Going backwards

1 Nephi 18:8-15

This part of their journey always fascinated me. Here nephi has basically built the boat himself that is taking all of the family across the sea, he is driving the ship which is not easy, while his brothers and family are partying like wild animals and as he says, being rude.
Nephi has experienced so many visions and confirmations up until this point to give him solid witness that he was doing the lords will, yet his brothers were driving the spirit away and Nephi knew that they would not make it with out the spirit guiding them.
So he try's to tell them to stop and that he's afraid God will stop guiding their path across the sea!

Of course Lamen and Lemual are pissed and this time the tie up Nephi really good- to where his wrists are bleeding and he's so weak.  They leave him tied up for a long time and the part that I always thought interesting is where it says in vrs 13... that they were driven back three days journey because of what lamen and lemual did. 3 DAYS!! Can you imagine being on a boat in the middle of the ocean, sea sick and miserable and you just lost 3 days worth of travel?!!

I took away from this story the principle that when we are not obedient to the Lords commandments and even go as far as rebelling them.... we dont just hit a pause button and say, " oh Ill just wander off the path for a min and then jump right back on and keep going forward" No, we actually loose the progress we made. "We are driven backwards"

We dont want to loose the ground we have already won. We do not want to loose the faith we have already exercised.

Be strong and steadfast McKenna in the progress you have made these past few years. You have allowed the Lord to steer your ship and the Holy Ghost is guiding you along the way.

There will be storms along the way, for sure, but if you remain worthy to be guided by the "leahona" you will not be tossed backwards in your journey. The storm will actually be moving you forward as the heavy winds blow.

I know this to be true.