On the first day of camp, the girls will be given study guides to use during the specified Scripture Reading/Journal Time. The study guide will help them to research the scriptures to learn of Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life. It will also give journal prompts to encourage the girls to write down the thoughts and inspirations they receive during study time.
Four devotionals will be given to give the girls a deeper understanding of the symbols of the dream:
Devotional #1: "Sariah" speaking on the Tree of Life Devotional
#2: "Sam" speaking on the Mist of Darkness/World Devotional
#3: "Zoram's Wife" speaking on the Rod of Iron
Devotional #4: "Nephi's Wife" speaking on the Great and Spacious Building
1. The girls will all meet in the sacred grove. The Opening Script will be read to set the tone and invite the Spirit. The quotes by the apostles will enable the girls to experience the thoughts of the preeexistence and their importance in it and the challenges they face in the world today. After the reading, one ward will leave at a time. Others will remain in the grove with soft music playing until it is their time to depart on their journey.
2. The girls will leave the Sacred Grove in single file, without any words or noise through the
darkness, each carrying their own flashlight to guide their footsteps. Following a cleared path, the girls will be encouraged forward by people portraying family members and leaders to show that we are not alone on our journey--we are surrounded by those who desire us to be happy.
4. The girls will pass by the leader portraying "Sariah," who will whisper to the girls: "You are
beginning your journey to the Tree of Life. Please hold on tight to the rod so you can make it all the way to the Tree of Life. Remember what I said ..
5. Next they will approach the river of filthy water. There will be priesthood men there to help the girls cross over the river. They will be whispering words of encouragement such as: "Great job!" "You can do this, just stay to the marked path and hold on."
6. After crossing the river, they will climb up the embankment and at the top will be the mist of
darkness. "Sam" will be there to remind them of the words from his devotional. "Remember, what I told you about the temptations of the devil in my father's dream. When times are hard, hold tight to the rod and you will find your way. Laman and Lemuel chose to follow the enticements of the world. I followed my brother Nephi and we were guided to the Tree of Life. Choose to follow the right path and look away from sin."
7. There will be a rod going through the mist of darkness and across the center of a large field. This large field will represent the world and the large and spacious building. There will be different areas set up on the left side ofthe rod portraying the worldliness of today.
"The Iron Rod" 3 Group Two - they will be gathered around a camp pit talking and can be overheard saying: "Are you sure you don't just want to try it?" "Everyone is doing it." "Come on, it's the cool thing to do." "It doesn't take much"
Group Three - may be in the dark with a strobe light and music and chaos. The group will be laughing and dressed in dark clothes. Some will bumping into each other, imitating dancing. This group will be acting as if they are loud and chaotic with their music and not need to say anything.
Group Four - two people will be sitting in front of the TV, playing the video games. On the table behind them, a set a scriptures is sitting, neglected.
Group Five - a girl alone in her bedroom standing in front of a mirror by the side of her bed. She is holding a modest dress up to see how it looks. She lays it done and picks up an immodest dress up to see how it looks. May also be wearing an i-pod. This represents the choices of music and modesty.
On the other side of the rod, interspersed to be several feet away from each other will be people dressed in white. These will represent the angels of influence mentioned in the Opening Narrative. They will be whispering words of encouragement as the girls walk by them and will be beckoning them forward and away from the images of the world being portrayed on the left of the rod. The Angels will be heard saying:
"If you hold to the rod, you can feel your way forward with the gift of the Holy Ghost." "You are daughters of a living God who loves you, you are not alone."
"Have faith in your heart and you will return home with joy and honor."
"By following Christ, and keeping the commandments, you have power to chase darkness from your midst and come to the fullness of light."
"Cling to the rod and you will arrive home safely."
"The Holy Ghost will help you recognize truth"
6. Once through the mist and field of darkness, the rod will lead them in silence to the bridge, which will be lit up with soft white lights as the final steps of the strait and narrow path. Each Bishop will take the girls by the hand as they step off the bridge. They will gather quietly together.
