Lehi “exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel … lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.” One mission president provided a modern example of Lehi’s concern:
“A rock group performed a concert in the area last night, in a big stadium right in the middle of our mission. Seventy thousand people attended. When we heard that the group was coming, we wondered if any of our missionaries would defile themselves with a heavy dose of worldliness and attend it (totally against mission rules). To their credit, as far as we know, almost all of them just kept on working, and obeying. Except two. One missionary finished his mission last week but is still in the country, touring with his parents who came to pick him up. This afternoon he went back to his last proselyting area, and invited his last companion (still fairly young in the mission, and a potential leader), and he agreed to go to the concert with him.
“I was so tired last night that I went to bed about 11 p.m., then at 1 a.m. was awakened by a call from the young missionary’s current companion, who felt horrible that he had allowed his companion to go to the concert without calling the president and saying something. Today I called them all in, including the returning missionary and his parents. I lovingly chastised the young missionary and called him to repentance. He was quite remorseful and anxious to be forgiven.
“The missionary who leaves tonight for the States, who has been Spiritless for several months, told me he regretted having taken his former companion to the concert, but he had not an ounce of regret for having gone himself. He doesn’t care at all whether someone thinks he is disobedient or not. I was appalled at his attitude. As kindly as I could, I also called him to repentance and warned him that he was heading for big trouble. I asked him if he honestly desired someday to live with Heavenly Father and his Son, our Savior. He said, with a somewhat defiant grin on his face, ‘Well, I’m not really sure.’ ‘You mean to tell me,’ I replied, ‘that you’ve been teaching and testifying for two years, and you admit you’re not even sure you want to be with God yourself?’ ‘Yes, I guess that’s what I’m saying.’ I told him that I feared for him and once again called on him to examine himself and consider seriously if he really wants to pursue the path to misery. It all reminds me of Lehi’s fearful concern for his sons, Laman and Lemuel. I next had a talk with his parents and commiserated with them, for they, too, fear for their son.”