November Reading Assignments
November 6 1 Nephi 16-18
November 13 1 Nephi 19-22
November 20 No class
November 27 2 Nephi 1-3
We began class by exploring why Nephi used Egyptian in his writing. For information:
knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/did-ancient-israelites-write-egyptian
We began class by exploring why Nephi used Egyptian in his writing. For information:
knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/did-ancient-israelites-write-egyptian
“I Dreamed a Dream”
“This remarkably detailed vision of Christ’s ministry, from his birth and ministry and crucifixion in the Old World to his appearance and teachings in the New World to his role in the latter-day restoration of all things, is all the more impressive coming as it does in the first thirty pages of the Book of Mormon, a concise introduction to the reader of the book’s central purpose in declaring that Jesus is the Christ” Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and The New Covenant, pg. 42.
“In harmony with biblical reports of symbolic dreams, the symbolism of the tree and its fruit is not explained to Lehi in his dream. In fact, during his own vision, Nephi indicated to the Spirit of the Lord that he wanted to understand the interpretation of the meaning of the tree. It may be hard to imagine that Lehi and Nephi did not initially understand what the tree and fruit and other symbols in Lehi’s dream represented. Presumably they discussed some possibilities. But the symbolic dream was a revelation from God, and as such it required a divine interpretation to accurately understand the message God intended to communicate. It was not wise to merely guess at what visual revelation was intended to convey. Similarly, the dreams given to Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar had come from God and their interpretations were dependent upon specific revelation from him.
Such biblical combination of dreams plus interpretation function as prophecy. Before Lehi and his family could fully appreciate this, Lehi’s dream needed an inspired, authoritative interpretation.
Such biblical combination of dreams plus interpretation function as prophecy. Before Lehi and his family could fully appreciate this, Lehi’s dream needed an inspired, authoritative interpretation.
Complicating the issue of their understanding Lehi’s dream is the fact that many of the images in the dream report have multiple symbolic meanings. First Nephi, therefore, portrays Nephi authoritatively relating through his vision experience the one true interpretation of the tree and the other symbols in his father’s dream. Nephi’s report of his vision permanently establishes the interpretation of Lehi’s dream and its symbols such that those reading this account do not venture alternative views on the symbolism." Dana M. Pike, “Lehi Dreamed a Dream: The Report of Lehi’s Dream in Its Biblical Context,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 92–118. rsc.byu.edu/archived/things-which-my-father-saw/6-lehi-dreamed-dream-report-lehis-dream-its-biblical-context
Group 1 1 Nephi 8: 21-23
Group 2 1 Nephi 8: 24-25, 28
Group 3 1 Nephi 8: 26-27
Group 4 1 Nephi 8:30
Read the above passages looking for what the group who stayed at the tree did differently than the other three groups.
Nephi's Vision
“How has Nephi come to this understanding? Clearly, the answer to his question about the meaning of the tree lies in the virgin mother and her child. It seems, in fact, that the virgin is the tree in some sense. Even the language used to describe her echoes that used for the tree. Just as she was ‘exceedingly fair and white,’ ‘most beautiful and fair above all other virgins,’ so was the tree’s beauty ‘far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow.’ Significantly, though, it was only when she appeared with a baby and was identified as ‘the mother of the Son of God’ that Nephi grasps the tree’s meaning.
Why would Nephi see a connection between a tree and the virginal mother of a divine child? I believe that Nephi’s vision reflects a meaning of the ‘sacred tree’ that is unique to the ancient Near East, and that, indeed, can only be fully appreciated when the ancient Canaanite and Israelite associations of that tree are borne in mind.” Daniel C. Peterson, “Nephi and His Asherah,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/2 (2000): 16–25.
For more information:
Why would Nephi see a connection between a tree and the virginal mother of a divine child? I believe that Nephi’s vision reflects a meaning of the ‘sacred tree’ that is unique to the ancient Near East, and that, indeed, can only be fully appreciated when the ancient Canaanite and Israelite associations of that tree are borne in mind.” Daniel C. Peterson, “Nephi and His Asherah,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/2 (2000): 16–25.
For more information:
The following quotes are taken from:
Amy Easton-Flake, “Lehi’s Dream as a Template for Understanding Each Act of Nephi’s Vision,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 179–98. rsc.byu.edu/archived/things-which-my-father-saw/10-lehis-dream-template-understanding-each-act-nephis-vision
“I employ a methodology of literary analysis in which I analyze Nephi’s authorial choices, the interactions between Nephi and his guides, the established narrative logic, and the repetition, overlapping, and conjoining words and images in 1 Nephi 11 through 14.
Such an analysis reveals that the connections between Lehi’s dream and Nephi’s vision do not cease after 1 Nephi 12, as most readers believe, but instead continue until the end of Nephi’s vision in 14. Close analysis of all of these chapters reveals that these chapters contain further interpretations of different aspects of Lehi’s dream played out in specific temporal and historical moments.”
Such an analysis reveals that the connections between Lehi’s dream and Nephi’s vision do not cease after 1 Nephi 12, as most readers believe, but instead continue until the end of Nephi’s vision in 14. Close analysis of all of these chapters reveals that these chapters contain further interpretations of different aspects of Lehi’s dream played out in specific temporal and historical moments.”
“Nephi is constantly helping the reader to understand and see connections between the acts of his vision and his father’s dream and revealing new layers of meaning for each of the symbols.”
Act 1 Christ’s Earthly Ministry (1 Nephi 11)
Act 2 The Nephites and the Lamanites in the Land of Promise (1 Nephi 12)
Act 3 The Gentiles and House of Israel in America (1 Nephi 13-14:6)
Act 4 Time before Christ’s Second Coming (1 Nephi 14:7-30)
There is a basic pattern used by the angel to help Nephi understand the correct interpretation. “The angel shows Nephi a symbol followed by a vision sequence that is an interpretation of that symbol. Following this established logic of the vision, Nephi receives the specific interpretation of each of these symbols within the vision of Christ’s life.”
“Significantly, the world in the dream can only be reached by holding firm to the word of God, and Lehi is told that all those who come to this promised land ‘should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord’ (2 Nephi 1:5). Nephi sees the historical fulfillments of this prophecy in acts 1 and 3 of his vision. Recognizing that the rod of iron leads to a new world as well as the tree of life helps us understand how intimately connected to Lehi’s dream are acts 2, 3 and 4 of Nephi’s vision—in essence, they show what happens to individuals as they obtain and live in this new world.”
“Lehi’s dream teaches that only the iron rod, meaning the word of God, leads people to the the tree and the field; the Spirit of God performs this function in act 3 as he leads individuals out of captivity and to the New World. Worth noting is the manifestation of the word of God in each of its major forms over the course of this vision. In act 1 Jesus Christ embodies the word of God, here in act 3 the Holy Ghost becomes the iron rod that leads individuals to the New World and later in act 3 the scriptures hold the word of God that leads God’s children to Christ and eternal life. Consequently, Nephi’s vision also helps the reader understand the different ways God makes known his word and leads his children to eternal life.”
I invite you to read and study Amy Easton-Flake's analysis of this dream/vision experience. She will guide you to understand how closely Nephi's entire vision is tied to Lehi's dream. Happy reading!
