Nephi, after the death of Lehi, naturally, felt it his duty to admonish his brethren and associates, as his father had done. Undoubtedly, they held services at regular times, similar to our fast meetings, where all had an opportunity to bear testimony, or to admonish and teach. It must have been on such occasions that Laman, Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael became angry. The brothers were jealous of the greater gifts and influence of Nephi, the youngest of the four. The sons of Ishmael thought, perhaps, that they, as belonging to the lineage of Ephraim should not be subordinate to a son of Manasseh. But whatever the cause, the old hatred broke out again.
Lest this experience of Nephi should be regarded as a refutation of the truth of the principle stated in the 5th verse of this chapter, let it be said that a very important part of training is the will of the person to be trained. There must be co-operation on his, or her, part; otherwise the object in view will not be attained. No one can be trained to become a great musician, a painter, a runner, an orator, a linguist, or what not and certainly not a good Latter-day Saint against his, or her will. The principle is true, but it does not destroy the free agency of man. Our heavenly Father himself exclaims, through the Prophet Isaiah (1:2): "I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me."