The text of 1 Nephi is silent on many matters. Lehi’s group spent at least eight years in the wilderness (1 Nephi 17:4), yet from the time of the appearance of the Liahona in the narrative until the group reached Bountiful, there are only thirty-four verses to describe the experience. In his narrative, Nephi fails to mention other people outside his immediate family group when we know they must have had contact with any number of persons. No mention is made of any animals, yet camels were surely needed to transport tents and supplies (1 Nephi 2:4), and animals were surely needed in order to offer sacrifice and burnt offerings (1 Nephi 2:7, 5:9). Even more telling is the lack of details regarding Nephi’s boat. While Nephi tells us that the Lord showed him where to find ore to make some tools (1 Nephi 17:10), Nephi provides no details on the construction of the ship other than saying that they “worked the timbers” (1 Nephi 18:1) and that “I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed me great things” (1 Nephi 18:3). And the record is completely silent regarding how Nephi as well as the others acquired the skills to sail the ship. Given such lack of cultural detail, I have two choices: (1) I can say nothing more than is written in the text, or (2) I can attempt to try to understand the cultural and historical background in order to gain insight into what is written.
Alan Miner, The Liahona: Miracles by Small Means (Springville, UT: CFI, 2013), 6-7