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!

Free to Choose

Following are highlights from Nephi’s account of his journey to Jerusalem retrieve brass plates containing Old Testament writings. Knowing that the author of this account (a) talked, preached, and prophesied of Christ, and wrote according to his prophesies, and (b) admonished us to “liken all scriptures unto us,” consider these questions as you read:

1. How does this story witness of Jesus Christ and his divine mission?
2. Who are you in the story, i.e. how does the story relate to you?

We'll note some highlights as we go.

Nephi

1. In the beginning of 1 Nephi Chapter 3, Lehi sends his faithful son, Nephi, to Jerusalem. The purpose of sending him is to secure the blessings of the gospel for all of his posterity by retrieving records containing the scriptures.

This loving father acknowledged the faithfulness of his son, describing him as favored and blessed:

Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded... And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord. (1 Nephi 3:6-8)

Highlights. Here we see a father who sends his faithful son to Jerusalem to secure the blessings of the gospel for his posterity.

2. At Jerusalem, Nephi and his three brothers ran into some trouble, and Nephi suffered because of it:

And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands. (1 Nephi 3:29)

And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide themselves without the walls. And after they had hid themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban. (1 Nephi 4:5)

Highlights: The faithful son was outside the city wall with the three others. He was suffering because of the iniquity of his brethren (over whom he had been chosen to rule) when an angel appeared, strengthening and encouraging him. He would have to make one final trip into Jerusalem to complete his mission, and he would do it alone.

3. Having completed his mission, he started his three-day return journey. His mother rejoices to see him alive.

And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water. (1 Nephi 2:6)

And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness...mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us. For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness...And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness... (1 Nephi 5:1-2,8)

Highlights: On the third day after completing his mission the faithful son returned to his loved ones. His mother, who was sure that he was no more, rejoiced to see him alive and believed the words of the prophet.

We'll pause here to ask our two questions again:

1. How does this story witness of Jesus Christ and his divine mission?
2. Who are you in the story, i.e. how does the story relate to you?

Laban

1. Laban was a powerful man in command of many servants--perhaps 50 according to Nephi’s brother Laman. He was in possession of the plates containing the scriptures that Lehi's posterity would need in their new land. Let's take a look at what kind of person Laban was:

And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property. (1 Nephi 3:25)

And after I had [slain Laban], I went forth unto the treasury of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the servant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury...And he spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them. (1 Nephi 4:20,22)

Highlights: Laban was a greedy man who was polluting the church and who tried to destroy the faithful son and his mission. He had the scriptures locked in the treasury with his money, where people could not access them.

2. Nephi was led to Laban, whom he found drunk and passed out. He slew Laban according to the promptings of the Spirit.

Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine...Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword. (1 Nephi 4:7,18)

Highlights: While Laban was drunk his sword fell on his own head. He fell to the earth before the faithful son, who destroyed him.

Again, our two questions:

1. How does this story witness of Jesus Christ and his divine mission?
2. Who are you in the story, i.e. how does the story relate to you?

Zoram

1. Nephi met one of the servants of Laban named Zoram. He went with Zoram to obtain the plates, and then made a deal with him:

...And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the servant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury....And it came to pass that I spake with him, that if he would hearken unto my words, as the Lord liveth, and as I live, even so that if he would hearken unto our words, we would spare his life...And I spake unto him, even with an oath, that he need not fear; that he should be a free man like unto us if he would go down in the wilderness with us. (1 Nephi 4:20,32-33)

Highlights: When the faithful son destroyed Laban, his servant "Zoram" was made free to chose. The offer extended to him was "follow me." If he followed, he would receive liberty and life. If he stayed behind, captivity and death were coming soon. He chose to follow the faithful son and they made a covenant.

2. Here is the rest of the record that we have of Zoram:

And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass and the servant of Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and journeyed unto the tent of our father. (1 Nephi 4:38)

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my brethren took of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife. (1 Nephi 16:7)

And now, Zoram...I know that thou art a true friend unto my son, Nephi, forever. Wherefore, because thou hast been faithful thy seed shall be blessed with his seed... (2 Nephi 1:30-31)

Highlights: Zoram went to the "tent of our father," was married, and eventually reached the promised land. The father, Lehi, gave him and his posterity a inheritance in the promised land with the faithful son for being "true" and "faithful."

One more time--our two questions:

1. How does this story witness of Jesus Christ and his divine mission?
2. Who are you in the story, i.e. how does the story relate to you?

Summary

Let's reread our highlights in a single narrative:

Here we see a father who sends his faithful son to Jerusalem to secure the blessings of the gospel for his posterity. (See John 3:16)

The faithful son was outside the city wall with the three others. He was suffering because of the iniquity of his brethren (over whom he had been chosen to rule) when an angel appeared, strengthening and encouraging him. He would have to make one final trip into Jerusalem to complete his mission, and he would do it alone. (See Isaiah 53:5, Luke 22:43)

On the third day after completing his mission the faithful son returned to his loved ones. His mother, who was sure that he was no more, rejoiced to see him alive and believed the words of the prophet. (See John 20:13-18)

Laban was a greedy man who was polluting the church and tried to destroy the faithful son and his mission. He had the scriptures locked in the treasury with his money, where people could not access them. (See 1 Nephi 13:5-8)

While Laban was drunk his sword fell on his own head. He fell to the earth before the faithful son, who destroyed him. (See 1 Nephi 22:13)

When the faithful son destroyed Laban, his servant "Zoram" was made free to chose. The offer extended to him was "follow me." If he followed, he would receive liberty and life. If he stayed behind, captivity and death were coming soon. He chose to follow the faithful son and they made a covenant. (See 2 Nephi 2:27)

Zoram went to the "tent of our father," was married, and eventually reached the promised land. The father, Lehi, gave him and his posterity a inheritance in the promised land with the faithful son for being "true" and "faithful." (See Romans 8:17)

Nephi's matter-of-fact story is written in such a way that if we try to liken it unto us, it witnesses of the divine mission of Jesus to make us free, our covenant relationship with him, and the gift of eternal life that awaits us if we follow him and endure to the end. In this kind of story, it is important to understand to which character one can liken oneself.

Also note that the richly symbolic method of story telling is common throughout scripture, and more particularly, the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament. It is worth mentioning that Joseph Smith could not have written a book full of stories with such symbolic complexity and such a powerful witness of the Savior.