7. The Bishop will lead his group of girls to their designated place. This area will have a large picture of a tree displayed, to represent arriving and partaking of the Tree of Life. The Bishop will share his thoughts and testimony of the importance of partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Life, and explain its symbolism of coming to Christ and feeling His love for them. (Each Bishop will be given, in advance, quotes from the apostles so that they may prepare remarks that will be an appropriate ending to the Faith walk.) The remainder of the time will be the Bishops' for testimonies and Bishop's Night activities.
Character- Sariah
Props: basket of fruits and nuts and seeds
"We [have] gathered seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind." (2 Nephi 8: 1) As a mother I want to make sure we have sufficient food for our journey and the potential for food in whatever places the Lord leads us. These seeds mean life. "I listened while my husband, Lehi, read from the plates of brass about the two trees in the Garden of Eden. They were both beautiful fruit bearing trees. Adam and Eve were free to eat of the Tree of Life and taste the Joy of God's Love, but were forbidden to taste of the Tree of Knowledge if they wanted to remain in the Garden. My husband also taught us about the law of opposition; that to taste the sweet we must also taste the bitter (2 Ne. 2: 15) - that to know joy we must also know sorrow. So God placed these two trees in opposition to each other giving Adam and Eve the gift of choice. " ... Man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other." (2Ne.2: 16)
God warned Adam and Eve saying that "in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Partaking of the fruit of the Tree of knowledge would mean mortality and eventual death. Then that Satan sought to beguile Eve, for he knew not the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world and the agency of man, wanting all men to be miserable like himself (2 Ne. 2:18), and thwart God's plan, enticed Eve to partake ofthe forbidden fruit. He lied saying "you shall not surely die (TODAY), but shall be as the gods, knowing good and evil. (Moses 4:3.4, 12,23,29) (Moses 4:10-11)
"And when [Eve] saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they had been naked. And they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons. (Moses 4:12-13) It is interesting to me that they used the green leaves of a tree to cover themselves. To me, green represents growth and new life. If they had not partaken of the fruit of the tree of knowledge they would never have had children as they would have remained in a state of innocence. (2 Ne. 2:23) You and I would not be here. Adam and Eve were taught the plan of redemption and Eve rejoiced saying "were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption and the etemallife which God giveth unto all the obedient." In a way Adam and Eve became like trees of life to their descendants. (Moses 5: 11)
"The Iron Rod" 5
Of course, they were driven out of the Garden and kept from eating of the tree oflife after they
had transgressed. "And God placed at the east of the Garden of Eden, cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree oflife." Moses 4:31. If Adam and Eve had partaken of the Tree of Life after they had transgressed they would have lived forever in their sins becoming immortal but never redeemed from the fall and never receiving eternal life, or returning to live with Heavenly Father.
My Son Nephi learned that the Tree of Life my husband saw in his vision represents the Love of God in the gift of His Son. When Nephi was shown the Tree he immediately saw the birth and Life of the Savior of the World, who would give life everlasting to those who would partake of the fruit of the atonement. It was planned this way from the beginning. "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy. And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon", ... 2 Nephi 2: 22-26
As I watch my own seed, Laman and Lemuel, and their children turn from the gospel truths and reject God's love, I feel great sorrow. It would be so easy for them to partake, but they harden their hearts and reject the words of their father and brother ... and the Lord. You have the same gift of choice. I urge you to use it wisely, that you like our mother Eve will rejoice in the atonement of Christ and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."
Character -Sam
Prop - bow and arrow or other weapon (symbolizing the contention with his brothers)
I didn't actually see my father's dream, or Nephi's vision. But like my brother Jacob said:
... the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, ... ; wherefore, we did mourn out our days. (Jacob 7: 26)
I didn't see, but I believed, and I listened carefully. I've seen some of the scenes they saw in vision; beautiful green valleys with refreshing little rivers of clean water, I've seen the raging muddy rivers flow during the rainy season carrying debris from homes and villages, dead animals, and filth of all kinds. I know it's deadly to wander off the main road.
