In verse 9 the sons of Ishmael and Laman and Lemuel and their wives began to be merry and to dance and to speak with much rudeness. When Nephi tried to get them to refrain, they would not listen to him and in verse 11, Laman and Lemuel "bind [Nephi] with cords," and in verse 12 "the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work." This Liahona is different from a compass that points north. The Liahona pointed the direction that they are to go, and it has writing on it that gave instructions. Yet as soon as Nephi’s brothers tied him up, the compass stopped working.
Book of Mormon Central, "Why Can Wickedness Never Bring Happiness? (Alma 41:10)," KnoWhy 329 (June 21, 2017).