The dream of Lehi (1 Nephi 8) and the subsequent vision of Nephi in which he is given the interpretation of his father's dream comprise one of the most remarkable spiritual experiences recorded in all scripture. As you read this material, watch for the interpretation of the major symbols in the dream and also for the examples shown to Nephi to illustrate and clarify the interpretation. Most of these examples relate to the future events of the Lehite colony and to the scattering and gathering of other remnants of the house of Israel.
The following brief and incomplete outline might help you to understand better some of the symbols, interpretations, and examples.
Symbol Interpretation Examples Given
- dark and dreary waste (8:7)
- large and spacious field (8:9, 20)
- tree (8:10); also called love of God (11 :21-22) the coming of the Son "tree of life" (11:25; of God (11: 13-22) 15:21-22)
- the fruit of the tree (8:11-12)
- river of water (8: 13); hell and the depths wickedness and war
- also called "fountain thereof (12:16;
- of filthy water" (12:16) 15:26-36)
- rod of iron (8:19) the word of God the ministry of the Son
- (11:25; 15:23-25) of God (11:24-25)
- mist of darkness temptations of the apostasy, wickedness,
- devil (12:17) war, the great abominable church, plain and precious things removed from the scriptures (12:19-23; 3:1-9, 20-29)
- great and spacious the pride, wisdom, the persecution of the building (8:26) and vain imaginations Son of God and those of the world (11:35- who followed him 36; 12:18) (11:26-36)
