1 Nephi 10:11-16

This selection contains a few more prophesies of Lehi to his sons. He describes the state of the Jews before and around the time of Christ. He says that they will dwindle in unbelief and slay the Messiah. After the Messiah should be slain, he would rise from the dead and would manifest himself unto the Gentiles through the power of the Holy Ghost. He then describes the Gentiles and their existence on earth like the branches of an olive tree that will be scattered upon all the face of the earth (see Jacob 5 for a similar detailed account). Lehi then states that they are going to a land of promise on the other side of the earth (the Americas vs. Jerusalem) to help fulfill that prophesy. Then they shall be gathered in again. The next few details that Lehi gives, shows that there is at least a spiritual side to the gathering. This will happen when they gain a knowledge of Jesus Christ and His gospel. It will be like grafting in the branches to the olive tree of the gospel.

Nephi says that this is all he will write in the Small Plates about Lehi's prophesies. Others he felt were more appropriate for the Large Plates. But we know that the Small Plates are precious and have a more spiritual accounting of these events. Nephi then says that all this (going back for the brass plates, going back for the family of Ishmael, Lehi's dream, prophesies, and admonition of his two oldest sons) was done while Lehi dwelt in a tent in the valley of Lemuel.

1 Nephi 10:7-10

This section of Chapter 10 is about John the Baptist. Verse 7 says that he will be a prophet and shall come before Jesus does His ministry and prepare the people to receive Him. John the Baptist would proclaim that there is one among them that is not well known yet, but who's shoe latchet even he is not worth to unloose. Then Nephi shares that Lehi spoke much about this John.

Next, Lehi prophesies that this John will baptize the Savior with water. In Verse 10, John would then finish his ministry proclaiming that he was the one that baptized the Savior, the one who would take away the sins of the world. Think about the statement that Christ would take away the sins of the world. The people needed to be prepared for such a person. How would Christ do this, the people might ask. What would this mean personally? If they were devout persons of religion, it would have been changed dramatically by the Savior's teachings. They needed preparation. What an important role for John.

1 Nephi 10:4-6

The whole point of the Book of Mormon is to testify of Christ. Christ is the center of the whole Plan of Salvation, which means that every prophet from the beginning of time down to this point of Nephi's life has testified that a Savior will come to save all men. Verse 4 states exactly when it will happen and that Christ will be a Savior. Verse 5 states again that Lehi knows that Christ is the Redeemer and that is was the subject of all the prophets sayings. Verse 6, we are lost and fallen, and will ever be so, unless we rely on our Savior.

Lehi is exhorting Laman and Lemuel to do these things. They will be lost and fallen forever, if they don't believe in Christ and work hard to follow His commandments until the end. This is the true doctrine, perhaps the most important one because it's the one that Lehi tries so hard to teach them. I know that understanding our role with respect to the Savior's in the great Plan of Salvation is the most important thing, and how great the need have we to help other's understand that as well.

1 Nephi 10:2-3

The following verses in this chapter, I believe, were referenced to by Nephi in 1 Nephi 8:37-38. He said that after Lehi spoke about his dream, he exhorted them to listen to his words and he also prophesied many things, some of which I think are in this chapter.

Verse 2 in Chapter 10, is similar to Verse 38 in Chapter 8, but Nephi mentions the prophesy. After the Jews would be taken captive into Babylon (about 590 BC), they would return again to possess the land in the own due time of the Lord. this prophecy has had multiple fulfillments. I'm not sure how they came back, but at least in the time if Christ the Jews were in Jerusalem. But after Christ they have had many, many hardships. It seems that every nation in that area of the world had ruled over them, killed them, and expelled them.

