Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 2
COMPLETE JOURNEY AND GATHER SEEDS, VER. 33-40
1 Ne 2:40 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 fruits of every kind.
2:40 This was an important step for their future well-being (5:214, 215). While traveling they to
rely on hunting and foraging for fruit and honey (5:62) to survive. They were not planning to live
always as nomads and hunters. It is quite probable that they planted crops of grain as they moved
toward the ocean, as it took them eight years to reach it (5:64). They had traveled a distance of
about 2,500 miles. "Like migrating Arabs of the desert, they probably moved ahead during the
cooler months of the year and raised crops in the late spring and sultry summers."
LEHI DREAMS OF A FIELD, TREE, AND RIVER, VER. 41-61
1 Ne 2:41 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.
2:41 There is a parallel in the dream and vision experience, yet they are not synonymous. Peter
calls attention to Joel's prophecy, "Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions" (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17). Both are commonly received during one's sleep. Daniel declared,
"I saw in my vision by night" (7:2). Jacob claimed to receive divine messages through dreams
(Gen. 31:11) as also did Joseph (Gen. 37:5ff). In a vision the picture image is more distinct and
frequently is symbolic in character.
Dreams were regarded as possible means of revelation in all stages of biblical thought. Even in the
New Testament they are so referred to (Matt. 1:20; 2:13, 19, A.V.). In the Inspired Version the last
two references change the words "dream" to "vision."
Joseph records a vision in Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1886. "The vail was taken from our minds,
and the eyes of our understanding were opened. We saw the Lord" (Church History, Vol. 2, p. 46).
1 Ne 2:44 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.
1 Ne 2:45 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
2:44, 45 This is interpreted as a heavenly personage who led Lehi through "a dark and dreary
wilderness" (2:43). They were “many hours in darkness" until they finally came to "a large and
spacious field" (2:47,48).
Lehi must have been terrified, for he "began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy"
(2:47). This fear was not so much for himself as for his sons, Laman and Lemuel (2:43).
1 Ne 2:49 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
2:49 This tree, as later explained (3:63-65), represented "the love of God, which sheddeth itself
abroad in the hearts of the children of men." The fruit of this tree is righteousness and love. Laman
and Lemuel rejected this fruit and followed after the ways of evil and Satan. Therefore, not only
would they personally be unhappy but they would also cause trouble for all around them.