And after he had said these words, he said unto me, Look. And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God a going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him. And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron which my father had seen was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life, which waters are a representation of the love of God. And I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.
The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim 1 Nefi 3 par. 10
And after he had said these words, he said unto me, Look. And I looked, and I beheld the Son of Elohim going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship
him. And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron which my father had seen was the word of Elohim, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life, which waters are a representation of the love of Elohim. And I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of Elohim.
I have asked it before but I will ask it again here. Is it possible that a person can read the Book of Mormon like they would a parable?
Are there possibly multiple meanings on multiple levels contained in the Book of Mormon?
If the Book of Mormon can be read as a parable, would that make the Book of Mormon boundless as far as being able to learn from it?
As short as this statement from Nephi is, is it possible that it could be a complete parable?
And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron which my father had seen was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life, which waters are a representation of the love of God.
To demonstrate what I am asking let me share some scriptures.
The following is from the newly revealed account of the Testimony of St. John. It concerns Christ.
John bore witness of him and cried, saying, This is he of whom I spoke. He who comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. For in the beginning was the Word, even the Son, who is made flesh and sent unto us by the will of the Father. And as many as believe on his name shall receive of his fullness. And of his fullness have we all received, even immortality and eternal life through his grace. For the law was given through Moses, but life and truth came through Jesus Christ. For the law was after a carnal commandment, to the administration of death, but the gospel was after the power of an endless life through Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father. And no man has seen God at any time, except he has borne record of the Son, for except it is through him, no man can be saved. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St. John 1 par. 3)
And again in a revelation to the prophet Joseph.
I was in the world and received of my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest. And John saw and bore record of the fullness of my glory, and the fullness of John’s record is hereafter to be revealed. And he bore record saying, I saw his glory, that he was in the beginning, before the world was. Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the Messenger of Salvation, the Light and the Redeemer of the world, the Spirit of Truth, who came into the world because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men. The worlds were made by him. Men were made by him. All things were made by him, and through him, and of him. (D&C 93:5 - 10, Teachings and Commandments Section 93 par. 2)
What was one of Christ's titles from the beginning?
How did Christ obtain this title?
This is how you worship who you worship, because He was the Word of God, the embodiment of the Father's will. The Father declares what is right and true and the Son obeys. Thus the Son became the Word of God, because He did what the Father asked Him. Would you also want to be a son or daughter of God? Do what He bids you do. This is how the Son lived. This is who the Son is. This is what you must do to worship Him. (Forty Years In Mormonism, "#7, Christ:The Prototype of the Saved Man, Denver Snuffer, pg. 218)
I understand and agree with one interpretation of the iron rod being the scriptures because they contain, although not in a fulness, the word of God.
I also agree that if we hold fast to the scriptures, learn them and live them, we will be led in a straight course towards eternal life.
Could it also be possible, in the context of Nephi's description of the iron rod, that on another level the iron rod is also a symbol or parable of Christ?
If it were a parable, is it possible that as a parable it has meaning that extends far beyond this life and even deals with events that occurred before the foundation of this earth?
I agree that Christ is the Word of God from the beginning, precisely because He embodies in His actions a perfect expression of The Father's will.
The Messenger of the Heavenly Council was in the cosmos, and the cosmos existed through Him, and the cosmos had not acquired His knowledge. He came into His own creation, but those there were unable to understand Him. As many as perceived the Light in Him, to them He gave knowledge to enable them to follow the path to become like Him, begotten children in the family of the Most High God. This is only possible for those who believe through His name. Those who believe through His name are no longer born of blood to follow the appetites of flesh, nor the ambitions of man, but are able to become, like Him, the offspring of God. This one who was Spokesman from the Heavenly Council was made flesh, and He temporarily cast His tent among us, and we could see His knowledge of the path to ascend in light and truth, he was a member of the Family of God, full of the power to ascend and able to display truth to others. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St. John 1 par. 3)
As described above by John, wasn't the Lord here to give knowledge to those who believe on Him to follow the path He followed to ascend in light and truth?
