The Tree of Life

Come, Follow Me 2024: January 22-28; 1 Nephi 11-15

The vision of the tree of life, shared by Lehi and Nephi, is filled with symbolism. Each aspect is worth significant study, but the primary and most vital aspect of the dream is the tree.

I have come to believe that the tree of life symbolizes the Savior and his atonement. So why use symbols? Why not just teach us using plain words? I believe that the vision of the tree of life is one of the greatest teachings of the doctrine of Christ. It allows us to place ourselves within the symbols and try to understand how we can approach the tree.

In other words, as we think of the tree as a symbol of Jesus Christ, we can learn more about what it means to come unto Christ.

Why teach with symbols?

During his mortal ministry, the Savior frequently taught using parables. After teaching the parable of the sower, his first parable, his disciples asked, “Why speakest thou unto them in parables?”¹ The Savior, our master teacher, responded, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”²

Matthew considered this to be a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy which said, “Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”³

One of my favorite websites has become BibleGateway, as it provides a free version of most of the English translations of the Bible. The English Standard Version provides the following translation for Matthew’s citation of Isaiah’s prophecy:

“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”⁴

This interpretation makes it much easier to understand both Isaiah’s prophecy and the reason the Savior taught with parables. And this is the same reason the Savior teaches us using symbols.

Those who want to understand the Savior’s teachings can ponder, seek, and pray for that understanding. But those who don’t seek, or those who don’t want to know, are given a merciful way to avoid willful disobedience. In my prior post about the Fall, I discussed my belief that the Fall, and our life on earth, is evidence of God’s mercy. Referring to Satan’s rebellion and the spirits that followed him, I said, “I believe the Fall is a great gift. Through no fault of our own, we have become separated from God, given time to repent, and through the atonement of Christ we can be brought back into his presence. Without the Fall, our mistakes would be done in open rebellion in the presence of God. But because of the Fall, we are given time. As little children, we can grow up innocent, free to make mistakes. As we learn over time, we make covenants, receive instructions from God’s chosen servants, and learn line upon line. We become accountable as we grow into the capacity to choose for ourselves, and we are given a circumstance in which we are asked to exercise faith rather than being given a perfect knowledge, so that any mistakes do not carry the consequence of open rebellion.”⁵

I believe teaching with symbols and parables is evidence of God’s mercy. Those who want to learn can, while those who do not can avoid the greater condemnation of open rebellion.

But for those who want to learn, we must work to understand. We must study the symbols, analyze their potential meaning, and search the scriptures to learn how those symbols are used in other contexts.

Study the symbols in their context

Often as we study the scriptures, we will take one concept and try and analyze it, research it, and focus on just that one aspect. But symbols are taught in context. They are given to us with other teachings that will help us understand their meaning. So as we study the vision of the tree of life, we have to look at the context of the vision. Nephi’s vision in particular helps us to learn the meaning of the tree of life.

The vision starts with Nephi focused on the Savior

We read about Lehi’s dream in 1 Nephi 8. We then read that Nephi wanted to “see, and hear, and know of these things” for himself.⁶ In 1 Nephi 11, we read about Nephi’s vision of the same things that his father saw.

At the very beginning of Nephi’s vision, he said that he was “caught away in the Spirit of the Lord,” and that he wanted to “behold” the things which his father saw. The Spirit then said to him, “Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?”⁷

This initial interaction between Nephi and his guide (likely the Holy Ghost) teaches us that the tree is the focal point of the vision. Of all the symbols in this vision, it is the primary and most important. As we talk about symbols, it is vital that we focus on those symbols that are the most important. Jacob commented that the reason the Jews fell is that they were “looking beyond the mark.”⁸ So at the outset of this vision, the Spirit wants Nephi fixed and focused on the most important symbol of this vision, which is obviously the tree.

When Nephi said that he believed everything his father taught, the Spirit praised him for believing “in the Son of the most high God.”⁹ It could be that the Spirit was praising Nephi for his belief in the Savior, which we have seen from the very outset of the Book of Mormon. Or, could it be that the Spirit is equating Nephi’s belief in his father’s words to his belief in the Savior? Even in this, it seems that the Spirit is teaching Nephi that the Savior is the meaning of the tree.

The Spirit also tells Nephi that after he sees the tree, he would see “a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.”¹⁰

Before the vision even starts, we see that the focal point is the tree, and the Spirit is already indicating to Nephi that the tree is a symbol of the Savior. The point of the vision is not to be mysterious, or to keep secrets from Nephi. Instead, the Spirit points Nephi’s mind toward the Savior, so when he sees the symbol he will be prepared to understand.

