Scriptural Highlights

• The symbols in the vision of the tree of life.
• The people in the vision of the tree of life.

Dreams & The Tree Of Life

1. Dreams.
• 1 Nephi 8:2:  "And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision."
• WHAT DO YOU DREAM ABOUT?
• We normally dream about images that are familiar, such as our family members, our home, and work.
• I often have repetitive dreams, but always with things I have experienced.  I often dream about moving back to Oregon, a place we lived 18 years ago.  Since my father passed away two years, I have dreamed about him several times.
• The images in Lehi’s dream, like us, were images familiar to Lehi.  They came from the desert world in which Lehi was wandering.
• This is another evidence verifying the fact that the Book of Mormon is of Semitic origin and not written by an American in the 19th Century.
• Two Examples (Source: Hugh Nibley, An Approach to the Book of Mormon).
1. 1 Nephi 8:4-8:
• The image:
• A lone traveler, Lehi, in "a dark and dreary waste".
• He "traveled for the space of many hours in darkness".
• In desperation he "began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me".
• Images from Arabic lyric poetry or inscriptions scratched on rocks.
• This image is among the commonest that haunt the early Arab poets.
• The standard nightmare of the Arab = traveling long distances through dark and dreary wastes all alone.
• In the inscriptions a thousand lone wanderers send up in desperation, prayers for help.
2. 1 Nephi 8:9,20:
• The image:
• A "large and spacious field".
• A "large and spacious field, as if it had been a world".
• Arabic image.
• This is the symbol of release from fear and oppression.
• The Arab poet describes the world as "maidan", or large and spacious field.
• Hugh Nibley: "Only one who had actually seen those things could have dreamed them; only one who had been haunted by those fears and frightened by those situations would ever have been visited by them in a dream of the night.” (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, 6:263)
• The Tree-of-Life tradition is known in many cultures around the world, particularly from the Near East to Greece to India and also in Central America.
• The images usually include a tree, often white or with white fruit, springs or a pool of water, a path leading to the tree, and sometimes people under the tree.
• The Egyptians had an elaborate Tree-Of-Life literature.
• This is literature that Lehi may have been familiar with and influenced his dream.
• The first modern writings on these tree of life concepts appeared in Europe in 1836, six years after the publication of the Book of Mormon.

Lehi's Dream

1. Nephi said that we should "liken" the scriptures unto ourselves for our "profit and learning" (1 Nephi 19:23-24).  Elder Bruce R. McConkie said, "It does not suffice to present gospel truths in an abstract and impersonal way. True principles benefit mankind only when they live in the souls of men" (The Promised Messiah, p516).  As discussed above, Lehi dreamt of images from his world.  As we seek to understand Lehi's dream and teach it to our families, we need to find ways to make it live, as it lived for Lehi and his family.
2. 1 Nephi 8:2-4:  "And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.

    "And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.
    "But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness."
• Lehi says that he followed a man dressed in a white robe.  Lehi followed him and found himself in a "dark and dreary waste" (8:7).
• WHAT IS THIS DARK AND DREARY WASTE OR WILDERNESS?
• It may be a symbolic representation of fallen man in the lone and dreary world.
• Compared to our heavenly home, is this not a lone and dreary world?
3. 1 Nephi 8:8-9:  "And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

    "And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field."
• WHAT IS THE LARGE AND SPACIOUS FIELD?
• Symbolic of the world (1 Nephi 8:20).
4. 1 Nephi 8:10-12:  "And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.

