1 Nephi 17

(All of my own thoughts are in blue type.4/20 Green 1/21 Orange 4/22 Brown 2023 )

CHAPTER 17

Nephi is commanded to build a ship—His brethren oppose him—He exhorts them by recounting the history of God’s dealings with Israel REMEMBERING—He is filled with the power of God—His brethren are forbidden to touch him, lest they whither as a dried reed. About 592—591 B.C.

  1 And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and ^awade through much affliction in the wilderness; God was leading them, and yet there was affliction.  Was this a “testing” affliction or self-imposed? or both.... and our ^bwomen did bear children in the wilderness. Enough said…I suppose you could say the pregnancy affliction was self-imposed...or not, since we are commanded to "multiply"

  2 And so great were the ^ablessings of the Lord upon us, It seems that Nephi sees the afflictions as the “nature of the journey” and recognizes how things could be worse without the Lord’s blessings. He records the afflictions as fact without blaming… that while we did live upon ^braw ^cmeat in the wilderness, Does this mean they had run out of gathered/stored provisions so raw meat was all they had? and why raw? Were they in danger of being seen if they built fires? Was there nothing to burn where they were? our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings. Like another group of people Mosiah 24 later, sometimes God does not remove our burdens, but makes us stronger so that they don’t feel heavy any more, even though they are still there. They must have recognized this miraculous strength under their particular conditions since they stopped murmuring. “Oh, honey…look how much milk I have to feed the baby, and I hardly ate anything…and did you notice how good that raw meat tasted?  And I walked 20 miles today, and I’m not even tired….” I felt like Elder Bednar's talk "The Windows of Heaven" was trying to teach us how to recognize our blessings while wading through our own afflictions so that we may also journey on without murmuring, but with gratitude and faith. Pres.Nelson recently taught that gratitude was "the key" to getting through our day...

There is a great message to women here. If you have given birth, you know the discomfort that whole time brings. Notice he said, they 'began' to bear their journeyings without murmurings. Does this mean that they were given to murmur before, but learned, through their experiences and miracles, that they were being blessed? Was their labor/delivery easy, quick, no complications? Did they notice the strength they were given to be 'strong like the men'? The most likely way to not murmur is to see the hand of God so clearly, that you cannot deny His blessings.

  3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. What commandments is he referring to here? Or maybe he is testifying that the commandments of God are fulfilled when we have obeyed and He has given us the promised blessing. For he goes on to say...And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and ^astrengthen them, literally and temporally! and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; This is the PROMISE. You do your part, and God does His. You may not "accomplish" the "thing" in the way you thought you would, for God's ways are not man's, but you will see His hand in it. Sometimes that is why you see His hand...because it is so clearly not man's way wherefore, he did ^bprovide means for us And thus WE saw…. while we did sojourn in the wilderness. Also a possibility that the commandments he's referring to are those they were given, perhaps daily, on the Liahona...

  4 And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, *even eight years in the wilderness. Was this frustrating to them?  The pioneers traveled much farther in 3 months, but it took Lehi's group 8 years? Why? Maybe their perspective was different. I mean, it took Moses 40 years to lead his people to a promised land.  Perhaps Lehi’s group figured they could be in for a “long” journey as well. Also, for the few “uprisings” recounted about Laman and Lemuel’s dissensions, it would seem over an 8 year period, that they for the most part had taken on this new “life” as well. But still….why 8 years????

  5 And we did come to the land which we called ^aBountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; Unlike the time earlier where they had to hunt to eat. and all these things were prepared of the Lord and thus we see…Learn to see all your blessings as being 'prepared of the Lord'. Pres. Eyring just taught, April 2020 "I testify to you that God the Father lives. Jesus is the Christ. This is His Church. He knows and loves you. He guides you. He has prepared the way for you" that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters. Does this mean there were “lots” of waters, as in lakes, or “much” water?
  6 And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore; and notwithstanding we had suffered many ^aafflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, in other words…it has been a very very difficult 8 years! we were exceedingly rejoiced “it is better that we should pass through sorrow, that we may know the good from the evil”; “if we know no misery, than we cannot know joy…" After 8 years, seeing this water may have signaled the end of the walking and wandering. That would be cause for exceeding rejoicing! when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit. Yeah…no more raw meat!!! When we are in our affliction, we just want it over. 40 years, 8 years...it all seems soooo long! How did they maintain faith that long? Human nature would seem to give up after only months or a couple years, at most. Such a testimony to the willpower of the human spirit! We must remember this when we are in the middle of our own long wanderings. God is still bringing us somewhere. Maybe they thought "this" would be their "promised land"!

