1 Nephi 13:9-10

9  And also for the ^apraise of the world do they ^bdestroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.

10  And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters; and they divided the Gentiles from the seed of my brethren.

            -the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans served as a buffer from the tribulations of the old world.  Even though God set a land apart as an insulated or quarantined zone where he could direct those seeking His ways, these eventually feel victim to the viccisitudes of  the natural man.  If there were a hundred isolated lands, the history of mortal man would repeat itself one hundred times over.  Man is fallen in this existence regardless of the specific cultural mixture.

    “divided”

            -insulated, quarantined, separated, protected, etc.  The division of these two peoples was meant to protect.

1 Nephi 13:6

6  And it came to pass that I beheld this ^agreat and ^babominable church; and I saw the ^cdevil that he was the founder of it.
-if we read the scriptures carefully we will see that Lucifer is never credited with creating anything.  He can't.  He can imitate, transform, organize, "founder", adulterate, manipulate....  He has no creative power.  He takes what already exists and twists it.  And he is a master of such.  But it is critical to our understanding of our future status  -whether we will belong to and be as God or Lucifer- it is critical that we understand where the creative power lies.  Only God can create.  Lucifer does not have this privilege and gift.  He takes what God creates or possesses and twists it to his devilish objectives.  He does this with the priesthood, with the church, with the family, with wealth, with revelation, even with virtues such as sacrifice and love.  There is a Satanic counterfeit for every true principle.  In each case, the focus becomes self instead of others.  This has been his modus operandi from the beginning when he sought his own aggrandizement in the guise of saving all of God's children. His motivation was not God or God's children but it was himself.  This orientation is fundamentally contrary to the laws of heaven and we learn that even doing good things can be wrong if not done the right way.  "To obey is better than sacrifice..."

1 Nephi 11:10

10  And he said unto me: What desirest thou?

            -an interesting question both in this context but also outside it.  In general we should consider it soberly and honestly.  What is it that we desire? 

            -in the context of Nephi’s previous observation about the tree:  that it is “precious above all”, the Spirit’s question, “what desirest thou?” can be viewed as a query to measure just how precious it is to Nephi.  If there is something that is very precious we would, naturally, desire that precious thing.  But how much do we want it which is also to say, how much do we value it?  What are you going to do –how much effort and sacrifice are you willing to spend- to obtain it?

1 Nephi 11:2

2 And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what ^adesirest thou?

     “the Spirit”

            -it the temple is the school of the universe –the university- then the instructor, the professor (one who professes, teaches of things to come, things as they were and things as they are) is the Holy Ghost.

     “the Spirit said unto me:  Behold, what desirest thou?”

-why did the spirit ask this question?  Surely he knew the answer, in fact, Nephi’s pure desire is one of the reasons he even qualified to receive this vision.

-all learning begins with a question.  This demonstrates the appropriate use of agency of the learner.  To teach before a student is ready or desireous to learn is to infringe on agency.  To give when one has not asked is paramount to force.  Teachers should be very careful about giving when their students are not receiving.  In essence, the spirit was asking Nephi if he is ready to learn, if he is ready to receive what the Spirit was about to give.

            -God cannot give to us beyond our desires and petitions to receive.  To do so would violate our agency, a thing He will never override nor usurp.  Curiously, Lucifer has no scruples, reticence or hesitation seizing agency with a devilish tool called addiction.  To be perfectly honest however, every addicted soul previously gave their personal permission by freely engaging in forbidden behavior.

1 Nephi 10:22

22  And the Holy Ghost giveth ^aauthority that I should speak these things, and deny them not.
     “the authority”

-the “right” or the “OK”

            -has the Holy Ghost ever given you authority to teach, communicate or speak certain things?  Are people or things bound by what you say?  How comfortable are you if the things that you speak are “set in stone” and have binding influence on those who hear?  How does one know he or she has such authority?

    “and deny them not.”

            -why do we sometimes deny the truths, teachings or warnings of God?  There are a few reasons:

            1.  we do not like the implications:  they curtail our natural desires.

            2.  we would rather have the acceptance of the masses who are more “accepting” of the thigs of this world over the things of God (old fashioned peer pressure and a desire for the approval of others).

            3.  they are too hard/they require more of us than we think we can give.

            4.  we are not living equal to the message and therefor do not want to be a hypocrite by speaking the things of God.

1 Nephi 10:21

21  Wherefore, if ye have sought to do ^awickedly in the days of your ^bprobation, then ye are found ^cunclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.

