Lehi Sees Vision of Tree of Life

Event 7

Reference: 1 Ne. 8:1-38; 9:1-6

AND it came to pass that we had gathered together allmanner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind,and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.NephiValley of Lemuelnear Red Sea600 to 593 B.C.2 And it came to pass that while my father tarried in thewilderness he spake unto us, saying:Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen avision. 3 And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, Ihave reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also ofSam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of theirseed, will be saved. 4 But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fearexceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in mydream, a dark and dreary wilderness.Lehi5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in awhite robe; and he came and stood before me.6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me followhim.7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that Iwas in a dark and dreary waste. 8 And after I had traveled for thespace of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lordthat he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of histender mercies.9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld alarge and spacious field.10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit wasdesirable to make one happy.11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruitthereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I everbefore tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, toexceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. 12 And as I partookof the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy;wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake ofit also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit. 13 Andas I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover myfamily also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it wasnear the tree of which I was partaking the fruit. 14 And I looked tobehold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a littleway off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, andSam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither theyshould go. 15 And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also didsay unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me,and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.LehiValley of Lemuelnear Red Sea600 to 593 B.C.16 And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake ofthe fruit also.17 And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuelshould come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mineeyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.18 And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not comeunto me and partake of the fruit. 19 And I beheld a rod of iron, andit extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by whichI stood. 20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which camealong by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and italso led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spaciousfield, as if it had been a world. 21 And I saw numberlessconcourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, thatthey might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which Istood.22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence inthe path which led to the tree.23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea,even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that theywho had commenced in the path did lose their way, that theywandered off and were lost.24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, andthey came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; andthey did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging tothe rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of thefruit of the tree. 25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of thetree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed. 26 AndI also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side ofthe river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as itwere in the air, high above the earth. 27 And it was filled withpeople, both old and young, both male and female; and theirmanner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in theattitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those whohad come at and were partaking of the fruit. 28 And after they hadtasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that werescoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and werelost.29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of myfather. 30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw othermultitudes pressing forward; and they came and caughthold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press theirway forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron,Nephi until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruitof the tree. 31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling theirway towards that great and spacious building.NephiValley of Lemuelnear Red Sea600 to 593 B.C.32 And it came to pass that many were drowned in thedepths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view,wandering in strange roads. 33 And great was the multitudethat did enter into that strange building. And after they didenter into that building they did point the finger of scorn atme and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but weheeded them not. 34 These are the words of my father:For as many as heeded them, had fallen away. 35 And Laman andLemuel partook not of the fruit,Lehisaid my father.Nephi36 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all thewords of his dream or vision, which were many, he saidunto us, because of these things which he saw in a vision,he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, hefeared lest they should be cast off from the presence of theLord. 37 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling ofa tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, thatperhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not castthem off; yea, my father did preach unto them. 38 And afterhe had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto themof many things, he bade them to keep the commandmentsof the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.1 AND all these things did my father see, and hear, andspeak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel, andalso a great many more things, which cannot be writtenupon these plates.2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates,behold they are not the plates upon which I make a fullaccount of the history of my people; for the plates uponwhich I make a full account of my people I have given thename of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates ofNephi, after mine own name; and these plates also arecalled the plates of Nephi. 3 Nevertheless, I have received acommandment of the Lord that I should make these plates,for the special purpose that there should be an accountengraven of the ministry of my people. 4 Upon the otherplates should be engraven an account of the reign of thekings, and the wars and contentions of my people;wherefore these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the other plates are for the more part of the reign of thekings and the wars and contentions of my people. 5Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make theseplates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.NephiValley of Lemuelnear Red Sea600 to 593 B.C.6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning;wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his worksamong the children of men; for behold, he hath all powerunto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.