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. About 600-592 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.
2 And it came to pass
that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other
words, I have seen a vision.
3 And behold, because
of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of
Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of
their seed, will be saved.
4 But behold, Laman
and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in
my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
5 And it came to pass
that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood
before me.
6 And it came to pass
that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
7 And it came to pass
that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
8 And after I had
traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord
that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender
mercies.
9 And it came to pass
after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.
10 And it came to
pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
11 And it came to
pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it
was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was
white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
12 and as I partook
of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I
began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that
it was desirable above all other fruit.
13 And as I cast my
eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a
river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking
the fruit.
14 And I looked to
behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way off; and at
the head thereof I beheld you mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood
as if they knew not whither they should go.
15 And it came to
pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice
that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable
above all other fruit.
16 And it came to
pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.
17 And it came to
pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the
fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes toward 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 come unto me and partake of the fruit.
19 And I beheld a rod
of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by
which I stood.
20 And I also beheld
a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree
by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and
spacious field, as if it had been a world.
21 And I saw
numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they
might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
22 And it came to
pass that they did come forth, and commence in the 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 they who had commenced in the path did lose their
way, that they wandered off and were lost.
24 And it came to
pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold
of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of
darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and
partake of the fruit of the tree.
25 And after they had
partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they
were ashamed.
26 And I also cast my
eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great
and spacious building; and it tood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
27 And it was filled
with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of
dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and
pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the
fruit.
28 And after they had
tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at
them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
29 And now I, Nephi,
do not speak all the words of my father.
30 But, to be short
in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and
caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way
forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and
fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
31 And he also saw
other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
32 And it came to
pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost
from his view, wandering in strange roads.
33 And great was the
multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building
they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the
fruit also; but we heeded them not.
34 These are the
words of my father: For as many as
heeded them, had fallen away.
35 And Laman and
Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.
36 And it came to
pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream or vision, which
were many, he said unto us, because of these things which he saw in a vision,
he exceedingly feared for Laman Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast
off from the presence of the Lord.
37 And he did exhort
them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to
his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them
off; yea, my father did preach unto them.
38 And after he had
preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them
to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.
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