  7 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: ^aArise, and get thee into the mountain. Often used as the Lord’s temple in the wilderness… And it came to pass that I arose When the Lord commands…do it IMMEDIATELY…although he says, "and it came to pass...that I arose" so was it immediately? and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord. Why did he “cry” unto the Lord?  Did he get up there and the Lord delayed speaking again? Was he venting about the last 8 years, wanting to “arrive” in the promised land he’d seen? What does 'crying' to the Lord look like? sound like?

  8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt ^aconstruct a ship, after the ^bmanner which I shall show thee, Don’t worry…you are not on your own on this one… that I may carry He is teaching Nephi that He will be the one carrying them across the waters, in case they doubt it while in the middle of the ocean thinking that fierce storms means God has abandoned them. We should not let our fierce storms shake our faith in who is carrying us across our many waters. thy people across these waters.

  9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make ^atools sometimes the answer to our prayers is just the "tools" to deal with them; not the removal of the problem itself to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me? Notice his response is not “I can’t” but instead “I know where to start…point me in the right direction”. There is no question in Nephi’s mind that the Lord can show him how to make a ship and that he could make him equal to the task.  Also, Nephi may have recognized ways in which the Lord had earlier prepared him as to skills he already possessed. The Lord will use your particular talents and skills to help you solve you solve your problems and/or keep His commandments.

  10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools. When you pray for answers, ask God to lead you to the "tools" you will need to solve or handle your problem.
  11 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to ^ablow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire. two tools needed...check.

  12 For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye ^acook it not; Perhaps smoke will give away their position to robbers in the wilderness.

  13 And I will also be your ^alight in the wilderness; Was this “literal” as well as spiritual? The Lord wants to be OUR light in OUR wilderness…There is a book my mother and many others have spoken highly of called, "Light in the Wilderness" by Catherine Thomas. I have read parts of it, but should start again and finish it.  and I will prepare the way before you, if conditional… it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; always the condition… wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the ^bpromised land; and ye shall ^cknow that it is by me that ye are led. The PROMISE. What exactly were the circumstances that played out that gave them absolute knowledge that it was the Lord that was leading them and not their own strength, skill, or wisdom?  The Liahona comes to mind. It was a daily reminder. They were told that it worked only on condition of obedience. They had a clear connection each day to their obedience and knowing where to go. What is our daily connection to God's will? Perhaps this is how God kept Laman and Lemuel in check along the way…continually giving them proof that the Lord was leading them…maybe not unlike the pillar of fire by night and the manna from the sky for the children of Israel. If we have a testimony that God is leading us, then the length of the journey is not so important...8 months; 8 years; it has all been "prepared" by the Lord. We can trust all that we are experiencing is for our good. This frees us from the murmuring that would keep us from keeping His commandments, which is clearly the condition for God's continuing guidance. And what is our Liahona? The scriptures. And what is the condition upon which they give us daily direction? Keep the commandments. And the whisperings of the Lord through the Holy Ghost. I am learning about the Baptism of Fire and the Holy Ghost. I think one of the gifts that come from that is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost which will tell you all things you should do. 

  14 Yea, and the Lord said also that: After usually the witness comes AFTER the journey of faith ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall ^aknow that I, the Lord, am ^bGod; and that I, the Lord, did ^cdeliver you from destruction; Is this a heads up about scary, dangerous moments they'll have at sea? yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem. Often it is only when we are able to “look back” does it become clear that we had the guiding hand of the Lord with us. We can say as we are on the journey that we know the Lord is leading us along, but it might be more of a faith kind of knowing. Once we have arrived, then our faith turns to real knowledge because of what we have experienced as we acted in faith. The most important message here for us in our day is that going through our journey under God's guiding hand will protect us from destruction. Sometimes it is physical, but always it is spiritual.

  15 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive this is the term we often feel like using in a temple recommend interview that acknowledges our imperfection while affirming our intentions to keep the ^acommandments of the Lord, and I did ^bexhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence. I kept “REMINDING” them….Keep your eye on the promise. Let it motivate you to fulfill the condition. Keep the Commandments...in this there is safety and peace. This would be a good time to reread Elder Packers talk:"The Key to Spiritual Protection" 

  16 And it came to pass that I did ^amake tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock Analogy: we are the rock (solid, unbelieving, raw, crude, natural) but God can make tools out of us but only through a hot, "molting" process.            

