Vision of the tree of life

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The vision of the tree of life is a vision written and discussed in the Book of Mormon . The Book of Mormon is a scripture of Mormonism and was published by Joseph Smith in 1830 . According to the Book of Mormon, the vision was revealed to the prophet Lehi in a dream , as it was later revealed to his son Nephi in visions. He wrote about the vision in the Book of Mormon's First Book Nephi .

It is said that the vision symbolizes the spiritual destiny of mankind and it is very well known in Mormonism . One Mormon commentator described this vision as "one of the richest, most flexible, and far-reaching parts of symbolic prophecy in the scriptures."

The vision is similar to another that Joseph Smith, Sr. reportedly had before the Book of Mormon was published . This was reported by his wife. Secular Mormon scholars therefore believe that his father's vision was the source for that vision. Apologetic scholars believe that the father of Joseph Smith and Lehi simply received the same type of vision from God.

Synopsis

A depiction of the vision at a reenactment at the Hill Cumorah Festival .

According to the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Lehi had this vision during his flight through the Arabian wilderness, around 600 BC. He woke up and told his children about them, just as it is in the eighth chapter of First Book Nephi . Nephi, the son of Lehi, wrote this vision on the gold plates and later had a vision as well, but it was more detailed and which he also wrote on the plates. Nephi's vision also includes an interpretation of his father's vision.

According to Lehi's narration, the following objects are present in the vision:

  1. A tree with white fruits, which symbolizes the love of God and also the atonement .
  2. A narrow and narrow path that symbolizes the path of salvation .
  3. An iron bar that runs along the path symbolizes the "Word of God". Holding on to the iron bar means holding on to the gospel of Jesus Christ and resisting the temptations of the world by staying in the narrow and narrow path.
  4. A veil of darkness that symbolizes the temptations of Satan .
  5. A large and spacious building that symbolizes the pride of the world. The many residents of the building laugh and make fun of the people on the narrow path.

Lehi sees in the vision that his sons Sam and Nephi and his wife Sariah are taking of the fruit and therefore will be saved. He sees that Laman and Lemuel are not taking any of the fruit.

importance

The story is well known among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is often quoted. For example, the "iron bar" is often mentioned to indicate that God's teachings are being followed.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Corbin T. Volluz: Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life: Springboard to Prophecy . In: JBMS 2/2 (1993): 38. - as quoted in Lehi's Vision of the Tree of Life: Understanding the Dream as Visionary Literature, Charles Swift, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2005. pp. 52-63.
  2. ^ Lucy Mack Smith , Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations . SW Richards, Liverpool 1853 .
  3. ↑ Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1945), 58. Grant H. Palmer, An Insider's View of Mormon Origins (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2002) 70-71. Dan Vogel, Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2004).
  4. ↑ Nibley, Hugh. Lehi in the Desert, The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Volume 5. Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, and FARMS, Provo, Utah, 1988, p. 44.
  5. Jump up ↑ See 1 Nephi chapters 11–14
  6. ^ 1 Nephi 8: 10--12
  7. ^ 1 Nephi 11: 21--23
  8. ↑ 1 Nephi 8:20
  9. ↑ 1 Nephi 8:19
  10. ↑ 1 Nephi 11:25
  11. ↑ 1 Nephi 8:23
  12. ↑ 1 Nephi 12:17
  13. ↑ 1 Nephi 8: 26--27
  14. ↑ 1 Nephi 11:36
  15. ↑ a b 1 Nephi 8: 14--16
  16. ↑ David A. Bednar : Lehi's dream: Let us hold on to the iron rod . In: Liahona . October 2011.

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