Sunday Lesson, Nov 2nd

During our RS lesson today, taught by Sister Welling, we discussed how we keep our testimonies alive when there are so many distractions around us.

President Joseph Fielding Smith taught that a testimony “is a convincing knowledge given by revelation to [a person] who humbly seeks the truth.” He said of testimony and the Holy Ghost, who brings that revelation, “Its convincing power is so great that there can be no doubt left in the mind when the Spirit has spoken. It is the only way that a person can truly know that Jesus is the Christ and that his gospel is true.”

Think of the moment when you first FELT and KNEW that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true. When did it happen? Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? How old were you?

Many sisters shared their experience of when the FELT and KNEW that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true. In every case it was when they were acting, searching, and doing something that was good. It was when they were ready to listen to the promptings from the Holy Ghost. It is important for each of us to have our own personal conversion to this gospel and to work to keep it alive.

We discussed Lehi's Dream - His vision of the tree of life in 1 NE chapter 8. Subheading ~ Lehi sees a vision of the tree of life—He partakes of its fruit and desires his family to do likewise—He sees a rod of iron, a strait and narrow path, and the mists of darkness that enshroud men—Sariah, Nephi, and Sam partake of the fruit, but Laman and Lemuel refuse.

Lehi’s inspired dream symbolically represents our life in mortality. We can find ourselves represented in it and can see where our lives are headed if we remain on our present path. I love this account and the symbolism in these scriptures.

Since this represents our life here on earth we need to understand and break this down to understand it.

SYMBOL (what Lehi saw)	MEANING
Large and spacious field (v.9)	the world (v. 20)
Tree            (v.10)	the love of God (1 Ne 11:22)
Fruit            (v.10)	the love of God or eternal life (1 Ne 15:36)
River of water (v.13)	depths of the river=depths of hell (1 Ne 12:16)
Rod of iron (v.19)	the word of God (1 Ne 11:25)
Strait and narrow path (v.20)	the way to eternal life (2 Ne 31:18)
Mist of Darkness (v.23)	the temptations of the devil (1 Ne 12:17)
Great and spacious building	the vain imaginations and pride of the world (1 Ne 11:36, 12:18)

   FRUIT - The blessings of the Lord surpass all human understanding. So it is when one fully comprehends the love of God. That love can be felt in the loneliest deserts or in his blessed presence. The blessings of God’s love and eternal life are available only through the atonement.

ROD OF IRON - serves as a protection to keep us out of the filthy water.

-   

Elder Bednar gives a talk about the difference between the groups of people in this dream called, Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod.

There are 4 groups of people. Everyone on earth can be placed in one of these groups, ask yourself which group you are in. Three of the groups were pressing forward along the strait and narrow path seeking to get to the tree and its fruit. A fourth group did not seek after the tree, desiring instead the great and spacious building as their ultimate destination (see1 Nephi 8:31–33).

In 1 Nephi 8:21–23 we learn about the first group of people who pressed forward and commenced in the path that led to the tree of life. However, as the people encountered the mist of darkness, which represents “the temptations of the devil” (1 Nephi 12:17), they lost their way, wandered off, and were lost. Notice that no mention is made in these verses of the rod of iron. Those who ignore or treat lightly the word of God do not have access to that divine compass which points the way to the Savior. Consider that this group obtained the path and pressed forward, exhibiting a measure of faith in Christ and spiritual conviction, but they were diverted by the temptations of the devil and were lost.

What are some distractions we have? How does the devil temp us so that we might lose our way & wander off? Why would Satan not want us to see the tree and the fruit?  What experiences in peoples lives may cause them to be blinded to the love of God?  Why would failure to perceive the love of God cause us to harden our hearts?

In 1 Nephi 8:24–28 we read about a second group of people who obtained the strait and narrow path that led to the tree of life. This group “did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree” (verse 24). However, as the finely dressed occupants of the great and spacious building mocked this second group of people, “they were ashamed” and “fell away into forbidden paths and were lost” (verse 28). Please notice that this group is described as “clinging to the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:24; emphasis added).

