It is occasionally given to the servants of the Lord to enjoy that power of the Spirit necessary to quiet and confound the rebellious and disobedient. Owing, however, to the doubting disposition of such persons, the overall impact is frequently temporary, the change of heart short-lived.
Elijah’s dramatic demonstration of the powerlessness of the god of the priests of Baal had but fleeting effect upon the people present (1 Kings 18, 19). Jesus confounded the leaders of the Jews so that “no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions” (Matthew 22:46); yet they remained unconvinced, unconverted, and murderous in their feelings toward the Master.
Laman and Lemuel were silenced on this occasion by a mighty man upon whom the prophetic mantle descended. Later they were corrected by an angel (1 Nephi 3:29), by the voice of God (1 Nephi 16:39), by Nephi’s demonstration of prophetic power (1 Nephi 17:47-48, 53-55), and by the rebellion of the elements themselves (1 Nephi 18:11-15); still Laman and Lemuel, spiritually “past feeling” (1 Nephi 17:45), turned a deaf ear to the inspired word.