1 Nephi 16:1-4
1. And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear.
2 And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.
3 And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us.
4 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord.
Nephi was a brave and tenacious young man. His brothers had already shown they had short tempers, and they would show it again. To Sam, he was probably something of a hero. But to his other older brothers he was someone who had to be dealt with. That relationship was apparent both before and after this event, but this time was different. They actually listened to him.
It is apparent that Nephi’s brothers understood the intent of his words. He had reminded them of the blessings they had received and probably of the covenants they had made and also, of the consequence of their continued inconstancy. The power of Nephi’s words moved them to a temporary repentance. Nephi was quick to see hope in their contrition, and reported,
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