However, in our day, we have seen that thousands of Jews migrated back to Jerusalem. I believe this to be another fulfillment of Lehi's (and probably other prophets' prophesy). The First Aliyah (literally ascent), or migration to Jerusalem was in 1881. They mostly came from Eastern Europe. Starting in 1904, 40,000 more Jews settled in Palestine. It was called the Second Aliyah. Then, in 1922, the League of Nations granted the United Kingdom the task of securing a location for the Jews to make a homeland. Then they really started to migrate. The Third Aliyah and the Fourth Aliyah brought 100,000 more Jews, starting in 1919 and 1924 respectively. The Fifth Aliyah, in the 1930s, consisted of a migration of more than 250,000 Jews. It was a result of the rise of Nazism. There was an Arab revolt from '36-'39 and this led the British to put a cap on immigration. With many other countries turning Jews away because of the Holocaust, the Jews had one more secret migration they called Aliyah Bet (the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet). For a nice synopsis of the history of Israel, and my resource for the information here, see the Wikipedia article of Israel.

1 Nephi 10:1

In Verse 1, Nephi begins with an interesting statement. He proclaims, almost as it were, that he is going to start the account of his reign and ministry. Remember, again, that he is writing from a 30 year perspective. This is, then, a big changing point in his life. He is saying from now on, is when I have become the ruler and teacher. (Shortly, we will see how this was done and we will eventually see how he has reigned as a ruler and teacher. He does not become a king; see 2 Nephi 5:18). This time was even prophesied by the angel (see 1 Nephi 3:29) that had visited Nephi and his brothers when they went for the gold plates. Finally, he states that he must now talk more about his father and his brothers. This seems to be an important subject for Nephi. I think that it is so because up to this point, he has already spoken a great deal about them. I'm thinking that he wants to point out more contrasts between their propensity to obey, or not, the Lord's commandments. We shall soon see.

A couple of thoughts

This post today will add to the content and discussion from a couple of previous posts.

The first topic that I was going to bring back up was from the post on September 10, 2008. In that post, the Great and Spacious Building was discussed. I made a point that there are people who are members of the church, but are also in the Great and Spacious Building. I hope that there are none in your ward that constantly look down on, demean, belittle, and slight you. I have heard stories of people that always get that when they go. (Okay, that sounds strong, but hopefully it doesn't happen that strongly anywhere). Anyway, I knew that there was a scripture in the Book of Mormon that talked about this. I came upon it in my personal study one to two times ago. I tried to think of some of the key words to look it up, but to no avail. Then last Sunday in Sunday School, we discussed the chapters that the verse was found, and I saw it again. Thus, this post today. (I guess it did take me a couple of days to remember to talk about it.) The scripture is Helaman 3:33-35. The church at the time was prospering in the 49th and 50th year of the reign of the judges. There was also continual rejoicing. But in the 51st year, there began to be some pride enter into the hearts of some that professed to belong to the church of God. Verse 34 says that they were lifted up in pride unto the persecution of many of their brethren. It continues on to say that this is a great evil, which caused the more humble part of the church to suffer great persecutions, and wade through much sorrow. This is exactly what happened to those that I know who went through this. In Verse 35, there is an example to follow for those who have this happen from those who have gone through it before. It says that they should pray and fast oft, wax stronger and stronger in their humility, firmer and firmer in their faith in Christ which will fill their souls with joy and consolation. I know that this peace can come because of the atonement of Christ to those that are hurt because of others' actions. Then their hearts are sanctified and made pure, which sanctification comes because they had yielded their hearts to God. One scripture in the New Testament comes to mind. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus tells us about His way to deal with those people who persecute. After all, He was persecuted the most, even unto His death. He said to love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them.