  17 And when my brethren saw that I was about to ^abuild a ship, they began to ^bmurmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters. They are right...if Nephi is doing it alone.... But how can they doubt that the Lord is with him?

  18 And thus my brethren did ^acomplain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, This was probably the truth right here. The lack of confidence in Nephi was just a cover for their laziness for they did not ^bbelieve this is understandable that I could build a ship; neither would they believe I think there is a difference between the first comment that they "did not believe" and the second comment, they "would not believe". It is easy to say, "I do not believe you can build a ship." But when they are told that God is instructing Nephi, they say they "would not" believe that I was instructed of the Lord. After everything they have experienced up to this point, they could only say they would not believe. Open rebellion against what they surely know is true.

  19 And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceedingly sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; What does it take to get through to you two????? Nephi seems frustrated and sad. But notice he is not angry or defensive. Great example and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did ^arejoice over me, This expression is clearly one of Satan's... saying: We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work. They confused Nephi’s sorrow over THEM, thinking it was sorrow that they were RIGHT…that he’d realized he couldn’t build a ship…
   20 And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish ^aimaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions. So they are saying, it would have been better to stay in Jerusalem and die or be carried off captive than go through what they just did…why?   

  21 Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions because at least we’d have our “stuff” for a little longer… and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy. Though they left their “stuff” in Jerusalem, they never really “left” it spiritually.  It is the one tie, or cord that binds them to their hard hearts. They still think “stuff” makes them happy…not righteousness…we are prosperous saints in this valley (and in America for that matter...) and the Lord will again ask us to leave our "stuff" a little earlier than we may feel we need to, leaving us with the temptation to say the same things..."we could have enjoyed our "stuff" a little longer and then our fate may have been terrible, but so is "this".."

  22 And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a ^arighteous people; "...because we are just like them, and if they are bad, so are we, and we will not admit that…" for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, checklist obedience and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; the law does not save you wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; Do we also think our obedience to "laws" and programs will save us? Jesus is the only one that saves and only after we have given him our completely broken hearts and contrite spirits. The outward laws and ordinances are only to lead us to that place. We cannot rest on our works. They must bring us to Christ, who then gifts us charity and we are changed and our father hath judged them, This is one of the most oft used phrases by people steeped in the ways of the world..."you are judging me...if you were so "good" you wouldn't judge me...you don't even know me..." and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us. You can tell they began to steamroll as they played off one another. Nephi listens. He let's them get it all out. Then it is his turn to respond...

  23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake unto them, saying: Listen to this string of questions…not accusations, just questions… Do ye believe that our fathers, who were the children of Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the ^aEgyptians if they had not hearkened (keep the commandments) unto the words of the Lord? REMEMBER??

  24 Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should ^alead them out of bondage? If the Lord says “do it” then you obey and He does it!

  25 Now ye know that the children of Israel were in ^abondage; and ye know that they were laden with ^btasks, which were grievous to be borne; wherefore, ye know that it must needs be a good thing for them, that they should be ^cbrought out of bondage. Follow my logic here, boys…it’s kind of a no-brainer….

  26 Now ye know that ^aMoses was commanded of the Lord to do that great work; and ye know that by his ^bword the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on dry ground.

  27 But ye know that the Egyptians were ^adrowned in the Red Sea, who were the armies of Pharaoh.

  28 And ye also know that they were fed with ^amanna in the wilderness.

  29 Yea, and ye also know that Moses, by his word according to the power of God which was in him, ^asmote the rock, and there came forth water, that the children of Israel might quench their thirst.
  30 And notwithstanding they being led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, ^aleading them by day and giving light unto them by night, and doing all things for them which were ^bexpedient for man to receive, they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, sound familiar??? and ^creviled against Moses and against the true and living God. Because of that, they wandered 40 years…we’ve only been out 8! But they, like you, turned from God in spite of so many miracles and witnesses.

  31 And it came to pass that according to his word what God says…He does… he did ^adestroy them; and according to his word he did ^blead them; and according to his word he did do all things for them; and there was not any thing done save it were by his word.

