1 Nephi 18:8 - 18:12
1 Nephi 18:8 And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land.
Nephi reports that they were driven by the winds to their destination. The ball probably told them the direction to head for the catch the trade winds. And I assume where and when to land for fresh provisions and maybe a little recreation for the members of the group on land.
1 Nephi 18:9 And after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days, behold, my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and also their wives began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, 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.
Sometime in the voyage, probably near the end, there began to be celebration by the dissenters. They were speaking with much rudeness and were probably telling how that it was by their own abilities that they got this far.
They were probably railing against Nephi and others for trying to correct their thinking on this matter. They were in the midst of singing and dancing when Nephi tells them that if they don’t stop, that the Lord will punish them which will include the faithful members of the crew as well.
Don’t know how long they had been sailing but I’m sure it would been for a year or more and they were probably so happy to be close to their destination at they began their celebration early.
It would be hard to live with people that could easily be set off and you always had to on watch to protect yourself. It appears that they could go a rye with little encouragement. This would make being together a great emotional roller coaster. Not only for Nephi but for Laman and those of like disposition.
Nephi sought for reverence in life for the Lord while the boys sought for fun and light minded things. They do not mesh very well. People will naturally separate under these conditions. And that may have been on the minds of the boys that when they got there they could rid themselves of the constraints that Nephi was putting on them and they could be themselves. This also might have been on their minds as they approached the land of promise.
1 Nephi 18:10 And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly lest 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; wherefore, I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much soberness; but behold they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us.
Because of the behavior of the boys at the part of the voyage, Nephi is concerned that the Lord will come down on the group for their light mindedness. To keep the situation under control, Nephi, once again, speaks to them.
The boys seeing that things appear to be under control or want it to be under their control, start their false accusations against Nephi. They accuse him of wanting to be the ruler over them. This has been a running sore with them because they figured that being the oldest they should be the leader of the clan. They would have if they had been righteous. Here Nephi is the one who is humble and obedient and he is chosen to be the leader by the Lord. Anyway, Laman and Lemuel are back to their old tricks. I wonder what Lehi is doing to try to help his son to quail this insurrection?
1 Nephi 18:11 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked.
Laman and Lemuel seize Nephi and ties him up. They are very harsh with him because of their hatred towards him. The Lord allows this and I guess Nephi knows this. Again the Lord is going to try to show these stiff necked characters his powers.
1 Nephi 18:12 And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work.
The first thing to happen is the ball stopped working.
