1 Nephi 8

People in this chapter

This is one of the best-known chapters in the Book of Mormon. Lehi tells his family, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision (v. 2). In it he wanders through darkness, prays, and finds a tree whose fruit is sweeter and whiter than anything he has known. The first thing he wants is for his family to taste it.

Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.

1 Nephi 8:1-4I Have Dreamed a Dream

1And 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.

Before the dream, the family gathers seeds of every kind. They are getting ready for a land they have never seen.

2And 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. 3And 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. 4But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.

Lehi calls it a dream and a vision. Nephi later learns what each symbol means. The tree is the love of God. The rod of iron is the word of God. The mist is temptation. The great building is pride.

Before Lehi tells the dream, he tells how it made him feel: joy for Nephi and Sam, fear for Laman and Lemuel. This is a father's dream about his children.

1 Nephi 8:5-12Fruit Desirable to Make One Happy

5And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me. 6And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him. 7And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste. 8And 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. 9And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.

A man in a white robe leads Lehi, and at first the way is dark. After many hours Lehi prays for mercy. Then the darkness opens to a large field and a tree.

10And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. 11And 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.

The fruit makes people happy. It is sweeter and whiter than anything Lehi has known. Nephi learns that the tree is the love of God.

12And 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.

1 Nephi 8:13-18But They Would Not Come

13And 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.

Near the tree runs a river. Nephi later learns it is filthy water, a picture of the gulf between the wicked and God. Lehi was so focused on the fruit that he didn't notice.

14And 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. 15And 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. 16And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.

Sariah, Sam, and Nephi are standing still, unsure where to go. Lehi waves and calls loudly, and they come. Sometimes people just need someone to call them.

17And 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. 18And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit.

Lehi looks for Laman and Lemuel too. He sees them. They would not come. The fruit was there and the invitation was real. They chose not to.

1 Nephi 8:19-24The Rod of Iron and the Mist of Darkness

19And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood. 20And 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 fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.

The rod of iron is the word of God. Nephi taught that whoever holds fast to it would never perish.

A strait and narrow path runs beside the rod. Nephi later teaches that we enter it through repentance and baptism, and then press forward to the end.

21And 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. 22And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree. 23And 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.

The first group starts on the path, but when the mist of darkness rises they wander off and are lost. Nephi learns the mists are the temptations of the devil.

24And 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.

The second group grabs the rod and clings to it through the mist. They reach the tree and eat. The rod got them through the darkness.

1 Nephi 8:25-34But We Heeded Them Not

25And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed. 26And 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. 27And 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. 28And 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.

Across the river is a great and spacious building full of finely dressed people mocking those who eat the fruit. Nephi learns the building is the pride of the world.

Some who had eaten the fruit felt ashamed because of the mocking, and they left the tree. They had made it all the way, and they let go because of what others said.

29And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father. 30But, 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.

The third group continually holds fast to the rod. When they reach the tree, they fell down and eat. They don't leave.

31And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building. 32And 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.

The fourth group never aims for the tree. They feel their way toward the building. Some drown in the river. Some wander off on strange roads.

33And 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. 34These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away.

The mockers point at Lehi too. His answer: we heeded them not. Everyone who listened to them fell away.

1 Nephi 8:35-38With All the Feeling of a Tender Parent

35And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father. 36And 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.

The dream ends where it began, with Laman and Lemuel. They did not eat. Lehi is afraid they will be cut off from the Lord's presence.

37And 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. 38And 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.

Lehi doesn't give up on his sons. He pleads with them with all the feeling of a tender parent, hoping the Lord will be merciful, and he teaches them to keep the commandments.

Research trail

Sources & further study

These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.

Where this echoes in Scripture

I Have Dreamed a Dream

Fruit Desirable to Make One Happy

But They Would Not Come

The Rod of Iron and the Mist of Darkness

But We Heeded Them Not

With All the Feeling of a Tender Parent