Now that the ship was built, the Lord told Lehi to take his family and all who were with him and get into it. So after preparing much fruit, and meat, and honey, and other provisions which they needed they all got into the ship, and started out on their journey or voyage.
They still had to be led by the Lord, as they did not know which way to travel. When the ship was launched or loosened from the shore the wind blew it in the direction of the land to which the Lord desired to take them.
We learn from this story that Lehi and his company were led in the wilderness much in the same way as the children of Israel were, when they left Egypt. The children of Israel were forty years in the wilderness going from Egypt to Jerusalem. The distance between these two places was not so very far. The reason they were so long in going was because the Lord desired to teach them certain lessons before they ended their journey, and it took all this time to prepare them to enter the land to which they were being led. Lehi and his company were eight years going from Jerusalem to the sea shore where they built the ship. They too, might have traveled faster, but some of them were disobedient and complained very much. They did not have patience enough and did not trust in the Lord as they should nor believe that He was leading them. The Lord wanted them to learn these things and so He caused them to remain a long time in the wilderness, where they received an experience which was valuable to them.
Points to be remembered in this story: Nephi is commanded by the Lord to build a ship, with which to cross the ocean—He melts ore and gets iron to make tools—His brothers call him foolish and refuse to help him—He reasons with them and they try to throw him into the sea—Nephi commands them to not touch him or the Lord will smite them—The Lord shakes them; they then believe what their brother has told them and are willing to help him build a ship—When the ship is finished all the people in the company go into it and they start on their voyage—The journey of Lehi and his company was like that of the children of Israel when they left Egypt.
LEHI AND HIS SONS
ARRIVAL ON THE PROMISED LAND.
After sailing on the ocean for several days Nephi's brothers, Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, with their wives, began to make themselves merry. They sang, and danced, and spoke with much rudeness. They seemed by their actions to have forgotten how the Lord had cared for them and guided them through the wilderness.
Nephi was afraid their actions would offend the Lord, and he spoke to them about their behavior. But as before, this made them angry, and they said they would not be ruled over by their younger brother. Laman and Lemuel took Nephi and bound him with cords and treated him very cruelly. Nephi was bound so tightly that he could not move.
As soon as Nephi was bound the liahona, or brass ball, failed to direct them in the course they should take, and a great storm arose. The ship was driven backward for three days, and those on board began to be frightened, as they were in danger of being drowned.
But Laman and Lemuel were so wicked at heart that they would not release Nephi. Their father talked with them, but this did not soften their hearts. Lehi and Sariah his wife were getting old, and the troubles caused them by their older sons made them very sick. Their two younger sons, Jacob and Joseph, who were born in the wilderness, were much in need of their mother's care, and were grieved because of her sickness. Nephi's wife and children cried and prayed for him to be released, but this had no effect upon Laman and Lemuel. Nothing but the power of God would move them.
On the fourth day after Nephi was bound the storm became more severe, and it seemed as though the ship would sink. The storm was so terrible that Laman and Lemuel became fearful that they would be drowned. They then repented of their wicked acts and loosened the bands that held their brother.