      “if ye have sought to do wickedly"

            -few of us seek our evil.  You will find very few people, even of those engaged in the dregs of wickedness and evil, who will concede that they are pursuing or promoting wickedness.  We are astoundingly effective at self-deception.  Even the definitive despots –Hitler, Mao, Ghangis Kahn, Stalin, Pol Pot, Caligula and the like- set their actions in the virtuous context of some great good (political reform, social equality, nationalism, scientific progress, individual liberty, religious evangelism  -there is no rational that has not been levereaged for the defense of some great diabolic deed) .  Accordingly, we may quickly dismiss this phrase as “not applicable” to ourselves.  Sure, I have my weaknesses and have periodically fallen into sin but I have not SOUGHT to do wickely.  The more honest truth is that we do cling to our pleasurable sins.  There is some food, some activity, some judgement, some attitude which is so satisfying to this physical body (which includes emotionally, mentally, socially as well as physical) and which prohibits the unobstructed and intimate association with the Holy Ghost that we “cannot” banish it from our life.  It is just too hard for us to change, we enjoy what it provides us, we are too afraid to let it go… whatever the reason, we seek that action, thought or philosophy.  The truth is, if we are not seeking God’s will, we are seeking wickedly and this can happen without our committing or omitting any of the so called major or commonly acknowledged sins (like adultery, lieing, envying, worshipping materialism).  Wickedness is much more sophisticated and subtle than we would like to admit.

     “your probation”

            -one of Satan’s lies is to make men think that mortal life is an end, not a means.  It is the destination rather than the qualifying stage that will determine our future destination.  These two different perspectives will lead to very different strategies of how to act while here.  The idea of a probationary period is a perfect description of our current condition.  If, however, there is no realm after this one (and, correspondingly, none prior to it) then this is the “be all” and “end all” of our experience.  Why should we not maximize our pleasure in an all-out orgy of physical sensation and self-interest?  That is the only rational conclusion when operating under the assumption of no God or divine purpose of life.

    “cast off forever.”

            -our actions, decisions and behavior in this short time/state of probation determine what our eternal condition will be.  How can such a short time have consequences that will endure forever?  It almost seems illogical and even unfair.  In the end, however, those are irrelevant estimations since we cannot change the terms of the arrangement.  The important thing is that we are aware of the stakes involved.  It does inform us, however, as to the nature of the probabtionary experience.  If all of eternity is to be based on what happens in this short eighty year span, the nature of the assessment is critical. I am talking about the rigor, validity and reliability of the testing instrument. It must be robust:  testing us in a variety of settings; exploring our reactions on a breadth of topics, allowing for growth and learning while in the process of the assessment itself and then re-testing to discover growth and improvement.  It must be gradual in nature (questions and situations becoming increasingly more difficult).  It must be fairly scored across an infinite variety of subjects.  There must be sufficient knowledge of the material in order for the assessment to be applicable.  There is a time limit involved which introduces the element of efficiency.  This assessment is “timed” however we are unaware of the quantity of time we have to complete it.  All of these elements must come together and provide a sufficient measure of our performance such that the results can be 100% accurately generalized from a short time to an infinite future.  Its predictability must be perfect.

1 Nephi 10:8

8  Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: ^aPrepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.

     “make his paths straight”

            -what  does this mean?  How is “his path” made straight?  How do we “make his paths straight”?  Is it fair to say that we are expected to straighten out our lives by walking the path he outlined?

            -John’s exhortation was largely ignored, at least by the prevailing culture shaping contingent of society.  The recognized Jewish leaders, the “in crowd” did not change the trajectory or the substance of their lives.  Perhaps the humble group of John’s disciples lived with a higher level of attention to righteousness and spiritual matters  -they more conscientiously walked the straight and narrow path.

    “there standeth one among you whom ye know not”

            -why did the people not know the Savior, the light of the world, when he stood right amongst them?

            -they were not looking           

            -they were not paying attention

            -the Savior was not abnormally noticeable

            -they were too busy

            -they were expecting something else (as the Messiah)

Is it, therefore, terribly odd that people don’t readily accept the gospel light today due to the very same reasons listed above.

            -we sometimes talk about “hiding in plain sight” or phrased as it often is in the scriptures, “having eyes to see, they see not”.  This mortal blindness to spiritual, ethical or moral things appears to be a common characteristic of the natural man and of the temporal estate.  Are we caught up in this same mortal condition?  Why is it that we cannot see the reality of things (things as they really are) even to the degree that if God stood among us, we would not recognize Him?  This is the most damning self-indictment there is.