  32 And after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto the ^adriving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction. Okay, I know I have my "miracle" glasses on, so it colors everything I see, but consider this: Elder Bednar used the crossing of the river Jordan as his "miracle" example. What happened right after the Israelites crossed the river Jordan? Nephi just told us - "And after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto the ^adriving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction." Is Elder Bednar telling us that is what is next for us? After we get our "miracle" that ends this pandemic, is the next thing the driving out of the gadiantons, scattering them to destruction? Bednar just posted his testimony of how he Hears the Lord, and one of those ways is through the scriptures. I'm just sayin'....well, the miracle didn't come after he gave that talk. It's been a year and now there's a "miracle" untested and unproven vaccine that changes your DNA and hasn't even been proven to work or be safe, but it's being called the miracle we've been waiting for. Pres. elect Biden promises to vaccinate 100 million people in the next 100 days. The Church is supporting the vaccines and Pres. Uchtdorf says the First Presidency and the Twelve will all get it. Really? I don't get it...I need revelation on this one for sure. This is still an ongoing wrestle. The church is entangled with the UN, and pro-abortion black groups and LGBTQIA+ agendas. There is so much confusion in the church right now. Elder Oaks April 2022 Conference talk got close to drawing the line on gender but he wasn't direct enough. Elder Holland tried to draw a line on suicide, but offended a bunch of people who's loved ones died by suicide. We're on the verge of biblical inflation and famine and drought and war and we're getting no warnings from our watchmen. Maybe that is because a watchman is only good when they warn of what is so far off you can't see it. We got that with earlier prophets! Now it's at our door. If you can't see the enemy now, you don't want to or didn't prepare according to the earlier watchman's warning. So many will die soon...maybe the message is "get right with God for you may meet him soon."
  33 And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

  34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.

  35 Behold, the Lord esteemeth all ^aflesh in one; he that is ^brighteous is ^cfavored of God. This seems like a paradox…the Lord loves everyone the same, but he favors you if you’re righteous. Is favor different than love? I like to think of the word "favor" as "bless". If you are righteous, God can bless you with those things He has promised you if you keep His commandments. Satan likes to mess with the lines between worth and worthiness. Worth never changes, so Satan says it doesn't matter what you do, God will always love you. Or he says, worthiness is worth, so if you mess up, God doesn't love you anymore.   But behold, this ^dpeople had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it. Here's the example of "His favor"

  36 Behold, the Lord hath created the ^aearth that it should be ^binhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.

  37 And he ^araiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.

  38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious ^alands,  we’re not the first, nor the last to be led by God to a promised land…and the wicked he ^bdestroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes. This is what he told Adam and Eve when they were sent out from the Garden of Eden. How is a cursing "for our sake"? He has told us that we "learn obedience by the things which we suffer"...    39 He ruleth high in the heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is his ^afootstool.

  40 And he loveth those who will have him to be their God. America must learn these same lessons. We have lost God's protection on this precious land because, collectively, we have turned from Him. We have been warned and this land is being cursed "for our sakes" Behold, he loved our ^afathers, and he ^bcovenanted no small thing… with them, yea, even Abraham, ^cIsaac, and ^dJacob; and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them out of the land of ^eEgypt.

  41 And he did straiten ”bring into difficulties or distress” them in the wilderness with his rod; for they ^ahardened their hearts, even as ye have; so you know why we’ve had these hardships… and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying ^bserpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be ^chealed; There’s always a way out…that’s why he’s called a Savior... and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the ^dsimpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished. How many “simple” things do we refuse to do that would heal us? Pray….read and ponder the scriptures?....Let us perform the labor which we have to perform to be healed. Let us "look" to the Savior, in every thought and deed and keep His commandments. If the Doctrine of Christ is what leads to personal and collective salvation, maybe that is the "simple" thing that we refuse to do. Clearly, I feel the world has been "bitten" by a "fiery, flying serpent" that was sent to straiten us. The way out of this one is to be "Born Again" and receive a remission of our sins and a mighty change in our hearts. That is the only path to Zion. 

  42 And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did ^arevile against ^bMoses, and also against God; nevertheless, ye know REMEMBER? that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise. God can be very patient...

  43 And now, after all these things, This is the history of their brethren in Jerusalem… they had forgotten all, just as Laman and Lemuel… the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day about to be ^adestroyed; for I know that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity. Not only because we have been told that, but because I have seen it!

  44 Wherefore, the Lord ^acommanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life; yea, and ^bye also have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto them. Wow…we’re getting right to the point here…ouch! Notice that Nephi laid out a trail of undeniable logic and fact that Laman and Lemuel could not deny before he gets personal.

  45 Ye are ^aswift to do iniquity but slow to remember let me count the ways… the Lord your God. Ye have seen an ^bangel, One….and he spake unto you; Two… yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; Three and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, Four… but ye were ^cpast feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, Five… which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.

