see if they came up to and qualified under the above revelation, because my present understanding is that the Lord does not change and all are alike to God.

What does the Lord mean about all those who are ordained unto this priesthood?

What is "this priesthood"?

What is priesthood period?

I would recommend that everyone read and re-read and study the transcript of the lecture on "Priesthood" given in the 40 Years in Mormonism series of lectures found for free as a PDF download at Denversnuffer.com in the downloads section.

How would someone know if they have been "ordained" unto "this priesthood" or if someone they are hearing from has been "ordained" unto "this priesthood"?

I believe that the scriptures give the absolute best examples to use as a measure for indicating whether one is in possession of "this priesthood" or not.

The Lord declares that whosoever has "this priesthood", they are given a mission to "go forth".

Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becomes every man who has been warned to warn his neighbor. Therefore, they are left without excuse and their sins are upon their own heads. He that seeks me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken. (D&C 88: 81 - 83, T&C 86 par. 15)

What happens if someone "goes forth" without having "this priesthood"?

Is it right or proper for someone to "go forth" based on their own initiative?

...Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips, for behold, verily I say that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord and use it in vain, having not authority. Wherefore, let the church repent of their sins and I the Lord will own them, otherwise they shall be cut off. (D&C 63:57 - 63, T&C 50 par. 14)

The Lord further declares that whosoever has "this priesthood" and is given a mission to "go forth" will speak as they are moved upon by the holy ghost.

Why would it be important for someone who has been sent forth to speak only as they are moved upon by the holy ghost?

Search these commandments for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I, the Lord, have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself. And though the heaven and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by my own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same. For behold and lo, the Lord is God and the spirit bears record, and the record is true, and the truth abides for ever and ever. Amen. (D&C 1:37 - 39, T&C 54 par. 7)

If the one of the Lord's servants speaks then the Lord is bound by those words, is He not?  The Lord has declared that it is the same whether the Lord speaks the words or whether the servants speak the words they are commanded to speak by the Lord.

Couldn't perilous unspeakable damage be done by a Servant of the Lord speaking outside of the bounds of the power of the holy ghost?

As I presently understand it, it is only by abiding by these things that the words of an individual actually become scripture, the will of the Lord, the words of the Lord, the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.

My present understanding is that only those who attain to this work are called by the Lord "His servants".

What do the scriptures have to say about all of this?

Are there examples given?

As we look at these things can we detect that Lehi and Nephi have attained to this work?

Would it be critically important to understand this in order to accept and receive knowledge that will truly save and reject anything that will not save?

Again, what about "priesthood" or "this priesthood"?

I mentioned that I believe that the scriptures are the best teachers concerning "this priesthood".  They allow us a clearer understanding of what "priesthood" is?

What does the Lord say concerning "this priesthood"?

And also, all they who receive this Priesthood receive me, says the Lord, for he that receives my servants receives me, and he that receives me receives my Father, and he that receives my Father receives my Father’s kingdom; therefore, all that my Father has shall be given unto him. And this is according to the oath and the covenant which belongs to the Priesthood. Therefore, all those who receive the Priesthood receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved. But whoever breaks this covenant after he has received it, and altogether turns therefrom, shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come, and all those who come not unto this Priesthood which you have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, namely the twenty-third day of September, A.D. 1832, eleven high priests, save one, by my own voice out of the Heavens. And even I have given the Heavenly host and my angels charge concerning you. (D&C 84:35 - 42, T&C 82 par. 17)

The Lord here states that all who "receive this Priesthood" receives Him.

What does it mean to "receive" the Lord?

How does one come to "receive" the Lord?

The Lord declared that whoever receives "His servants" receives Him.

It appears that one must receive "His servants" before they are able to receive Him.

We have talked above about servants. Who are His servants?

