1 Nephi 8:23

23  And it came to pass that there arose a ^amist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were ^blost.

            -mist of darkness = confusion, veil, influence of untruths, lack of clarity/vision.

      "...arose a mist of darkness..."

            -what are the small things (this mist)?

                                    -TV                              -thoughts                     -caffeinated sodas

                                    -"R" rated movies        -posters or books         -not reading scriptures

            -interesting that this darkness came after the people had gotten out of “the world” and were diligently trying to live truth.

            -(1/31/96)  Answers to the following questions about the mists of darkness could substantially aid our understanding:

              1.  Where does the mist come from?

                        Without specifically answering the question “where from?”, (since I don’t know if there is a definite answer or if it is really important) we can safely say that it affects the people as they travel along the path or are in the field.  Hence, it is an element that effects us while on earth in our mortal experience.  What could it be then?

                                    -TV influence              -foul language             -contemporary attitudes

                                    -thoughts                     -posters, books            -“R” rated movies

                                    -or it could be something along very different lines:  it could be a veil that separates us from God. (“the” veil or the barriers we set up when we sin).

            2.  What is the nature (the physical properties) of the mist?

                        First of all, the mist is impenetrable.

                        Second, it is non-discriminatory, it does not “pick on” some more than others

                        Thirdly, it is curious to recognize that the Lord decided to symbolize with a mist instead of a violent whirlwind or sleet or hail.  Similarly he did not use a brick wall as the object for this principle he wanted to explain.  Mist is a very gentle, light, small substance  -implying that the barrier/resistance symbolized here are things that are almost imperceptible;  they are “the small” or “little” things that will blind us and take us off course.  Although we should also realize that the mist does not knock or take us off the path  -it is simply a passive obstacle.  We leave the path n our own accord.

   “… they who had commenced in the path…”

            -the devil always sets up his kingdom in direct opposition to the kingdom of God.  He wants to hide the goal (the tree and what it represents) from our sight.  Just because it is no longer in our view does not mean it is not there.  The principle of “object permanence” has spiritual as well as temporal application.  In fact, God has already provided for this lack of visual guidance by providing  the iron rod.  We are not meant to navigate this life by physical sight alone.  The eyes, as a physical sensory input, are easily manipulated and corrupted.  They are heavily influenced by and biased toward the physical.  We do not see the Spirit.  Even the privilidged prophets who have had great theophanies have not seen the Spirit, they may have seen God but even these FEEL the Spirit.  It should not be a surpise that the sure way through this mist of darkness is by feeling the rod of iron and not –due to the mist of darkness- by visual orientation to the tree of life.

a way that we can feel our way (even if we cannot “see” our way) towards the goal:

            -Just having the gospel is not enough.  We not only walk the path, we have to be anxiously engaged in living and holding tight to the gospel.

 

The difference between verses 23 and 24 or “those who wandered off” and those who “partake of the fruit” is in their level of commitment or how they hold to the gospel:  clinging.

            -there is a sense of urgency here.  What if those who were lost in the mist had commenced earlier?  Perhaps they would have made the iron rod before the mist arose and would not have been lost.

            -those who became lost after they, at first, began correctly did so primarily because of the mist.  The confusion, lack of understanding prohibited their continuance.

     “lose their way”

            -everyone has “lost their way” at least once in this life.  It happens in an unfamiliar environment or by carelessness.  If we knew how to get to a destination we would not get lost:  knowledge is very important!  As Jacob later says, “how great the importance to make these things known to the inhabitants of the earth” (2 Nephi 2:8).

            -they were not rebelling or purposely planning to go astray but because they happened to lose their way they were lost:  compare to the parables of the sheep, coin and prodigal (Luke 15).