1 Nephi 18:13-15

Laman and Lemuel have just tied up their brother Nephi and in verse 13, they attempted to steer the ship towards the promised land. But, to no surprise, they did not know where to steer the ship, because the Liahona was not working. This will help tell you how hard-headed they were, because when Nephi was tied up, there arose a storm that threatened to drown them all into the sea. They were frightened for their lives, but they did not untie Nephi. This situation persisted for three days. For three days they were driven back upon the waters.

On the fourth day, the storm got even bigger.

Nephi shares that for the space of four days they had been driven back and nearly drowned, that it was then that Laman and Lemuel began to see that it was the judgments of God that were upon them, and that they must repent or perish. Well, when they realized that their lives were at stake, then they would rather untie Nephi than die. They loosened the bands around Nephi's wrists and ankles. They had swollen exceedingly, Nephi says, and great was the soreness.

Even though we have an outside perspective on how Laman and Lemuel's decisions affect their situations and we say, duh, after one day you two should have know that your actions caused this. I can tell you that when you have fallen into a snare by the evil one, you might not realize it. The carnal mind can be appeased so much that you don't realize what you're thinking. Even if the people on the outside looking in can easily see that you have been drawn in, you will think they do not know what they're talking about and you shun them. I have seen people in these situations. They are so stuck that you cannot get through to them. You just have to pray that something will happen to wake them out of it, that they can realize what they're doing.

Fortunately, Laman and Lemuel did realize what they were doing, but not due to the pleadings of others, which we'll talk about in the next few days.