4. Lehi’s Vision of the Tree of Life 1 Nephi 8 and 11 Themes: Keeping the commandments, Faith Opening Song: CSB 160 Choose the Right Way Opening Prayer Lesson:

While Lehi and his family were in the wilderness, Lehi had an amazing vision. Later, Nephi had the same vision because of his faith and obedience. They saw in a vision a large and spacious field filled with dark mists that made it hard to see. There was also a raging river. Near the river was a strong rod made of iron that people were holding onto as they walked through the dark mists. This way they knew where they were heading even though they couldn’t see through the darkness. Some people did not hold onto the rod, though. They became lost and wandered around in the darkness where it wasn’t safe. The rod of iron was leading people down a straight and narrow path to the most beautiful tree that was as bright as the sun. On this tree there was fruit that tasted more delicious than anything in the world. People who made it to the tree were

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happy and felt God’s love. But some people were laughing at the people who were holding to the rod and trying to get to the tree. These mocking people were in a large building. They pointed and laughed at those trying to stay safe in the darkness. Lehi saw that his family had all made it to the tree together, except for Laman and Lemuel. This made Lehi worried for them because he loved his sons very much.

When Nephi had the vision, an angel taught him what each part meant. Nephi learned that: The large and spacious field represented the world. The river and the mists of darkness represented Satan’s influence on the world and temptation. The great big building represented the pride of the world. The straight and narrow pathway that lead to the tree represented the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His commandments. The rod of iron represented the word of God, or the scriptures and teachings of the Prophets. The Tree represented the Love of God The fruit represented the blessings that come through the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Nephi was also shown Christ’s birth and his life of miracles, even though Nephi lived 600 years before Jesus was born! The Vision of the Tree of Life teaches all of us to obey the commandments and read the scriptures to resist temptation and feel God’s love in our lives.

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Scripture Highlight:

1 Nephi 11:16-17 16. And [the angel] said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? 17. And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

Application:

Go through each symbol in the vision and discuss with the children how it applies in their own lives. Ask them to think of how they can “hold to the rod” at school and have them share their ideas. Role play possible scenarios.

Optional Activity:

Print off the scripture story page and have the kids color it in. Save it in a binder and collect each story page to make your own Book of Mormon story book! Printing instructions:

Print the illustrated story page first and then feed the same page through the printer again to print the words on the back.

Closing Song:

Hymnal 274 The Iron Rod

Closing Prayer

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Treat Recipe: Banana Muffins 1 cup sugar đ cup vegetable oil (sub applesauce for healthier version) 2 eggs 3 ripe bananas, mashed 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda đ teaspoon salt Cream sugar and oil. Add eggs and mashed bananas and beat. Add flour, soda and salt. Pour into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes. Makes 18-24 muffins. From Favorites: A Collection of Favorite Ivory Family Recipes

While Lehi and

his family were in the wilderness, Lehi ha

d an amazing vision. Later, Nephi ha

d

the same vision because of his faith and

obed

ience. They saw in a vision a

la

rge and

spacious

field

filled with dark mists that made it ha

rd to see. There was also a raging river. Nea

r the

river was a strong rod made of iron that people were hold

ing onto as they walked

through the

dark mists. This way they knew

where they were heading even though they could

n’t see through

the darkness. Some people did not hold

onto the rod, though. They became lost and

wand

ered

around

in the darkness where it wasn

’t safe. The rod of iron was leading people down a straight

and

na

rrow path to the most beautiful tree tha

t was as bright as the sun. On this tree there was

fruit that tasted

more delicious than anything in the world

. People who made it to the tree were

happy and

felt God

’s love. But some people were la

ughing at the people w

ho were hold

ing to the

rod and

trying to get to the tree. These mocking people were in a la

rge building. T

hey pointed

and

la

ughed

at those trying to stay safe in the darkness. Lehi saw that his family ha

d all

made it to the tree together, except f

or Laman and

Lem

uel. This made Lehi worried

for them

because he loved

his sons very much. When Nephi ha

d the vision, and

angel taught him wha

t ea

ch

part m

eant. Nephi lea

rned

that the la

rge and

spacious field

represented

the world

. The river

and

the mists of d

arkness represented Sa

tan’s influence on the world

and

temptation. The grea

t

big building represented the pride of the world

. The stra

ight and

na

rrow pathway that lead to

the tree represented

the Gospel of J

esus Christ and

His command

ments. The rod

of iron

represented the word of God

, or the scriptures and

teachings of the Prophets. The T

ree

represented the Love of God

, and

the fruit represented the blessings that come through the Sa

vior,

Jesus Christ. Nephi was also shown Christ’s

birth and

his life of m

iracles, even though Nephi lived

600 years before Jesus was born! T

he Vision of the Tree of Life teaches all of us to obey the

command

ments and

read the scriptures to resist temptation and

feel God

’s love in our lives.

From 1 Nephi 8 + 11