Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life
Vs 2 "I have dreamed a dream" Lehi told his family while in the wilderness.
Vs 3 Lehi has reason to rejoice, for he realizes that his two sons, Nephi, Sam and many of their posterity will be saved. What greater thing could any parent want than to know that their children have accepted the gospel. I hope that my boys will accept the gospel and prepare themselves for the hear after.
Vs 4-6 Lehi fears that his sons Laman and Lemuel will not accept the gospel. Its interesting that he starts out his dream with the dark and dreary wilderness. Lehi follows a Man in white robe.
Vs 7-8 Lehi traveled following this man for many hours in the Dark and dreary waste, he prayed for the Lords tender mercies to come our of the waste.
Vs 9 Lehi sees Large and spacious field=(the world)
Vs 10-12 Lehi sees Tree of Life=(Love of God), and Fruit=(Joy of the atonement in Christ) to make one happy. The exceeding white fruit was most sweet and desirable above all other. It was so sweet and joyous that he wanted his family to partake of it.
Vs 13-16 Lehi see the River of Water. He see Sariah, Sam and Nephi. They did not know where to go, he beckoned to them, and they came and partake.
Vs 17-18 Laman and Lemuel would not partake.
Vs 19 Lehi sees the Rod of Iron along the bank of the river, leading to the Tree of Life.
Vs 20 Lehi sees the Straight and Narrow Path next to the Rod of Iron which lead from the head waters of the river to the tree. Lehi sees the Large and Spacious Field=the World.
Vs 21 Lehi sees numberless concourses people many of whom were pressing forward to obtain the path.
Vs23 Lehi sees a Mist of Darkness over the path causing some to lose there way. They wandered off and were lost. Some caught hold of the rod and pressed forward clinging to the rod of iron until they came forth and partook of the fruit of the tree. After partaking of the fruit they looked around and were ashamed.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
1 Nephi Chapter 7
Vs 1-3. Nephi and his brothers just got back to the wilderness from Jerusalem and the Lord speaks again to Lehi, where in he says "it is not meet ...(for Lehi to take) his family into the wilderness alone... return again to ...Jerusalem.
I can imagine the whinning and complaining that Laman and Lemual did again. They probably said Your crazy, we just got back from there, why couldn't the Lord have let us get the brass plates and the daughters of Ishmael at the same time to avoid 2 trips back to Jerusalem. Nephi didn't write about there murmuring here because he was probably sick of writing about it.
Vs 4 "we did gain favor in the sight of Ismael." They had to put forth effort. Ishmael wasn't going to just let Lehi's boys take of with his daughters.
1. Nephi and his brothers "did speak unto him the words of the Lord". They
taught Ishmael.
2. "the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael and...they took their journey with us."
I think that Nephi had a plan, he implemented the plan, then the Lord filled in the gap of softening the heart of Ishmael. I don't believe that any of it came easy. They had to work hard at it. And only after they had done their part, then the Lord blessed them with the things they needed.
Vs 6 Laman and Lemuel and their families rebell because they want to go back to Jerusalem.
Vs 8-12 Nephi is grieved for the hardness of their hearts. He askes "How" can you be so
wicked 5 times.
1. How are you so hard in your hearts and blind in your minds, "that I your younger
brother should ... set an example for you?
2. How is it that you have not hearkened unto the Lord?
3. How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?
4. How is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us.
a. delivering us out of the hands of Laban.
b. obtaining the plates of brass
5. How is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things for the
children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in Him. Wherefore, let us be
faithful to him.
