Two Fountains

Recently I wrote about how the river in Lehi’s dream was actually a symbol of wickedness and a warning for those who seek to hold on to the iron rod.  At first glance it appears that the fountain of water that is also part of the vision represents something similar.  In the vision Lehi mentioned the fountain in the context of the tree and the rod of iron: “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.”  Later he said, “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” (1 Nephi 8:32).  So clearly this fountain described here was not good water but rather something to ensnare those who came to it.  When the angel showed some of the vision to Nephi he confirmed this interpretation: “Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell” (1 Nephi 12:16).  Thus the river and the fountain are described to represent the same thing: a place of suffering for the wicked.  

                There is one other verse, though, that must be considered in relation to the fountain.  In Nephi’s vision after seeing the Son of God, he said this: “And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God” (1 Nephi 11:25).  Here the interpretation of the fountain is completely different: the fountain has waters that represent the love of God just like the tree of life.  So how do we reconcile these two descriptions of the fountain that are polar opposites?  Perhaps there really were two fountains of water in the vision: one pure fountain at the tree of life (not connected to the river), and a second bitter fountain nearby that provided filthy water for the river.  It makes sense to me that there would be a pure source of water in the description of the tree of life, for the tree would have to get its water from somewhere and surely the filthy water was not a valid source to nourish the tree of life and its fruit.  It may be that what Lehi beheld in 1 Nephi 8:20 was actually the pure fountain—the text doesn’t give us a lot of clues—and that the fountain described in 1 Nephi 8:32 was the filthy one.

                At any rate, there are metaphorically two different fountains for us to choose from, whether they are explicitly in the dream or not.  Mormon taught us about how “a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water” (Moroni 7:11).  Christ is the good fountain or the “fountain of living water” who invites us to come to him.  Satan offers us the bitter fountain which is a “fountain of filthy water” and leads us into the depths of hell. We are left to choose between the two fountains offered us, and like with the river, we must remember that the filthy fountain is not too far away physically from the rod of iron and will entice us with whatever it can.