Tree of Life: Mist of Darkness

I've finally reached the last section of this chapter.

1 Nephi 8

vs. 23 - Mist of Darkness

At first this section was hard for me to study, I didn't know exactly where to start but after much contemplation the thoughts started to flow.

The mist of darkness is a representation of temptation. The devil is sneaky and will try to lead you away with temptations. We need to resist and not get side-tracked.

- 3 Nephi 18:18

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley gave some good advice, " You must keep control of your desires. For you there is no future in any course . . . Nonetheless, yielding to temptation can become like a wound that seems never to heal and always to leave an ugly scar." (2004 April conference, Stay on the High Road)

Keeping control of our desires is key. By keeping yourself in check you are warding off the temptation to sin. No one wants to sin.

"One of the great myths of life is when men think they are invincible. Too many think that they are men of steel, strong enough to withstand any temptation." - Pres. James E. Faust (2002 April conference, It Can't Happen to Me)

- Luke 8:13
- James 1:12

Elder W. Craig Zwick said this, "It requires courage to make good choices, even when other around us choose differently. As we make righteous choices day by day in little things, the Lord will strengthen us and help us choose the right during more difficult times." (2008 April conference, We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield)

It can be hard to be conscience of the choice you make, but it can also be rewarding. If your true desire is to not sin, then you will be blessed. The Lord wants us to come to him when the choices are hard. Find your knees and plead for his help. He wants us to.

- D&C 10:5

"We get side tracked by submitting to temptations that divert us past the bounds of safety. Satan knows our weaknesses. He puts attractive snares on our path at just those moments when we are most vulnerable." - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1990 Oct conference, The Straight and Narrow Way)

I know that I have been tempted at times to sway in the other direction, but when I do I go to the Lord and ask him to help me. I don't want to be walking through the mist of darkness alone because I can't always see what is out there. Stay conscience of your surroundings and steer clear of the things that will trip you up and bring you down to Satan's level. As Pres. Hinckley said we to say on the high road.

Tree of Life: Straight and Narrow Path

Today I will be sharing my thoughts on the Straight and Narrow Path.

1 Nephi 8

Vs. 20 - Straight and Narrow Path

As I was reading, these were my thoughts about the straight and narrow path.

• the iron rod runs along side the path

• without either we cannot find our way home

• they lead us to eternal life

• we need to teach our children the importance of staying on the path

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom said this about the path, "No child needs to walk the path alone so long as we speak freely to our children of the plan of salvation." (2010 Oct conference, Stay on the Path)

I love how she says that we need to teach our children of the plan of salvation. By doing so I know that we are reinforcing them to understand that eternal life is the goal.

- D&C 68:25, 28

A hymn came to my mind as I read Sister Wixom's quote and that is Teach Me to Walk in the Light (177).

Teach me to walk in the light of his love;

Teach me to pray to my Father above;

Teach me to know of the things that are right;

Teach me, teach me to walk in the light

Come, little child, and together we'll learn

Of his commandments, that we may return

Home to his presence, to live in his sight

Always, always to walk in the light.

Father in Heaven, we thank thee this day

For loving guidance to show us the way.

Grateful, we praise thee with songs of delight!

Gladly, gladly we'll walk in the light.

How simple are these words!?

We should also help others come to the path and help those who have lost their way. Our love for others will help us in this effort, because everyone deserves a chance at happiness for eternal life. 

- D&C 132:22

In order to teach and help others to stay on the path we need to do the same.

"How can we keep ourselves on the straight and narrow way? The Lord have the answer over and over again. We must learn the word of God by studying the scriptures and apply his word by praying daily to the Lord and serving our fellowmen." - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1990 Oct conference, The Straight and Narrow Way)

We should also be encouraging our youth to be virtuous which will keep them on the path. Help them to put on the whole ARMOR of GOD. 

Sister Mary N. Cook said, "Center your life on the Savior and develop daily habits of righteous living." (2009 April conference, A Virtuous Life - Step by Step)

Let us all strive to create and keep daily habits of righteous living so that we can help others and our families gain eternal life.