    "And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
    "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit."
• As a teenager, a friend and I went on a summer hike to the top of a minor peak.  It took us several hours to reach the summit.  It was a strenuous hike and we were tired and thirsty when we reached the top.  We hadn't carried a lot of supplies, but we had brought along some oranges which we placed in the snow to cool.  After the oranges had cooled, we skinned them and began to "partake".  I am sure it was the combination of circumstances, but I have never had oranges that tasted so good.  In some ways they were like Lehi's fruit, for on that day they were "desirable above all other fruit".
• LEHI WASN'T TALKING ABOUT ORANGES.  WHAT DOES THIS IMAGE REPRESENT?
• Nephi learned that it represented the "love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men" (1 Nephi 11:22).
• This “love of God” is manifest in the gift of his Son (see 1 Nephi 11:7,20-22).
• John 3:16:  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
• In verse 11, Lehi sees himself “partake of the fruit”.
• This represented the partaking of the powers of Christ and his atonement: forgiveness of sins, as well as feelings of peace, joy, and gratitude. Ultimately through partaking of the powers of the gospel one is qualified to partake of the greatest fruit of the Atonement -- the blessings associated with eternal life.
• In 1 Nephi 15:22, Nephi explains to his brothers that this is the tree of life.  Elder McConkie states that this tree is, "Figuratively, the tree from which the faithful pick the fruit of eternal life. To eat thereof is to inherit eternal life in the kingdom of God" (DNTC, 3:448)
• WHAT INFLUENCE DOES THE LOVE OF GOD HAVE IN OUR LIVES?
• Knowledge of this love gives us hope.  Indeed, we are in a "dark and dreary waste" at times.  The challenges and burdens in this life can almost be too much.  For many it is and they simply give up.  As we partake of this fruit, we are spiritually nourished and we are given strength for the journey ahead.  Our hope is renewed.  And, like Lehi, once we have tasted of the fruit, we desire to share it with our loved ones.  Unlike the limited supply of oranges I had on the day of the hike, there is plenty of fruit from the tree of life to go around and we can share freely.
5. 1 Nephi 8:13:  "And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit."
• WHAT DOES THIS RIVER OF WATER REPRESENT?
• Nephi learned that "the depths thereof are the depths of hell" (1 Nephi 12:16).

Nephi later explained to his brothers that "it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God.  And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked" (1 Nephi 15:28-29).
• Brother Hugh Nibley provides this explanation: "When he dreams of a river, it is a true desert river, a clear stream a few yards wide with its source but a hundred paces away (1 Nephi 8:13-14) or else a raging muddy wash, a sayl of 'filthy water' that sweeps people away to their destruction (1 Nephi 8:32;12:16;15:27). In the year 960 a.d., according to Bar Hebraeus, a large band of pilgrims returning from Mekka 'encamped in the bed of a brook in which water had not flowed for a long time. And during the night, whilst they were sleeping, a flood of water poured down upon them all, and it swept them and all their possessions out into the Great Sea, and they all perished'."  (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, 5:45 )
• When we sin and fail to keep the commandments of God, it is as though a "river" or "an awful gulf" is cast between us and eternal life.  If we do not repent and come unto the Lord, like the band of pilgrims we shall be eternally swept away.
6. 1 Nephi 8:19-20:  "And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.

    "And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world."
• Lehi is painting a picture for us.  The picture I see is a narrow canyon where I have hiked many times over the years.  Through the middle, runs a stream.  Along one side of the canyon is a "narrow path".  This narrow path through the canyon eventually opens up into a "large and spacious field".  On this particular trail there is, in fact, a rod of iron.  It is a four inch galvanized pipe that carries water from the higher reaches of the mountain down to the valley.  Incorporating Lehi's dream, we would find the path leading on to the tree.
• WHAT IS THE STRAIT AND NARROW PATH?
• The gospel path is straight and narrow.
• "Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
• "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
• In my picture, one must stay on the path or sliding down the hill and into the stream is a real possibility.  There is only one path through the canyon.  And there is only one way to the "tree of life" or eternal life that fruit which is "desireable above all other fruit".
7. 1 Nephi 8:21-24:  "And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.