The symbol of the tree

Nephi and Lehi do not see just any ordinary tree. What they are shown is so glorious that they struggle to find the words to describe their experience. Lehi said he “beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy,” and that the fruit “was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy.”¹¹

Nephi said the beauty of the tree “was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow,” and he said that he had seen “the tree which is precious above all.”¹²

As I ponder on these descriptions, I can’t help but think of the challenge of describing things that are outside the scope of the normal mortal experience. The tree is a symbol given to Lehi and Nephi to help them understand a significant gospel principle, but even the symbol is challenging for them to describe.

Joseph Smith lamented his struggle to find words that would accurately describe his experiences. In a letter to William W. Phelps, Joseph said, “O Lord God deliver us in thy due time from the little narrow prison almost as it were total darkness of paper pen and Ink and a crooked broken scattered and imperfect Language.”¹³ In his 1832 Account of the First Vision, we see Joseph’s struggle to try and describe what he had seen. I believe we are all familiar with his account in which he said he saw a “pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun.”¹⁴ But in his 1832 Account, he wrote that he saw a “pillar of fire above the brightness of the sun at noon day,” but then he crossed out the word “fire” and inserted the word “light.”¹⁵

That change of one word can give us great insight into the struggle to describe these experiences. Joseph’s vision of the Father and the Son, and Lehi and Nephi’s vision of the tree of life are beyond the realm of mortal experience, and it can be challenging to describe what they saw.

The sequence of the vision

The sequence of events of the vision demonstrates that the tree is a symbol of the Savior. The following events are in 1 Nephi 11, referred to by their verses:

• 8. Nephi sees the tree.
• 10-11. The Spirit asks Nephi what he wants, and Nephi says he wants to know the interpretation of the tree.
• 13-15. Nephi sees Mary in Nazareth.
• 16. The Spirit asks Nephi, “Knowest thou the condescension of God?”
• 18-20. The Spirit tells Nephi that the woman he saw “is the mother of the Son of God,” and then he sees her again, “bearing a child in her arms.”
• 21. After seeing Mary bearing a child in her arms, the Spirit says to Nephi, “Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?”

It is evident to me that the tree represents the Savior. As we consider the Spirit’s questions to Nephi, in conjunction with what Nephi sees, it is clear that the tree is a symbol of the Savior.

After Nephi sees the tree, he sees the Savior’s earthly ministry:

• 22-23. Nephi says the tree is the love of God, that it is the most desirable above all things, and the Spirit responds that it is the most joyous to the soul.
• 24. After seeing the tree, the Spirit tells Nephi to look, and Nephi sees “the Son of God going forth among the children of men.”
• 26. The Spirit tells Nephi to look and “behold the condescension of God.”
• 27. Nephi sees the Savior being baptized, and the Holy Ghost abiding upon the Savior.
• 28. Nephi sees the Savior ministering “in power and great glory,” but multitudes “cast him out from among them.”
• 31. Nephi sees the Lamb of God heal “all manner of diseases,” and cast out “devils and the unclean spirits.”
• 32-33. Nephi sees that the “Lamb of God . . . was taken by the people [and] judged of the world,” and that “he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.”

Nephi’s vision of the tree is at the center of the visions of the Savior. Nephi sees the birth of the Savior, then he sees the tree, then he sees the Savior’s mortal ministry and his crucifixion. The entire chapter is focused on the Savior. Said another way, at the beginning of the vision, Nephi tells the Spirit he wants to know the meaning of the tree, then he sees the Savior, then the Spirit asks if Nephi knows the meaning of the tree. The more I study this chapter, the more it is evident that the tree symbolizes the Savior.

Why does Nephi refer to the tree as the love of God?

If it is so clear that the tree refers to the Savior, why does Nephi say the tree represents the love of God?

After seeing the birth of the Savior, Nephi says that the tree “is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.”¹⁶ After discussing other elements of the vision, Nephi said “I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.”¹⁷ Why not just say that the tree is a symbol for the Savior?

Symbolism gives us an opportunity to think much more deeply about the meaning of the symbol. One writer has said that symbolism is “a subtle way for writers to communicate complex ideas without spelling them out. It also invites readers to engage more deeply with the text, encouraging them to interpret and derive their own understanding of the underlying themes.”¹⁸

So as we consider the tree as a symbol, it might be somewhat simplistic to simply say that the tree represents the Savior. All scripture teaches about the role of the Savior. All prophets have testified of Christ. As we contemplate the meaning of the tree, we must consider the full scope of the Savior’s premortal, mortal, and postmortal mission. I have previously written posts about the Nature of God, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the Doctrine of Christ that discuss more of his life and mission.