The second thought is a little more upbeat. (Sorry if I have depressed you today.) I wanted to include this scripture in yesterday's post, but after I had finished, I realized that I didn't mention it. The original post was about the Lord preparing scriptures for wise purposes. The main purpose for telling Nephi to prepare the Small Plates was to maintain those experiences they had for the eventual publication of the Book of Mormon. One account was lost because of a man that did not heed the commandment of God to not show them to his family. It was probably a hard thing to deal with. Well, in the Words of Mormon part of the Book of Mormon, Mormon said that he had abridged the Large Plates of Nephi until the reign of King Benjamin. The he found in the library of all their records (in which a hundredth part of them could not be contained in the Book of Mormon) the Small Plates. He says their content is very pleasing and that they are choice to him and will be to his brethren. Mormon was probably referring in part to us and to the decedents of the Lamanites. Then in Verse 7 (of Words of Mormon), he says that he is doing this because of a wise purpose of the Lord, that the Spirit prompted him to do it, and that the Lord knows all things.

One more thought, and I hope that it's not too strong again. Mormon, and all these men worked hard to bring about this work. Many sacrifices were made so that we could have it. Not only in the time of the Nephites, but Joseph Smith's as well (see yesterday's post for a small glimpse). Additionally, the prophets of the Book of Mormon prayed with faith that their words might go to the Lamanites someday. (For one specific, and very powerful prayer, see Enos 1:13-18.) This was explained to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 10:46-52. They also prayed that we would have their words and benefit from them. They also prayed and blessed this land that whatsoever nation should possess it, they would be free. Now that we have the records, the words, and the land, what have we done with them? Have we read the Book of Mormon and studied it, so that their sacrifice was worth it? Or have we squandered it so that their sacrifice was all in vain (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:57 and Footnote 1)? Do we find its words as pleasing as Mormon describes for himself? Well, I'd like to think that there is still hope, and that we can do something about it now. For those of you who read from its pages (no matter how much) this is great. Time spent in the book is between you and Heavenly Father. Then to those who don't open it at all during the day, try and read just a few verses a day for starters. Then you may increase that amount as the days go on. Our stake has a goal to read from it 10 minutes a day.

Footnote 1. Here are a couple of talks from General Authorities on that subject: (1) "Cleansing the Inner Vessel" by Ezra Taft Benson and (2) "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" by Dallin H. Oaks.

1 Nephi 9:5-6

Verse 5 deals with the fact that Nephi was commanded to record his spiritual history (Small Plates of Nephi) in addition to a more secular history (Large Plates of Nephi) in order to fulfill a wise purpose of the Lord, which purpose he knows not. (Remember that this account of Nephi's spiritual history is what we've been reading up to this point and was written from a perspective 30 years from when the accounts it describes happen.) There have been many indications of the spiritual nature of the plates this translation comes from, but soon we will delve into one of the, or perhaps the, major spiritual experiences that Nephi has in his life (brought on by his curiosity or desire to see the vision of the tree of life his father had). With some hindsight from our point of view (about 2600 years after Nephi wrote 1 Nephi 9:5-6), we can see a glimpse into the Lord's purpose for having Nephi write the Large and Small Plates (more particularly the Small Plates), and that it is true it is a wise purpose. The fulfillment has several levels, that I have found (Perhaps you can find others!):

1. The spiritual knowledge contained in the Large and Small Plates and the brass plate has helped Nephi's posterity and Laman's posterity. The example that I will discuss occurs about 500 years after 1 Nephi 9:5-6 was written. This example is from the time when Alma was giving Helaman guidance and council (in Alma 37:2-14) as he charged him with the plates and records (see Footnote 1). (At this time they were recording and adding to the Large Plates of Nephi.) In this excerpt, he is communicating to Helaman the importance of the plates. Part of which, he said that if it wasn't for these records, there would not have been so great a miracle wrought among the Lamanites because of the efforts of the Sons of Mosiah and their brethren (see Footnote 2). Alma continued and said that the Lamanite converts, so faithful in the gospel, would be the means of helping the stiffnecked part of the Nephites come back to the gospel. Also, a simple thing like the brass plates and the plates of Nephi are "small," but the Lord will use small means and bring about great things, and in many instances small means doth confound the wise (this also comes in later in this post). So, Alma reiterates to Helaman that these records are written and preserved for a wise purpose of the Lord.