"For he that receiveth my servants receive me." [I suggested in Centerville that the word "servants" in this context meant angels. And “angel,” the word is derived from a Greek word that simply means "messenger." The messenger can't be on their own errand. They have to have a message that is being brought from the Lord. Therefore if the message originates with the Lord and the message is delivered by a messenger, it does not matter if the one delivering the message is a mortal. We find in the Book of Mormon where Jacob was told what he was to preach by an angel the night before he taught. (See 2 Ne. 10: 3.) King Benjamin said his sermon was based on what the angel told him to teach, after awakening him at night. (See Mosiah 3: 2-23.) In that context, both Jacob and King Benjamin were angels, or messengers with a message from God.  Therefore, as long as they bear a message from the Lord, they fit the definition.] 
"For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me." [That is, if the content of the message comes from the voice of God, and it is coming to you from Him, and is authentically His message, and you receive it as if from His own mouth, then you have received from Him His voice. But it doesn't end there.] (Forty Years in Mormonism, "Priesthood", Denver Snuffer, pgs. 89 - 90)

Is it possible to hear a message from a "servant" of the Lord and not "receive" that message?

Doesn't that happen all the time throughout the record of scripture?

Did Lehi and Nephi "receive" the "servants" of the Lord?

For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah — my father Lehi having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days — and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.

Wherefore, it came to pass that my father Lehi, as he went forth, prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart in behalf of his people... (1 Nephi 1:2 - 3, NC 1 Nephi 1 pars. 2 - 3)

Is it apparent from the above that Lehi "received" the messages from the "servants" of the Lord sent to Jerusalem and that he was penitent?

Wherefore, it came to pass that my father Lehi, as he went forth, prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart in behalf of his people. And it came to pass as he 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. And being thus overcome with the spirit, he 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. And it came to pass that he saw one descending out of the midst of Heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noonday. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament. And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth. And the first came and stood before my father and gave unto him a book and bade him that he should read. And it came to pass that as he read he was filled with the spirit of the Lord. And he read, saying, Woe, woe unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations. Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem: that it should be destroyed and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword and many should be carried away captive into Babylon. And it came to pass that when my father had read and saw 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! 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 shewn unto him. (1 Nephi 1:5 - 15, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 3)

Is it apparent here that Lehi after "receiving" the servants of the Lord also "received" the Lord?

In fact, is it apparent here that Lehi after "receiving" the Lord also "received" the Father?

Therefore, I would that ye should know that after the Lord had shewn so many marvelous things unto my father Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold, he went forth among the people and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them, for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations. And he 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. And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him, yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out and stoned and slain; and they also sought his life that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will shew unto you 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 1:18 - 20, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 5)

Is it possible to detect that Lehi, after "receiving" first the Lord's "servants" and then the Lord and then the Father now possesses "this priesthood" the Lord revealed in T&C 82?

Can we detect from the above that Lehi now has been given the following charge concerning "this Priesthood"?

And behold and lo, this is an example unto all those who are ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth. And this is the example unto them that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the holy ghost. And whatever they shall speak, when moved upon by the holy ghost, shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O you my servants.

If Lehi became a "servant" of the Lord, then did the words he spoke by the power of the holy ghost contain the power of God unto salvation?

Did Lehi speak by the power of the holy ghost unto his children?

And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father had written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams. And he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account. But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my father upon plates which I have made with mine own hands. Wherefore, after that I have abridged the record of my father, then will I make an account of mine own life. (1 Nephi 1:16 - 17, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 4)

Did Lehi become a "servant" of the Lord to his family?

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceeding young, nevertheless, being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore I cried unto the Lord. And behold, he did visit me and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his holy spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words. But behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words. And being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, I cried unto the Lord for them. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying, Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently with lowliness of heart. And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper and shall be led to a land of promise, yea, even a land which I have prepared for you, a land which is choice above all other lands. And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren. For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except they shall rebel against me also. And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed to stir them up in the ways of remembrance. (1 Nephi 1:16 - 24, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 9)

Did Nephi "receive" a "servant" of the Lord by believing all the words spoken by his father, Lehi?

Did Nephi also "receive" the Lord?

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, returned from speaking with the Lord, to the tent of my father... (1 Nephi 3:1, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 10)

... for I spake unto him as a man speaketh, for I beheld that he was in the form of a man. Yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another. (1 Nephi 11:11, NC 1 Nephi 3 par. 7)

Did Nephi also "receive the Father?