    “he is mightier than I”

            -there is a beautiful testimony of the Aaronic priesthood buried in this declaration.  Clearly John is drawing attention to the superlative might or power of the Savior but he is also acknowledging that he is mighty, that he has legitimate and significant power.  We should never diminish the power held by a righteous man of the Aaronic priesthood.  He has power greater and more lasting than the kings and rulers of the Earth.  For that matter, a woman of virtue and faith possesses great power as she also connects herself into the powers of heaven.  Yes, the Christ is the mightiest, but John –as a legitimate bearer of the Aaronic priesthood- possesses mighty power.  This is the power to change the eternal trajectory of men and women, to open the gates of the father’s kingdom and set them on the road to their unfathomable eternal destiny.  This is might indeed!

1 Nephi 10:6

6  Wherefore, all mankind were in a ^alost and in a ^bfallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.

    “all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state”

            -this condition, as a common element of the mortal existence, was brought about when Adam and Eve transgressed the law of God.  Since God and sin are incompatible, the two became disjointed and separate.  Man literally fell from a state of being in God’s presence which is obviously a higher “standard of existence/living” than we now navigate.  Hence the fallen state.  It is a state defined by temptation (rather than self-disciplined righteousness), death (rather than perpetual life), sorrow, pain, cruelty (rather than compassion/love), division (rather than unity).  The term “lost” describes our potential eternal standing at the moment of the fall.  We fell through the grasp of our heavenly parents.  It is “lost” in a sense of “lost control” or “lost the championship”.  It is not that they could not find us.  There is a sense, however, of our being unable to find the way by ourselves.  This is by virtue of the veil and our disobedience which further clouds our minds and leads to confusion rather than truth and additional revelation.  The veil prohibits our complete clarity of understanding and spiritual sight but our rebellion and disqualification from the Spirit –which teaches, clarifies and imbues with intelligence- blinds our minds and hearts much more.  Our lack of vision into heavenly things is much less a function of the veil and is a condition largely self-imposed by our own actions.  We could nearly see into heaven and mortality with heavenly eyes if we lived so that the Holy Spirit could teach us all things.

     "rely"

            -a curious verb to use, but what a beautiful picture it creates!  We must depend, trust, lean on the Savior.  We are helpless were it not for this person who will assist us.

            -we rely on different people for different things.  Nephi is quite specific on what and why we need to rely on the Savior:  because we are "lost" and "fallen".  Hence he will help us find the way, ourselves, home, etc. and he will lift us up to where we once were.

     “Redeemer”

                -redeem (verb): to make (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) better or more acceptable; to exchange (something, such as a coupon or lottery ticket) for money, an award, etc.;  to buy back (something, such as a stock or bond).

 

 

What would life be like without a Savior

 

1 Nephi 9:6

6  But the Lord ^aknoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all ^bpower unto the fulfilling of all his words.  And thus it is.  Amen.

            -30 years later Nephi still did not know the Lord's reason, but he did it!

            -the Lord, like a conductor of a symphony, orchestrates a marvelous production.  And just like a conductor, he does not make the members play correctly, they have the ability and right to play out of tune, rhythm or gate of the larger orchestra –but if they choose to do so, the music will be ugly, chaotic and will not elevate.

    “the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning”

            -TRUTH!  Not only does God know all things, but he pre-knows it.  He knows it before it happens.  Others have described this prescience as the simultaneous occurance of all things.  There is no element of time to God –he lives outside of time.  While we cannot comprehend this, it does not invalidate it or make such a condition impossible.  There are many things that “are” but are incomprehensible to us.  Many earthly processes or conditions are beyond our understanding and yet we know that they transpire.  If such happen on a telestial level, how is it that we doubt their existence on a much higher –a celestial- level?

            -how does this truth change the way we live?  The way we trust God?  The decisions we make during the difficult times of our life?  If we really believe that He knows all things that are now or will happen to us in the future  -both positive things and what we call “tragedies” or “disasters”- and likewise prepares a way for us to successfully navigate through them, if we really have an abiding faith that this is true then there is no place for fear or despondency.  We are in the hands of God  -hands that we know are all powerful, all loving, all merciful!

