“High Above the Earth”

Brant Gardner

Narrative analysis: The construction of elements in Lehi's vision spirals out from the specific to the general. It begins with himself, adds his immediate family, and then expands to include the world. The first extra-familial wanderers we meed are those at the foot of the path. The vision now expands to include many who are not on the path at all, and indeed, those who disdain the path.

Symbolic analysis: The most difficult image is the building standing in the air - "high above the earth." It appears likely that the building is shown detached from the "world" because the large and spacious field in which Lehi stands is representative of the larger path to celestialization, and the building has no part in that. It is visible to it, it obviously can effect it, but has no true place in the world of the tree.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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