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. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St. John 12 par. 21)
Could it be said that to walk on the same path as Christ is to walk towards living waters or the tree of life (the love of God)?
Don't Christ's actions, from the beginning, lead to the fountain of living waters or in other words the tree of life?
We discussed a possible meaning of the symbol of the tree in a previous post.
If, as Nephi declared, ...the fountain of living waters...are a representation of the love of God. And I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God, does that mean that it is equal in meaning for one to partake of the tree of life or to drink from the fountain of living waters?
What did the Lord say to the Samaritan woman concerning living waters?
He next went to the city of Shechem in Samaria, at the foot of Mt. Gerizim, adjacent to the parcel of ground which Joseph inherited from his father Jacob, which is the place where Jacob’s well was located. Jesus was tired from the journey, it being about midday, and he sat down on the wall of the well. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus asked her, Could you give to me a drink?
His followers were not with him, but had left to buy food in the city and therefore he was alone. The Samaritan woman replied to him, I do not understand why a Jew would ask me as a Samaritan to give you a drink. Jews look down on us as unclean, so why would you ask me such a thing?
Jesus replied, I have been sent by God, and if you recognized who now asks you to give a drink of water, you would gladly do so and ask me in turn for the gift of living water. The woman responded to him, Sir, you have nothing to reach the water, and the well is deep, so how can you suggest you could offer living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, to whom God gave this well, who drank here with his children, and he watered his cattle from this source? Jesus answered her, Whoever drinks water from this well will thirst again, but whoever drinks from the living water which I shall give him shall live from eternity to eternity, for the Source in me will be the power to rise upward forever, worlds without end. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St. John 4 pars. 1 - 3)
What did Christ declare is the gift He gives?
What did Christ say concerning the Source of the living waters in Him?
From the above, is it reasonable to state that someone who is given the power to rise upward forever, worlds without end is partaking of living waters; they are on the path to ascend?
In this account was Christ seeking to lead the Samaritan woman along to the living waters or the tree of life like the iron rod symbol Nephi saw?
When the Lord was with His disciples in the upper room He told them something important about the living waters, the tree of life or the ascent.
Do not allow your heart to be troubled. You are devoted to God and are also devoted to me. In the journey through my Father’s realms are many stages with temporary abodes. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare an abode for your upward journey. And when I arise, I will prepare places for you, but I will be your companion again and visit each of you, so that where I travel, you may journey to also. And the path I follow upward you know, and the way of ascent you also know. Thomas said to him, Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way? You have not told us. Jesus said to him, I am the way, the record of the truth, and the means for Eternal lives, worlds without end: no man comes to the Throne of the Father without me. If you follow me, you will come to the Father’s Throne through me and will thereafter be like him forever. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St. John 10 par. 9)
Does the ascent continue far beyond this life?
As we look at Lehi's dream again, is there something else in the symbolism of the dream that might be related to Christ symbolized by the iron rod?
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... (1 Nephi 8:29 - 35, NC 1 Nephi 2 par. 12)
Is it possible that this symbolism is in any way related to what the Lord told His disciples in the upper room during the last supper?
I am the true vine or head of the Father’s family, and my Father is the husbandman over that family. Every branch connected to me that does not produce fruit, he will remove, and every branch that produces fruit he will prune back so that it produces better fruit. You will bear fruit if you follow the things I have taught you. Stay connected to me as part of the Heavenly family, and I will nourish you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit if it is not connected to the vine, neither will you be able to bear fruit unless you remain connected with me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. He that stays connected to me, and I to him, will be abundantly fruitful; but without the connection to me you will perish. If a man loses his connection with me, he is merely a withered branch; and men take the withered branches, cut them away and burn them. If you stay connected to me, and my words live in you, you will ask according to my will, and you will be given the ability to accomplish my will. It will please and vindicate my Father if you produce abundant fruit, and that will prove you follow me. Just like the Father has loved me, I have in turn likewise loved you. Therefore, remain connected with me and my love will be with you. If you practice my teachings you will always remain connected with me; just as I have kept my Father’s teachings and have remained connected with him. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St. John 10 par. 17)
Is it possible that those who caught hold of the iron rod and held fast until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit are a symbol of those who connect with the true vine, Christ, and remain connected until they come to the tree (the love of God, they continue to ascend?)?
