My life is a gift; my life has a plan. My life has a purpose; in heav’n it began. My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth And seek for God’s light to direct me from birth. I will follow God’s plan for me, Holding fast to his word and his love. I will work, and I will pray; I will always walk in his way. Then I will be happy on earth And in my home above. Words and music: Vanja Y. Watkins, b © 1981 IRI mp3wma

OOOOne of you will stand on one side of the room and hold the “Birth” sign. OOOOne of you will stand on the other side of the room and hold the “Eternal Life” sign. Birth E t e r n a l L i f e

OOOOur third volunteer gets to wear a blindfold! IIII will turn you around a few times, then you will walk from one sign to the next without help. Eternal Life

NNNNow, the sign holding friends are going to have something that will help. Birth Eternal Life

 Why was the second time easier than the first? Birth Eternal Life

 While we live on earth we are all trying to return to Heavenly Father.  He has given us something to hold on to so we can find our way back to Him.  What has Heavenly Father given us to lead us back to His presence?

This lesson will explain how following Christ’s teachings can help us return to Heavenly Father’s presence.

The scriptures often use symbols.

 A symbol is usually a familiar object that is used to represent a principle or teaching.

FFFFor example, a lamb may be a symbol of purity. JJJJesus Christ is called the Lamb of God.

In this lesson we will learn about symbols that Lehi saw in a dream and their meanings.

“Lesson 4: The Tree of Life,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),12 “Lehi’s Dream,” Book of Mormon Stories, Chapter 6, pgs 18-20

 Lehi told his family about an important vision he had had in a dream.  Lehi’s dream made him happy for Nephi and Sam but sad for Laman and Lemuel.

 In his dream Lehi saw a man wearing a white robe who told Lehi to follow him.  Lehi followed the man into a dark and dreary wilderness.

 After traveling in the darkness for many hours, Lehi prayed for help.  Then he saw a tree with white fruit. This sweet fruit made those who ate it happy.

 Lehi ate the fruit, and it filled him with joy. HHHHe wanted his family to taste the fruit because he knew it would make them happy too.

LLLLehi saw a river flowing near the tree. AAAAt the head of the river he saw Sariah, Sam, and Nephi.

 Sariah, Sam, and Nephi went and tasted the fruit, but Laman and Lemuel would not.  Lehi also saw a rod of iron and a strait and narrow path leading to the tree.

 He saw many people walking on or toward the path.  Because of a mist of darkness, some wandered off the path and became lost.

 Others held tightly to the iron rod and made it through the darkness to the tree.  They tasted the fruit.

 People in a large building on the other side of the river made fun of those who ate the fruit.  Some who had eaten the fruit became ashamed and left the tree.

 Lehi  Lehi saw many people in his dream.  Some  Some held firmly to the iron rod and traveled through the dark mist to the tree.  They  They tasted the fruit.

 Others went to the large building or drowned in the river or became lost.

 Laman and Lemuel would not eat the fruit. LLLLehi worried about them and tried to help them obey God’s commandments.

 Nephi wanted to understand Lehi’s vision.  Nephi prayed and saw an angel of the Lord.  Nephi asked the angel to show him what Lehi had seen.  The angel asked Nephi if he believed Lehi had a vision from the Lord. Nephi said he did.

TTTThe angel showed Nephi a virgin, Mary, and explained that she would be the mother of the Son of God.  Nephi saw Mary holding baby Jesus.

 The angel asked Nephi if he knew the meaning of the tree Lehi saw. NNNNephi said the tree of life represents the love of God. TTTThe angel showed Jesus teaching the gospel and being worshipped.

 Nephi understood that the rod of iron represents the love of God.  The angel showed Nephi the prophet who would prepare the way for Jesus.  He saw this prophet baptize Jesus.

 Nephi saw many people gathered to hear Jesus.  He saw the twelve that followed Jesus.

 Nephi saw Jesus heal the sick and cast out devils.