But perhaps worst of all are the mists of darkness. There are suffocating sand storms that can last for hours, and times when the fog is so thick you can't see the person next to you. There is a narrow canyon about four miles long with rock walls 2,000 feet high on either side. As the path gets near the sea the mists becomes so thick you have to walk along the rock walls feeling the sides as you go. The canyon empties out onto a short beach. The shallow waters are only a few feet out and then the coral reef drops suddenly several hundred feet deep into the ocean. If the mists continue out onto the beach it is impossible to judge where the water begins and it is easy for people to wander out in the shallow water only to drown when the ocean floor vanishes. If you don't have something or someone to hold on to it is easy to get separated ... and lost ... forever.
I hold on to the words of God from the plates of brass, and the words of my father and brother as if they were a rod of iron in the wilderness. Nephi says the mists of darkness in his vision are the temptations of the deviL I've thought about the hard times in my life; times when it seems that the Spirit is gone and we are wandering in the dark.
Ever since we left Jerusalem it has been just our family and Ishmael's family. You would think that in such a small group things would go ok. But ... it's so easy to succumb to feelings of hopelessness and aloneness. I've had some pretty tough times with my brothers. When we went back to get the Brass plates, you know, we tried a couple oftimes that didn't work and my older brothers became so enraged that they beat us until an Angel, yeah, it took an Angel to stop them, and even after the angel left they still were so negative. The difficulty of the situation even got to my parents when it took so long for us to get back that they thought we were dead, and they began to doubt my father's inspiration, and began to mourn our loss.
"The Iron Rod" 7
Amazingly Nephi got the plates and we made it back. We even were able to bring Laban's servant with us and he ended up marrying Ishmael's oldest daughter. Although when we went back to get Ishmael's family part of our group were, again, so angry with Nephi that they tied him up and wanted to leave him in the desert to die. Only after Ishmael's wife and son and daughter pleaded with them did they soften their hearts and act sorry.
But every time things started to get bad our older brothers just made things worse. It's like they never' got it', you know, that just keeping the commandments and having faith and things really do work out. Take for instance, when it came time to build the ship, they called Nephi a fool and complained, and didn't want to do the work. Nephi got discouraged, and that made Laman and Lemuel gloat, and then they really let Nephi have it about how much better they would have been if we'd stayed in Jerusalem and that the people in Jerusalem were really good people. Nephi reminded them how good the Lord has been to the children of men and became so filled with God's spirit that when he touched Laman and Lemuel the Lord shook them. They were humble and obedient. .. for a while.
Then once we got on the ocean some of the group began to party and it was getting out of control, so Nephi asked them to stop and that made them furious. They tied him up and were absolutely cruel to him. Of course the Liahona quit working, and for three days we were driven back in a terrible storm. My parents tried to reason with them, but they threatened anyone who spoke up for Nephi to the point that my parents were down sick. Our little brothers, Jacob and Joseph, and Nephi's wife and children all prayed and cried but it was only when they thought we might die in the storm that Laman and Lemuel and the others untied Nephi. He was in bad shape, his wrists and ankles were severely swollen, but he didn't complain. They kind of repented and Nephi prayed and we were able to make it to the Promised Land.
Things were never really good between everyone. There was always a part of the group that resented being here and always had something to complain about. As long as our father was alive we stayed together, but soon after he died, Nephi was warned in a dream that anyone who would go with us should flee into the wilderness. It was the only way we could live the gospel in peace. "Salvation is and always has been a family affair. .. [But] in the event of conflict between family and the principles of salvation, our loyalty and responsibility must be first to God." McConkie, Joseph Fielding, Gospel Symbolism. (Salt Lake City UT: Bookcraft Inc., 1985),23. So for me, the mists of darkness or the temptations of the devil have always been the negative attitudes, hopelessness, lack of faith, anger, meanness, physical abuse, and disobedience ... of my own family. You will face challenges and temptation in your life, and suffer the consequences of others who succumb to temptation. Some of the mists of darkness are unavoidable in this life. But it is possible to push through the mist by holding on to the word of God as if it were a rod of iron, until you see the end of the path leading to the tree of life.
Character - Zoram's wife
Props - plates of brass, plates of gold and Quad- all lying on a table.
