Laman and Lemuel's murmurings must have gotten to Lehi at one point here becasue verse 14 talks of how he spoke to them with "power, being filled with the spirit, until their frames did shake before him." They ultimately did what he told them to do but not because they believed or had gained a testimony but only because of this power that Lehi was able to convey. In stark contrast to this situation, Nephi sought out the truth for himself through prayer. He wanted to know the "mysteries of God," through faith he prayed and he said the Lord visited him and softened his heart. This made it easier for him to believe the words of his father and follow his cousel and not rebel. The references on Verse 16 show how the Lord visits many with his spirit, if they believe on his words. It is incredible that the Lord promises this, but He does require faith.
In verse 17 Sam is instructed of Nephi regarding the things the Lord has taught him. Same must have had a very simple faith because he believed his older brother. I know that many times it is easy to hear from someone we trust and to believe them without any further witness. Trust is important when sharing the gospel. But Laman and Lemuel did not believe Nephi, here again, the hardness of their hearts and their unwillingness to go to the Lord is to their detriment. Nephi's reaction is not one of anger, or throwing his hands up in the air and saying something like, Oh well, to each his own, and just giving up. He is "grieved" and prays for them. He understands, at least to some extent, how damaging this might be for them eternally and he cares.
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