Enjoy to the End
Inspiration works in curious ways. I don’t feel like I get inspiration. Whenever I ask about some serious real world decision I invariably get an answer that is something like, “Yep, you are right that there are pros and cons and risks. What do you want to do?” So it wasn’t with much expectation that I prayed for some guidance on what approach to take to the Book of Mormon this year. I didn’t get any answers other than that maybe I should ask. I asked some friends, got a few ideas, and then a day or so later got a clear out the blue bona fide inspiration. Its funny and typical that the inspiration had nothing to do with anyone’s suggestion but didn’t come until I got the suggestions.
Anyhow, the inspiration came, I don’t know why, since I have all of 5 readers here, but those are the only sorts of inspiration I seem to get sometimes, gospel insights that no one cares about, the Saints seem to prefer either pablum or scholarship or official sources and good for them, none of which I am.
Oh well. The Lord knows what He’s doing I suppose.
Anyhow, the inspiration was to look at the entire Book of Mormon through the lens of Lehi’s Dream. That’s what I am going to be trying to do this year.
Here’s the first fruits of that effort.
I am helping a couple of the kid-people with seminary memorization. We are working on 2 Nephi 28:30.
For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
This is not about the iron rod. The last part of the verse is very important. This process, line upon line, precept upon precept, applies to people who already have received. The ones who continue receive more. The ones who don’t have what they have already received taken away. This is about those who are at the tree and have taken the fruit already.
Some people take the fruit, stop, look around, and fall away. God takes away even that they have. Others don’t stop. They continue. Continue doing what? Eating that fruit which is most sweet, exceeds all whiteness, is desirable above all other fruit, and fills the soul with joy.
Enduring to the end means enduring in eating the fruit. For some purposes, a better translation might be “enjoy to the end.”
Enjoy to the end. Eat the fruit.
Jacob G.
January 31, 2024
You can also draw parrallels between Lehi’s dream and the parable of the sower.
I move you refer to them as kid-kin instead of kid-people. Unless you are now a seminary teacher?
Talkingbuffalo
February 1, 2024
I recently stumbled upon a Bryce Dunford video where he talks about Lehi’s dream in a way that was really illuminating for me.
Prior to seeing the video, I had tended to view the partaking of the fruit of the tree of life as a far off future event (i.e. Eternal Life)— I think because my mind resonated strongly with the idea of holding to the word of God and the path to the tree as our journey through life. I feel like this is often how we talk about this in church (has this been your experience?)
However, Bryce talks about experiencing the partaking of the fruit in a now-sense (i.e. experiencing the love of God now through church worship, growing, receiving revelation, etc), and I found this idea fascinating. Viewed in this lens, the great and spacious building in the dream makes so much sense—as does the joy I feel in my heart.
As I was reflecting on these two interpretations, I noticed that different aspects in the dream make more sense, depending on the view.
In the long-term view, the mockery of the great and spacious is less directed at me since I am on the path (the mockery is directed at those who are partaking of the fruit).
In the now view, the mockery is directed at me (which is so real), but then the meaning(utility) of the rod and path become less clear because I am already at the tree. Although, perhaps the rod’s meaning remains, given the tendency of the heart to wander, and the need for a marked path back.
I’ve spent some time pondering which one of these was the correct way to interpret the dream— but I’ve come to the conclusion that they are both simultaneously true in a way that boggles my mind.
G.
February 1, 2024
This is awesome, and what my next post is going to be about exactly
Ben Pratt
February 3, 2024
I love this approach so much. I’d already been doing it to a degree.
Tonight in the temple I was struck by the notion that the great and spacious building seen by Lehi and Nephi grew on or above the site where the tree of knowledge of good and evil had stood, opposite the tree of life. Perhaps the whole thing is high above the earth suspended on the poor tree! I mean, what is “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” if not an appeal to the pride of the world?
It is interesting also that God placed “Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life”. Lehi wasn’t challenged as he approached, but then again he was invited and led there. Nephi was questioned a bit by the Spirit: “what desirest thou?” Orphic texts speak of guardians who ask similar questions on the banks of the river near the great hall of Hades, challenging those who draw near to the white cypress tree and the adjacent spring from which flow the ever-refreshing waters of Memory. It sounds oddly like Nephi’s dual representations of the love of God: a pure white tree and a fountain of living waters.
Speaking of those last two, there is sacramental significance as the first produces fruit that one eats and the second produces water that one drinks.
Ben Pratt
February 10, 2024
I hope I’m not jumping the gun but I just keep thinking about this.
Nephi says the rod of iron represents the word of God. Alma compares the word to a seed. Those are very different… or are they? The word of God is “quick and powerful”, is it not? Quick like a living, growing seed, and powerful like a fixed, steadfast rod of iron.
Alma’s seed grows into the “tree of life” or a “tree springing up unto everlasting life.” What else is described in scripture as springing up unto everlasting life? Why, it’s the tree of life’s co-symbol again, the other representation of the love of God, the fountain of living waters!
To go from catching hold of the rod of iron to standing before the full-grown tree of life requires “pressing forward” while holding fast. To go from a newly-planted seed to standing before the full-grown tree of life requires nourishing it while “looking forward” (“Think celestial!”) to the future fruits of the tree-to-be.
I wanted to understand that yesterday and the idea that came at me in the temple was so simple and childlike that I think there’s something there.
With Alma one advances from seeing nothing, to seeing a tiny tree (sprout), to eventually being in the presence of the full-grown tree. With Lehi one advances from seeing nothing, to seeing a tiny tree (in the distance), to eventually being in the presence of the full-grown tree. Thus the word of God is compared to both a rod of iron and a seed.
G.
February 10, 2024
That’s good. Isn’t there a stick or rod in the Old testament that branches and gives out leaves
Ben Pratt
February 10, 2024
The rod of Aaron. Wm pointed out how the Book of Mormon text never mentions the Aaronic priesthood or its namesake. Maybe iron was a typo from Aaron (he said, mostly tongue-in-cheek).