Go and Build a Boat

The First Book of Nephi

Chapter 17

"Nephi is commanded to build a ship—His brethren oppose him—He exhorts them by recounting the history of God’s dealings with Israel—Nephi is filled with the power of God—His brethren are forbidden to touch him, lest they wither as a dried reed. About 592–591 B.C."
-Introduction to 1 Nephi Chapter 17




They continue traveling eastward. Their families grow with new children, and they are blessed with enough food, and other blessings. They came to a place they called Bountiful, because of the beautiful abundance there, and it was by a sea they called Irreantum, or many waters.

They were there for only a few days, camping, resting, taking in the beautiful scenery, when the voice of The Lord came to Nephi, commanding him to go up into the mountains. Nephi obeyed, doing what The Lord commanded him, and The Lord spoke with him. He commanded Nephi to build a ship.

So Nephi keeps the commandments and starts making tools and starts a fire and starts making a ship. Laman and Lemuel see, and being the same old ornery older brothers Nephi's always had, they start
murmuring and cutting Nephi down.
"You're a fool, just like our father!"

"You think you can build a ship?"

"You can't build a ship!"

"We should have never left Jerusalem!"

"We could be enjoying our inheritance right now instead or wandering in the wilderness!"

"You've put us through too much!"

"Our wives have struggled so much bearing children in the wilderness."

"We could have died!"

"We're not helping you in your vain imaginations!"

"We could have been happy!"

"The people in Jerusalem were righteous! They kept the law of Moses."

"They couldn't have been destroyed."

"We should be living in Jerusalem now instead of following you and our foolish father."

They continued to murmur and complain about everything, but Nephi could not stand their murmuring. He told them the story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and all their struggles, but He knew that God was there and leading them, and he told his brothers off for all of their murmuring.  His brothers were furious with him.  How dare he, their youngest brother, tell them that they are in the wrong! They tried to take him and throw him off a nearby cliff into the deep waters.  The Lord would not allow that, and He told Nephi what he needed to do, and Nephi was given the power of God to shock them.  He told his brothers not to come any closer, but they didn't listen, and Nephi shocked them by the power of God.

Immediately they fell to the ground and started to worship him because they knew it was God's power, but Nephi pulled them up and shook his head, saying "no, don't worship me, worship God. I'm only your younger brother."
Though Nephi had just been in danger, and he had just showed tremendous power, he knew that it was God watching out for him, and it was nothing from himself.  He would not let his brothers worship him.




To read the scriptural account, go to 1 Nephi 17.