 Nephi saw Jesus suffer and die for the sins of the world.  He saw that the twelve apostles were persecuted but were faithful.

 The angel explained to Nephi that the great and spacious building represents pride worldly wisdom.  The angel told Nephi that pride and worldly wisdom would bring destruction.

TTTThe angel told Nephi many plain and precious truths of the gospel would be lost. TTTThe angel showed Nephi that eventually the gospel would be restored. NNNNephi was shown many other events that will happen in the future.

 Let’s read 1 Nephi 8:10–12 1 Nephi 8:10–121 Nephi 8:10–12  Why did Lehi want his family to eat the fruit of the tree of life? WWWWhat does Heavenly Father want for all His children?

 Let’s read 1 Nephi 8:13–17 1 Nephi 8:13–171 Nephi 8:13–17  What are some reasons we do not always obey Heavenly Father’s commandments?  Why  Why do you think some of Lehi’s sons ate the fruit of the tree and others didn’t?

TTTThe tree N N N N eeee pppp hhhh iiii 8888 :::: TTTThe love of God in giving the world his Only Begotten Son (see N N N N eeee pppp hhhh iiii :::: –––– ; J J J J J oooo hhhh nnnn 3333 :::: )

 When Nephi asked the angel to show him the meaning of the tree, he saw a vision of the birth and ministry of the Savior.  How do the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ show God’s great love for us?

 The fruit- 1 Nephi 8:11 1 Nephi 8:111 Nephi 8:11  Eternal life (see 1 Nephi 15:36; D&C 14:7) 1 Nephi 15:36 D&C 14:7 1 Nephi 15:36 D&C 14:7

WWWWhat does the fruit of the tree represent? NNNNephi saw that Jesus Christ, because of his love for us, would be crucified for our sins so that we might repent and gain eternal life. EEEEternal life means living with Heavenly Father as families in the celestial kingdom. WWWWhat must we do to obtain eternal life?

 The rod of iron - 1 Nephi 8:19 1 Nephi 8:191 Nephi 8:19  The word of God (see 1 Nephi 15:23–24) 1 Nephi 15:23–241 Nephi 15:23–24

 What does the iron rod represent?  How will reading the Book of Mormon every day help us stay on the path back to our Father in Heaven?  Let’s read 1 Nephi 15:24 1 Nephi 15:241 Nephi 15:24  How has reading the Book of Mormon blessed you?

MMMMist of darkness N N N N eeee pppp hhhh iiii :::: TTTTemptations of the devil (see NNNN eeee pppp hhhh iiii :::: )

 What does the mist of darkness represent?  The temptations of the devil can confuse us and lead us astray.  In what ways does Satan tempt us to leave the strait and narrow path?  What can we do to resist his temptations?  Why are we happier if we stay on the strait and narrow path?

GGGGreat and spacious building NNNN eeee pppp hhhh iiii :::: –––– PPPPride of the world (see NNNN eeee pppp hhhh iiii :::: )

 What does the great and spacious building represent? WWWWho influences people who make fun of us? TTTThe pride of the world. IIIIn what ways have you been made fun of because you were trying to do right?

WWWWe will take turns turning over two cards. Try to match each tree of life symbol with its meaning. IIIIf the cards match, leave them face up. Enr. Act. 1

 1  1 1 Nephi 15:23–24  23  23 And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?  24  24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction. Enr. Act. 2

 I bear testimony that by obeying the commandments we can return to live with Heavenly Father.

 Images and clipart are from lds.org, ldsclipart.com, Microsoft Office, and other websites indicating the images were in the public domain or permitted for church and home use.  The hymns, lesson and scripture story are from lds.org.  Please do not use this presentation for commercial use. Feel free to alter the presentation for use in church or home to suit personal preference.  This presentation is intended to supplement, not replace, the lesson manual and scriptures. Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures and other resources when preparing and conducting the lesson.