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Lesson 3: The Vision of the Tree of Life
The vision of the tree of life is first major symbolic narrative sequence found in the Book of Mormon. Sometime after Lehi’s sons return from their second trip back to Jerusalem (this time to get Ishmael’s family,) Lehi recounts what he had seen in a dream. In his dream he wanders around in darkeness for many hours, then after praying for mercy, he finds himself in a “large and spacious field“, where he finds a “a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.” The dream expands to include, among many things, others of Lehi’s family, and outsiders who mock those going towards the tree.
After hearing Lehi tell the account of his dream, Nephi seeks increased understanding. This leads him to ponder his father’s words, and becomes the stimulus for his great vision, where, among many other things, he sees the tree that his father saw, and learns that the tree represents the love of God.
The CES Institute manual published a table listing various symbols and suggested interpretations:
| Symbol | Interpretation | Examples Given |
| Dark and dreary waste (8:7) | ||
| Large and spacious field (8:9, 20) | The world (8:20) | |
| Tree (8:10); also called “tree of life” (11:25; 15:21–22) | Love of God (11:21–22) | The coming of the Son of God (11:13–22) |
| The fruit of the tree (8:11–12) | ||
| River of water (8:13); also called “fountain of filthy water” (12:16) | Hell and the depths thereof (12:16; 15:26–36) | Wickedness and war |
| Rod of iron (8:19) | The word of God (11:25; 15:23–25) | The ministry of the Son of God (11:24–25) |
| Mist of darkness (8:23) | Temptations of the devil (12:17) | Apostasy, wickedness, war, the great abominable church, plain and precious things removed from the scriptures (12:19–23; 13:1–9, 20–29) |
| Great and spacious building (8:26) | The pride, wisdom, and vain imaginations of the world (11:35–36, 12:18) | The persecution of the Son of God and those who followed him (11:26–36) |
(Adapted from Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 101.)
I find it interesting that there is no suggested interpretation for the tree of life’s fruit. If the tree is divine love, then what could the fruit be? What comes into existence as a result of God’s love?
One scripture that comes to mind is the symbol of the true vine, as explained in John 15. Jesus said:
“Abide in me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
Except it abide in the vine;
No more can ye, except ye abide in me.I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
The same bringeth forth much fruit:
For without me ye can do nothing.”(vs. 4-5)
I suppose a reasonable interpretation for the fruit might be disciples; a fruit is not only a product of the tree, but also has the potential of creating more trees. Disciples are given the charge to share the love of God—they are the means of its promulgation, just as the fruit is the means by which the tree expands its influence abroad.
The symbols in the dream are rich in meaning, can be understood in many different ways, and on many levels and depths. Likewise, the symbolic applications of the dream’s message are far reaching. What do you get from it?
2 Responses
[…] image or icon in most religions other than the LDS Church, particularly when represented as a large, white tree in the middle of an open field. And then you have the small, dark stones, which immediately call to mind Joseph Smith’s seer […]
I have a different interpretation of what the fruit represents. In 1 Nephi, Chapter 15, Nephi says the following about the fruit to Laman and Lemuel:
“Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God…” (1 Ne 15:36)
If you look at the footnote for greatest it says to look at D&C 14:7, which reads:
“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D&C 14:7)
I like the symbolism of your interpretation, though, too. There are many layers and possible interpretations of the symbols in the vision of the Tree of Life. I always look forward to hearing others interpretations.