We are going to talk about two visions today, both have the same subject matter but they give different information regarding the subject. As I studied these chapters a verse from the book of John kept coming to me. It is after the resurrection of the Lord, one of the times he showed himself to his apostles. Thomas, who at first didn’t believe it was the Lord, felt the prints in his hands and side and was assured of the Christ.
John 20:29
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Although we have not seen the vision ourselves, like Lehi and Nephi, they paint a clear enough picture for us to be able to feel the spirit, so that we may believe on their words.
Here is a quick review of the components of the visions and their meaning:
These components are found in Ch 8 of 1 Nephi from around v 7 – v 26, there are a few other components in other chapters and I will make sure we include those.
V 7 – dark and dreary waste (film before clarity in the dream)
V 9 – large and spacious field (world – the chalkboard)
V 10 – tree and fruit (love of God 11:22, but partaking of the fruit is “receiving of the ordinances and covenants whereby the atonement can become fully efficacious in our lives”– Elder Bednar, “Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod”)
V 13 – river of water, along the tree, 1 Ne 12:16 indicates filthy water that begins with a fountain and extends into a river, 8:17 indicates that the head of the river is away from the tree
V 19 – rod of iron that led to the tree (by the bank of the river), 11:25 - the word of God, scriptures, personal revelation, words of the prophets.
V20 – straight and narrow path, by the iron rod, going to the tree, “by the head of the fountain, unto a large a spacious field, as if it had been a world.” Can you go beyond the tree? Yes. I believe this is what the scriptures refer to as "adding to or taking away from" the doctrine of Christ. There is no interpretation for the straight and narrow path, it is self-explanatory. 2 Ne 31:18 indicates that there is a gate to the path and it is following the Savior’s example in baptism.
This fountain is referred to in Ch. 11:25 as the fountain of living waters and is synonymous to the tree
V 26 – great and spacious building (across the river of water, in the air, above the earth, filled with people) – 11:35-36, pride and wisdom of the world
After Lehi told his family about the vision he had, Nephi wanted to see it for himself and to know a little more about it. To do so, he employed three forces:
1. He desired
2. He believed
3. He pondered (many instrumental revelations have come by taking the time to ponder)
It was during his pondering that he was caught away on a high mountain where the angel engaged Nephi in an instructive exercise agency. The questions the angel asks Nephi are question we can ask ourselves daily:
Vs 2 “What desirest thou?
Vs 3 Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?
Nephi assured the angel (whom he later indicates was the Spirit of the Lord – v. 11) that he believed all the words of his father. After some rejoicing, Nephi was shown the tree which his father saw and was asked again in vs 10 “What desirest thou?” He responded that he wanted to know the interpretation – what does it all mean?
Instead of just telling Nephi the definitions of all the components of the tree of life, he lets Nephi interpret the components of his dreams by experience and feelings. With the help of my wonderfully supportive and technologically adept husband, we are going to view just a little of what Nephi saw.
He begins by viewing Jerusalem and the city of Nazareth. Then the angel asks him what he saw next:
At this point in my lesson I showed video of the birth of the Savior to help the class understand a little of what Nephi may have experienced and felt. You can view here:
After seeing or understanding the condescension of both God the Father, and also Jesus Christ, the angel asks him what the meaning of the tree was. His answer is in vs 22-23:
At this point in the vision, Nephi has not witnessed any deeds or services by the Savior, but he has witnessed the deeds and service of God the Father, which fits perfectly with 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.”
Elder Bednar: “Thus, the birth, life, and atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ are the greatest manifestations of God’s love for His children.” “Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod.”
Then the angel shows his the next component of the vision, another part of the Savior’s life to give explanation:
READ 1 Ne 11:24-26 – as we watch this clip, keep in mind that it represents the iron rod, or the word of God.
Nephi feels and beholds that the rod of iron represents the word of God, by witnessing “the Son of God going forth among the children of men,” by being baptized by Johm, that there were 12 men who followed him, that Jesus healed multitudes of people both spiritually and physically. All incidents that are recorded in the Bible – one of the volumes of the word of God.
Then the angel helps Nephi feel the oppositional component in the vision by showing him the end of the Savior’s life.
READ 1 Ne 11:35-36 – there are certain words in this passage of Jesus’ and the apostles experience that indicate the great and spacious building
Vs 32 - judged (by the wisdom of the world)
Vs 34 – gathered together to fight
These words were used in describing Christ's arrest and death.
Then in describing the great and spacious building, he used similar words:
Vs 35 – the wisdom of the world
Vs 35 – gathered together to fight
Vs 36 – all of the above happens because of pride
Evaluate for a moment the two visions.
In the beginning of class we constructed the elements of Lehi’s vision on the chalkboard and gave everything definitions. Defining scriptural symbols is extremely important and must be done in order to understand what the Lord wants us to know.
While we watched some of the Savior’s life, we felt the definition of the components of the dream, which is the driving force behind action. Action that leads to a wise use of agency.
Elder Packer also talks about how to hold fast to the rod:
The mist of darkness will cover you at times so much that you will not be able to see your way even a short distance ahead. You will not be able to see clearly. But you can feel your way. With the gift of the Holy Ghost, you can feel your way ahead through life. Grasp the iron rod, and do not let go. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, you can feel your way through life. (See 3 Nephi 18:25; D&C 9:8.) “Lehi’s Dream and You” BYU devotional address delivered on 16 January 2007.
If you have felt a stirring in you heart, or felt hope or felt light or inspired or peaceful while reading or watching the clips, that is the Spirit of the Lord. If you felt direction to do something good or change something in your life or to continue doing good things you are doing now, that is the Lord's will for you. This is how the Spirit of the Lord communicates with you. If you listen to that Spirit and act on the inspiration you receive you will progress toward eternal life and have joy in this life.
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