20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.
This is the first time we see real sorrow and regret from actions from Laman and Lemuel. And there is no indication that their repentance is anything but sincere. So why do they keep falling back into the same habits? I think part of it has to do with just the fact that rebellion was a habit with them. Rebellion and anger. Anger is an addictive behavior that Nephi’s brethren had fallen into. Sometimes, after we sin, we fall back into the same pattern, even if we don’t want to. That does not make our desires any less sincere. I think that Laman and Lemuel, and now reinforced by some of Ishmael’s children, were full of anger and resentment over leaving their world, and jealousy over Nephi’s position of authority over them, his elder brothers. If they had the strength of character and the conversion of Nephi, this could have been a real turning point for them. They felt sorrow for their sins to the point of repentance. But, as we shall see, it didn’t last.
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