Binding the Prophets (1 Nephi 18:9-14)

March 14, 2006

1 Nephi 18:9-14—Nephi and family are on the boat, sailing to the promised land. Nephi’s brothers are acting rudely. He tries to show them the error of their ways, correct their behavior. They don’t like that very much. They tie him up. Then the Liahona ceases to work, the storms arise, they lose their way. They are in trouble now.

We think: How could they do that? Haven’t they learned to follow the prophet? Don’t they realize how dependent they are upon him? We would never be so foolish!

But aren’t we? Whenever we ignore our prophet’s counsel, we ‘bind’ him, and his ability to lead and guide us ceases to work.

Every time we watch an R-rate move—or even some of the PG and PG-13s—we bind our prophet. “Artful” tattoos and multiple piercings. Drinking Cokes and other caffeinated drinks. Failure to have adequate food storage and/or a 72-hour kit. Failure to hold Family Home Evening, family prayer and scripture study.

How many of us read the Book of Mormon this past year as the prophet asked us to do? It doesn’t really matter why we didn’t do it. If we didn’t follow his counsel, we bound him. Should we be surprised when the storms arise?

In all these behaviors, we bind our prophet and our Liahona ceases to work. No wonder so many of us feel tossed to and fro in the storms of this life.

We tend to look down on Laman and Lemuel for their behaviors, but they repented after only four days (v. 15). How long have our behaviors been contrary to the counsel of our prophet?

It’s March. I wonder how many Saints perservered and finished the Book of Mormon after December 31st—and how many just quit once the deadline passed?