As we finish the previous chapter, Nephi has stood up to his brothers Laman and Lemuel and shown them an undeniable manifestation of the power of God that is with him. Here, we witness how miraculous an effect Nephi’s demonstration has had. His brothers turn from his worst ridiculers to his uncomplaining helpers in the project to build the ship that is to take them to the promised land. More importantly, they are back on the same page in their humility and reverence before God. Still, we get hints that Nephi remains exceptionally vigilant in his efforts to know and do the Lord’s will. He tells us in verse 3 that he visits “the mount oft,” and the Lord shows him “great things.” These great things include, but do not seem limited to, how to build the ship.
Again, this family is not from a seafaring place, so they rely on the Lord’s specifications in constructing the ship. And it’s not clear what the finished product looks like, except that Nephi hints it may not look like what we typically picture when we think of a ship.
Finally, everything is ready, and the Lord tells Lehi it’s time to get his family and their provisions on board so they can shove off. During the wilderness journey, we learn that Lehi and Sariah have given birth to two additional sons named Jacob and Joseph.
The shallowness of Laman’s and Lemuel’s repentance becomes apparent many days into the journey. Everything seems to be proceeding well. Laman, Lemuel, the sons of Ishmael, and their wives begin “making merry,” apparently not just in a happy-go-lucky way, but pretty thoughtlessly and rudely.
Nephi, aware that their promises of safety and security are contingent on their humility before the Lord, attempts to speak to his brothers “with much soberness” (verse 10), presumably hoping to moderate their behavior. But the old resentment and envy returns, and Laman and Lemuel tie up Nephi. This shows how important leadership can be. I have wondered why Sam did not rush to Nephi’s defense, or at least why there’s no record of this in Nephi’s account. But perhaps I’m being too unrealistic or harsh. Nephi had developed his leadership qualities (most importantly, a strong determination to live by the Lord’s guidance) over time, and once he is out of the way, maybe we can’t just expect someone else to spring up in his place.
We learn that Lehi tries his best to get Laman and Lemuel to reconsider, but in his older age, it appears that Laman and Lemuel are unmoved by his entreaties. One of the saddest parts to this story is how selfish Laman and Lemuel show themselves to be in a setting where you’d expect everyone to be very mindful of the need to pull together. Usually on a ship, you try your best to get along with your crewmates, even if they’re complete strangers. We know this from the phrase, “we’re all in the same boat.” Here, however, Laman and Lemuel exhibit indifference to their own mother and father to the point of the parents’ near-death in their grief. Nephi fills out the scene for us with his tearful wife and distraught children and younger brothers.
And it appears as though the Lord is going to let Laman and Lemuel reap the full consequences of their actions. There is no miracle to deliver Nephi from their pettiness.
We learn that, far from being on automatic pilot, the family is very dependent on the Liahona to guide them on the waters, just as it guided them on land. Once Nephi is bound, the compass doesn’t work. And, in addition, a big storm kicks up, threatening the ship with destruction. After four days of this, the selfish survival impulse finally goads Laman and Lemuel into untying Nephi.
It’s important that we recognize Nephi’s faithfulness throughout the ordeal. Had he not continued to praise God during his afflictions, things could have ended disastrously for the family. It seems as though they were on the verge of being “swallowed up in the depths of the sea” (verse 20).
So don’t take for granted what Nephi is able to do. Only from great patience and resilience is he able to be in the right frame of mind and spirit to get the Liahona to work again and to pray to the Lord to calm the storm. Although Nephi is not the Savior, through his actions as a prophet (and thus a representative) of the Lord we get a taste of the kind of power Jesus Himself will later show in calming the Sea of Galilee amid great turmoil and fear among those around Him. To not let a turbulent environment and panicked people affect your faith is an uncommon accomplishment reflecting great discipline and wisdom accumulated over time (though everyone can work at it). As the family reaches the promised land, Nephi is going to need every bit of his faith and strength with the challenges he will face. And, of course, Nephi’s example is a lesson to us to build up our own reserves of faith and strength as we strive after the “promised land” in our own lives.
The chapter ends on a note indicating how abundantly Lehi’s family is blessed by their new surroundings from the very beginning. Looking back on their journey, it becomes all the more miraculous when we consider that the likeliest route from the Arabian Peninsula to the American continent took the family across two oceans (the Indian and Pacific) in an age of navigation 2,100 years before Columbus.
You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/18?lang=eng
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