1 Nephi 8:25

25  And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ^aashamed.

      “did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed”

            -these were concerned with the judgments of the world; concerned with popularity, prestige and success.

            -after working so hard and enduring why does the opinion of the world matter so much?

            -was the taste/joy of the fruit not enough to satisfy these people?  What were they looking for from the fruit?  Are there other satisfactions

that rival the joy/taste of the fruit?

     “cast their eyes about”

            -the moment we start looking around at others and start comparing we’ve opened ourselves up to a tragic end.  Comparing, by definition, entails a value judgment and the world’s judgment of happiness is rarely in line with eternal happiness.  We cannot be ashamed if we refuse to adopt and apply the world’s comparative measurements.

            -what insights do we gain from this condition?  What do we learn of the fruit and our experience with it?

            1.  those who obtain the fruit are not automatically isolated from the temptations of the world.  In other words, the fruit is not a guarantee of salvation.  It is not the end and completion of the journey.

            2.  the fruit and its indescribable magnificence (deliciousness), for some, is not unparalleled in desire, in fulfillment, in gradeur.  Some turn away from it wanting “more”.

            3.  there is a rival to the fruit, no matter how glorious it was.  There are counter forces in the world which pull at us.  Even for something as magnificent as the fruit, there is opposition in all things.

            4.  ultimately we are not won by outside forces (the fruit is an object outside of us) but by that which we give power to.  We set our heart upon the fruit or the building  -we imbue it with value and influence.

1 Nephi 8:24

24  And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, ^aclinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the ^bfruit of the tree.

-why is it that “others” who were also “pressing forward” did not get lost from the mist of darkness?

     “came forth and caught hold”

            -it seems that this catching hold of the rod, even in the face of some very difficult circumstances, is something that set those who did not lose their way apart from those who became lost.

            -the rod is a sure guide and without it there appears to be little hope of achieving the goal.   The rod becomes the gospel, it is a concrete, actual guide to hold to.  But it does not pull you along or do the work, it is a tool to use.  It does not make the mist disperse either –although it does give a very nice sense of comfort while being surrounded by the mist.

            -not all (or any for that matter) started at the rod or iron.  Thy journeyed until they found it, then grabbed on and followed.

      “press forward”

            -there is a lot f “pressing forward” going on.  As if our constant improvement is necessary, and as if we should expect our journey here to be a lot of hard work marked by difficulty… should we expect anything less than an experience similar to previous groups whose own efforts to press forward are recorded in the scriptures and in the history books of this world. 

      “through the mist”

            -there is only one way to travel life’s journey:  it is “through”.  There is no around, under or other bypass.  We are to go through the difficult times, through the heartache, through the temptations and through trials.  It is the “going through” that is the object of this existence.

      "...clinging ..."

            -apply to locking your hands when wrestling.

            -an action word.  I don’t know if there is a more proactive or descriptive verb that would be used here to illustrate the way in which we must pursue this path.

            -what is the nature of our hold (our grip) to the rod?  Are we touching, holding, gliding, etc.?  How seriously do we live the gospel?  Do we let some things “slip through”?  Are we lax in our observance?  Are we a Sunday Mormon?  Do we obey and keep the rules or do we “live the gospel”?  Do we love its principles, laws and ordinances?

            -just having the gospel is not enough.  We cannot just “walk the path”.  We must be anxiously engaged in living and hold tight to the gospel.  We must let it posses us.

            -this verse describes people whose effort has been nothing short of commendable.  These are good hearted, anxiously engaged people.  They have pursued and endured many things in their effort to obtain the fruit of the tree.  If we were to stop at the conclusion of this verse –knowing nothing more of the people described here- we would conclude that these are choice people, valiant and good.  BUT all is about to be turned on its head with one factor:  see verse 25.

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).

1 Nephi 8:22

22  And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.

     “they”

            -the concourses of people who once were abiding in the field but began pressing forward toward the path.

      “commence”

            -this sounds like a process more than a singular or quick event.  It must necessitate a strong degree of consistency and commitment.  Many will begin along the path, but how many will continue as they have “commenced” (D&C 9:5)?

1 Nephi 8:21

21  And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were ^apressing forward, that they might obtain the ^bpath which led unto the tree by which I stood.

            -numberless concourses of people = mortal mankind

            -the path leads to the rod of iron which leads to the tree, which bears fruit.  The fruit is the ends.  We must remember that the path and the rod are means to the end and not ends themselves.  They are precursors to our salvation, not salvation itself.

