1 Nephi 4:37

37  And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an ^aoath unto us, our ^bfears did cease concerning him.

     "made an oath unto us our fears did cease concerning him."

            -evidence of the binding power of an oath. Many scholars of ancient middle-eastern societies have written about the binding nature of an oath  -even those oaths made by enimies or strangers.  Here, Zoram makes an oath and immediately the brother’s fears cease concerning his potential flight.