1 Nephi 18

In life, for some reason we have this idea that justice prevails. At least I do. I'm used to seeing the good guys win in comic books, in cartoons, in movies. And though I might claim that in real life the good guys don't always win, I don't really believe it. This is partly augmented by the gospel. I am taught that the Lord's work will prevail, and though I truly believe that it will, I think that a problem arises when people like me begin to associate righteousness with power, specifically temporal power, or man's idea of power. I think it's safe to say that western culture in general makes this association to some extent. As I mentioned, our good guys are always more powerful than our bad guys. This is what I was thinking about when I read this chapter in Nephi.

1 Nephi 18:11, 17
And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked.

The story in this chapter is a story of the mutiny at sea and it's an example when the wicked have power over the righteous. Or do they? Maybe one problem is the way that we view power. I think most of us, myself included would look at Nephi bound hand and foot and call him powerless. We would see Laman and Lemeul breathing out threatenings to all those who come to Nephi's aid (1 Nephi 17:17) and we think that they are in power, that they are controlling the situation. But maybe this isn't the way that God sees power. Maybe to God, who sees the end from the beginning, who has all knowledge and all power, there is no difference between the mortals who think they are in control and the mortals who think they are not. The scripture said that the lord suffered it "that he might show forth his power..." To me, that is the point: the Lord that has power, and we don't.

This isn't the first time in the book of Nephi that Laman and Lemuel have bound Nephi.

1 Nephi 7:17-18
But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound. And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.

At first glance this may seem like it has a different outcome and I think we tend to focus on the difference in the amount of time it takes for Nephi to be released from his bonds. In this story it's immediate where in the other it takes 4 days, but I think that the message of both of the stories is similar.

Nephi prays for the strength to burst his bands. He asks for the power to free himself. This in itself follows the temporal idea of power, "If I was stronger, I could break these bands." But instead, God looses his bands so that they just fall off of him. There can be no mistake as to who freed Nephi, no way for him to claim that he broke the bands himself. In this way both stories are examples of God showing men that he is the one with the power. In this instance the Lord was showing his power to Nephi, in the other when the ship was almost destroyed (1 Nephi 18:20) He was showing his power to Laman and Lemuel.

So while God is powerful and man is not, this doesn't mean man is not completely powerless. We have access to the Lord's power in as much as we align ourselves with the Lord. Most people probably agree with this statement on paper but the real life application can be more difficult, because all of us humans tend to seek for control over our environments according to our will and pleasure.

Doctrine and Covenants 121: 39

We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

But this is not the way the Lord deals with us. Though he has all power he allows us to chose and seldom intervenes. He does not compel us to righteousness because compelling others is contrary to God's law.

Doctrine and Covenants 121: 37

...When we undertake to cover our sins, to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion, or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

God exercises his own power according to the principles he gives in Doctrine and Covenants 121.

Doctrine and Covenants 121: 41

No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

Power or influence should only be maintained through persuasion, through long-suffering, through gentleness and meekness, and through love unfeigned. I believe this is most applicable with our family relationships. This is where the greatest temptations are to exercise dominion or compulsion over other children of our Father in heaven.

Going back to the story of Nephi on the boat, God allowed Nephi to be bound. The words used are "the Lord did suffer it". This is something that we must all learn to do, to allow bad things to happen. Now, I am not suggesting that we just sit back and let the unrighteous dominate the righteous and I don't mean that we should ignore injustices, but I do mean that sometimes patiently suffering through injustices is the right thing to do. Indeed, patiently enduring our trials and even praying for our enemies is the Lord's path to power. Nephi practiced long suffering when he was bound hand and foot on the boat.

1 Nephi 18:16

Nevertheless, I did look unto my God and I did praise him all the day long and I did not murmur against the Lord because of my afflictions.

Other examples of long suffering can be found all throughout the scriptures but in the end the ultimate example is Jesus, who although he is God, he not only suffered all of the sins and weaknesses and pains of all mortals, but also allowed himself to be taken and crucified. Likewise, sometimes even when we are right, we may need to allow others to exercise their will upon us. We are not in control of the world.

In conclusion, often we take up the fight for righteousness and truth in an all too temporal way. We battle with men on man's terms, and we struggle for power with other men. But true power is not the ability to make someone else do something, or even to convince someone else to do something, true power is when you live in such a way, and when you love in such a way, that people will choose to follow you by themselves, even if it means they must follow you through all types of suffering.

And then...

Doctrine and Covenants 121:46
...thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.