2. We also know that the records of the Nephites compose the Book of Mormon. And that the Book of Mormon has been and continues to be a central tool for missionary work and our church today. So, this is another manifestation of the Lord's wise purpose. This purpose goes along the lines of Verse 6. The Lord knows everything from beginning to end and He prepares a way to accomplish all His works among the children of men. Also, He has all power to do so. This is Nephi's testimony of God. It is a strong and powerful statement (which is another segway into the last part of this post).

3. In even another more specific manifestation of the wise purpose specifically in which Nephi was commanded to write the Small Plates, is detailed in Doctrine and Covenants 3 and Doctrine and Covenants 10. These sections contain commandments from the Lord as a result of the loss of 116 pages of the translation of the gold plates (for description, click here). The lost pages consist of a translation of the "Book of Lehi" and other accounts, which detail the happenings of Lehi in Jerusalem, their journeyings across the wilderness, the ocean, and their lives in the promised land, in addition to all events of their posterity down to the reign of King Benjamin. We know that this is what it contains because of Verse 38 (of Doctrine and Covenants 10) says that the the more secular account of these things was originally written by Nephi on the Large Plates. Then their English translation was stolen. The Lord tells Joseph Smith that wicked men had altered the translation and were ready to show the public that a retranslation would be incorrect, thus claiming the Book of Mormon to be a fraud. Now, the Lord tells Joseph Smith that there was another, more particular account (the spiritual account of the events from the 116 lost pages or the Small Plates), attached in another place of the gold plates. He is to translate that part and use it to detail the accounts of Lehi and Nephi down to the reign of King Benjamin. This being the entire contents of the Small Plates. Then, he would finish translating the Book of Mormon from the Large Plates of Nephi. (We must remember that the Joseph Smith translated an abridgement of the Large Plates of Nephi prepared by Mormon.) In this way, the Lord preserved the account of Lehi, Nephi, and their posterity to King Benjamin. So, some might think, "Oh, only if those 116 pages weren't lost." Well, we must remember that many lessons were taught by that event to key people (see Doctrine and Covenants Stories, Chapter 4, with pictures!).

Finally, going back to the powerful statement that Nephi testifies of the Lord from 1 Nephi 9:6, that the Lord has all power to accomplish His work, Doctrine and Covenants 10:43 reaffirms that. He will not let His work be destroyed for His wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.

After finishing the content of this post, I found this talk from Elder Holland called "For a Wise Purpose." It enhances what I've discussed here in a better way.

Footnote 1. Alma gave Helaman all the plates of the Book of Mormon prophets before him, including the Small Plates, the brass plates from Jerusalem, and other important items like the Liahona, Urim and Thumim, and the Sword of Laban (see Docrine and Covenants 17:1 for a list of the items that were passed down from Nephi and Mosiah through Alma and Helaman then to Mormon and Moroni, the same Moroni who buried them in New York, and in 1827 visited Joseph Smith as a resurrected being to show him where they were buried).

Footnote 2. Aaron, a son of Mosiah, used the scriptures, probably copied from the brass plates and plates of Nephi, as a tool in the conversion of King Lamoni's father who was king over all the Lamanites. Use of scriptures: Alma 22:12-14; Conversion: Alma 22:16-18.

1 Nephi 9:1-4

In this chapter, Nephi takes a moment's pause to describe for us how he is making a record of his people. We've been reading in an account of Nephi's family's travels in the wilderness, especially the proceedings of the dreams and prophecies of Lehi while they were in a valley which they called Lemuel. Nephi again reminds us that the plates he is recording the more spiritual items are small. He mentions another, larger, record in which he has been keeping. It contains the more temporal items like the reigns of the kings, and the wars and contentions with their brethren. It is interesting that he names both sets of records, the plates of Nephi.

These insights show that he is writing the account we've been reading from a point into the future with respect to the events when they were in the Lemuel's Valley. Up to this point, there is no earthly king that leads the people. There have only been minor disputes between Nephi and his brothers, not wars.

