Tree of Life

I promise I'll get this caught up at some point. This weekend has been rather crazy, but good. Let's jump right into chapter 8 and see what it has to teach us. This is Lehi's version of the tree of life vision. The reason I say it is Lehi's version is because this is how Lehi tells it. Nephi has the same vision in a later chapter but it is a bit expanded and we learn a few more things from Nephi's account. Lehi has many insights though, so let us learn from him.

Verses 3-4: Lehi has great reason to rejoice because of Sam and Nephi, but great reason to fear for Laman and Lemuel. I can just imagine Laman and Lemuel rolling their eyes, thinking "here goes dad again."

Verse 5: Lehi describes a man in a white robe comes to meet him and guide him. I find it interesting that this is the only way that Lehi describes him. Nephi describes his "guide" in his version of the vision as the Holy Ghost.

Verse 8: I love this verse. Lehi's been traveling in darkness for hours and begins to pray to the Lord for mercy. I think it is often the way in our own lives. We may persist in things that leave us "traveling in darkness" until we finally get to the point that we realize we need light in our lives. Who better to provide us that light than He who is the light of the world?

Verse 9: Immediately Lehi prays, he begins to see. The Lord loves us and does not want us to wander in darkness. The Lord will guide us, if we will but ask for that guidance.

Verse 10-12: Lehi sees the tree of life, goes and partakes of its fruit and has his soul filled with joy. What is his first thought after experiencing such joy? He wants his family to receive it also. When we find something great don't we want to share it?

Verses 15: Lehi sees his wife Sariah and Sam and Nephi standing by a river of water and they don't seem to know where to go. I really like the symbolism here. They don't know where to go, and Lehi calls to them and tells them to come partake of the fruit. We all need some encouragement or (more frequently) a guide to lead us.

Verses 16-17: After Sariah, Sam and Nephi have partaken of the fruit Lehi also desires that Laman and Lemuel will come and eat the fruit. He looks around, finds them and invites them to come and eat but they won't. This must have made Lehi quite sad.

Verses 19-22: Lehi sees the rod of iron and the strait and narrow path which leads to the tree. He sees numberless crowds of people starting on the path. I like these verses because we see the desire of all these people to come and partake of the fruit of the tree. They start out just great. Maybe I should make it more personal and liken it to us. We start out just great, knowing that we want to return to our Father in heaven. But the next part of the vision explains some of the obstacles that stand in the way.

Verses 23-24: Lehi sees an "exceedingly great mist of darkness" that leads many people astray. They wander off and get lost. Lehi then sees more people who cling to the rod of iron and make it safely to the tree. These symbols are not explained yet, but just imagine going through something like this in real life. You have to get through this horrible mist of darkness and can't see anything. But all you've got to do to get through it is to keep holding onto that rod. The way is simple. You just have to have the faith that holding onto the rod will get you safely through.

Verses 26-28: Now we see the famous great and spacious building. I like the description of its inhabitants. They are old and young, male and female, dressed in "exceedingly fine" clothes. Satan takes anyone on his team. And he presents the illusion that by joining him you get those things that "really matter." The big nice building, the clothes, the very attitude of the people all illustrate what the world thinks is important. But as we will see it only brings destruction to those that choose that way.

Verses 33-34: The people in the building continue to scorn those who have made it to the tree and have partaken of the fruit. I love the response though: we heeded them not. People like to deride those who stick to their values. But if we do not listen to them we are safe. I like the warning that Lehi gives also. He explains that those who heeded the scorn and mocking fell away. Unfortunately it happens all too often.

Verse 37: I love the feeling that this verse conveys. Lehi tries to teach them with "all the feeling of a tender parent" to follow the gospel. As we all have agency, that's all we can do. We can teach and plead and pray and fast for others to do what is right. Ultimately the choice is theirs. It is up to all of us to do the best we can to help everyone live the gospel, but in the end it is their choice. Having three sons of my own, I know that Lehi loved each of them and wanted the best for them. How painful it must have been for him to see them reject it and turn away from the Lord.