Chapter 18
The ship is finished—The births of Jacob and Joseph are
mentioned—The company embarks for the promised land—The sons of Ishmael and
their wives join in revelry and rebellion—Nephi is bound, and the ship is
driven back by a terrible tempest—Nephi is freed, and by his prayer the storm
ceases—The people arrive in the promised land. About 591–589 B.C.
Laman and Lemuel got their acts together. They worshiped the
Lord and worked with Nephi as he built the ship.
As he built the ship, he “did pray oft unto the Lord;
wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things” (1 Nephi 18:3). The Lord had
promised Nephi he would guide him as he built the ship. This whole process
required Nephi’s faith in the Lord. Through his faith, he knew the Lord would
guide him.
Once the ship was finished, the Lord told Lehi it was time
to board the ship and leave for the promised land. Throughout their journey,
Lehi had shown faith in the Lord. They had no idea where they were going. They
had no idea how long it would take. They had no idea what challenges they would
face; yet, Lehi had the faith to have his family board the ship and head to the
promised land.
After telling us the party boarded the ship, Nephi tells us,
in one brief sentence, while they were traveling in the wilderness, two
brothers were born. Jacob was the oldest and Joseph was the youngest.
After they “had been driven forth before the wind for the
space of many days” (1 Nephi 18:9), Laman, Lemuel, the sons of Ishmael and
their wives returned to their sinful ways. “[T]hey began to dance[1],
and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by
what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto
exceeding rudeness” (1 Nephi 18:9).
What did Joseph mean when he used the word “rudeness”? Webster’s
1828 dictionary defines it as savage and barbarous.
Nephi feared “the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us
because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the
sea” (1 Nephi 18:10). Nephi spoke to them, most likely calling on them to
repent and obey the Lord’s commandments.
Laman and Lemuel became angry with Nephi. Once again, they complained,
“[w]e will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us” (1 Nephi
18:10). Once again, we see Laman and Lemuel didn’t get it. They had no faith in
the Lord. They were more concerned about the things of the world.
Nephi was tied up and abused. The Liahona was their compass,
guiding them on the journey. Since it would only work as long as they had faith
in the Lord, it ceased to function. They had no idea how they should steer the
ship to arrive at the promised land.
For three days, there were storms and horrific weather. They
became concerned they would die at sea; yet, they refused to free Nephi. During
this time, Nephi continued to praise God. He placed his faith in the Lord. He
did not fear what was happening.
Lehi said many things to them. Instead of listening, they threatened
him and anyone else who defended Nephi.
After four days of this, they realized the “judgments of God
were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their
iniquities” (1 Nephi 18:15). They untied Nephi.
No sooner was Nephi freed than the Liahona began to work
again. He prayed to the Lord. The winds ceased, the storm ended, and things
calmed down.
The only thing that saved them was Nephi’s faith in the
Lord. He trusted the Lord even when their destruction was a real possibility. Through
his faith, they were saved and arrived at the promised land many days
later.
[1]
If there was room enough for them to dance, this implies it must have been a
large ship.
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