But let’s think about the Spirit’s question, “knowest thou the condescension of God?”¹⁹ This simple question implicates the nature of Jesus Christ as the premortal Jehovah, and the idea of God himself coming down to redeem his people. The “condescension of God” brings to our mind the Savior of the world “being judged of the world,” and allowing himself to be crucified for the sins of the world. As we consider the “condescension of God,” we think of the atonement of Christ, of God himself suffering for the sins of the world, then rising from the dead to provide for the resurrection of all who have been born on this earth.

The symbol is much more than the tree, it is also the fruit. The entire purpose of the Savior’s atonement is to provide us with significant blessings. President Russell M. Nelson has said, “God so loved the world that He sent His Only Begotten Son to help us. And His Son, Jesus Christ, gave His life for us. All so that we could have access to godly power—power sufficient to deal with the burdens, obstacles, and temptations of our day.”²⁰

As I read that, it sounds to me like the fruit could symbolize the power of Jesus Christ being offered to us, and the vision teaches us what we need to do to partake of that power.

During his conversation with Nicodemus, the Savior said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”²¹ How can we reference the life and mission of Jesus Christ in just a few words? How can we better summarize the work of the Savior than to say it is the love of God? As Nephi tried to help us understand the symbolism of the tree, there is no better way than saying it represents the love of God.

“Can ye feel so now?”

One of the more remarkable elements of the vision is the group of people who partake of the fruit, then fall away. Lehi said he saw a group of people who “after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.”²²

Partaking of the atonement of Jesus Christ cannot be a one-time event. The final element of the doctrine of Christ is enduring to the end: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”²³

Partaking of the fruit of the tree of life can be compared to partaking of the sacrament. Each week we gather to “partake of bread and [water], in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.”²⁴ The symbolism of partaking of the fruit of the tree of life, and partaking of the sacrament can certainly be compared. And the sacrament is something that we do weekly. Partaking of the fruit of the tree of life is something that we should be doing constantly.

The prophet Alma asked if his people had experienced a “mighty change” in their hearts.²⁵ And then he said, “if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?”²⁶

A mighty change of heart is not a one-time event. It must be experienced continually. Partaking of the blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ is not something that happens just once. Those blessings are made available to us to help us day by day, so partaking of the fruit of the tree of life is something we should do constantly.

What do we need to do to partake of the atonement of Jesus Christ? How can we receive the blessings the Savior has made available for us? How can we draw his power into our lives?

The vision of the tree of life as shared by Lehi and Nephi teaches us how to receive the blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Walking the path that begins with baptism (see 2 Nephi 31), holding fast to the iron rod, and partaking of the fruit are things that we should be doing day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. As we learn the symbolism of this vision, and as we seek to do what it teaches, we will be able to receive all the blessings of the Savior’s atonement.

References

1. Matthew 13:10. ↩︎
2. Matthew 13:11-13. ↩︎
3. Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:14-15. ↩︎
4. Matthew 13:14-15, English Standard Version, from BibleGateway.com ↩︎
5. The Fall, https://discoverfaithinchrist.com/the-fall/. ↩︎
6. 1 Nephi 10:17. ↩︎
7. 1 Nephi 11:4. ↩︎
8. Jacob 4:14. ↩︎
9. 1 Nephi 11:6. ↩︎
10. 1 Nephi 11:7. ↩︎
11. 1 Nephi 8:10-12. ↩︎
12. 1 Nephi 11:8-9. ↩︎
13. Letter to William W. Phelps, 27 November 1832, p. 2, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed January 21, 2024, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-william-w-phelps-27-november-1832/2. ↩︎
14. Joesph Smith-History 1:16. ↩︎
15. History, circa Summer 1832, p. 3, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed January 21, 2024, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-summer-1832/3. ↩︎
16. 1 Nephi 11:22. ↩︎
17. 1 Nephi 11:25. ↩︎
18. Daisie Blog, “Power of Symbolism in Literature: A Guide,” August 7, 2023, https://blog.daisie.com/power-of-symbolism-in-literature-a-guide/. ↩︎
19. 1 Nephi 11:16. ↩︎
20. President Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign, May 2017, 39, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2017/05/saturday-morning-session/drawing-the-power-of-jesus-christ-into-our-lives?lang=eng&id=p4#p4. ↩︎
21. John 3:16. ↩︎
22. 1 Nephi 8:28. ↩︎
23. 2 Nephi 31:20. ↩︎
24. Moroni 6:6. ↩︎
25. Alma 5:14. ↩︎
26. Alma 5:26. ↩︎