Tree of Life: Iron Rod

I know that it's been awhile since I last posted. I just haven't had a chance to sit down to post the rest of my thoughts from the Tree of Life chapter. The next part that I wanted to share is on the Iron Rod.

1 Nephi 8

Vs. 19 - Iron Rod

The Iron Rod is a representation of the Word of God, in other words the gospel.

- 1 Nephi 11:25

"Continually holding fast to the rod means that we strive to keep all of God's commandments, to have daily personalanf family prayer, and to study the scriptures daily." - Elder Kevin S. Hamilton (2013 Oct conference, Continually Holding Fast)

I love the hymn The Iron Rod, it's simple and states the purpose the iron rod has in our life. I will share with you the words of this beautiful hymn.

The Iron Rod - 274

To Nephi, seer of olden time,

A vision come from God.

Wherein the holy word sublime

Was shown an iron rod.

While on our journey here below

Beneath temptations pow'r

Through mists of darkness we must go

In peril ev'ry hour.

And when temptation's pow'r is nigh,

Our pathway clouded o'er,

Upon the rod we can rely,

And heaven's aid implore.

And, hand o'er hand, the rod along,

Through each succeeding day,

With earnest prayer and hopeful song,

We'll still pursue our way.

Afar we see the golden rest

To which the rod will guide,

Where, with the angels bright and blest

Forever we'll abide.

Chorus:

Hold to the rod, the iron rod;

'Tis strong, and bright, and true.

The iron rod is the word of God;

'Twill safely guide us through.

"Holding to the iron rod is not always easy. We may let go because of peer pressure or pride, thinking we can find our way back - later. When we do so, we are leaving our safety equipment behind." - Sister Ann M. Dibb (2009 Oct conference, Hold On)

I know that I've been tempted to let go. In fact I had "let go" for a short time. I wasn't going to church, I wasn't paying my tithing. At the time I also wasn't teaching my little boy the scriptures. My home didn't have the spirit. It was a rough patch for our family spiritually.

- Luke 8:11-12

"If there is any one thing most needed in this time of tumult and frustration, when men and women and youth and young adults are desperately seeking for sneers to the problems which afflict mankind, it is an "iron rod" as a safe guide along the straight path on the way to eternal life." - Pres. Harold B. Lee (1973 April conference, Stand Ye in Holy Places)

I love this quote that I found from Elder Robert D. Hales, "Standing obedient and strong on the doctrine of our God, we stand in holy places, for His doctrine is sacred and will not change." (2013 April conference, Stand Strong in Holy Places)

- D&C 87:8

- D&C 101:22

When we stand firm in holy places, such as the temple, church or a spiritually uplifting home we are grasping and holding strong to the iron rod.

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

The Tree of Life - Dark and Dreary Waste

Today as I was listening to the Book of Mormon it came to the chapter of Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life. As the chapter finished I decided that I would study this chapter a little bit more in depth. There is so much to learn from this one little chapter, so I'm going to start with the Dark and Dreary Waste. The following are my thoughts and quotes that I found that helped me to understand this section better.

1 Nephi 8

Vs 7: Dark and Dreary Waste

• sometimes we wander aimlessly in our trials b/c we are confused
• we feel lost

"It seems that down through the ages people have wandered to and fro in the earth, and many never find their way out of the wilderness in which they are lost. The dictionary describes wilderness as an empty or pathless area or region, a pathless waste of any kind, a confusing multitude or mass. And thus those who aimlessly wander through life, confused and uncertain, waste the precious time that they have been given to prove themselves in this important stage of their existence." - Elder N. Eldon Tanner (1974 Oct Conference, Why Is My Boy Wandering?

- there are many things that will cause us to be confused 

"Let us diligently strive to understand the wonderful things of God. The jewels of the gospel of Jesus Christ are within our reach. But we must seek - ask and strive for - and live the principles of truth." - Elder Royden G. Derrick (1984 Oct Conference, By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them)

- What are you doing to not feel lost?

- Are you asking for help?

" How stimulating and edifying to approach Him in prayer each morning and evening and feel His nearness and His love as we acknowledge His hand, and in our need, seek His help." - Elder Rex C Reeves (1982 Oct Conference, Look to God)