30 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.
If this whole broken bow story has spiritual significance as
a type, as I have suggested starting in verse 18, then this verse must also
fill that requirement. If so, it could have reference to the temple. In the
Topical Guide the terms “mountain” and “mount” have quite a few references, but
when you narrow the search to include the word “top” there are very few references
combining “top” with “mount” or “mountain,” including this verse, and one of
those is a quote of one of the other verses. In nearly every other case there
is direct reference to the temple, as in Isaiah 2:2 (2 Nephi 12:2), or at least
there is sacred communion with God. So this term that Nephi uses, “[going]
forth up into the top of the mountain,” is relatively a rare expression in
scripture that seems to have specific, spiritual context and significance each
time. I’m suggesting that in the context of this story as a type or an analogy,
it carries the same meaning. Otherwise Nephi could have just said “into the
mountains,” instead of specifically engraving the top of the mountain.
- Isaiah 2:2