As the oldest daughter of Ishmael I was mercifully blessed to become the wife of Zoram. My husband has always had a special interest in the Words of God. He was Laban's servant, more like a private secretary. It was an honorable position. He had the keys to Laban's treasury; Laban being the keeper of the plates of brass which contained a record of the Jews and a genealogy of our forefathers. On that fateful night that forever changed our lives, he followed Nephi, supposing it was Laban, carrying the plates and speaking many times concerning the elders of the Jews. When Zoram reached the edge ofthe city he realized that Nephi was not Laban and he began to tremble and was about to flee and return to Jerusalem. But Nephi, thinking to spare Zoram and avoid giving alarm, made a solemn oath with him that he would have a home with Lehi's family and be forever a free man. Zoram was not forced into it, but was talked into it, softened and persuaded by Nephi's words that the Lord had commanded them to do this thing, and Nephi invited Zoram to be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord. That was the beginning of a true friendship between Nephi and Zoram, and an example of Zoram's willingness to be obedient to God's word whether from Scripture or a living prophet, as Nephi surely was. (l Ne. 3, 4) (Portrait of Laban (the case ofZoram, the oath of power, and transferred by loyalty) from An Approach to the Book of Mormon by Hugh W. Nibley pp. 120-31)
Father Lehi took the plates of brass and searched them from the beginning. We were thrilled to learn of all of God's dealings with the children of men from the beginning; from the creation of the world and also Adam and Eve, who were our first parents, even down to the reign of our present king. We also heard of the prophecies of the holy prophets from the beginning. We found the records to be very desirable, and of great worth especially because we could preserve the commandments ofthe Lord for our children. (1 Ne. 5) That we may persuade them to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. (l Ne. 6) Nephi read many things to us from the books of Moses that we might more fully believe in the Lord our Redeemer and he helped us to liken all scriptures unto ourselves that they might be for our profit and learning. (1 Ne. 19:23)
The Lord revealed to Nephi the interpretation of the rod of iron in Lehi's dream as the word of God. When I think of how important the commandments of the Lord are in following the path that leads to the tree of God's love I rejoice in the amazing events that brought the plates of brass to us. It is a miracle that we have them to read and refer to whenever we want. Father Lehi was filled with the Spirit after reading them and prophesied that these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people ... He said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be "The Iron Rod" 9 dimmed any more by time. (1 Ne. 5) Nephi also wrote upon plates of gold the history of our people and the things pleasing to God, sacred things to be kept for the knowledge of our people. (1 Ne 19:5) I remember hearing of the prophecy of Ezekiel that the words of the house of Judah (the plates of brass) and the words of the house of Joseph (the plates of gold) would become joined together. (Ezekiel 37:16617) What a great and marvelous day when all the words of the Lord are bound together in one, and blessed be the sons and daughters who read them!
Character - Nephi's wife
Prop - a piece of fine cloth (folding it and handling it as if to say I'll never use this out here)
My sweet husband Nephi has always been completely devoted to the Lord. He has the strongest faith of anyone I have ever known. When he has a question, he goes directly to the Lord in full faith that he will receive an answer. When he didn't understand father Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life, he asked the Lord directly and received an amazing interpretation. I love sitting at his feet and listening to the revelation and inspiration he receives. I was particularly interested in his explanation of the large and spacious building. Since we have been in the desert we have lived in tents, having left our beautiful homes in Jerusalem and all of our valuable possessions. I don't think I ever imagined that I would spend my married life traveling. I always dreamed of having a beautiful home of my own someday. A girl spends her youth preparing for marriage, home and family. Our families are quite wealthy and we just left all that behind.
I can't deny the twinge oflonging I have felt as we have passed the tall desert palaces with their windows alight on dark nights. For protection from raiders there are no windows in the palaces below twenty feet, and the buildings can be as tall as twelve or thirteen stories, so at night it appears as if the building is standing in the air. It's rather an amazing sight. We can see the lights flickering in the windows and hear the merriment going on inside, but we just keep moving on. It appears in the dream that many multitudes of people are drawn to the large and spacious building. It is bright and appealing and filled with beautiful people dressed in gorgeous clothes thoroughly enjoying themselves. And they draw people to them by mocking and ridiculing any who choose a better path; so much so that people flock to the building. Many drown trying to cross the river of filthy water to get there. Once inside they also join in and mock the true believers.
