There was plenty of cause to murmur: broken bows, lack of food, fatigue, suffering—sounds like life! The similarities here to the Israelite exodus are striking: fatigue, lack of food, and great murmuring against the Lord (Exodus 16:8; Numbers 11:1). Instead of sitting around groaning and complaining about their plight, Nephi got up and did something constructive. He devised a solution to their dilemma and then went to his father for direction. He himself could have sought guidance from the Lord, but he sustained and honored the priesthood leadership of his father, even though his father, a prophet, had also been complaining and was chastened and humbled.
Elder Richard G. Scott taught: “Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Prov. 3:11–12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.” 44