The current LDS text spells the verb as straiten, while the RLDS text spells it as straighten. Clearly the meaning here is ‘to subject to hardship or distress’ rather than ‘to make straight’; thus the correct spelling of the verb is straiten, which derives from the adjective strait, meaning ‘narrow’. For discussion regarding the spelling of strait and straight, see 1 Nephi 8:20. Also see strait in volume 3.
Summary: Based on the meaning, the correct spelling is straiten for the two occurrences of that verb in 1 Nephi 17:41.