1 Nephi 8:1

[Heather]

1 Nephi 8:1

Lehi sees a vision of the tree of life—He partakes of its fruit and desires his family to do likewise—He sees a rod of iron, a strait and narrow path, and the mists of darkness that enshroud men—Sariah, Nephi, and Sam partake of the fruit, but Laman and Lemuel refuse. Between 600 and 592 B.C.

1 And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.

Quotes for Discussion

Prayer is the means by which man communicates with God. Revelation is the means by which God communicates with man.

Now I say that we are entitled to revelation. I say that every member of the Church, independent and irrespective of any position that he may hold, is entitled to get revelation from the Holy Ghost; he is entitled to entertain angels; he is entitled to view the vision of eternity; and if we would like to go the full measure, he is entitled to see God the same way that any prophet in literal and actual reality has seen the face of Deity.
Bruce R. McConkie, Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie , p.154

It is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint to have the manifestations of the spirit every day of our lives.
President Lorenzo Snow, Conference Report, April 1899, Third Day—Morning Session

No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator.
Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6:58

We live far beneath our privileges. We settle for twilight when sunlight is readily available.
Robert L. Millet, Alive in Christ: The Miracle of Spiritual Rebirth, p.1


How Revelations Come

<table border="1"><tbody><tr><td>

Scripture

</td><td>

Method

</td></tr><tr><td>1 Nephi 11-13;

Joseph Smith—History 1:17
</td><td>Direct vision or visit</td></tr><tr><td> Joseph Smith—History 1:33;

Exodus 3:4</td><td>Direct word of God or angels</td></tr><tr><td>Exodus 28:29-30; Doctrine

and Covenants 17:1; Alma 37:38-45</td><td>Special instruments such as the Urim and Thummim, Liahona</td></tr><tr><td>1 Nephi 2:1-2; 1 Nephi 8:2</td><td>Dreams</td></tr><tr><td>Doctrine and Covenants 8:2;

20:26; Helaman 5:44-47</td><td>Holy Ghost</td></tr></tbody></table>
The Imagery of Lehi’s Vision
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td width="160">

The Image </td><td width="106">

1 Nephi

</td><td width="182">

The Symbol

</td><td width="190">

1 Nephi Interpretation

</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Man in White Robe
</td><td width="106">8-5
</td><td width="182">None
</td><td width="190">
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Dark & Dreary Wilderness or Waste
</td><td width="106">8:5
</td><td width="182">None
</td><td width="190">
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Large & Spacious Field
</td><td width="106">8:9
</td><td width="182">The World
</td><td width="190">8:20
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Tree (Of Life)
</td><td width="106">8:10
</td><td width="182">Love of God
</td><td width="190">11:21-23, 25
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Fruit of the Tree
</td><td width="106">8:10-11
</td><td width="182">Greatest Gift of God (Eternal Life)
</td><td width="190">15:36; 14:7
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">River of Filthy Water
</td><td width="106">8:13
</td><td width="182">Depths of Hell
</td><td width="190">12:16;15:27
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Rod of Iron
</td><td width="106">8:19
</td><td width="182">The Word of God
</td><td width="190">11:25; 15:24
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Strait & Narrow Path
</td><td width="106">8:20
</td><td width="182">(To Eternal Life)
</td><td width="190">2 Nephi 31:17-18
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Mist of Darkness
</td><td width="106">8:23
</td><td width="182">Temptations of Devil
</td><td width="190">12:17
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Great & Spacious
</td><td width="106">8:26
</td><td width="182">Pride & Wisdom of
</td><td width="190">11:35-36; 12:18
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Or Strange Building
</td><td width="106">8:33
</td><td width="182">The World
</td><td width="190">
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Forbidden Paths
</td><td width="106">8:23
</td><td width="182">(Break Commandments)
</td><td width="190">12:17 (Mos. 2:34)
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Strange Roads
</td><td width="106">8:32
</td><td width="182">(Seek Other Ways of Salvation)
</td><td width="190">D&C 76:75
</td></tr></tbody></table>

The Four Classes of People

<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td width="160">

The Rod of Iron </td><td width="160">

End Results

</td><td width="160">

Application

</td><td width="160">

References

</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Commence in the path but do not take hold.
</td><td width="160">Mist of darkness (temptations of the devil), lose their way.
</td><td width="160">Seek other pleasures, world’s goods, carnal.
</td><td width="160">1 Ne. 8:21-23

Matt. 123:4, 19.
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Caught the end of the rod, cling thru the mist.
</td><td width="160">Partake of the fruit, are ashamed, fall in forbidden paths.
</td><td width="160">Cling to a few scriptures, yield to social pressures. No depths.
</td><td width="160">1 Ne. 8:24-28

Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21.
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Hold the rod, holding fast continually.
</td><td width="160">Fall down, partake of the fruit.
</td><td width="160">Hunger and thirst after righteousness, bear fruit, 100, 60, 30.
</td><td width="160">1 Ne. 8:30

Matt. 13:8, 23.
</td></tr><tr><td width="160">Feel toward the great & spacious building, many drowned, wander in strange roads.
</td><td width="160">Many enter the building, finger of scorn at those who partake the fruit.
</td><td width="160">No interest, do not want to understand, choke the word.
</td><td width="160">1 Ne. 8:31-33

Matt. 13:7, 22.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
Monte S. Nyman, I Nephi Wrote this Record, Chapt. 3