Lesson #3 & 4 - The Vision of the Tree of Life

Purpose:

To help class members understand the symbols in the vision of the tree of life and the application of these symbols in their lives.

Scriptures:

• 1 Nephi 8-15

Additional Reading:

• A Reservoir of Living Water - David A. Bednar
• Hold Fast to the Words of the Prophets - Neil L. Andersen
• Cairns on the Path of Mortality - J. Kelly Flanagan
• Lehi's Dream and You - Boyd K. Packer

Questions to Ponder:

• What do the tree and fruit in Lehi's dream represent?
• How does the love of God (the tree) produce eternal life (the fruit)?
• How can we “partake” of the Atonement?
• How has the Savior’s Atonement brought happiness and joy to your life?
• What is the difference between "clinging to the rod of iron" (1 Nephi 8:24) and "holding fast to the iron rod." (1 Nephi 8:30)?
• What does the river of filthy water represent in your life? (1 Nephi 12:16 15:26-29)
• What does the mist of darkness represent in your life? (1 Nephi 12:17) 
• What are the effects of the mist of darkness in your life? (1 Nephi 8:23 12:17)
• In what ways does Satan try to blind our eyes from the tree in our day?
• What does the great and spacious building represent in your life? (1 Nephi 11:34-36 12:18.) 
• Why is it significant that the building “stood … in the air”? (1 Nephi 8:26.) 
• How does pride keep a person from receiving eternal life?
• Some people in the vision tasted of the fruit but were ashamed because the people in the great and spacious building reviled them (1 Nephi 8:26-28). How can we receive strength to stand with conviction when the Church's policies or God's commandments are unpopular?
• What are the four categories of people described in the vision? (1 Nephi 8:21-33)
  • How are these categories manifest in the world today?
• What are some of the “forbidden,” “strange,” or “broad” roads that we might be tempted to take in our day?
  • How can we return to the strait and narrow path?
• In what ways did Laman and Lemuel’s response to their father’s vision differ from Nephi’s response? (1 Nephi 15:1-2.) 
• Why were Laman and Lemuel unable to understand the truths Lehi had taught them? (1 Nephi 15:3, 8-11.)