1 Nephi 17:48 - 17:52
1 Nephi 17:48 And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the sea; 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 touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him.
The boys do not react well to Nephi’s words and want to throw him into the sea. As they approach him, Nephi tells them that he is so full of the spirit of God that if they so much as even touch him they will die. That they will wither away like a dried reed and crumble to the earth. They will see that their power is absolutely nothing compared to the power of God.
1 Nephi 17:49 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 build a ship.
Nephi commands them under this influence of the spirit that they give him the assistance he will need to build the ship. He further commands them to stop their murmuring against their father. Nephi testifies that he has been commanded to build this ship and they help or else.
1 Nephi 17:50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. 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.
It may seem impossible for the boys to think that Nephi is told to build a ship by the Lord, but he has and if the Lord so commands, he can do it. The Lord has all power over the earth and all things on it. If he should say to the water become dirt, it wound happen. The boys deep in their hearts know this.
1 Nephi 17:51 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 instruct me, that I should build a ship?
So if the boys know this, then why do they doubt that Nephi could build a ship if so commanded. It might be the thought that they are being instructed by a younger brother which older bothers just do not like. Pride is a very powerful motivation not to look to their younger siblings for guidance.
1 Nephi 17:52 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded and could not contend against me; neither durst they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now they durst not do this lest they should wither before me, so powerful was the Spirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon them.
Nephi’s lecture had its desired effect on the boys. They could not argue against his logic nor did they try to seize him to throw him into the sea. They spirit was so powerful that they could see that Nephi had God with him and if they tried anything against him they knew they would be the one that would die not Nephi.
