Faith to Grow Your Tree of Life

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, there were two trees: The tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the Tree of Life. When they were cast out, the Lord put Angels and a flaming sword to guard the Tree of Life to ensure that Adam and Eve would not partake of these blessings prematurely. Compare this to Alma 32.
Alma tells us that we must plant a seed in our heart and nourish it with our faith. Then, if we nourish it, it will grow into a tree with the fruit of eternal life. I like this image of us growing our own Tree of Life. This process requires faith. We must believe in the Savior Jesus Christ and trust that His atonement will allow us to repent of all of our sins and become clean, so we can partake of the fruit and live eternally as a perfect being. Planting a tree requires nutrients and water. We must have faith to open up the scriptures and act on the principles and doctrines that we learn in the book. We should go to church each week and having faith that if we pay attention, we will learn something valuable and have our testimonies strengthened. This requires us to put our phones down and open up our scriptures and listen with our hearts to what the speaker and the Holy Ghost are saying to us.  We have to have faith to pray with a sincere heart, and not just talk to the Lord, but ask Him how we can change and then have faith to act on that prompting.
I struggle with this one a lot. I know that it I pray to be patient, the Lord will give me a trial that will teach me patience. But sometimes I don't want to have another trial in my life, I don't want to be taught patience, I just want to magically acquire patience. But have faith that the Lord will not give you a trial that you cannot endure, you will be tested and it will be hard, but rely on the Lord who is all-powerful and His Son who knows exactly what you are going through and can comfort you perfectly.
As we go through life making the effort to nurture our tree, it will grow big and healthy and it will indeed provide mature ripe fruit that will lead us to eternal life. The journey requires faith. There will be trials, there will be suffering, but there will also be miracles and tender mercies. And if we endure with faith, we will be able to partake of the fruit and live with our Heavenly Father forever.
It requires faith. And faith requires action.

The Tree of Life and Rock Climbing

          Let's talk Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life. There are two groups that make it to the tree, but one of the groups after eating of the fruit became ashamed and became lost, (1 Ne. 8:28). So what is the difference between these two groups? They both make it to the tree, they both partake of the fruit, why did one group fall away? I think it is in the journey. 

          The group that becomes lost after partaking of the fruit press forward "clinging to the rod of iron" (1 Ne 8:24). This clinging implies fear. They are scared as they press forward in the dark. I imagine a child clinging to his mother, and it slows the mother and child down because they are holding so tightly. This group pressed forward through life with so much fear that they held themselves back. 

          The group that stays at the tree and beckons others to come partake of the fruit press forward "continually holding fast to the rod of iron" (1 Ne 8:30). Why it is important to always have your hand on the rod of iron? Let me compare this to rock climbing. My brother and I went rock climbing in a quarry and I got to belay him. When you belay, you have to always keep your dominant hand on the rope. When I pull the rope down, I have to put my left hand below my right, then slide my right hand up the rope. My right hand continually holds fast to the rope so that I can catch the climber if they fall while I'm tightening the rope. This group that Lehi describes in continually holding fast and continually pressing forward and moving 'up the wall' (to put it in rock climbing terms). This group is proactive, they are moving through life and making choices, but always relying on the Lord's direction. 

          I hope that I can be this second group and continually hold fast to the rod of iron as I journey through this life. I know that I can make it up the rock wall knowing that they Lord is my belayer and that I can rely on Him when I am doing well, and when I slip and fall. The church is true and we can use the scriptures, prayer, temple attendance, family and so many more resources as direction to get through this life. 

The Book of Mormon- NOT Just a Collection of Stories

          For my Teachings and Doctrines of the Book of Mormon class, I have to write a post each week this semester about the Book of Mormon and what I am thinking and learning, so... Here we go!

            I think it is easy to think of the Book of Mormon as a collection of stories that teach true principles rather than a collection of true stories that contain doctrine and principles. One of the first things Nephi documents is his father seeing a pillar of fire (1 Ne: 6). Unless you have seen a miracle occur in your life, it is easy to think that seeing angels and walking on water is just a special effect in a movie.

            But, The Book of Mormon is not just a collection of parables or stories that were made up, everything happened and the authors had a purpose in documenting these occurrences. On the title page it says that the book was written to show the “great things the Lord hath done for their fathers.” Nephi tells us that his writings will show us the “tender mercies of the Lord.” The purpose of this book is to show us that miracles happen and that we can partake of the greatest miracle of all- the Atonement.

            I know that there are people out there who have seen miracles come into their lives because of this book. When I read the Book of Mormon, I have the spirit with me more often and I notice the small mercy moments in my life that I would have overlooked if I wasn’t paying attention. By looking for the miracles and the tender mercies in the Book of Mormon, I am able to learn the ‘language of miracles’ and better understand the influence that the Lord has in my life.

            The Lord did not leave us here to figure things out on our own. He gave us a guide  in the Book of Mormon and He gave us a means to get back to Him through Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the chance that I have to witness the “magic” in the Book of Mormon. The book is true and the miracles that happened to them can happen to  you.

To view a copy of the Book of Mormon online, go to https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng