Lehi had several visions, including an extended visit from the Lord where he was given a heavenly record to read. After the brass plates were recovered, Nephi recorded that, “my father Lehi took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass and he did search them from the beginning. And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents, and also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, and also the prophecies of the holy prophets from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.” 1 Ne. 1:22 RE
The result of his study was more prophecy: “And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the spirit and began to prophesy concerning his seed — that these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, and tongues, and people, who were of his seed. Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed anymore by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.” Id.
Later Lehi prophesied about the Messiah, John the Baptist, and the future destiny of Israel, including his descendants. 1 Ne. 3:2-4 In his prophecy, Lehi compares the scattering and gathering of Israel to grafting an olive tree: “Yea, even my father spake much concerning the gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. And after the house of Israel should be scattered, they should be gathered together again, or in fine, after the gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree — or the remnants of the house of Israel — should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.” Id., 4
Lehi’s prophecy was original. But the brass plates included the allegory of the olive tree which Lehi’s son, Jacob, would later copy into the small plates of Nephi. That allegory (Jacob 3:7-28) was the apparent inspiration for Lehi’s prophecy. Jacob also prophesied about Israel, using the allegory of Zenos. Jacob’s prophecy consisted of reading Zenos’ words after which he declared this: “as I said unto you that I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy, that the things which this prophet Zenos spake concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive tree, must surely come to pass. And in the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power to nourish and prune his vineyard. And after that, the end soon cometh.” Jacob 4:1
Compare the words of Micah 1:9: “But in the last days, it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
With the words of Isaiah 1:5: “it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
Divine, original prophecy can be inspired by the words of earlier prophets. Just like the message of angels can be quotes from scripture. Nephi appeared to Joseph Smith to inform him of the Nephite record, and, “After telling me these things he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi [Mal. 1:6 – 8RE], and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy [Mal. 1:9 – 11]” continuing on to quote Isaiah 5:3-5, Acts 2:3, and Joel 1:12.
The words of prophets and angels are taken from scripture. Therefore, studying scripture is central to understanding God’s will. What He has done, is now doing, and will soon accomplish are all set out in scripture. Lehi’s example sets out the pattern of prophets and angels.