Symbolism: There are two different but connected images here. The first is partaking of the fruit of the tree of life and the second is the eating and drinking of the bread and waters of life. Both of these images have root in the same original tree of life symbol, but have probably taken different paths to Alma’s expression. The fruit of the tree of life is almost certainly related to Lehi’s and Nephi’s dream (1 Ne. 8:10–12), which would have continued to influence their descendants.
The phrase “the bread and the waters of life” was most likely influenced by John 6:35: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” This verse spells out that the bread of life satisfies hunger, while the verse’s structure implies that it is the water of life that satisfies thirst. The structural pairing makes it clear that “never thirst” must refer to a liquid rather than “bread.” The connection between Christ and the waters of life is made explicit in Revelations 21:6.
This New Testament image, however, came from the Old Testament tradition of the tree of life with which Lehi and Nephi would have been familiar even before their visions. (See commentary accompanying 1 Nephi 8:2–3.) The tree of life had both aspects: fruit on its branches and water that flowed from the base. Both substances were powerful in providing life to any who would partake of them. A significant difference between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon images, however, is that those who partake of the New Testament bread and water of life will never hunger nor thirst. The effect is eternal. In contrast, those who partake of the fruit in Lehi’s dream are not guaranteed eternal benefits, since they may subsequently be lost (1 Ne. 8:28). This essential difference in the two images justifies my conclusion that they come from different traditions.
Alma’s tree of life echoes Lehi’s image, since one may fall after tasting its fruit. He does not spell out this consequence, but the context makes it clear. He is speaking to church members who had once sung the song of redeeming love (partaken of the fruit) but are now in dire need of repentance.