Post by Nephi –
I should probably use a different word than “rudeness” but I am running out of words that mean; “my brothers have offended God again, misbehaved, treated the family with contempt, practically killed family members, and lest they lose their very lives, repented and were forgiven.”
The only difference in this next narrative and the many others previously related, is that it took place on the ship out in the depths of the ocean. The characters are the same, the actions vary only little but the personal pain was greater and the fear instilled also greater.
After several days on the ocean where the winds had driven us a great distance toward the Land of Promise, my brothers, the sons of Ishmael and their wives began to make themselves merry.
They began to dance, and sing. That is not the rude part. The rude part came when their speech demonstrated they had forgotten by what power we had been brought to this point. This is where I became fearful the Lord might become angry and smite us and we would be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. In soberness, I again began to speak with them and again this made them angry with me because they refused that their younger brother should be a “ruler over them.”
This time they tied me up and treated me harshly. I don’t want it to appear that I am complaining, but the Lord could have stepped in at any time. He didn’t however, because He wanted to show forth His power, fulfilling His words He had spoken concerning the wicked. They tied me up so tight that I couldn’t move. At this point the compass the Lord had given us ceased working. Without it they didn’t know where to steer the ship, they couldn’t go back or forward.
As you could guess a great storm arose. The winds were terrible and we were blown around for three days. The tempest was so great, even my brothers were afraid we would be drowned in the sea. Yet, they still did not loose me. The storm did not let up. Finally on the fourth day, the storm picked up even worse and we all knew we were about to be swallowed up in the deep sea.
My father Lehi said many things to them, also the sons of Ishmael. My brothers, however threatened anyone speaking up for me. With my parents so old, and having suffered so much grief because of my brothers, they were brought down to their sick-beds. Maybe I should say their “death beds.” They were actually to the point of such sorrow, they expected a watery grave.
Nothing could touch the hearts of my brothers. My two younger brothers, Jacob and Joseph suffered because of the afflictions of our mother. My wife with her tears and my children couldn’t soften my brothers’ hearts. There was nothing but the power of God, threatening their lives with utter destruction that could soften their hearts.
It finally dawned on my brothers that God was giving them a not so subtle hint that their wickedness was unacceptable and they needed to repent. They came to me and loosed the bands on my hands and feet. Again, I don’t want to appear to be complaining but you have no idea how sore and swollen my hands and feet had become – 4 days, tied so tight that I couldn’t even move, and in a storm so violent it threatened the seaworthiness of a ship designed by God Himself. So maybe “rude” could be considered a poor word choice to describe my brothers.
Yet, all I could do was look to my God and praise Him, rather than murmur against Him.
So when they finally realized the sea was about to swallow them up, they did repent of their “rudeness” and they untied me.
(Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 18:9 – 20)
