I wanted to separate the chapters because Chapter 8 is a larger chapter. I copied from my blog to word what I wrote, and now it won't let me copy it back. I have to retype the whole chapter that I was writing. Here goes.
In our Hymn book we have a song about The Iron Rod . The words go like this
1. To Nephi, seer of olden time, A vision came from God, Where-in the holy word sublime Was shown an iron rod.
2. While on our journey here below, Beneath temptation's power, Through mists of darkness we must go, In peril every hour.
3. And when temptation's power is nigh, Our pathway clouded over Upon the rod we can rely, And heaven's aid implore.
4. And, hand over hand the rod along, Through each succeeding day, With earnest prayer and hopeful song, We'll still pursue our way.
5. 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 safe-ly guide us through.
Text Joseph L. Townsend, 1849-1942
Music William Clayson, 1840-1887
Lehi's 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. Between 600 and 592 B.C.
Chapter 8
65. In Lehi's dream or vision he first of all found himself following a mysterious visitor through a ''dark and dreary waste'' for many hours in darkness'' 1 Nephi 8:4-8
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.
In my opinion, what was the Lord probably waiting for Lehi to do before unfolding to his view the vision that was to follow? (verse 8)
He traveled in darkness and he began to pray to the Lord that the Lord would have mercy on him. My opinion, the Lord probably wanted Lehi to recognize the difference between darkness and the light. He was waiting for Lehi to pray to him.
66. In addition to Lehi, a later Book of Mormon prophet, Alma, said of the fruit of the precious tree.'' Those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.''
(Alma 5: 62)
In the church today what is the word(beginning with the letter t) that we are accustomed to using to designate this fore taste of divine life and love that brings men hope and enthusiastic conviction in the Lord's work? It is a Testimony.
67. Judging by your own experience, or the experience of others who have partaken of the joyous testimony that the gospel brings, would you say that Lehi's desire to share the fruit with others was typical(verse 12) Explain, Yes, once you know the truth you want to share it with your family and friends. He wanted his family to feel the joy.
68. What did the river of water represent? verse 13
1 Nephi 8:13
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.
1 Nephi 15:26-29 for the answer.
26. And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?
27. And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water.
28. And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God.
29. And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.
The river represented a gulf that separated the wicked from the tree of life.
69. What did the ''Rod of Iron'' represent? (verse 19)
1 Nephi 8:19
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.
1 Nephi 15:23-24
23. And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?
24. And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
Nephi said the iron rod was the word of God. If we would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, we would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
7. At what point does the vision extend beyond Lehi's family and become the story of four representative segments of the human family?
1 Nephi Chapter 8 verse 21
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.
Lehi saw numberless concourses of people pressing forward. I looked up the word pressing and it said this.
D&C 123:12
For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it--
Col. 2:8
8. Beware lest any man spoil, you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
I just learned so much in these passages.
71. What did the ''mist of darkness'' of 1 Nephi 8:23 represent? Look up this scripture to find the answer 1 Nephi 12:17
17. And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.
1 Nephi 15:24
24. And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
Matt 13:19
19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
72. What did the ''great and spacious building'' of verse 26 represent?
1 Nephi 8:26
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 stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
Consult 1 Nephi 12:18
18. And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.
The ''spacious building'' is the vain imaginations and pride of the children of men.
73. Who were the four groups of people that Lehi saw?
1. Numberless concourses of people pressing forward that they might obtain the pathe which led unto the tree by which I stood. They did come forth, and commenced in the path which led to the tree. Mist of darkness came and they lost their way they wandered off and were lost.
2. He saw others pressing forward. They caught hold of the iron rod 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. They cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
3. Multitudes pressing forward they caught hold of the Iron Rod continually holding fast to the Rod of Iron they partook of the fruit of the tree.
4. Other multitudes feeling their way to the spacious building.