Traveling as our family has these many years it is not uncommon for us to encounter other travelers. Because of our cultural and religious differences we have at times experienced snide comments, rude remarks, rejection, and hostility. Sometimes we are invited and enticed to participate in practices against our beliefs. We have experienced some of the behaviors depicted in the great and spacious building, but as Nephi said about the true believers in the dream "we heeded them not."
Unfortunately we experience some of the behaviors from the great and spacious building in our own family. It almost seems as if we are living IN the great and spacious building. Nephi said the interpretation of the building is the pride of the world. The pride of the world can exist inside individuals. Pride is an interesting vice. It goes both ways. A person can have pride by looking down on someone for
"The Iron Rod" 11 not having or doing whatever, or a person can have pride by looking up at someone or something wishing
for or coveting what they don't have.( Ezra Taft Benson, "Beware of Pride," Ensign, May 1989,4)
I have also noticed that those in our group that struggle the most with pride are those who also resent the commandments, and resent being reminded to keep them. (2 Ne 9:40) ... "the guilty taketh the truth to be hard for it cutteth them to the very center". (1 Ne 16:2) We step out of the building when we "cease to find fault with one another"( D&C 88: 124),and and "above all things, clothe [ourselves] with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace"(D&C 88:125)
As Nephi expounded on the scriptures he has said some interesting things that I think have to do with living without pride in my life. Once he said, "Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy .... And come unto the Holy One of Israel and feast upon that which peri sheth not, neither can be corrupted and let your soul delight in fatness." (2 Ne. 9:51) This thought has helped me realize that we left Jerusalem and all our treasures to follow Christ. None of those things would have brought us the happiness and satisfaction that the knowledge from the plates of brass has, or the knowledge of our rescue from the fall and destruction of Jerusalem. We have faced serious hardship, but we have been blessed with all the things we need, especially health and strength. Although my life has taken a path I never expected I "give thanks to him continually and rejoice in his holy name." (2 Ne 9:52) I expect my path to end, with my sweet husband and family, at the fountain of living waters and that beautiful tree of life whose fruit is delicious to the soul.
Opening Script
(to be read in the Sacred Grove at the beginning of the Faith Walk)
"For each of us, life is a journey. Heavenly Father designed it for us out oflove. Each of us has unique experiences and characteristics, but our journey began in the same place before we were born into this world. We all were taught by Elohim, the Father of our spirits. We loved Him and wanted to be like Him and to be with Him forever. He told us plainly what it would require for us to have that joy. We would have to receive a physical body, with all of the trials that would bring. We would be subject to illness and have within our bodies the processes which would finally lead to death. And our bodies would have in them powerful cravings for physical satisfaction.
Heavenly Father explained to us what it would take to make the journey from where we were then to be with Him forever and live the life that He lives. We would make the journey through life without a memory of our time with Him in the spirit world. And the only way back to Him would be for us to overcome physical death and the effects of sin which would come from our breaking commandments. He told us that we could not overcome the effects of either death or sin by ourselves-without our having a Savior who would break the bands of death and provide a way for us to be washed clean from the sin which we would surely commit.
You know from the scriptures revealed by God through prophets that there was a rebellion in the spirit world when the plan for our journey was offered to us. Those who rebelled did not want to accept and to depend upon a Savior nor run any risk that they might not return again to Heavenly Father. Every one of you was among the brave, the faithful, and the true in that conflict. You accepted the Savior and the plan for this journey to return to the joy of our Heavenly Father's presence.
You are remarkable, even among those who chose right in the contest in the spirit world. You qualified to come into mortality and to make this journey at a time when the gospel of Jesus Christ was on the earth. And among the billions of Heavenly Father's children now living, you were privileged to find the gospel of Jesus Christ and His true Church. Even more than that, the fact that you are listening tonight means that you have chosen to make the journey of life walking in the light.
Every child of Heavenly Father born in the world is given at birth, as a free gift, the Light of Christ. You have felt that. It is the sense of what is right and what is wrong and what is true and what is false. That has been with you since your journey in life began. The fact that you were baptized and received the Holy Ghost is evidence that you chose to walk in the Light of Christ.