My present understanding is that the following was a conversation with Nephi, the Lord, and the Father all present together.

But behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying, After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the holy ghost, and can speak with a new tongue — yea, even with the tongue of angels — and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me. And I heard a voice from the Father saying, Yea, the words of my beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. And now my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved. Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shewn unto me: that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the holy ghost. And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life. Yea, ye have entered in by the gate, ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son, and ye have received the holy ghost, which witness of the Father and the Son unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way, ye should receive. (2 Nephi 31:14 - 18, NC 2 Nephi 13 par. 3)

By following the same path as his father, Lehi, did Nephi also come up to being "ordained" unto this priesthood"?

Was Nephi made a "servant" of the Lord because following his receiving of "this priesthood" Nephi was sent to his brothers?

And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.

Do Nephi's words as spoken by the holy ghost now contain the power of God unto salvation for his brothers and also to us?

Is there a pattern here?

Lehi and Nephi are two examples but aren't the scriptures completely full of examples of people who have followed this same path?

My present understanding is that "this priesthood" has everything to do with a real life face to face association in mortality with both the Father and the Son. 

... Thus we behold the keys of this Priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah, that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the keys, the covenants, the power, and the glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning, and the offering of sacrifice which also shall be continued at the last time. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg. 171, T&C 140 par. 16) 

It has absolutely nothing to do with a position of authority in an organization.

Only a person possessing "this priesthood" can speak when moved upon by the holy ghost so that their words become scripture, the will of the Lord, the mind of the Lord, the word of the Lord, and the power of the Lord unto salvation. 

Those who possess "this priesthood" do not claim authority over others to direct or to compel them. 

They possess knowledge from God that they are commanded to impart to the children of men according to the heed and diligence the children of men give to the words of God.

They are preachers of righteousness.

As I presently understand it, "this priesthood" can be and is possessed by women and children as well as men.

Please consider the following.

And it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of the brow as I, the Lord, had commanded him. And Eve also, his wife, did labor with him. And Adam knew his wife, and she bore unto him sons and daughters, and they began to multiply and to replenish the earth. And from that time forth, the sons and daughters of Adam began to divide two and two in the land, and to till the land, and to tend flocks; and they also begot sons and daughters.
And Adam called upon the name of the Lord, and Eve also, his wife; and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden speaking unto them, and they saw him not, for they were shut out from his presence. And he gave unto them commandment that they should worship the Lord their God and should offer the firstlings of their flocks for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
And after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why do you offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him, I know not but the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spoke, saying, This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father who is full of grace and truth. Wherefore, you shall do all that you do in the name of the Son. And you shall repent and call upon God in the name of the Son for ever more.
And in that day the holy ghost fell upon Adam, which bore record of the Father and the Son, saying, I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and for ever, that as you have fallen, you may be redeemed — and all mankind, even as many as choose. And in that day, Adam blessed God, and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying, Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again, in my flesh I shall see God. And Eve his wife heard all these things and was glad, saying, Were it not for our transgression, we should never had seed, and should never had known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God gives unto all the obedient. And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. (Moses 5:1 - 12, OC Genesis 3 pars. 1 - 4)

The events in the beginning occurred with a husband and wife together.

They both were brought up to receive "this priesthood" and then they together were sent as "servants" of the Lord to their sons and daughters.

In the account in 3 Nephi of the Lord's appearance to the Nephites did not all there, men, women, and children, all receive the Lord's "servants" (both mortal men and angels), and the Lord Himself?

As we read about the Lord praying to the Father for those in the multitude, words that were understood in the hearts of the multitude but they were incapable of speaking, is it possible to consider that at that point they might have also received the Father?

Is it possible that all men, women, and children in the multitude were "ordained" unto "this priesthood" at this time?

Can someone who has not received "this priesthood" speak the words and will of the Lord unto salvation?

Is this a critical principle to understand in this world?

Are there charlatans and those who suppose they have authority to speak in the name of the Lord, by virtue of holding an office in an organization, who deceive many?