   “wherefore he prepareth a way”

            -this is the merciful part.  An omnipotent and all knowing God who is able to know all things is one thing.  That is an amazing power (or can we say, “spiritual gift”) but what to do with that power is another thing entirely.  Mortal men would become manipulative and use that power for their own benefit.  We would do terribly small things like bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl, put ourselves in positions to take advantage because of our foreknowledge.  Alternately, God could simply sit back and let things play out as He has forseen.  He does neither of these.  While still holding agency and free will sovereign, he prepares a way for the elevation and exhaltation of his children.  To know all things is a tremendous gift.  To use that gift in righteousness is a quality of and a qualification to be God.

     “he hath all power"

            -notice how many times “all “ is used in this verse.  To receive a totality requires the strictest and unfaltering obedience to the laws that lead to that endowment.  All could not be his if he was not first obedient to all imposed upon him.

            -Christ and the Father have ALL power, including power to override the agency of man, just as they have power to sin, but hey will never exercise that power.  We would do well to recognize that although we may possess the ability to do certain things it is not as valid  to conclude that we should then take that ability to fulfillment.  Power in its fullest is not a good thing if not counterbalance by “all-loving” or “all-self-disciplined”.

    “he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words.”

            -whatever God declares, he is able to accomplish.  He is in total control of bringing about what he says.  This power comes because He knows all things.  We do not have this amazing power to bring about what we say.  Sometimes we say, I want to do such and such or I promise not to let anything happen to you” but our power to make those things effectual (to bring them about absolutely) is limited.  We may speak things out of an emotional motivation and tremendous desire but we frequently do not deliver on the things we say.  This is largely because we do not know the end from the beginning.  If we had this knowledge we would know what to promise/what to speak because we know of its eventuality.    So the power of God is to know all things and then to speak in accordance with what we know.  In other words to make sure our words are in perfect harmony with the truth of things to come.  So the central question is, how is it that God is able to achieve all knowledge?  What laws predicate the acquisition of all knowledge?

1Nephi 8:33

33  And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building.  And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of ^ascorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

     “great was the multitude”

            -why are so many attracted to the building while so few pursue the path and the tree?

            -furthermore, why is the one activity of those who have entered the building of temporal glory to scorn and mock those who partake of the fruit?  Why do they not spend their time in quiet contented self-fulfillment?  Why are they obsessed with other’s condition.

    “strange”

            -this adjective is used several times in this description by Nephi to signify evil or avoidable places.  Other possible synonyms could be:  unfamiliar, curious or even exciting.

    “the finger of scorn”

            -scorn: 1. contempt or disdain.  2. derision
                            contempt:  a feeling that someone is inferior and undesirable .

            -the definition of scorn (and contempt) is very insightful.  The feeling driving those in the building and also being decoded by the objects of such scoffing, is one of pride, self-aggrandizement and superiority.  One of the greatest threats to the peaceful cohabitation of man to man is the cultural and racial superiority of one people to another.  Not only on earth though  -in the pre-mortal life Lucifer also tried to establish his pre-eminence to Christ and his elevated position when he said, “Give me thy honor” and “the glory by mine because, surely, I will do it.”

    “pointed the finger of scorn at me”

            -how are we the recipients of this pressure in real life?  What is the present day manifestation of this ridicule?

     “we heeded them not”

-we can’t even give them a start, not even a thought.  Give NO heed!  And get the temptation out of the way.

-see comments for verse 25:  “cast their eyes about…”

 -a temptation is as powerless as a butterfly to an elephant but when we consider the “virtues” or “attractions’ of the temptation then the temptation grows to be as powerful as a black hole.  It sucks us in until all personal power to direct our own path is gone and we (our will, our desire, our actions) are dictated to by the temptation It all begins when we allow it audience even just a tiny bit!  To once and forever rid yourself of the pressures and enticements coming from the great and spacious buildings you should never heed it the first time.  Once you do, it becomes an exponentially more difficult thing to escape.  Nephi did not ever have to worry about getting out of the building or even returning to the tree or regaining the path because he never gave heed to voices/influences he knew to be wrong  --see verse 34!

1 Nephi 8:31

31  And he also saw other ^amultitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.

            -Just as there are some who strive for the tree, there are others who just as diligently search for and press toward the building of material/temporal glory to seek salvation there.

    "multitudes"
        -when, in this life, we find ourselves in the minority as pertaining to things of faith, values, morality and God, we should not be surprised.  We should certainly not be shaken in our own faith because they that are against us are more than those who are with us (or at least when taking a poll of mortal beings).  In fact, if we find ourselves too often in the camp of the majority, we should engage in sober self-reflection.  Is our moral compass accurate and functional.
       -the clichéd warning regarding going along with the crowd is not something we age out from.  It does not cease after elementary or high school.  Swimming against the prevailing current and walking away from the multitudes requires and also produces strength.

