Mists of Darkness: Lehi's Vision

Nephi provides a record of Lehi's vision of the tree of life. The scene had many components worthy of exploration. Here we'll focus on just a few, namely:

• the mist of darkness
• the iron rod
• the straight and narrow path

We'll look at these in context of other Book of Mormon writings and attempt to gain greater insight into how to "liken them unto us."

Mists of Darkness and the Iron Rod

In the book of Mormon we read about several mists of darkness. The first is seen by Lehi in his vision:

And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost. (1 Nephi 8:23)

The second overcame the Lamanites at the prison where Nephi and Lehi were held captive:

And it came to pass that they were overshadowed with a cloud of darkness, and an awful solemn fear came upon them. (Helaman 5:42)

The third was at the time of Christ's death, which we first see prophesied in Nephi's vision, but later read about in third Nephi:

And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness; (3 Nephi 8:20)

These mists of darkness have several things in common. First, the darkness was physical, but more important, the darkness was spiritual. The travelers in Lehi's vision could not see the tree shining brightly. Worse, they lost interest in maintaining the path to reach it. The Lamanites at the prison "could not flee because of the cloud of darkness." Even worse, they were in the act of persecuting the prophets of God at the time. At Christ's coming, the darkness was so extreme that no light could be seen. Worse still, entire cities had been destroyed because of great spiritual wickedness.

Second, for those who are willing, the darkness yielded to light. Lehi's righteous wanderers arrived at the glowing Tree of Life and partook of its fruit. The Lamanites at the prison saw the cloud dispersed, received the Holy Ghost and and were visited by angels. The righteous survivors in Third Nephi saw light again on the third day and later received a visitation from Jesus.

Third, the word of God provides guidance leads to light during each of these episodes. Lehi's vision had the iron rod, a symbol of God's word. The Lamanites at the prison and the inhabitants in Third Nephi heard the actual voice of Christ in the darkness offering salvation to those who would repent and turn to Him.

Question #1 : How do those three attributes also apply to each of the following accounts:

• Zoram's encounter with Nephi at night (See also After All We Can Do.)
• Paul's blindness
• Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night
• Alma's "darkest abyss"
• Lamoni's "dark veil of unbelief"
• the people of Ammon's "darkest abyss"
• the reformation and the "Dark Ages"
• Joseph Smith's first vision
• The creation of the Earth
• The temple

Question #2: What is the implication for each of us? Are we traveling amid spiritual darkness? Do we want to reach the light? What critical thing do we need in order to reach the light?

The Strait and Narrow Path

Lehi saw a "strait and narrow path" leading to the Tree of Life. His wording is interesting: he sees "numberless concourses of people" trying to "obtain" the path. (Note: a concourse is a road or a path.) In other words, Lehi saw this:

For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it— (D&C 123:12)

People were trying to find the the Strait and Narrow Path. And what is the that path? The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including the priesthood, the ordinances, and membership in His church. There are three stages to reaching the Tree of Life via the Strait and Narrow Path:

Obtaining the path. The initial concourses of people were trying to "obtain the path." Obtaining the path is the first part of what Jesus described to Nicodemus.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

To find the path is to recognize the fullness of the Gospel, i.e. Christs's true church with its priesthood and ordinances.

Entering the path. Jesus explained this next step to Nicodemus as well:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Entering the path, that is, entering the kingdom of God, is done via covenants. In particular, the covenant of baptism is referred to as "the gate" through which one must pass in order to begin walking on the strait and narrow path. There are too many good passages of scripture relating to the gate and the path to list them here. Try this scripture search for a healthy sampling. One particular gem, though, is this quote from Jesus:

...Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work. (3 Nephi 27:33)

Notice that we find the imagery of the Strait (Gate) and Narrow Path, the Tree of Life, the Forbidden Paths, the multitudes that follow them, and the many who wander off in the dark until they are lost.

Walking the path. Finally, and this is really important, note when the mist of darkness appears and whom it affects.

And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree. And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost. (1 Nephi 8:22-23)

The mist of darkness was not preventing people from finding the path. Their many concourses were doing that. The mist of darkness was leading astray people who had already entered ("commenced in") the path. Lehi was watching baptized members of the church wander off into inactivity and apostasy! Which members wandered off? Those who did not hold to the rod.

Question #3: How do the images of the gate and the path (representing covenants and living the fullness of the Gospel) apply to these scriptural episodes?

1. The Israelites at the Red Sea
2. Abraham
3. the people of Alma
4. the pioneers

Question #4: Based on Lehi's vision, if you have already entered by the gate and are walking the path, what is the greatest risk to your reaching the Tree of Life?

Question #5: We read about two groups of people who reached the Tree of Life. One group, which was "clinging" to the iron rod, tasted of the fruit and then fell away. The other group was "continually holding fast" to the rod of iron. They were saved. What is the difference between clinging and holding fast to the word of God? Which are you doing now? Do you believe that you can get by with "snacking" on the words of Christ rather than "feasting" on them? If so, Lehi disagrees with you!