Tree of Life: River of Water

Today I'm going to expand on the river of water.

1 Nephi 8

Vs. 13 - River of Water

- water is filthy and the depths of hell
- it ran near the tree but not to it, I saw the significance of this because no unclean thing can be in Heavenly Father's presence

"Be clean - in language, in thought, in body, in dress." - Pres Gordon B. Hinckley (2007 Apr Conference, I Am Clean)

"Our behavior in public must be above reproach. Our behavior in private is even more important. It must clear the standard set by the Lord." - Pres Gordon B. Hinckley (2002 Apr Conference, Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood)

"We cannot indulge in sin, let alone try to cover our sins. We cannot partake of the vanity of unrighteous ambition. . . If we do any of these things, the powers of heaven are withdrawn. The Spirit of the Lord is grieved. The very virtue of our priesthood is nullified. Its authority lost." - Pres Gordon B. Hinckley (2002 Apr Conference, Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood)

- I may not hold the priesthood, but access to it may be denied if I am not worthy

•  Col 1:10

- I need to always strive to be clean and worthy, teach my children the importance of living a worthy life

"Imagine, the consoling, liberating, exalting feeling that will come to you when you see the reality of the Atonement and the practical, everyday value of it to you individually." - Elder Boyd K. Packer (1997 Apr Conference, Washed Clean)

- The atonement is there for us to be made clean and pure

- 3rd Article of Faith: We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

Tree of Life: Fruit

I love that I can find related topics through lds.org to help me learn and understand what I'm studying in the scriptures. Today I'm going to share about the Fruit from the Tree of Life.

1 Nephi 8

vs. 10-12 - Fruit

- this represents Eternal Life; the Plan of Salvation
- eternal life will be sweet with the ones we love
- in order to have eternal life we must partake of the fruit which is faith in Christ
- we need to keep the commandments

"However, conversion and baptism alone are not sufficient to one's assurance of eternal life. To receive exaltation in the kingdom of God, a person must abide the fullness of celestial law." - Elder Delbert L. Stapley (1973, Oct Conference, The Path to Eternal Life)

"Your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never to late to begin to choose eternal life." - Elder Randall K. Bennett (2011 Oct Conference, Choose Eternal Life)

• John 3:36 
• 1 John 5:11-12

"God's way provides man a divine way of life. The Lord promised his children salvation in the kingdom of God if they would live and follow his ways. It is important to know that man can become Godlike through the thoughts and ways of the Lord." - Elder Bernard P. Brockbank (1973 Oct Conference, God's Way to Eternal Life)

Tree of Life: Large and Spacious Building

It's been awhile since I last posted, but does not mean I haven't forgotten about what I'm studying. Life was pretty hectic during the holidays. Well anyway, time to catch up on what I have learned.

1 Nephi 8

Vs. 9 - Large and Spacious Building

• In the verse it is referred to as a field, but in the footnotes you go to 1 Nephi 12:16-18 and it is now a building, I think that they can be interchangeable
• It represents the pride of the world

"Trying to please others before pleasing God is inverting the first and second great commandments. And yet, we have all made that mistake because of the fear of men. . . This peer pressure tries to change a person's attitudes, if not behavior, by making one feel guilty for giving offense." - Elder Lynn G Robbins (201 Oct Conference, Which Way Do You Face?)

• Which way do you face?
• Do you have your heart set on things of the world or of God?

"In reality these stories are not of the crowds but individuals among those crowds. . . I think each one of us understands what it means to partake of the fulfilling fruit of the tree of life within sight and sound of those who mock and what it means to exert every courageous effort to pay them no heed." - Elder Dennis Neuenschwander (2008 Apr Conference, One Among the Crowd)

• Jeremiah 7:24

"Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. . .Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing. The central feature of pride is enmity - enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen." - Pres Ezra Taft Benson (1989 Apr Conference, Beware of Pride)

- I was never aware that pride was such a complex sin. It really does make you think, "Am I sinning? Do I recognize the signs of this sin?"

• Romans 12:16