The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is a universal symbol found in religions and cultures all over the world. It has several meanings, the most common being in mortality. As I was online reading about this I found the following on Wikipedia:

"The Tree of Life vision is a vision described and discussed in the Book of Mormon. According to the Book of Mormon, the vision was received in a dream by the prophet Lehi, and later in vision by his son Nephi, who wrote about it in the first book of Nephi. The vision includes a path leading to a tree symbolizing salvation, with an iron rod along the path whereby followers of Jesus may hold to the rod and avoid wandering off the path into pits or waters symbolizing the ways of sin. The vision also included a large building wherein the wicked look down at the righteous and mock them.

The vision is said to symbolize the spiritual plight of humanity and is a well-known and cited story within Mormonism."

I'd sure like to know who wrote that! That description doesn't even come close to capturing the message of the Book of Mormon's Tree of Life.

If you go to Mormon wiki.com it says this:

"The tree of life is a common important symbol in Mormonism. It represents eternal life and the love of God as manifested by Jesus Christ, our Savior."

I find 1 Nephi chapter 11 to be a beautiful description of that tree as Nephi asks his spirit guide for an interpretation. In answer, Nephi is showing the birth of the Savior and is asked "Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?" And Nephi then replies, "Yea, it is the love of God which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men, wherefore, it is the most desirable of all things."

The spirit guide then adds, "Yea, and the most joyous to the soul."

I think of this passage of scripture as being a critical piece in the Restoration. At the heart of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the basic truth that we are children of Heavenly Parents who love us. Jesus Christ is the manifestation of their love and central to their plan that allows us to progress and fulfill our eternal destiny and potential.

When we look at any depiction of that tree we should smile and be reminded of God's love - the love that has the power to transform us into the holy creatures we are meant to be.

There is a rod of iron to guide us - the word of God is recognizable. It always is meant to reflect His love.

There are mists of darkness - so many things in life that tear us down, that prevent us from seeing, or restrain us from reaching, our potential. 

And there are unfortunately people who mock us, who stuck in their own unhappiness, can't understand that there is just so much more to life.

I truly believe that the most important thing we ever learn is that God loves us - not that someone has told us it is so - but that in our own quiet moments of prayers and meditation we have experienced His love, His embrace, that warmth that permeates our being and we know; we know that we are loved - not for what we do but for who we are.

If I could live life over, this is the truth I would expend my energy proclaiming. I would say to my children every day "God loves you so much. What a marvellous thing that He allowed such a beloved child to come into my life!"

I would say to every aching soul, "God loves you so much. He will help you through this trial."

I would say to everyone, "God is Love."

The very worst thing we do is to reduce the gospel to a litany of do's and don'ts and to remove from at the beautiful story of who we are, why we are here on the earth, and what lies ahead in the eternities.

That story is a love story and one that has the power to change lives and transform people. We should feel joyous as we tell it, the joy feel as we sing a song such as this one where the music and the words come together in joyous praise!

Go tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere. 

Go tell it on the mountain 

That Jesus Christ is born

This year in Primary we are singing a song called "The Tree of Life". It was composed by Shawna Edwards.  It is another song where the music and words come together to create a feeling of love and joy.  Check it out on YouTube.  

The prophet Nephi had a vision of the Tree of Life,

He saw it shining in the distance, so beautiful and bright.

The sweetest fruit he ever tasted, and white as white can be,

It filled his soul with joy and gladness. He beckoned to his family:

Come to the Tree of Life, partake of its fruit.

I feel the love of God and you'll feel it, too, when you

Come to the Tree of Life, there's joy here and peace.

The greatest place in all the world to be . . . is at the tree.

The Tree of Life is just a symbol of the love of God

The pathway there is straight and narrow so hold on to the rod.

His words will guide us through the darkness and past the mist of gray.

The enemies of God may mock us, but we will boldly stand and say:

Come to the Tree of Life, partake of its fruit.

I feel the love of God and you'll feel it, too, when you

Come to the Tree of Life, there's joy here and peace.

The greatest place in all the world to be . . . is at the tree.