“That I May Prove Unto Many”
Illustrating the pattern by which the gospel is to be taught, Nephi cited Isaiah's testimony of Christ and then added to it his testimony and that of his brother Jacob. The testimonies of Isaiah and Jacob, he said, would serve to “prove” his words. “Wherefore, by the words of three,” he reasoned, quoting a scriptural text whose origin is now lost to us, “God hath said, I will establish my word.” In so doing, Nephi united testimonies of the Old and New worlds and testimonies of past and present, such being the system by which God “proveth all his words” (2 Nephi 11:2-6).