The world always mistook false prophets for true ones, and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false prophets and hence they killed, stoned, punished and imprisoned the true prophets, and these had to hide themselves “in deserts and dens, and caves of the earth,” and though the most honorable men of the earth, they banished them from their society as vagabonds, whilst they cherished, honored and supported knaves, vagabonds, hypocrites, impostors, and the basest of men. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 206)

Is it part of my test in mortality to figure out which individuals are true servants and which ones are charlatans and liars?

Another item of note is that Nephi is expounding upon the scriptural words of Lehi to teach his brothers.

Couldn't Nephi, who has just seen a vision of all things, speak to his brothers using his own witness and declarations instead of expounding on his father's words?

Why would he not speak some of the marvelous things he has just seen?

Is this event with Nephi and his brothers similar in any way to the Lord teaching two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus following His resurrection?

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25 - 27, NC Luke 14 par. 2)

Couldn't the resurrected Lord have declared an infinite number of new things to His two disciples?

Why did He expound the words of scripture to them?

What about Jacob at the temple among the Nephites?

And now behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy, that the things which this prophet Zenos spake concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive tree, must surely come to pass. And in the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power to nourish and prune his vineyard. And after that, the end soon cometh. And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard, and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place. And the world shall be burned with fire. And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long. And they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people, but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God. (Jacob 6:1 - 4, NC Jacob 4 par. 1)

Why did Jacob, in order to prophesy, recite the scriptural words of the prophet Zenos and then expound on those words and prophesy that Zenos' words would come to pass?

Obviously Jacob has witnessed things that allow him to understand the allegory of Zenos.  Why not declare those things in his own words?

Is this a sign that Nephi really is a "servant" of the Lord because he is expounding scripture?

Is this a sign that Nephi is meek?

A difficult attribute to recognize, it is found in the relationship between man and God, not between man and man; to be meek is to follow the Lord’s will, even when one doesn’t want to do so, even when it brings one into conflict with friends, family, or community. Meekness is measured as between the servant and the Lord, not as between the servant and his critics. Meekness, among other things, involves a conscious effort to avoid harming or offending others. It requires an absence of pride or self-will. It is not insistent upon being recognized or applauded. It denotes a willingness to suffer without complaint. Others may never recognize the meek, because meekness does not vaunt itself nor demand notice. There is great freedom in meekness. It relieves the meek from the burden of seeking their acclaim. It gives them the security of feeling God’s approval for their course of living. It is private. Meekness means a person voluntarily restrains himself and uses the absolute minimum control or authority over others. It is related to humility. Humility is voluntary submission to the control or power of God — in other words, obedience. Meekness affects a person’s relationship with his fellow man. There is nothing showy or attention-grabbing about the meek. Instead, they are content to know they have a relationship and power with God. Unless God requires something to be done or revealed, the meek do not voluntarily put this authority on display. (T&C Glossary of Terms, "Meekness")

Is there anything showy or attention-grabbing about Nephi expounding on the scriptural words of his father, Lehi?

By declaring only his father Lehi's words and expounding upon them does Nephi avoid the danger of possibly binding the Lord through his, Nephi's words?

Weren't Lehi's words what caused Nephi to ponder and to desire to see the same thing; which led to him receiving his great vision?

Is it possible that Nephi considers that his father's words would have the greatest effect on the hearts of his brothers to cause them to ponder and receive the very same thing he has just received?

If I am unwilling to ponder and give heed and diligence to the words of scripture and ask the Father for understanding of them would I give heed and diligence to "new" and "spectacular" things being spoken to me?

Truly I say unto you, I will liken you unto the rich man. For there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus who was laid at his gate, full of sores and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table; moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried of the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise, Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they who would pass from here to you cannot, neither can they pass to us that would come from there. Then he said, I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead. (Luke 16:19 - 31, NC Luke 9 par. 20)

If I am to believe the Lord, then I presently understand that if I do not believe the scriptures, Moses and the prophets, and give heed and diligence to their words then I would not be persuaded by some other marvelous thing even by one rising from the dead.

Such is the power the Lord declares is contained in the scriptures, or in other words, the words of HIs "servants" spoken as they were filled with the spirit of the Lord.