1 Nephi 8:30-EoC

Here, Lehi sees more and more people are making their way along the path toward the tree. They are arriving to the tree and partaking of the fruit. This is wonderful because earlier, many were getting lost in the mists of darkness. However, more and more people going to the great and spacious building. I think that this part could be analogous to the last days. Now, as the Second Coming approaches, the lines are being drawn, good versus evil. More people are following the world and more people are joining the church.

In Verse 32, it describes those that are not heading toward the tree or the building. They are getting drowned in the river and lost on strange roads. How I feel for those people. The truth is out there and they would embrace it, but they don't know where to find it. This shows me that they need us more than ever to reach out to them and show them the way to the tree, or the gospel. We need to reach them before they find their way to the great and spacious building.

In Verse 33, it tells again of multitudes entering the great and spacious building. When they do they point the finger of scorn at the people partaking of the fruit of the tree. Lehi describes that he, Nephi, Sariah, and Sam saw the people pointing their fingers, but they heeded them NOT. We may be in Lehi's family's situation. We must not heed the world. We must help them if we can. They might not want to at the time, but there will be a time when they are ready. Lehi then shares that some did heed them and fell away.

Lehi is telling everyone this because of Verse 35: the fact that Laman and Lemuel did not partake of the fruit. He was afraid for them and feared that they might be cast off from the presence of the Lord. We know how Laman and Lemuel are. We might know some people in our lives like them. Do we want them to be cast off from the presence of the Lord? Even thought they are mean and murmur a lot, I don't think that we would want that fate for them. I don't think that we would want that fate for anyone. I believe that this is why Nephi and Lehi are always exhorting them to follow the commandments. One way is by detailing the dream to them. Thus, Verse 37. Lehi pleads with them to listen to the words of a parent that has seen, metaphorically, what can happen. It is interesting that up until this point, Lehi has not described their fate. I think that the choice is still up to them. Will they commence on the path, or will they head toward the building? This leads me to ask, where are we headed? Do we have children or family members that need to be shown the joy of keeping the commandments?

In Verse 38, Nephi says that Lehi prophesied unto them many things. I wonder what they were? Judging that the most important things are included on these plates, that we know that the dream is more imporant that what he said. I have a feeling that Nephi will tell us in a little bit. (Last post, there were some scriptures that mention the importance of these small plates. Molly and I came across another last night in our reading. It was the counsel that Nephi gave his brother Jacob what he should write on the Small Plates just before he died, see Jacob 1:2. I've mentioned the Small Plates. Here is a link to an explanation of what the Small Plates means.) At the end of this chapter, Lehi again asks Laman and Lemuel to obey the commandments, and then ceases to speak to them.

1 Nephi 8:26-29

Here we are introduced to the Great and Spacious Building. It is on the other side of the river from the tree. The building was standing high above the earth. Then, he describes a sad part. The people in the building were of all kinds. Their dress was exceedingly fine. They pointed and mocked those that were partaking of the fruit of the tree. So, let's make a connection to today. Have you been in a situation where you were mocked by someone outside of the church for doing the right thing? That may have been a hard situation. Those that mocked are like the people in the building and you were partaking of the fruit. I know that you were blessed. Here is a similar, but more poignant question. Have you been in a situation where you were mocked by someone inside the church for doing the right thing? This may be even a harder situation. I submit to you that that person was also in the building at the time. And they may be there for a while, coming to church while they do it, and seeing you every week. Hopefully, they realize soon what they are doing.

Then Lehi shares that those who listened to the mockers and pointers were ashamed and fell into forbidden paths and were lost. Then Nephi states that he does not write down all his father's words. It would be neat to hear what else he said. But Nephi is in the mindset to write down the most plain and precious parts of the gospel in these small plates (see 1 Nephi 6:3, 19:3). We will see this in the upcoming chapters.