    "And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
    "And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.
    "And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree."
• Lehi now sees masses of people heading up the path towards the tree.  He also sees a "great mist of darkness" that covers the path.  Many of those on the path "wandered off and were lost."  On my canyon trail, such a great mist of darkness would be dangerous.  I can visualize people slipping on the hillside, some even losing control and sliding into the stream.
• On another hike during my teen years, my friends and I were climbing at night.  Though there wasn't a mist as such, the darkness was great and the trail was obscure.  We navigated the trail for a period of time, but eventually we "wandered off" the main trail on to a side trail and "were lost" until daybreak when we could finally regain our bearings.
• In Lehi's dream, others were able to press through the "mist of darkness", remain on the trail and eventually "partake of the fruit of the tree".  WHAT ENABLED THEM TO DO THAT?
• WHAT DOES THE GREAT MIST OF DARKNESS REPRESENT?
• It is symbolic of “the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost" (1 Nephi 12:17).
• WHAT SORTS OF "MISTS OF DARKNESS" DO WE ENCOUNTER IN OUR DAY?
• During my night climb, we persisted through the darkness thinking we were on the path.  Sometimes we think we are on the path when we are, in fact, being led astray.  Temptations can be subtle.  They may come from trusted friends.  We may be influenced by attractive advertising or seductive media presentations.
• Those that made it through the "mist" did so by clinging to the "rod of iron".  WHAT DOES THE ROD OF IRON REPRESENT?
• It is the “word of God”.  "And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life" (1 Nephi 11:25).
• Only by clinging to the “rod of iron” can we be safe from the depths of “filthiness”.  As Nephi said to his his brethren: “...and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction” (1 Nephi 15:24).
• A number of years ago, my wife and I drove down to Utah for the Christmas holiday.  We were traveling at night.  When we reached southern Idaho, several miles from the Utah border, we encountered a fierce blizzard.  We were literally encountering an "exceedingly great mist of darkness".  So fierce was the blizzard that the road ahead was completely whited out.  We could see nothing.  Though we were on the freeway, we slowed our speed to about 15 miles an hour, centered our car on the white line on the side of the road, and clung to that line.  I don't think we could see more than 10 to 15 feet ahead.  Had it not been for that highway marker line and our strict attention and adherence to it, we could not have made it.  Our lives may well have depended on staying on the "strait and narrow" line.
• In our lives, we need a guide to find our way up the path, through the mist of darkness and on to the tree of life.  We are blessed in our time to have the "word of God" in abundance.  Not only do we have the Standard Works, but we also have the monthly First Presidency message in the Ensign and General Conference talks each month.  Adherence to these messages is just as vital to our spiritual survival as was  following the highway marker line to my family's physical survival.
• President Ezra Taft Benson:  "Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, healing of the soul—these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word. Does the Lord promise and not fulfill? Surely if He tells us that these things will come to us if we lay hold upon His word, the blessings can be ours. And if we do not, then the blessings may be lost. However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree of life (see 1 Nephi 8:19-23)." (Ensign, May 1986, p81)
• President Benson:  "Some of our members have become disturbed because of derogatory things said about the Church and its leaders, or because of misrepresentations about our doctrines or our practices. But opposition is not new to the Church. We have had opposition in the past, and we shall continue to have opposition in the future. Do not become discouraged by what others say or do. Stay on the strait and narrow path. You do this by holding fast to the iron rod—the words of God as contained in the scriptures and as given by His living servants on this earth (see 1 Nephi 8:19)." (Ensign, Apr 1984, p8)
8. In verse 25 Lehi saw a second group of people who entered onto the path, pressed forward holding onto the rod through the mist of darkness until they arrived at and partook of the fruit of the tree of life.  After they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they looked around and "were ashamed".
• WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE PEOPLE?
• They were more concerned with the opinions and philosophies and acceptance of the world than with the designs of the Lord.
• DOES THIS HAPPEN TO MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH TODAY?  WHY?
• Elder Boyd K. Packer:  "Note that the test came after they had followed the rod of iron, after they had partaken of the fruit....  What is the test? Why did they falter? It had something to do with becoming ashamed in the face of scoffing and mocking or pointing fingers."  (BYU Speeches, Apr 12, 1966, p4).
• HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THIS CHALLENGE?
9. 1 Nephi 8:26:  "And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.

    "And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit."
• WHAT DOES THE GREAT AND SPACIOUS BUILDING REPRESENT?
• It represents worldly wisdom, as well as "vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men" (1 Nephi 11:35; 12:18).
• These people all had one thing in common: they prized the praise and ways of man above the praise and ways of God, and mocked and scoffed at those who attempted to live a godly and simple life.
• Brother Nibley gives us this interesting insight:  "By now most of us have seen photographs of those wonderful ancient Arab houses (first 'discovered' in the 1930s) built after the Babylonian design of Lehi's day, 'ten-and twelve-story skyscrapers that . . . represent genuine survivals of ancient Babylonian architecture,' with their windows beginning, for the sake of defense, twenty to fifty feet from the ground. At night these lighted windows would certainly give the effect of being suspended above the earth. The eighth book of Hamdani's al-Iklil is devoted to describing the early castles of Arabia, 'great and spacious buildings' which 'stood as it were in the air, high above the earth'." (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, 6:257-258)
10. In verse 30 Lehi saw a another group pressing forward, "continually holding fast to the rod of iron" until they came an partook of the fruit of the tree.
• These are they who remained steadfast and proved faithful to their covenants.
• WHAT WAS IT THAT DISTINGUISHED THIS GROUP FROM PREVIOUS GROUPS?
• They were "continually holding fast to the rod of iron".
• The Book of Mormon is the word of God and is the "rod of iron".
• Those who hold fast to and diligently study the Book of Mormon will be led through the mists of darkness and have the strength to resist the mocking of the world.
• I think this is one of the main reasons we have been given the Book of Mormon.  Without these incredible tool we would find in difficult to resist the temptations and mockery of the world.
• We read this quotation from President Benson in Lesson 1: "There is a power in the book that will begin to flow into your life the moment you begin a serious study of the book.  You will find greater power to resist temptation.  You will find the power to avoid deception.  You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path."(Ensign, Nov 1986, p7)
11. Lehi beheld a fourth group of people, "multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building".
• WHO WERE THESE PEOPLE?
• They never even got on the path leading to the tree of life.  These are the people of the world "grasping like blind men or seizing upon anything that would lead them through whatever obstacles were there, so that they could enjoy the approbation of the affluent and a welcome from the worldly wise" (I had this quote in my personal notes, but lost the source).

