The Most Joyous To the Soul

To my son,

                Yesterday we read as a family the vision of the tree of life in 1 Nephi 8 in the Book of Mormon. This is one of my favorite passages of scripture, and I believe that it is one of the most important for us in our day today. I mentioned that President Packer gave an important talk about this vision in which he testified of the relevance of the vision to you and me: “You may think that Lehi’s dream or vision has no special meaning for you, but it does. You are in it; all of us are in it.” So if we are indeed in it, we must ask ourselves which group we are a part of. After Lehi was led to find the tree of life, he watched others in their quest and described several different types of people that he saw. He said, “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” (v21). Because of a “mist of darkness” some that “had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost” (v23). So a first group started the gospel path but soon left it and were lost. A second group “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” (v24). But these did not remain faithful, for “after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed…. 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” (v25, 28). A third group consisted of those who were in the great and spacious building, mocking the faithful who sought the fruit of the tree of life. A fourth were “feeling their way towards that great and spacious building,” not even trying to obtain the tree of life (v31). Clearly we don’t want to be in those four groups if we are to remain faithful to the Savior! It is this fifth group that I hope will describe you and me throughout our whole lives: “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” (v30). This group pressed forward in faith, never letting go of the iron rod, and once they partook of the fruit of the tree and the people of the great and spacious building mocked them, they “heeded them not” (v33). Unfortunately you will realize as you get older that there are indeed many who live in that building and who mock the things of God and those who seek after Him. But we cannot heed their words, for “as many as heeded them, had fallen away” (v34). As we focus on the Savior and ignore the mocking of the world, we will find true joy in the fruit which represents “the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things” (1 Nephi 11:22).    

               President Packer also said this in his message about this vision: “Read it carefully; then read it again. If you hold to the rod, you can feel your way forward with the gift of the Holy Ghost, conferred upon you at the time you were confirmed a member of the Church. The Holy Ghost will comfort you. You will be able to feel the influence of the angels, as Nephi did, and feel your way through life.” The vision highlights the importance for us to hold fast to the iron rod, meaning the scriptures and teachings of the prophets and all the principles of gospel of Jesus Christ. President Packer warned, “One word in this dream or vision should have special meaning to you young Latter-day Saints. The word is after. It was after the people had found the tree that they became ashamed, and because of the mockery of the world they fell away…. At your baptism and confirmation, you took hold of the iron rod. But you are never safe. It is after you have partaken of that fruit that your test will come.” But we need not fear, for if we will each day hold to the rod of iron, studying the scriptures, sincerely praying, and remembering the Savior always, we will indeed stay true. Nephi encouraged us in these words, “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20). I pray that you and I will indeed press forward each day with faith in Christ, feasting daily on His words so that we can with joy endure to the end. If we do we will indeed have eternal life through Him, obtaining forever that which is “the most joyous to the soul” (1 Nephi 11:23). 

Love,

Dad