After speaking again to his brothers, others of the group, including one daughter, and one son of Ishmael who had been rebellious, came to Nephi’s aid verbally (v.19). Their efforts softened his angry brothers’ hearts to the extent that they begged Nephi’s forgiveness (v. 20). The character of Nephi is illustrated by his response, “I did frankly forgive them.”
This is another great example given us by Nephi, and later taught by the Savior: “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (3 Nephi 14:11). Was Nephi’s admonition to pray for forgiveness a catalyst? It seems so; they not only prayed for forgiveness, but again acknowledged the Lord God and sacrificed unto him as they came to their father’s tent (v. 22).