The Human Family and the Path

1 Nephi 8:19 - 35, NC 1 Nephi 2 pars. 10 - 12


And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river and led to the tree by which I stood. And I also beheld a straight and narrow path which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world. And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood. And it came to pass that they did come forth and commenced in the path which led to the tree. And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness, yea, even an exceeding great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost. 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 mists of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partook of the fruit of the tree. And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree, they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.  And I also cast my eyes around about and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building. And it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female, and their manner of dress was exceeding fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come up and were partaking of the fruit. And after they had tasted of the fruit, they were ashamed because of those that were a scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.  And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father. But to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod 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. And he also saw other multitudes pressing their way towards that great and spacious building. And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain, and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads. And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building, they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also. But we heeded them not — thus are the words of my father — for as many as heeded them had fallen away. And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.

I have a question at this point about the field, the numberless concourses of people, and the path.

Lehi mentions that the large and spacious field is as if it had been a world.

The new glossary of terms defines the term world as follows.


World

“The world and earth are not synonymous terms. The world is the human family.” What is the end of the world? The destruction of the wicked. (T&C Glossary of terms, "World")

If the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God then was the term Lehi used to describe what he saw meant to convey that Lehi was shown the entire human family?

What would that imply?

Was he shown the human family representationally like "Here is a big group of people that represents the human family".

Or is it possible that Lehi was shown a vision of all things like Nephi and Isaiah and all others?

We know that Moses saw the vision of all of the events of the human family down through time.

And it came to pass, as the voice was still speaking, he cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all the face of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the spirit of God. And he beheld also the inhabitants thereof, and there was not a soul whom he beheld not. And he discerned them by the spirit of God, and their numbers were great, even as numberless as the sand upon the seashore. And he beheld many lands, and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof. And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying, Show me, I pray you, why these things are so and by whom you made them. And behold, the glory of God was upon Moses so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and he talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses, For my own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remains in me. And by the word of my power have I created them, who is my Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth. And worlds without number have I created, and I also created them for my own purpose; and by the same I created them, who is my Only Begotten. And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many. But only an account of this earth and the inhabitants thereof give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds which have passed away by the word of my power, and there are many also which now stand, and numberless are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them. (Moses 1:27 - 35, OC Genesis 1 par. 6)

Remember that Nephi after being shown the vision of all was given the charge not to write concerning the things that John the Revelator was ordained to write.

Is it possible that Lehi used the part of his vision, that of the tree and the other symbols to explain his vision of all things that maybe he was commanded not to write because Nephi was ordained to write them?

Could Lehi have used the vision of the tree of life to describe the results of the actions of the human family over the history of the world?

Would that be like unto Zenos using the allegory of the olive tree to describe what he was shown concerning the work of the Father to preserve His promises to the Fathers down throughout the history of the world?

Lehi recounts the vision in two parts.  The first part deals with his family.  The second part picks up after Lehi speaks of his family and it involves the entire human family if I understand the term "world" correctly in context.

Following Nephi's recording of what his father declared concerning the vision Nephi describes that his father, Lehi, continues to teach Nephi's brethren concerning the workings of God all the way down to the end times.  This is all contained in the first part of (1 Nephi 10, NC 1 Nephi 3).

Then Nephi seeks to receive what Lehi had received.

When the Spirit inquired of Nephi what he wanted Nephi declared,

I desire to behold the things which my father saw. (1 Nephi 11:3, NC 1 Nephi 3 par. 6)

Is it out of the realm of possibilities that Nephi was shown exactly what his father, Lehi, had seen; the tree and the fruit and the vision of the history of world?

Nephi would then become a second witness and it would follow exactly as true witnesses testify.

There is a part of the record that shows how this might be.

When Laman and Lemuel asked Nephi concerning the river of water that their father saw Nephi responded.

And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water. (1 Nephi 15:27, NC 1 Nephi 4 par. 5)

Just as real witnesses testify of the same event with little differences in detail Nephi and Lehi both testified of the same thing but some details that Nephi saw and paid attention to Lehi did not observe because Lehi was focused on other things unfolding in the same vision.

Is it possible that as Lehi declares that he sees numberless concourses of people many of whom are seeking the path that leads to the tree that he is seeing history unfold and events occurring where many in the human family over the history of the world begin to search out the path that leads to the path of God?

Lehi describes the path as being narrow and leading beside the fountain of water that Nephi later clarifies is filthy water representing the depths of hell and being a gulf separating the wicked from the tree of life.

Is this given in this way to show that there are points of decision that lead either to the one hand or to the other?

Again we come back to being wicked vs. being righteous.  Here is a possible definition again for wickedness.

What does it mean to be wicked?  

And the whole world lies in sin and groans under darkness and under the bondage of sin, and by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me, for whoever comes not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoever receives not my voice is not acquainted with my voice and is not of me. And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groans under sin and darkness, even now. (D&C 84:49 - 53) ,Teachings and Commandments 82 par. 19)

Does Lehi see, as he is possibly looking down through history, many people(individuals, families and nations even) arriving at a point of decision that will determine whether they will start, according to their own will, down that narrow path that leads to the tree by planting a seed in their hearts by beginning to inquire of and receive from God or will they live without God in the world refusing to come to Him and inquire of Him?

That type of decision would begin to lead them down one side or another of the fountain of filthy water.

Those on the one side would be separated from those on the other by a gulf.

Is it possible that this is what Lehi is seeing in the context of history unrolling before his eyes from the beginning of the earth to the end?

Lehi describes the path to the tree as narrow.

There seem to be many places in the scriptures that talk about the path.

Here are just a couple.

O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteousness. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel, and he employeth no servant there. And there is none other way save it be by the gate, for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name. (2 Nephi 9:41, NC 2 Nephi 6 par. 11)

I have charity for the Jew — I say Jew because I mean them from whence I came. I also have charity for the gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the straight path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation. (2 Nephi 33:8 - 9, NC 2 Nephi 15 par. 1)

This way that leads to the tree of life that Lehi and Nephi describe is always described as a path.

It is not a road or a freeway.  It is a path and it is narrow.

The Lord invited all of us to follow this path.  This is the path that he followed to come to the Father.

No man can come unto me except he follows the path of my Father, who has sent me as His messenger of salvation. And this is what my Father expects of you, that you heed his Son. For the Father testifies he sent me, and anyone who accepts the Father’s testimony, and has the faith in him to heed his testimony, I will raise upward in the resurrection of the just. (T&C 171, The Testimony of St. John 5 par. 18)

Now, therefore, know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Walker in the Path who has proven for evermore that Father Ahman sent Him into the world to prove His Father’s path. (T&C 171, The Testimony of St. John 12 par. 21)

Nephi declared that this path is the only way and means to come to God the Father and to enter the path is only the beginning of the journey.

We must remember the following exhortation as we discuss in the next blog concerning traveling on this narrow straight path.

The path of God is razor thin. It may lie in a straight course, but the way in which the Lord walks that straight line He doesn't even cast a shadow to the left or the right. When you walk that line and begin to see the shadow, you've already departed from the path even though you think you're still on it. You have to question every step of the way; every step you take, and measure every word you speak, because you and I are going to be judged on that basis. (St. George Conference Q&A:2017 Denver C. Snuffer, pg 8)