When you were confirmed a member of the Church, you were given the right to have the Holy Ghost as your companion. The Holy Ghost is a powerful source oflight to recognize truth, to follow and love the Lord Jesus Christ, and to find your way back to God after this life.
But the spirit who led the rebellion in the world before still opposes the plan and wants you to be miserable. He wants you never to find your way home again. That enemy of your soul knows you and your goodness. He knows that if he can turn you away from walking in the light, he can both capture you and stop you from helping others along the journey. He knows how good you are and your power to teach and influence hundreds of Heavenly Father's children in this life-and thousands over the generations that
"The Iron Rod" 13 will follow your path. If he can get you to wander away from the light on your journey, he can do harm and bring misery to many."(Eyring, 2008)
"You ... live in a time of war, the spiritual war that will never end. War itself now dominates the affairs of mankind. Your world at war has lost its innocence. There is nothing, however crude or unworthy, that is not deemed acceptable for movies or plays or music or conversation. The world seems to be turned upside down. (See 2 Peter 2:1-22.)
Formality, respect for authority, dignity, and nobility are mocked. Modesty and neatness yield to slouchiness and shabbiness in dress and grooming. The rules of honesty and integrity and basic morality are now ignored. Conversation is laced with profanity. You see that in art and literature, in drama and entertainment. Instead of being refined, they become coarse. (See 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-9.)
You have decisions almost every day as to whether you will follow those trends. You have many tests ahead ...
You may think that Lehi' s dream or vision has no special meaning for you, but it does. You are in it; all of us are in it. Nephi said, "[All scripture is likened] unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning" (l Nephi 19:23). Lehi's dream or vision ofthe iron rod has in it everything a young Latter-day Saint needs to understand the test of life. Lehi saw:
A great and spacious building (see 1 Nephi 11:35-36; 12:18), A path following a river (see 1 Nephi 8:19-22),
A mist of darkness (see 1 Nephi 12:16-17),
An iron rod which led through the mist of darkness (see 1 Nephi 11 :24-25),
The tree oflife, "whose fruit was desirable to make one happy" (l Nephi 8:10; see 1 Nephi 11 :889,21-24).
If you hold to the rod, you can feel your way forward with the gift of the Holy Ghost, conferred upon you at the time you were confirmed a member of the Church. The Holy Ghost will comfort you. You will be able to feel the influence ofthe angels, as Nephi did, and feel your way through life.
All of the symbolism in Lehi's dream was explained to his son Nephi, and Nephi wrote about it. At your baptism and confirmation, you took hold of the iron rod. But you are never safe. It is after you have partaken of that fruit that your test will come.
Largely because of television, instead of looking over into that spacious building, we are, in effect, living inside of it. That is your fate in this generation. You are living in that great and spacious building.
The mist of darkness will cover you at times so much that you will not be able to see your way even a short distance ahead. You will not be able to see clearly. But you canfeel your way. With the gift of the Holy Ghost, you canfeel your way ahead through life. Grasp the iron rod, and do not let go. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, you canfeel your way through life. (See 3 Nephi 18:25; D&C 9:8.)
You who are young will see many things that will try your courage and test your faith. You live in an interesting generation where trials will be constant in your life. Learn to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. It is to be a shield and a protection and a teacher for you. Never be ashamed or embarrassed about the doctrines of the gospel or about the standards that we teach in the Church. You always, if you
"The Iron Rod" 14 are faithful in the Church, will be that much different from the world at large. You have the advantage of being assured that you can be inspired in all of your decisions." (Packer, 2007)
"I pray with all my heart that your faith will be increased that you are a daughter of a loving God. I testify to you that you have been one of the valiant ones to reach the point where you now are in this journey of life. Just as you are marked as a target by the enemy of righteousness, you have been protected and watched over by your Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They know you. They know all of the forces and individuals around you. They know what is ahead of you. And so They know which of the choices you make, which of the desires you decide to satisfy, and which of the circumstances around you will make the most difference in keeping you walking in the light. . .. [B]y the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come. Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith (in the Lord Jesus Christ)." (Eyring, 2008)
It is now time for you to find your way forward on the straight and narrow path. Hold tight to the Iron Rod and have faith in your heart and you will return home with joy and honor.
Packer, B. K. (2007, January 16). Lehi's Dream and You. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id= 11528&x=52&y=5
Before Bishop's night begins, the girls will experience a Faith Walk in which they will gain a greater understanding ofthe symbols in Lehi's dream. As the final part of this experience, they will walk with you to a designated place. At each place a representation of the Tree of Life will be displayed. We would like to ask you to prepare remarks about the meaning of symbol of the Tree of Life, in particular the idea of coming to know our Savior as we hold on to the Rod of Iron, and the importance of "partaking of the fruit," or in other words, feeling His love in a personal, meaningful way. We have selected scriptures and quotes to aid in this endeavor. We would ask that you follow your inspiration as to your remarks so that they will be personal to your girls' needs and situations. This will be a lead-in for your time together at Bishop's night. Our hope is that this experience will help the girls feel the Spirit in a powerful, life-changing way.
Thank you,
The Dream Team Staff
"Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;"
Alma 5:34
Selection from:
"Beauty for Ashes: The Atonement of Jesus Christ" by Elder Bruce C. Hafen
"In his dream of the tree of life, Lehi found himself in a dark and dreary wasteland and saw others surrounded by a great mist of darkness. The pathway home from this darkness was the way to the tree of life-the same tree, I suppose, as the one from which Adam and Eve were barred until they, too, had walked the trail Lehi took. The path was marked by the iron rod, the word of God (see 1 Ne. 8:7-30). Holding fast to this rod in the mists of darkness, we, as did Lehi, grope and move our way homeward. As we do, we are likely to find that the cold rod of iron will begin to feel in our hands as the warm, firm, loving hand of him who literally pulls us along the way. We find that hand strong enough to rescue us, warm enough to assure us that home is not far away; and we summon our deepest resources to reciprocate, until we are again embraced in the arms of the Lord.
It is so important for us to be on the Lord's side. But we should never forget that the Lord is also on our side.
Each of us will taste the bitter ashes of life, from sin and neglect to sorrow and disappointment. But the atonement of Christ can lift us up in beauty from our ashes on the wings of a sure promise of immortality and etemallife. He will thus lift us up, not only at the end oflife, but in each day of our lives.
"Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God ... giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. . .. They that wait upon the Lord shall ... mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isa. 40:28-31).
"Lehi's great visionary dream came soon after he had searched the brass plates. (See 1 Ne. 8.) In the dream Lehi saw a tree which produced a fruit which was exceedingly white, very sweet to the taste, and desirable above all other fruit. He saw a path leading to the tree and a rod of iron along the path. He saw mists of darkness on the path, which caused some to lose their way and wander off Others reached the tree by holding to the rod, but then became ashamed, let go of the rod of iron, and fell away. According to the vision, the only way to reach the tree and become a permanent partaker of the fruit was to "continually [hold] fast" to the iron rod. (l Ne. 8:30.)
What was the rod of iron? Nephi defined it as the "word of God"-the words of the living prophets and the scriptures, which point people to Christ. Nephi further stated that those who hearkened and held fast to the word of God would never perish. (See 1 Ne. 15:24.)
The tree in the dream is the tree oflife, which represents God's love for us as expressed in the condescension ofthe Father and the Son. (See 1 Ne. 11.) Holding fast to the iron rod builds faith in Christ and his work.
The prophet Alma, living five hundred years after Lehi, was strongly impacted by Lehi's vision of the tree of life. Alma, however, changes the imagery in an interesting way~ He likens the word of God to a seed which is planted in the heart and then nourished. He states that if people will no more than desire to believe in Christ, the seed will sprout and grow, and they will feel a swelling inside as the seed enlarges the soul. The desire to believe, coupled with obedience, eventually turns to faith in Jesus Christ.
Alma states that continued nourishment will cause the seed to grow into the tree of life with fruit that is exceedingly white, sweet, and pure-"a tree springing up unto everlasting life." (Alma 32:26--42.) In Alma's example, the tree oflife grows within each person to change his or her heart and soul. Holding fast to the iron rod in Lehi's dream is the equivalent.