I think Nephi was learning something here. He was asking "How is it that...?" Many times in my life I have asked, or rather we all have asked "how is it that...?" We, like Laman and Lemuel have seen many amazing and marvelous things. We have seen Temples explode across the earth, we have seen membership explode into the millions. We have seen the power of the Priesthood in our personally lives complete amazing tasks. We have seen the fulfillment of blessing beyond our wildest dreams. Food, shelter and clothing are easily excessible to all here in the promised land, with little to no effort at all. The world desires to come here and be where we are. We literally live on the desirable other side of the fence amongst the green grass. How is it that we as Latter-day Saints are not more faithful. We let ourselves get caught up in the world. We occupy our time and talents with things that are not of worth unto our salvations of ourselves and our family members. We need to be more faithful as members of His church.
Vs 13-15 If we are faithful: we obtain a land of promise, while
If we are not faithful and go back to Jerusalem the word of the Lord will be
fulfilled about the destruction. "if ye have a choice...go and remember my
words...yea will also perish."
I think that if we are the faithful members that we should be, we will inherit/earn our place in the Celestial Kingdom. If we are not, we will not be in the presence of God, and spiritual damnation awaits us.
Vs 16 Laman and Lemuel were angry and exceedingly wroth with Nephi. They did bind him
with cords and tried to leave him in the wilderness to be devoured by wild animals. They sought to take away his life.
Vs 17-20 Nephi prays according to his faith "wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethern, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound". Another miracle. Nephi's bands are loosed and he stands before them and begins to speek unto them again. They are angry again, but somehow Ishmael's wife, daughter and son convince them otherwise. And Laman and Lemuel did soften their hearts and did cease striving to take away Nephi's life. They were so sorrowful that they did bow down and plead for Nephi's forgiveness.
Vs 21 Nephi says "I did frankly forgive them all that they had done..." He exhorts them to pray to the Lord for forgiveness, and they did. Then they continued the journey back to Lehi's tent.
I think, not enough can be said here about the patience and love that Nephi displays. To be able to frankly forgive someone who has sought to kill you, takes a rare kind of person. I think of the father in Pocatello whose daughter, Jeralee Underwood was taken and brutilly murdered. He came out on news video camera and he had forgiven the murderer. I don't think I could do that so easily. But I admire him for doing it. I think the Lord has to play a role in our being able to forgive those who have wrong us. The spirit has to be with us and the Lord carries our burden of sorrow and grief in order for us to be able to frankly forgive.
Vs 22 After they had returned to Lehi's tent in the wilderness, they did give thanks unto the Lord, and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto Him.
I think Lehi and Nephi have never been short on giving thanks to God. Whenever they accomplished what the Lord had commanded them to do, they immediately gave thanks. This is the way I want my life and my childrens life to be. Be quick to give thanks to God for our blessing, for we have many. Our blessing now originate from the past trials and tribulations of those who have gone before us. We must show constant gratitude to our forefathers and forebearers.
I can imagine the whinning and complaining that Laman and Lemual did again. They probably said Your crazy, we just got back from there, why couldn't the Lord have let us get the brass plates and the daughters of Ishmael at the same time to avoid 2 trips back to Jerusalem. Nephi didn't write about there murmuring here because he was probably sick of writing about it.
Vs 4 "we did gain favor in the sight of Ismael." They had to put forth effort. Ishmael wasn't going to just let Lehi's boys take of with his daughters.
1. Nephi and his brothers "did speak unto him the words of the Lord". They
taught Ishmael.
2. "the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael and...they took their journey with us."
I think that Nephi had a plan, he implemented the plan, then the Lord filled in the gap of softening the heart of Ishmael. I don't believe that any of it came easy. They had to work hard at it. And only after they had done their part, then the Lord blessed them with the things they needed.
Vs 6 Laman and Lemuel and their families rebell because they want to go back to Jerusalem.
Vs 8-12 Nephi is grieved for the hardness of their hearts. He askes "How" can you be so
wicked 5 times.
1. How are you so hard in your hearts and blind in your minds, "that I your younger
brother should ... set an example for you?
2. How is it that you have not hearkened unto the Lord?
3. How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?
4. How is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us.
a. delivering us out of the hands of Laban.
b. obtaining the plates of brass
5. How is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things for the
children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in Him. Wherefore, let us be
faithful to him.