  46 And ye also know that by the ^apower of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts? Once again, Nephi has a hard time understanding people who don’t think like him…it’s so easy for him to “see” it…why can’t they? He can’t even comprehend believing or acting like Laman and Lemuel AFTER ALL THAT!!! True, Nephi has seen so much in vision that Laman and Lemuel have not, but I think his greatest frustration is that he knows they could have had their own witness and testimony, but "they would not."

  47 Behold, my soul is rent “tearing, splitting”  with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Ahh…his love for his brothers comes through…He is not angry with them; not hoping they "get what they deserve". He is genuinely hurting for what their wickedness is doing to their own souls. Truly this is "love for your enemies".  Behold, I am ^afull of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has ^bno strength. What is it about the Spirit, that our physical bodies cannot handle?

  48 And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words they were angry with me, They didn’t feel the spirit this time…for the truth “cutteth them to the core and the wicked taketh the truth to be hard”… and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the sea; why is murder such an easy option for a family member? and as they came forth to lay their hands upon me I spake unto them, saying: In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye ^atouch me not, for I am filled with the ^bpower of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall ^cwither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him. Maybe there is something literal about this statement. Maybe because Nephi was literally filled with the Spirit in a physical way, that they literally would wither if they touched him because that's what happens when a fallen mortal touches a body overcome with God's spirit. Maybe it wasn't Nephi creating that miraculous consequence by his faith, but a natural consequence of what he was experiencing in his body... I would loved to have heard the POWER in his voice as he said those words! It is interesting to me, that several times before, God allowed the brothers to take Nephi and bind him and then free him. Not this time...here Nephi is given permission to stop them before they could take him. Also, Nephi knew that God's words could not be fulfilled without their building and getting on this boat and that it he needed help to build it (unless God was going to send angels to lift the beams with him...) This fact increased his faith that God would not let them kill him.

  49 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto them that they should murmur no more against their father; neither should they withhold their labor from me, for God had commanded me that I should ^abuild a ship. After all of this...Nephi still asks for that which he desires most. He just wants them to soften their hearts, yield to God in obedience, and help him get this ship built. The natural man in many of us would have been tempted to cut them off; tell them that you will do it without them; tell them you hope they "get what they deserve"..etc. but Nephi keeps his heart pure, even while severely chastising them.

  50 And I said unto them: ^aIf God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. You think a ship is tough….I could do ANYTHING…if God commanded me to…If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done. The key here is...God has to be the one commanding it...not man.

  51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot ^ainstruct me, that I should build a ship? Come on….think about it!

  52 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were ^aconfounded Six: It’s one thing to rant on in anger, like Laman and Lemuel and it’s another to go on and on with and IN the power of God. They must have felt the difference.. and could not contend against me; It’s a big wilderness boys…why do you just stand there and listen to him?  Why don’t you just take off on your own?  neither durst they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. I wonder how many that was? Now they durst not do this lest they should wither before me, so powerful was the ^bSpirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon them. Oh how I long to be in the presence of someone who is under this kind of powerful spirit so much that it is wrought upon me? I think this is what happened to King Benjamin's people when he was preaching and they were born again... Seven;  I guess no matter how hard-hearted you are, at some point you cannot deny the power of God…you can rebel against it, but you can’t deny that you feel it.

  53 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will ^ashock them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God. Were they at an impass?  Laman and Lemuel had not bothered Nephi for several days, but they were not offering their help either.  God wanted them to help Nephi, so the Lord intervenes to get things moving…

  54 And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken. Eight.  See? God always does what he says he’s going to do.

  55 And now, they said: We know of a surety never mind all that other stuff we’ve witnessed…this is physical pain...now you’re talking my language.. that the Lord is ^awith thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to ^bworship me, What’s up with that?  How can they go from wanting to throw him into the sea, to bowing before him?  It’s like a scene in a movie, where the dummy sidekicks kiss the feet of the bully with the power only because they want to live. Or the bully kisses the feet of the hero when they realize they don't have power over him. Do they think Nephi will turn on them and take their lives? Remember, they are looking at things from their own perspective, and that’s probably what they would have thought to do… but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; come on, guys…you look silly…now let’s get your priorities straight… wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, ONE...and honor thy father and thy mother, TWO... that thy ^cdays may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee. So you are afraid for your life? Then THIS is how you live long.  You worship God and honor your parents…it is not by groveling at the feet of whomever you feel has the power at the time! Nephi also makes it clear that none of this is about personal power for himself. He's not interested in ruling over them, (though they never let go of that lie and pass it on for generations.) He honors the patriarchal order, even with all the personal witnesses he's had from God.  * VERSE 4 (592 B.C.).