    "feeling their way"
        -the magnetism of the great and spacious building is the satisfaction of carnal appetites and desires. We "feel" our way toward the pleasure palace of mortality by indulging the passions and immediate impulses of the natural man.  We indulge our feelings rather than soberly contemplating the things of eternity which largely convince us to delay physical gratifications now for eternal rewards in the future. This is true for the spiritual realm just as it is for the political realm.

1 Nephi 8:28

28  And after they had ^atasted of the fruit they were ^bashamed, because of those that were ^cscoffing at them; and they ^dfell away into forbidden paths and were lost.

            -listening to the world

             basing your self-esteem on others

             danger or going after the glory of the world

     “they were ashamed”

            -because they were so concerned with the esteem of other people they were not only ashamed but did not enjoy the peace/joy that partaking of the fruit brought.  Some Latter-day Saints fall away and, in complete honesty, declare that the church did not provide them with anything special, that the manifestation of the Holy Ghost was no more profound than what is experienced in other religions.  For lack of a better words, these did not recognize the “fruits” of the restored gospel to be remarkable in any way.  This may at first appear to be worrisome to us who have been impressed with the delicious fruits of the gospel but the insight provided by Lehi’s vision provides an answer.  Our concern over or focus on the “sacrifices” required by the gospel and our subsequent shame (which comes as a result of comparing the worlds liberal ways with the gospel’s restraint) can diminish impact of the sweet taste of the fruit.  The cost, for some, is too high and the product is not sufficient for the work required.  These were never fully given to the gospel, they were gospel instrumentalists  -pursuing the gospel as an answer to their short term (i.e. temporal) search for success or satisfaction.  Even the gospel with it’s plentiful answers for happiness, meaning and prosperity is not complete if viewed in the narrow parameters of this life only.  It is, at its core, an eternal program and it does not have its full power or provide complete understanding to the vital questions of life  until it is placed in an eternal context.  We cannot understand the gospel within the narrow confines of a strictly mortal existence.  It is like trying to understand relativity with only algebraic constructs.

     “because of ________”

            -the shame created when the listener gives substance to those mocking.

            -listening to the world.

            -basing self-esteem on others/anything but God.

            -the danger of going after the glory of the world is that it is a confederate mass consciousness.

     “because of those that were scoffing at them”

            -what form does this scoffing take?  Qualitatively, what is the mockery, the teasing, the derogatory communication, the derision of any shade or gradation in our day?  Why do we care?

    “fell away into forbidden paths”

            -the “falling away” is the behavioral manifestation of the internal attitude (feeling ashamed due to the estimation of mankind).  To feel ashamed is no sin of itself BUT it seems rare that one who is ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16) could remain true in actions and behavior.  Indulgence in forbidden paths is the end result of internal psycho-spiritual processes.

            -shame leads to falling away.  Falling away leads to forbidden paths.  Forbidden paths leads to being lost.

    “were lost”

            -there are not many phrases that strike me with a profound sadness, but this one has a way of creeping into my heart.  These are souls that are gone… lost.  Almost as certain as the sun follows the emerging dawn, does a soul who “falls away” then become lost.

1 Nephi 8:27

27  And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the ^aattitude of ^bmocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.

     “it was filled with people”

            -sounds like standing room only!  Compare this to the few who were pressing forward and the few who made it to the tree of life.

            -if popularity or being mainstream is important to us, we are on a course toward misery.  We will either forsake the things of eternity or we will live a lamenting life, anguished over our exclusion from the “in” crowd.  The committed Christian must come face to face with the social reality of being at odds with the masses of society, with the vogue and the norm.  It will be socially uncomfortable to bear the mockery of the world and to forgo the praises and positions of status bestowed by society at large.  Even more difficult however, is when subtle rejection turns to ridicule and antagonism.  Evil is not content to endure goodness but works to subdue, transform and abolish it.  Light is not compatible with darkness because of the contant threat to illuminate and expose the emptiness that darkness masks.

    “manner of dress was exceedingly fine…”

            -this one specific description was used as the illustrator of the character of people who occupied the building.  “Old and young” describes their age, “mocking and pointing fingers” describes their behavior, but their manner of dress is a telling indicator of where their hearts are and what type of people would be found in the building.  Are we so concerned with our worldly appearance/possessions?  It may be painful to consider, but what is the manner of our dress?

