Nephi3, as head of the church, feels the weight of the penalty and prays “in behalf of his people.” It might be easy to forget from Nephi’s actions that he too would be under the condemnation. The Gadiantons had wanted to kill his father, and the son seems to have been no less valiant (and therefore no less obnoxious to the rulers) in calling the people to repentance. Nephi would surely have been one of the first slated for execution on the next day. Nevertheless, Nephi prays for his people, not himself.