1 Nephi 1: Through our FAITH, we are able to learn to receive revelation from the Lord

I've been so impressed with Lehi's obedience. I've discovered a pattern in the scriptures that help me to recognize how we receive a testimony of TRUTH. Lehi learns of the inevitable destruction of Jerusalem through the living prophets in his area. They know this through revelation and inspiration. Lehi, in understanding this, seeks to know for himself. He exerts FAITH through prayer, after which he receives his own revelation, to much more than I think he anticipated. He must have been such a faithful and worthy man to have been chosen to receive such revelation. He receives a vision, and is given a book. The Spirit testifies to him of the truthfulness of what he is experiencing, and now he has a personal manifestation of what he has "seen" and has been "shown". Now he is in the position to testify to others through the power of the Holy Ghost. This is how testimonies are developed. Faith is a key factor to all of it.
1. Someone who knows, testifies of TRUTH.
2. Someone who hears, seeks to know for himself.
3. He exercises FAITH, and in this case prayer.
4. He receives his own testimony through revelation.
5. He testifies of what he now knows.
.....and the cycle repeats.
It repeats in the next chapter. But this time, Lehi is the one who knows and testifies of TRUTH. Nephi is the one who hears and seeks to know for himself. Nephi exercises FAITH through prayer. Nephi receives his own testimony through revelation from the Lord, and then he testifies of it to Sam. (1 Nephi 2:16-17)
I believe this is in the beginning of the Book of Mormon so we can seek our own witness of the truthfulness of this book in testifying of Jesus Christ and his mission. We then are obligated to seek others and open our mouths in testifying of what we know, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Great stuff. (smile)