    “attitude”

            -not simply a behavior.  An attitude is more permanent, more a part of your character.  These are people whose rudeness is strongly rooted in them.  They are developed in their behaviors.

     “… of mocking…’

            -I think “mockery” is one of the worst behaviors a person can engage in:  it shows many weaknesses:  rudeness, judgmental, comparing, no compassion, accusation, lack of kindness but it is also a sign of a sever lack of personal substance.  They are not standing tall by their own merits but are attempting to become greater by putting others down.

    “pointing their fingers at…’

            -there is no question as to who is the object of this (of Satan’s) attack.  Furthermore, it is interesting that they do not find contentment in their own station but rather the source of their focus is still those who are doing correctly:  Isn’t it curious that the people in the building aren’t having a party where their focus is each other.  Neither are they doing a thousand other enjoyable things and sharing a good time with one another.  Their efforts and attention is on those outside the building.  There is no joy inherent to or based within the building!

1 Nephi 8:26

26  And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the ^aother side of the river of water, a great and ^bspacious building; and it stood as it were in the ^cair, high above the earth.

            -great and spacious building = mankind’s pride, wisdom that is foolishness, man’s vanity, self-deception of grandeur, pride of the world

            -why the symbols of the specific adjectives “great” and “spacious”?

-the building seems to be important, powerful (has all the outward appearances), but it is not.

     “I also cast my eyes round about”

            -it is no sin to recognize choices.  We are to question and consider, we are to be faced with opposition and see alternatives but that is quite different from choosing or supporting the unworthy or evil alternatives.  When we “buy into” or indulge –even in thought- on the wrong/evil side of a choice then the problem has commenced.  Lehi looked and weighed out the world around him but he was never “ashamed” and certainly did not make mental plans to enter or go to the building.

    “on the other side of the river of water”

            -between good and evil there is always a line of demarcation that we are not to pass.  It separates the wicked from the righteous.  The devil sets up his kingdom in contrast to –not in concert with or on the same side as- God and his kingdom.  In order to entice those on God’s side he will make his terrain appear more attractive; he does this by focusing on our temporal appetites rather than our spiritual or eternal appetites.

            -while it may appear that choosing the right is more difficult than choosing evil, those who end up in the great and spacious building will recognize that getting there took effort.  It may appear like more fun and require less sacrifice or self-denial and discipline but it does take work to get to hell. This work is often masked by sensual stimulation that is pleasurable to the physical body.  The effort or work is going to be required of us whichever way we trod, so we might as well pursue the right path.  This is clearly illustrated by comparing Nephi to Laman and Lemuel.  Each engaged in the voyage from Jerusalem to the promised land, the effort required was the same for both, but the destination each arrived at (spiritually speaking) was diametrically contrasting.  In fact, the journey was arguably easier for Nephi than for Laman and Lemuel  -they spent much time, effort and energy suffering from the consequences of “kicking against God.”

            -in this image we have two contrasting elements/symbols:

 

            -how are these two opposed to each other?

            -Lucifer always imitates characteristics of God’s principles with an evil corollary, (i.e. love vs. lust, happiness vs. pleasure) how is the great and spacious building an adultery of the good that is in the tree of life?

·         Both are a type of destination (goal or objective)

·         Both are proclaimed to be sources of joy

However there are also clear contradictions between the tree and the building:

                        -a building is not natural , it is the workmanship of man.  Man cannot create/make a tree.  In this same light, a building “high above the earth”, in the air must have been very impressive, alluring, even intimidating compared to some lowly tree.  But that appearance is very shallow and deceptive.  Man’s workmanship is sometimes considered remarkable (pyramids, skyscrapers, beautiful architecture and inventions) but his objects are a reworking of the materials God created.  Even so, man cannot begin to match the majesty of a sunset, of mountains or of the Grand Canyon.

    “great and spacious building”

            -this is the great temple of man.  It is the monument to man’s self-estemation.

     “it stood in the air, high above the earth.”

            -there was another building fitting this description almost exactly.  The Tower of Babel extended high into the air, above the earth.  Is this visualization conincidental or are the two comparable typologies?  The people involved in both stand in opposition to God.  They are consumed with their own greatness.  They and their artifacts (the building itself which is the object of their greatness) are superior to the naïve and imbecilic believers of God.  They are antagonistic in their view of those who do not believe that we are the gods of our existence.

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 8:23

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 8:20

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.