The righteous leaders of the Nephites on the American continent apparently had the same keen sense of responsibility as was held by the righteous Hebrew leaders on the eastern continent. Jacob mentions that he and his brother Joseph, in becoming the religious leaders of the people, had taken upon themselves "the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence." (Jacob 1:19.)
Ezekiel was one of the leaders of Israel on the eastern continent at about this same period. Concerning the responsibility of the leader to the people, Ezekiel recorded the following instructions from the Lord:
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. (Ezekiel 33:1-7.)