You know, studying the scriptures is enlightening and life-changing in and of itself, but discovering their subtle patterns within them, well that takes us to another level of meaning that is all together thrilling and revealing!

For example: Lehi taught his family of his vision of the Tree of Life. While Laman and Lemuel wondered and argued over what the vision meant, Nephi took it to the Lord in prayer. And then as he sat pondering, he was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord into an exceedingly high mountain which he had never before seen. And from that mountain, Nephi was shown the vision of all visions, a vision that spanned all of time.

Well, Lehi and his family then continued on into the wilderness slaying food as they journeyed. It happened that Nephi broke his bow, and the family could obtain no food. Weakened by hunger, the family began to murmur and complain. Nephi chastened them. He then fashioned a bow and arrow of wood, and went to his father and asked where he should go to obtain food.

Now this is interesting: The word of the Lord directed that Nephi should climb to the top of the mountain, and there he would find food. Nephi climbed, he found game, and his family was saved. (1 Nephi 16)

Years passed, and the family journeyed on until they came to an abundant land on the seashore that they called Bountiful. Many days passed in Bountiful, and the voice of the Lord came to Nephi saying, “… Arise, and get thee into the mountain …” (1 Nephi 17:7) Nephi “… arose and went [up] into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.” (1 Nephi 17:7) And there the Almighty revealed to Nephi that he was to build a ship to take his family across the ocean to the promised land.

Well, Nephi went to work, and notwithstanding opposition from his brothers - sometimes violent - Nephi persisted. Now, this ship was unlike anything ever seen before. He “… did not work the timbers after the manner … [of] men, neither did I,” he said, “build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me ...” (1 Nephi 18:2).

Now, it’s also interesting to consider how Nephi learned to build a ship. He said, “… I Nephi did go unto the Mount oft, and I did pray [oft] unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.” (1 Nephi 18:3).

Now, I’m sure you’re already ahead of me. In each case, Nephi was taken or directed where? - to the top of a high mountain. Why? And in each instance from the mountain, the same thing happened. What? - revelation from the Almighty. Mountains are and have always been sacred meeting places between God and Man. They are a place apart from the world, where only those who have put forth the effort may ascend and meet Him. They are places of perspective, purity, vision, and revelation.

Now, these would not be the last mountains that Nephi would ascend in his life. He wrote, “I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the Temple of Solomon.” (2 Nephi 5:16)

It seems the greatest of all mountains to be climbed in this life is the final mountain of Nephi, “… the mountain of the LORD’s house ...” (Isaiah 2:3).