As we look at the people who partake of the fruit of the tree in Lehi's dream we see that some who partook fell away.
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. (1 Nephi 8:19 - 35, NC 1 Nephi 2 pars. 10 - 12 )
Is it possible that it could be said of Lucifer, who now has the title of Satan, that he once partook of the fruit of the tree?
For Lucifer to fall doesn't that mean that he had ascended first?
Consider the following.
In 2 Nephi Chapter 1, paragraphs 9-10, we read:
And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from Heaven. Wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God. And because he had fallen from Heaven and had become miserable for ever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve — yea, even that old serpent which is the Devil, which is the father of all lies — wherefore, he said, Partake of the forbidden fruit and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit, they were driven out from the Garden of Eden to till the earth. And they have brought forth children, yea, even the family of all the earth. And the days of the children of men were prolonged according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh. Wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent, for he shewed unto all men that they were lost because of the transgression of their parents.
And now behold, if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the Garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state which they were after they were created; and they must have remained for ever and had no end. And they would have had no children. Wherefore, they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy for they knew no misery, doing no good for they knew no sin. 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 for ever — knowing good from evil — to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh, and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death according to the captivity and power of the Devil, for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
We learn from this that the Devil was once an angel of heaven. He fell from that state. His fall was because he did things that were evil before God. This tells us that freedom to choose remains possible even in heaven, where God is present. Responsibility and accountability do not end after this life, but continue into the heavens. ("The Fall of Adam and Eve", denversnuffer.com blog post, Denver Snuffer, 30 April 2020)
If freedom to choose remains possible beyond this life, as Lehi taught, then if an individual is ascending, is it possible for them to look at those who would scorn at what must be done to be like Christ, the prototype of the saved man, and choose, just like Lucifer, to be ashamed of and leave the tree of life or fountain of living waters and fall away into forbidden paths and be lost?
We learn from the Lectures on Faith that to be saved we must be precisely what Christ is or not be saved.
When Christ came to dwell temporarily in mortality what was His mission?
Did Christ's mission require Him to descend below all and sacrifice in order to lift all?
What did the Lord declare concerning what He suffered in order to complete His mission?
Wherefore, I command you by my name, and by my almighty power that you repent, repent lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore — how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all that they might not suffer, if they would repent. But if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, to suffer both body and spirit, and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink. Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. (D&C 19:15 - 19, Teachings and Commandments, Section 4 par. 5)
What was the Lord doing by performing this service in giving an infinite sacrifice?
The Scriptures inform us that Jesus said, As the Father hath power in Himself, even so hath the Son power—to do what? Why, what the Father did. The answer is obvious—in a manner to lay down His body and take it up again. Jesus, what are you going to do? To lay down my life as my Father did, and take it up again. Do we believe it? I you do not believe it, you do not believe the Bible.a The Scriptures say it, and I defy all the learning and wisdom and all the combined powers of earth and hell together to refute it.
Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how
to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before
you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pgs. 346 - 347)
If the path to ascend to become a saved being is by doing precisely what Christ has done and becoming precisely what Christ is, wouldn't that mean that at some point in the ascent we would have to condescend to suffer and sacrifice just like Christ so that we could say that we are doing what our Father did; attain to the resurrection of the dead and become able to dwell in everlasting burnings?
Is it possible for ascending individuals to look at what must be done, the sacrifice and suffering and scorning that must be endured, and decide that they are not willing (they are ashamed) to endure such and so they seek another forbidden path?
Would I do well to consider this forever if I desire to follow the path Christ demonstrated in order to ascend?
I believe there is much more we could consider.
Is it possible that it would be appropriate at one level to see the iron rod that leads to the tree of life or the fountain of living waters as the Iron Rod or in other words another title the Lord possesses?
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