SABOM, 1 Nephi 8

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1 Nephi 8	And it came to pass (8:1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 27, 32, 36) (8:2-38) Lehii's Dream Nephi dreams about a tree with white, sweet-tasting fruit. He wants his family to eat the fruit. Nephi, Sam, and Sariah do; Laman and Lemuel don't. An iron rod leads people to the tree, but some are ashamed to eat its fruit after being taunted by well-dressed people in a building that floats in the sky. Those who don't eat the fruit or who leave after eating it are lost, drowned, or destroyed. (Lehi's dream was nearly identical to Joseph Smith, Sr.'s dream 2400 years later, before Joseph Smith, Jr. "translated" the Book of Mormon.) (8:2) "Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision." (8:3-4) Lehi thinks his dream assures the salvation of Nephi, Sam, and "their seed" and the damnation of Laman and Lemuel. (Because the former ate the magic fruit and the latter didn't.) "I have reason to rejoice ... because of Nephi and ... Sam; for ... they, and also many of their seed, will be saved. But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly." Exceedingly (8:4, 12, 23, 27, 36) (8:10-33) (8:10) Lehi dreamed about tree with fruit that could make you happy if you ate it (or smoked it?). "I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy." (8:11) Lehi partook of the fruit thereof, and it was the sweetest thing he'd ever tasted, and was whiter than anything he'd ever seen before. (Being white is the best thing a thing can be in the Book of Mormon.) "I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted ... and ... white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen." (8:12) And it made him exceedingly happy, happier than he'd ever been before. He was so darned happy he could hardly stand it. So he wanted his family to eat from the happy tree, too. "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also." (8:13) So Lehi cast his eyes round about until he discovered his family. "I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family." (8:14-16) Lehi told his family to eat the happy fruit, and the good members of his family (Nephi, Sariah, and Sam) ate it. "I beheld ... Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi ... And it came to pass that I ... did say unto them with a loud voice that they should ... partake of the fruit ... And it came to pass that they did." (8:17-18) After the good guys ate the good fruit, Lehi cast his eyes about again until he saw Laman and Lemuel. He told them to eat the fruit, but they wouldn't do it (because they were bad). "And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes ... that perhaps I might see them. And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit." (8:19) Lehi saw an iron rod along the side of the river that people clung to as they traveled towards the happy tree. "And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood." (8:23) In the background there was a mist of darkness that lots of people got lost in. "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." (8:24) But some managed to find the happy-fruit tree by hanging on to the rod of iron. "And it came to pass that I beheld others ... clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did ... partake of the fruit of the tree." (8:25) But after partaking of the happy fruit, the people cast their eyes about like they were ashamed or something. "And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed." (8:26) Then Lehi cast his eyes about again and saw a big building floating in the air. "And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld ... a great and spacious building ... in the air, high above the earth." (8:27) The building was filled with people that were looking down and pointing and laughing at the people eating the happy fruit. "It was filled with people ... and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were ... mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who ... were partaking of the fruit." (8:28) Then the people who were ashamed after eating the happy fruit crawled off into the darkness and got lost. "And 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." (8:31-32) Some of the ashamed fruit-eaters made it to the big sky building, but others drowned. "He also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building. And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain." (8:33) Those that made it into the big building in the sky began pointing the finger of scorn at the happy fruit eaters below. "And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And ... they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit. "
8:1 And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.
8:2 And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.
8:3 And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.
8:4 But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
8:5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
8:6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
8:7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
8:8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
8:9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.
8:10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
8:11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it 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.
8:12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
8:13 And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit.
8:14 And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go.
8:15 And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.
8:16 And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.
8:17 And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.
8:18 And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit.
8:19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
8:20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the f ountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
8:21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
8:22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
8:23 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.
8:24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.
8:25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
8:26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
8:27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
8:28 And 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.
8:29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.
8:30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
8:31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
8:32 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
8:33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
8:34 These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away.
8:35 And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.
8:36 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.
8:37 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.
8:38 And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.

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Dwindling in Unbelief: 1 Nephi 8: Pointing the finger of scorn at Lehi's magic happy-fruit tree
The Annotated Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 8