1 Nephi 8:24-25

Here we have Lehi telling about multitudes of people who are pressing forward through the mists of darkness, and make it to the tree! They partake of the fruit and feel of its goodness. However, they do one thing that is so detrimental. They look around and see the world. They listen to their comments about doing something so good. And they follow them. They feel ashamed.

If the fruit is indeed analogous to the gospel, we who have partaken of it should not be ashamed of it. We must know that we need to have God pleased with us and not the world. Sometime we will have to make that choice.

Tagged

My wife, Molly, tagged me. So, here are six random things about me:

1. Some of you may know that I like to do impressions or impersonations of famous people or characters. Some I do better than others. I rarely do them for others because I don't know what to say in that voice and I'm not sure the condition of my throat. Voices sound better if one's throat isn't dry (one has to use water or soda, not milk) and has been warmed up (similar to singing). So, I usually end up being my audience, which is okay by me. However, I do have to be careful when there are passers-by. I developed this talent on my mission with a companion that didn't mind hearing me practice. It was quite fun as we walked from appointment to appointment. Okay, so you're probably wondering who my favorites are. I like to do: Doc Brown, George McFly, Biff Tannen, Pinky and the Brain, Kermit the Frog, Yoda, Darth Vader (which doesn't sound too impressive without computer enhancement; both James Earl Jones's and Broch Peters's versions), Obi-Wan Kenobi (both Alec Guiness's and Ewan McGregor's versions), Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker (both who just whine and complain a lot, so they're easy), Count Dooku, Dumbledore (Jim Dale version, Richard Harris version, and Michael Gambon version), Don Knotts, Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewert, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse (this one I do for only a select few), Goofy, Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Captain Picard, Worf, Data, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Scooby-Doo, and Shaggy, too. There are probably others, but I'm not sure how many I can do.

2. I like to play games of all kinds. I am not that great of a player, but I like to for the conversation and to be some one to compete with. I've always wanted to publish a game. I have thought of two games that are based off of combinations of other fun games that I've played. The first one that I conceived was a Star Trek game where one commands a fleet of ships based on the races featured from the various eras of the game. My wife says that no one would play a space game like that, so I thought of another one based in Medieval times, which is another type that I like. It's called Wizard Chess. My wife again said that I needed to think of another title because of the Wizard's Chess from Harry Potter. This leads me into the next random thing.

3. I like to read. I also like to listen to audiobooks, too. Many narrators provide different voices for the characters in the books, and I think that's fun. I wish that I had more time to read. I'm reading the Twilight series now. I like the Harry Potter series and the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites series, too. My favorite books when I was younger were from the Star Trek series and Calvin and Hobbes. I have an iPod, and these are the types of things that I like to put on it.

4. How I like music is different for me than everyone that I know. Growing up, people always asked what my favorite band was. I didn't have an answer for them. Music from the radio has always bored me. They play the same thing over and over. At least this is what the few stations I can tolerate do, even when I try to listen to the words. Most music on the radio sound grating, and not very pleasant. My CD collection is small. There are a few that I like. I do like music that is soothing (like Star Wars Episode II Love Theme) or inspiring (like the Indiana Jones Theme, Superman Theme, or the Olympic Themes), but most classical music doesn't fit this category. I do like John William's work. (I just reread that random thing and it sounds depressing. Sorry!)

5. (Something more upbeat.) I like dessert! In regular portions, that is. I love cherry desserts, like cherry pie, cherry cheesecake, and cherry crisp. I could open a can of cherries and eat the whole thing. (But I wouldn't really do that for real. It's a lot of cherries.) Most of Molly's family and many others I know don't like cherries like me, so I don't tell many people this. I love cookies. My favorite are chocolate chip, oatmeal, and chocolate. I also love pudding and pudding desserts, like pudding pies, and the vanilla wafer pudding dessert thing. I love ice cream with toppings. I'm not sure if I have a favorite ice cream. I like them all. I love to put lots of carmel on top. I also like it with bannanas or brownies. (Talking about this is making me hungry.) I like wafers and candy bars, like the little bite size ones. I also like Junior Mints and M&Ms. (Gosh, it really sounds like I have a sweet tooth. It's rare that I eat these things.)

6. Last one. There are many random things about me, but I only have one more to do. I like to collect things. I have a rock collection, a coin collection (I do fancy myself as a numismatist), a stamp collection, and a baseball card collection. My most favorite thing to collect is action figures. I have a Transformer, a Voltron, some He-man figures, a number of Star Wars figures, some light sabers, and others from that era. I would like to get more, but sometimes I just think that I want to sell them, too.

Here are the rest of the things I need to do:

The Rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let the person know you tagged them on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when you've posted.

1. Tagged by Molly.
2. Done (see above).
3. Again done (see above).
4. Not done (I'm not sure I know that many people in the blogging world. At least ones that haven't been tagged yet. Sorry!).
5. Not done (see above reason).
6. Done.

1 Nephi 8:23

In Verse 23, we get a description of a very important phenomenon. This time, I will talk about the application of this event in our lives. It's been on my mind lately because of the things that I've been doing for church. Those in Lehi's dream that have spotted the fruit and are pressing forward on the path, holding to the rod are the genuinely good people here on earth. Those people are trying to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. They may be members of the true church, and they may not be. (If they are not, then we need to find them!) Then comes a mist of darkness in which, temporarily, prevents the people from seeing the tree. However, they are holding to a rod of iron that they should know leads to the tree. The people must hold fast and not waiver. The mists of darkness are one form of the temptations of Satan. He does not want us to get to the tree and stay by it. Notice that the mists come to try and have everyone lose their way. Some let go of the rod, wander away, and are lost. This means that they do not follow the commandments. They might not come to church. They might not be reading in the scriptures or praying. We need to find these people too, and help them to come back. How unfortunate, one may think, that they had to go through the mists of darkness and be lost. Well, this is what we are here on earth to pass through. We are being tested to see if we will follow what God has commanded us or follow the temptations of Satan. In some writings of Abraham, it was revealed to him what the plan would be for us:

"Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

"And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

"And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;" (Abraham 3:22-25).

When God gives a commandment, there needs to be an opposition to it that comes upon us. This is why God has allowed Satan to tempt us to not follow the commandments. If we pray, then we can conquer Satan and his followers (see Doctrine and Covenants 10:5). Another scripture that I think about is 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says:

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

This all can happen if we take the initiative. We need to hold to the rod. If we let go, even for a moment, we need to grab a hold of it again, as soon as we can. The mists and tempations will come. So, what can we do to hold to the rod during the mists? Helaman 5:12 tells us:

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Finally, what do we have to do to build our foundation on Christ? Follow His commandments. Daily reading of the scriptures, daily prayer, weekly church attendance and family home evenings (so our families can be there with us, too), and enduring in these thing to the end are a few things.

1 Nephi 8:19-22

In this selection, we find out more of what Lehi sees in his dream around him. In Verse 19, we are introduced to a rod of iron that leads to the tree. It runs along the bank of the river. Verse 20 describes a path, one that is strait and narrow. (Remember that this is a different \'strāt\ than straight. This strait means strict or rigorous or it could even be a synonym for narrow.) One end of this path leads to the tree along the rod (probably on the other side of the river) and (probably the other end) leads to the head of the fountain (probably the head of the river), continuing on into a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world. (Not sure if it means just the large and spacious field or the whole terrain altogether.) Hopefully all the parentheses don't confuse you, but these are indications of my understanding of the layout. In the end it really doesn't matter, but I find it interesting to see. Notice the major differences between the two depictions.

Then Lehi describes the existance of numberless concourses of people pressing toward the path (probably from the large and spacious field). They wanted to get to the tree. Then in Verse 22, they arrive at the path and begin their journey upon it. So, what does or could the rod, tree, path, river, people, arriving to the path, walking on the path all mean? I think that we will find out later. This is the description that we have. But, I think that it is very significant.