Alma's explanation of the tree growing within and changing people's hearts gives light to an earlier set of questions that he asked Church members. The questions were: "Have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?" (Alma 5:14.) Changes in the heart and soul occur as a result of planting and nourishing the seed. Scripture study, prayer, obedience, and service are key elements in building faith in Christ.
President Benson, in the April 1986 general conference, expressed these thoughts: "However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree oflife."
There is great humility and timidity in my soul as I presume to discuss coming to a personal knowledge of God, the Eternal Father, and Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world and the Son of God.
"The Iron Rod" 17
Some time ago in South America, a seasoned group of outstanding missionaries was asked, "What is the greatest need in the world?" One wisely responded, "Is not the greatest need in all ofthe world for every person to have a personal, ongoing, daily, continuing relationship with Deity?" Having such a relationship can unchain the divinity within us, and nothing can make a greater difference in our lives as we come to know and understand our divine relationship with God and His Beloved Son, our Master. As Jesus said in the great Intercessory Prayer, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).
We should earnestly seek not just to know about the Master, but to strive, as He invited, to be one with Him (see John 17:21), to "be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16). We may not feel a closeness with Him because we think of Him as being far away, or our relationship may not be sanctifying because we do not think of Him as a real person.
How can we receive the personal blessing of the Master's divine and exalting influence in our own lives? Since our own feelings are sacred to us and cannot be disputed by others, let us begin with those quiet assurances which occasionally can come to all of us and which we know are true. We cannot always prove these verities to others, yet they come as a form of knowledge. Is this part of the divine that ferments within us, reaching to its source? Is it not like a personal witness of truth flowing through the thin curtain that separates this world from another? Is there not a yearning to understand in your mind what is in your heart, a feeling that you cannot give utterance to because it is so unspeakably personal? In answer, the Master said that quiet reality can "speak peace to your mind concerning the matter" (D&C 6:23).
May I suggest five beginning, essential measures that will greatly clear the channel for a daily flow of "living water" from the very source of the spring (see John 4:7-15).
First, a daily communion involving prayer. A fervent, sincere prayer is a two-way communication that will do much to bring the Spirit flowing like healing water to help with the trials, hardships, aches, and pains we all face. What is the quality of our secret prayers? As we pray, we should think of our Heavenly Father as being close by; full of knowledge, understanding, love, and compassion; the essence of power; and having great expectations of each of us.
Second, a daily selfless service to another. The followers of the divine Christ have to be weighed on the scales of what their actions are rather than on solemn professions of belief. The true measure is found in Matthew: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ... , ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25 :40). A wise man observed, "The man who lives by himself and for himself is apt to be corrupted by the company he keeps" (Charles Henry Parkhurst, quoted in The International Dictionary of Thoughts [1969], 659).
Third, a daily striving for an increased obedience and perfection in our lives. "What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am," said the Savior (3 Ne. 27:27). Because of the perfect Atonement of Jesus, we may be made perfect (see D&C 76:69).
Fourth, a daily acknowledgment of His divinity. To have a daily, personal relationship with the Master, we must be His disciples. "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" (Mosiah 5: 13).
Fifth, a daily study of the scriptures. President Spencer W. Kimball said: "I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is
"The Iron Rod" 18 speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns" (The Teachings o/Spencer W Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 135) ...
. . . It is my testimony that we are facing difficult times. We must be courageously obedient. My witness is that we will be called upon to prove our spiritual stamina, for the days ahead will be filled with affliction and difficulty. But with the assuring comfort of a personal relationship with God, we will be given a calming courage. From the Divine so near we will receive the quiet assurance:
"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes" (D&C 121:7-8).
I have a certain knowledge that Jesus of Nazareth is our divine Savior. I know that He lives. From my earliest recollection I have had a sure perception of this. As long as I have lived, I have had a simple faith that has never doubted. I have not always understood, yet I have known through a knowledge that is so sacred to me that I cannot give utterance to it. I know and I testify with an absolute awareness in every fiber and innermost recess of my being that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Divine Redeemer, and the Son of God. May we ever be obedient to His wish, "Come unto me thy Savior" (D&C 19:41)."
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