Chapter 9

1. Nephi kept two accounts.
• The large plates - contained an account of the reign of kings, wars, and contentions.
• The small plates - contained the “more part of the ministry”.
2. WHY DID THE NEPHI MAKE THESE SMALL PLATES?
• Commanded for a “wise purpose” (9:5).  Nephi did not know.
• As we find in Church history, Martin Harris lost the first 116 pages of manuscript.  The small plates contained a parallel history.

Chapter 10

1. Summary of Lehi’s prophecies:
• V1-3: Lehi speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem, the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, and their eventual return.
• V4-6: Lehi prophesies of the coming of the Messiah.
• V7-10: Lehi prophesies of John the Baptist.
• V11: Lehi speaks of Christ's death and resurrection.
• V12-16: Lehi on the scattering and gathering of Israel.
2. V17: Nephi says that after he had listened to Lehi’s recitation of his vision and these prophecies that "I...was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost".
• WHAT DID NEPHI DO?

Chapter 11

1. READ 1 NEPHI 11:1.  Nephi ponders in his heart.
• HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS PROCESS OF PONDERING?  DO WE TAKE THE TIME TO PONDER, AS DID NEPHI?
• Joseph Smith wrote from Liberty Jail: "The things of God are of deep import and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out." (TPJS, p137)
• Pondering opens the door to revelation.
• The First Vision, and subsequent events, came as a result of young Joseph pondering or reflecting on James 1:5.
• According to Kent P. Jackson (Professor of Ancient Scripture, BYU), "Nephi's record in 1 Nephi 11-15 is one of the great revelatory and literary masterpieces of all time." (Studies In Scripture, 7:36)
• DO YOU FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT THESE CHAPTERS?  IF NOT, WHY?
• Do we need to go back and study, and pray, and ponder it in our hearts?
2. Nephi converses with the Spirit of the Lord.
• In v1-11 Nephi has been conversing with the Lord.  He says in verse 11 that "I spake unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a man; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another."
• The expression "Spirit of the Lord" is used forty times in the Book of Mormon, and almost without exception it has reference to the Holy Ghost.  Given that usage of terms then this reference seems to speak of the Holy Ghost
• If this is the case, this would be the only reference within all of the scriptures where the Holy Ghost makes a personal appearance to a man.
3. In the remainder of this chapter, Nephi sees the mortal mission of the Messiah.
• V35: Following the death of the Savior, Nephi saw "the house of Israel gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
• Isn't it peculiar that it was the covenant people who were primarily responsible for the death of the Savior and continued to fight against the church and the apostles?
• That has continued to be true in this dispensation - many of our greatest trials have been brought upon us by those in the church.
• Joseph Smith said that when one accepts the gospel, he forever leaves neutral ground.  The question for us is:  WHERE WILL WE STAND?  We have left neutral ground.

Chapter 15

1. When Nephi returned to Lehi’s tent he found his brothers disputing over the things which Lehi had spoken to them.
• WHY DIDN'T THEY UNDERSTAND?
• "For he truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought." (v3)
• Nephi inquires of his brother the cause of their disputations.  Their reply, "Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken" (v7).
• Nephi then asks the question that provides the answer, "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" (v8).
• As we seek to understand Lehi's dream, and the subsequent prophecies of Lehi and Nephi, we need to ponder and inquire of the Lord, as did Nephi.  Otherwise, we will be like his brethren "disputing with one another" and with ourselves.

Next Week

Lesson 4: 1 Nephi 12-14