I think Nephi was learning something here. He was asking "How is it that...?" Many times in my life I have asked, or rather we all have asked "how is it that...?" We, like Laman and Lemuel have seen many amazing and marvelous things. We have seen Temples explode across the earth, we have seen membership explode into the millions. We have seen the power of the Priesthood in our personally lives complete amazing tasks. We have seen the fulfillment of blessing beyond our wildest dreams. Food, shelter and clothing are easily excessible to all here in the promised land, with little to no effort at all. The world desires to come here and be where we are. We literally live on the desirable other side of the fence amongst the green grass. How is it that we as Latter-day Saints are not more faithful. We let ourselves get caught up in the world. We occupy our time and talents with things that are not of worth unto our salvations of ourselves and our family members. We need to be more faithful as members of His church.
Vs 13-15 If we are faithful: we obtain a land of promise, while
If we are not faithful and go back to Jerusalem the word of the Lord will be
fulfilled about the destruction. "if ye have a choice...go and remember my
words...yea will also perish."
I think that if we are the faithful members that we should be, we will inherit/earn our place in the Celestial Kingdom. If we are not, we will not be in the presence of God, and spiritual damnation awaits us.
Vs 16 Laman and Lemuel were angry and exceedingly wroth with Nephi. They did bind him
with cords and tried to leave him in the wilderness to be devoured by wild animals. They sought to take away his life.
Vs 17-20 Nephi prays according to his faith "wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethern, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound". Another miracle. Nephi's bands are loosed and he stands before them and begins to speek unto them again. They are angry again, but somehow Ishmael's wife, daughter and son convince them otherwise. And Laman and Lemuel did soften their hearts and did cease striving to take away Nephi's life. They were so sorrowful that they did bow down and plead for Nephi's forgiveness.
Vs 21 Nephi says "I did frankly forgive them all that they had done..." He exhorts them to pray to the Lord for forgiveness, and they did. Then they continued the journey back to Lehi's tent.
I think, not enough can be said here about the patience and love that Nephi displays. To be able to frankly forgive someone who has sought to kill you, takes a rare kind of person. I think of the father in Pocatello whose daughter, Jeralee Underwood was taken and brutilly murdered. He came out on news video camera and he had forgiven the murderer. I don't think I could do that so easily. But I admire him for doing it. I think the Lord has to play a role in our being able to forgive those who have wrong us. The spirit has to be with us and the Lord carries our burden of sorrow and grief in order for us to be able to frankly forgive.
Vs 22 After they had returned to Lehi's tent in the wilderness, they did give thanks unto the Lord, and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto Him.
I think Lehi and Nephi have never been short on giving thanks to God. Whenever they accomplished what the Lord had commanded them to do, they immediately gave thanks. This is the way I want my life and my childrens life to be. Be quick to give thanks to God for our blessing, for we have many. Our blessing now originate from the past trials and tribulations of those who have gone before us. We must show constant gratitude to our forefathers and forebearers.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
1 Nephi Chapter 6
Vs 2 Lehi and Nephi were descendents of Joseph. Direct line of authority.
Vs 3&4 Nephi explains his purpose in writing the scriptures, "that I may write the things of God...that I may persuade men to come unto...God... and be saved."
I like how direct Nephi is being. He does not beat around the bush. He tells it the way it is. He says to his future descendents to not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth. It is the same thing that applys to us in this day and age. Do not occupy our lives with things that are of no worth. We should be anxiously engaged in a good cause.
Vs 3&4 Nephi explains his purpose in writing the scriptures, "that I may write the things of God...that I may persuade men to come unto...God... and be saved."
I like how direct Nephi is being. He does not beat around the bush. He tells it the way it is. He says to his future descendents to not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth. It is the same thing that applys to us in this day and age. Do not occupy our lives with things that are of no worth. We should be anxiously engaged in a good cause.
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