1 Nephi 8:10-18

First, I wanted to stress Verse 10. Nephi shares that Lehi said that the tree had fruit that was desirable to make one happy. In Verse 11 he goes and then tastes the fruit and says that it is the most sweet he has ever tasted and the most white. (Nephi shares his interpretation of this dream with his brothers later on. So, I will wait on commenting on some of what the fruit, tree, etc. mean.) We can see with what is shared here that the tree and its fruit represent the most desirable thing ever when it is seen for the first time looking at it on the outside and it is even more joyous and sweet above all when one partakes of it.

Lehi's next thought about this fruit is for his family to receive it. This scripture was selected for instructing missionaries to use to help investigators to invite their friends and family to the next discussion based on what they felt at the first one. (Because of this, it seems that what the fruit represents is based on something gospel related.) When Lehi looks around for his family, he notices a river of water. His eyes follow the river and finds Sariah, Sam, and Nephi at the head thereof, a little ways off, wanting to go somewhere, but not knowing where to go. Lehi beckons them over to where he is by the tree. They come and partake of the fruit, as well. Lehi notices that Laman and Lemuel are not with them. This is an important distinction that was show to Lehi in his dream. Lehi then looks around for Laman and Lemuel, and sees them at the head of the river. However, they do not heed his calls and they do not come to the tree and partake of the fruit.

With respect to the pictures, in the Izapa sketch, we can distinctly see a tree in the center (outlined in red). We can also see a river of water running under the tree.



There are several people depicted here, but I wasn't sure which one was Lehi or his family. What do you think? I did see that there were some that had animal heads and some that do not.

Depictions of Lehi's Dream

These are the depictions of Lehi's Dream mentioned in the last post:



Stone carving and sketch from Izapa, Mexico.



Painting by Greg Olsen.

1 Nephi 8:1-10

In this chapter, we begin to see and discuss a special dream that Lehi had. However, Nephi takes an opportunity here to say that when they were traveling in the wilderness, they collected seeds of fruit and grain of every kind. This shows us that they were farmers and not specifically hunters, but they do hunt at times. Since they traveled in the wilderness, these seeds would be used when they settled somewhere. It would have to be the promised land.

Lehi says one day that he has seen a vision. I imagine that no one was surprised at this, but I think that Nephi, and perhaps Sam, were eager to hear more, especially when Lehi says that he has cause to rejoice because of them. However, Laman and Lemuel were in for some lecturing because he said that he feared for them. After this, he immediately starts the description of the events of the dream.

He sees a dark and dreary wilderness. Then a man came dressed in a white robe and told Lehi to follow him. I'm sure it was a heavenly being, but I'm not sure which one. Was it an angel? Was it Jesus Christ? Was it the Holy Ghost? I think that Nephi expounds more on this person later. I think that if the wilderness was dark and dreary, then this white-dressed man would have been a stark contrast to the surroundings, a light in the darkness. Yet, after he follows him, he says that he traveled in the darkness for many hours. Was the white-robed man still there, leading? Was Lehi still following him, but could do nothing else?

Lehi then prays for the Lord's mercy from the feelings of being in a dark and dreary wilderness. Then Lehi sees a large and spacious field, and a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. This is where we will end today. Tomorrow we will talk more about the fruit and other descriptions of the dream. For now, I have found a couple of depictions of the dream that will be up for interpretation in the next few days as the dream is discussed here.

This stone carving was found in Izapa, which is on the Pacific side of Mexico directly southwest of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is believed to have been made somewhere from 300 B.C. to A.D. 50. A sketch is also given to help with clarity. There is nothing official about the amazing similarities between the stone and the dream descriptions, but it is interesting to think about.

The other depiction was by a painter named Greg Olsen. We shall see how much he got right, too.