2007 Theme 2 Nephi 31:20
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of bhope, and a clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eeternal life.
Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life.
In Father Lehi’s dream of interest is the rod of iron that lead to the tree. The rod of iron is the word of God.
In the First book of Nephi Chapter 8 we learn of a group of people that pressed forward
on the path that lead to the Tree of Life. (pg. 15)
21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were apressing forward, that they might obtain the bpath which led unto the tree by which I stood.
22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
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.
Notice as the people encountered the mist of darkness which represents the temptations of the devil they lost their way, they wondered off, and they were lost. It is noted that no mention is made of the Rod of Iron in these verses. Those who ignore or treat lightly the word of God do not have access to that divine compass that points the way to the savior. This group obtained the path and pressed forward with some faith and spiritual conviction but they were diverted by the temptations of Satan and were lost.
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, aclinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the bfruit of the tree.
25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were aashamed.
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.
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.
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.
This second group of people obtained the straight and narrow path that lead to the Tree of Life. This group pressed forward through the mist of darkness Clinging to the Rod of Iron even until they came and partook of the fruit of the Tree of Life.
However as this second group of people was mocked by the people in the great and spacious building they were ashamed and fell away and were lost.
This group was described as clinging to the rod of iron. This second group pressed forward with faith and commitment. The also had the added blessing of the rod of iron and they were clinging to it. When they confronted with persecution and adversity they fell away and were lost.
Even with faith and commitment and the word of God this group was lost perhaps because they only periodically read or studied or searched the scriptures. Clinging suggests only occasional bursts of scripture study. Nibbling at the scriptures.
30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the arod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
This third group of people who pressed forward continually holding fast to the rod of iron until they came and partook of the fruit of the Tree of Life. The key phrase is continually holding fast to the rod of iron.
The third group also pressed forward with faith and conviction however there is no indication that they wondered off or were lost.
Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the words of Christ. Feasted. This is the group you and I should strive to join. What is the difference to clinging and holding fast to the rod of iron. Maybe it is the Prayerfully and consistent reading and studying of the scriptures.
1 Nephi 15:
23 And they said unto me: What meaneth the arod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?
24 And I said unto them that it was the aword of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would bhold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the ctemptations and the fiery ddarts of the eadversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
After Lehi and his family were commanded to leave Jerusalem, they were given a sacred instrument which worked as a compass for them, showing them the course that they should travel. We read that it worked only according to their faith in God. Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet, told his son Helaman that the compass was called “Liahona”
(Alma 37:38). (pg. 303)
38 And now, my son, I have
somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or
director—or our fathers called it aLiahona,
which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.
39 And behold, there cannot
any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was
prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the
wilderness.
40 And it did work for them
according to their afaith
in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those
spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore
they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God,
day by day.
41 Nevertheless, because those
miracles were worked by asmall
means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were bslothful,
and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works
ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;
42 Therefore, they tarried in
the wilderness, or did anot
travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of
their transgressions.
43 And now, my son, I would
that ye should understand that these things are not without a ashadow;
for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things
were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are
spiritual.
44 For behold, it is as easy
to give heed to the aword
of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was
for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a
straight course to the promised land.
45 And now I say, is there not
a atype
in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by
following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we
follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land
of promise.
46 O my son, do not let us be aslothful because of the beasiness of the cway; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would dlook they might elive; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.