The word “strait” has been recently restored from the Original and Printers Manuscripts. This restores the intended meaning of “narrow, limited, confining.” The implication is that the path beside the rod of iron is wide enough for one person only. Thus, a person must have direct personal contact with the word of God [or their own personal testimony of the covenants of the Lord] in order to reach the tree of life. [Zarahemla Research Foundation, Study Book of Mormon, p. 17]
“A Strait and Narrow Path - Potter”
George Potter and Richard Wellington note that in Lehi’s dream, “a strait and narrow path” (1 Nephi 8:20) leads along by the rod of iron and extends along the bank of the river. It leads to the tree, the head of the fountain and the large field at one end and to the great and spacious building at the other.
One should note that the spelling of the word Nephi uses to describe the path is strait. This does not mean that the path runs in a straight line but rather a “narrow, limited, confined or confining” path. What better description could there be for the smooth natural gravel walkway that runs beside the river nearly four miles through the wadi Tayyib al-Ism canyon? The path is confined by the towering walls of the canyon which are seldom more than forty feet apart at the base, and there are no side canyons or exits. There are no side turns that can be taken, just one confined path that leads from the upper valley all the way to the Gulf of Aqaba.
Almost without exception the wadis in the land of Midian are wide and open and one is free to take any path one wishes . The narrow and confining nature of the canyon in wadi Tayyib al-Ism is unique, in our experience of traveling in Arabia, inasmuch as it is the only placed we have explored where confining walls allow the traveler to walk along a narrow path and nowhere else. The Lord taught that “narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). Clearly the path too is a representation of Him: “Jesus saith … I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). [George Potter & Richard Wellington, Discovering Nephi’s Trail, Chapter 3, p. 17, Unpublished]
1 Nephi 8:20 A strait and narrow path (Potter) [Illustration]: Level footpath runs along the river the entire length of the canyon. [George Potter & Richard Wellington, Discovering Nephi’s Trail, Chapter 3, p. 17, Unpublished]