Lehi Beholds the Tree of Life in a Vision
Book of Mormon Insights
Immediately after Lehi had partaken of the fruit of the Tree of Light he was desirous for his family to come forth unto him and partake of the same fruit which gave him light, joy, knowledge, and filled him with the goodness of the Lord. This reaction is one of the many signs of a true conversion to Jesus Christ. Lehi allowed the light of the Lord to infuse its properties into him and as such it help to prepare him for that which lie ahead.
He was not removed from his environment but, he was filled with hope and assurance; and it was this same hope and assurance he wished to share with all around him. Thus, once an individual has truly felt the life changing effects of his gospel he will naturally be desirous to share this same knowledge with others. This is a sign of a true conversion and marker that we can use in our lives to gauge where we are with our own personal conversion with the Lord.
Lehi in unfolding his vision makes mention four times x (4) to that which is called the river of water. Now, why does he continually throughout this vision keep coming back to this concept involving the river of water? There are perhaps several reasons but, first one must understand what the river of water represents. In today’s worlds it represents that which is filthily, corrupt, sinful, unlawful, and morally wrong. In a lump sum it is everything in this world, which is considered evil and corrupt.
Lehi distinctly refers to those who came to be of the world first had to trudge through the river of water. Thus, one only comes to be a part of the world, its wisdom, and filthiness by first wadding through the deep filth, corruption, and moral degradedness which it represents. They permit themselves to enter in the murky waters of sin and moreover be carried unto and into the great and spacious field, which is nothing more than the emptiness of this world.
Furthermore, by referencing this concept (the river of water) four times it shows forth the complete and earthly trial that all of us will go through in overcoming this world. The river is the temptation, filth, and corruption that flows before our eyes at all times even after we have partaken of the Fruit. Notice, that Lehi was still able to see this river and its corruption after he had partaken of the fruit and bade others to come unto him. The river of water and its current if we allow ourselves to eventually partake of will overtake us with its tide unto that which is called the world if we are not watchful.
In order to overcome this world we all must tread and walk right next to this evil and filthiness. Lehi says something very interesting in regards to this principle. His words are as follows:
“I beheld a rod of iron and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.”
The rod of iron (word of god) ran directly in course with that which is called the river. There is no way for one to come unto the tree of life and partake of its glory except by, 1st walking not in, nor through, but along the temptations, sin, filthiness, and corruption of this world. The Lord does not plunge us into the river nor even make us walk through the corruption and filth of this world. But, we all must walk next to the darkness of this world
The Lord has prepared a way that no one will have to wade through such difficult waters – and that is through his word. If we will but remain true and faithful and hold fast to the word of god we will not have to experience the hardships that come from being a part of the world. The Lord does not directly or even indirectly plunge us into these waters nor require us to wade through such filth to return to him. It is again a choice that we actively make that brings on such corruption into and unto our lives. The word of God will safely bring us back to his presence.
Lehi beholds in a vision from the Lord the future of his family if they don’t make the necessary changes. Lehi compares Laman and Lemeul unto a dark and dreary wilderness. The wilderness is where his two sons are currently. Lehi’s family is lost, confused, cold, hungry, scared, overwhelmed, and with these feelings they are asked to keep moving forward with only their faith in the Lord. However, the wilderness in which Lehi beheld Laman and Lemnuel there is no Christ, no light, no truth, and no hope. They have created a world in which they are left unto themselves and as such have cast themselves out of the arms of grace / mercy.
Moreover, what does it mean to be in a dark and dreary waste? And how do we as Gods children allow ourselves to fall into such a wilderness of confusion?
Lehi himself in his own dream entered into a dark and dreary waste land. He followed a man in a white robe who ultimately brought him to a land of confusion, coldness, darkness, and perhaps even despair. He chose to come to this wilderness (Lehi that is) no one forced him beyond the scope of his own agency to “go down” unto this land with such characteristics. It is nevertheless curious to note that a man in a white robe bid him to follow him unto such a place to come down into a land that was a dark and dreary waste.
Thus, then how do we overcome this dark and dreary world?
The only way in which Lehi was able to overcome the dark and dreary world was through prayer. He first traveled for the space of many hours and then finding himself lost in a dark place he began to exercise the power of prayer. It wasn't until he began to pray that he was able to overcome the dark and dreary wasteland. Moreover, the Lord did not immediately free Lehi from his challenge / trial he merely opened a door and showed him the way in which he should go.
It was then up to Lehi to exercise his agency and decide how and in what way he would proceed forward through the dark and dreary waste. The path was clear to the Lord or the Tree of Life but, along the way there was temptations, the world, and the depths of hell in which would have to be traversed to come and partake of the Tree of Life. These obstacles were not removed from Lehi’s path. He was instead given a light and a rod of iron in which he could hold fast to. This light from the Tree of Light and the rod of iron would be his guide back to the presence of the Father.