     “numberless”

            -here it means “many”, not “unknown” or “faceless”. Lehi was able to identify his family but not individuals in the greater whole.  To God however, they are all individually known and the pain for him must be like Lehi’s when his sons would not come to him.

     “pressing”

            -an action verb that denotes hard work, concentration and concerted effort!  A person so engaged might expect to get tired.

     “pressing forward”

     -looking for the truth, purposes of life, answers to questions.

            -why didn’t Lehi see the people earlier?  Why were Sariah, Nephi, Sam, Laman and Lemuel so easily seen when there were (as he now records) numberless concourses of people?  Surely so many people would have attracted attention earlier unless, for some reason,/purpose they were not meant to be seen until now.

     “that they might obtain the path”

            -the hearts of many are good and their goal is to pursue the proper way. Is our primary motivation for pressing forward (doing good, living right, serving, etc.) to obtain the path?  However, we cannot make our “obtainment of the path” an end in itself.. It is only a means!  A necessary means to the tree of life.

     “the path”

            -when you go hiking you want to travel on a path because it is smoother, easier to travel and contains fewer obstacles.

1 Nephi 8:20

20  And I also beheld a ^astrait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a ^bworld.

            -why are there two instruments that help lead to the tree of life?  Is one (i.e. just the rod of iron) insufficient to get us through all the obstacles we may be faced with?

            -we are given a second source of assistance to get us to the tree of life:  a strait and narrow path.  I have to wonder why two objects are established for our guidance.  If nothing else, it seems clear that God wants to give us all the help he can to bring us to the tree.  Again, while he can’t make us choose to come, he can and does give abundant assistance to those who are trying.

            -strait and narrow path = actions and behaviors that the ordinances and principles of the gospel guide us into.  Expected ways to act that are literally etched into this estate as a path going through the meadow.  How is it comparable to the rod of iron?!

            -a path is made after a large number of people traverse the same area of ground.  It becomes so worn that it becomes a distinct passageway.  Could it be that this path was made by the multitudes who had followed the iron rod to the tree?  Could it be that the path is a natural feature caused by those who had come before and traveled the same ground?

     “it led by the … fountain, unto a large and spacious field”

            -a path seems less prominent than a rod of iron. The more subtle path extends farther into the field than does the rod, it even goes by and beyond the head of the fountain.  Almost as if the nearer one approaches the tree, the more difficult/more obstacles there are, therefore more help is needed and hence an iron rod. A more sure guide that can be followed by the sense of feeling rather than sight alone.

    “a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.”

            -this world is a wide or open place where people may wander about and do many things unencumbered by direction or law.  There is, however, a guide or a purpose for those who are searching for it.  This standard is represented by the path and the rod that extend out into the world.  A traveler who is exploring the wide world will likely come upon –even if by accident- these standards.  At that moment there is a choice to pursue these fixed objects and discover where they lead or to continue wandering.  If the decision is to follow the path and the rod, they will come out of the world and find a glorious destination that is sweet and magnificent.

1 Nephi 8:19

19  And I beheld a ^arod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.

            -why is the rod of iron near/parallel to the river of water (or vice-versa)?  Is the intent to signify how close danger lies to a departure from the truth and right living?

            -rod of iron = principles, teachings, truths and ordinances of the gospel that we need to engage in and make a part of us.  These are our guides that will not fail to keep us safe and to direct us through any storm of life.

            -Consider the sequence of these things:  Laman and Lemuel’s refusal occurred before mention of the rod of iron  -signifying, possibly, that even though all the assistance/tools are available they are of no consequence when a person will not come.  There is no question about how to get into the celestial kingdom  -the answers and the assistance is in place.  The variable is us:  will we choose to get there?

      “it extended along the bank…”

            -we are not expected to travel dangerous roads alone or unassisted.  The guideline is there, God will not leave us to wander by chance.

            -a primary feature of mortality is the proximity between good and evil.  They brush up against each other on a frequent basis.  The lines between the two are thinner than we anticipate.  This is one reason for the necessity to be exactly obedient.  One slight deviation can land us in the realm of sin and destruction.  Consider sexual purity for example, the distance between kissing, intimate touching and sex is razor thin.  So it is with many other behaviors.  One small concession can lead to  significant consequences.