It is significant that the second group pressed forward with faith and commitment. They also had the added blessing of the rod of iron, and they were clinging to it! However, as they were confronted with persecution and adversity, they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost. Even with faith, commitment, and the word of God, this group eventually was lost—perhaps because they only periodically read or studied or searched the scriptures. Clinging to the rod of iron suggests to me only occasional “bursts” of study or irregular dipping rather than consistent, ongoing immersion in the word of God.

Do you live the gospel in bursts, when it is convenient to you? When you are around others that might believe differently do you stay true to the principles of the gospel? Do you ever feel ashamed of your beliefs? If we are in this group we will eventually fall away and be lost. Clinging or irregularly living the gospel is not enough. 

  

In verse 30 we read about a third group of people who pressed forward “continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.” The key phrase in this verse 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 wandered off, fell into forbidden paths, or were lost. Perhaps this third group of people Consistently read and studied and searched the scriptures. Perhaps it was diligence and devotion to a seemingly “small and simple [thing]” (Alma 37:6) that saved the third group from perishing. Perhaps it was “the knowledge of the Lord” and “the knowledge of the truth” (Alma 23:5, 6) obtained through faithful study of the scriptures that yielded the spiritual gift of humility—such that this group of people “fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree” (1 Nephi 8:30; emphasis added). Perhaps it was the spiritual nourishment and strength provided by continually “feasting upon the word of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20) that enabled this group to heed not the scorning and mocking of the people in the great and spacious building (see 1 Nephi 8:33). This is the group you and I should strive to join.

What is the difference between clinging and holding fast to the rod of iron? 

We discussed how close the filthy water (hell) is to the iron rod. By clinging and only occasionally holding on we are in danger of falling. We must be consistent in our efforts to hold fast to the iron rod (word of God) continually, and earnestly using the holy scriptures as our guide. It is the seemingly easy things, the small and simple things that we need to doing. Consistently attending all of our church meetings, praying, scripture study, etc. will help us. By doing these things our testimonies will be strengthened and kept alive.

President Eyring teaches ~ Testimony will come to you in pieces as parts of the whole truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ are confirmed. For instance, as you read and ponder the Book of Mormon, verses you have read before will appear new to you and bring new ideas. Your testimony will grow in depth as the Holy Ghost confirms that they are true. Your living testimony will expand as you study, pray, and ponder in the scriptures.

We can have a testimony of so many things; Visiting Teaching, Temple Work, Scriptures, Prayer, Tithing, Living Prophet. If your testimony isn’t where you want it to be then do these things. If we are not living a principle we will not gain a testimony of that. We have to act and do! Without the doing, we will never gain a testimony of that thing we hope to understand better.

Elder Packer gives us this promise: An unseen power will hold your hand as you hold to the iron rod.  Will this solve all your problems? Of course not! That would be contrary to the purpose of your coming into mortality. It will, however, give you a solid foundation on which to build your life (see Helaman 5:12).

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 with the gift of the Holy Ghost, you can feel your way ahead through life. Grasp the iron rod, and do not let go. (See 3 Nephi 18:25; D&C 9:8.)

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.

For our testimonies to grow we have to stay on course. We have to continue to do and live the gospel. We must attend our meetings and attend to our duties, pay tithes, take the sacrament, honor the priesthood, follow our leaders, read the scriptures, study the Book of Mormon, and pray. We have to press forward. We cannot heed or listen to outside or inner voices that would discourage us or tell us to do otherwise. We have to change our course if we are not numbered with the 3^rd group who are continually holding fast to the word of God.  

   

Elder Eyring

I do not depend on what has happened in the past. To keep my living testimony of the Book of Mormon secure. I don’t take that blessing of a testimony for granted as a perpetual entitlement.

Testimony requires the nurturing by the prayer of faith, the hungering for the word of God in the scriptures, and the obedience to the truth we have received. There is danger in neglecting prayer. There is danger to our testimony in only casual study and reading of the scriptures. They are necessary nutrients for our testimony.