{"book":"1-nephi","chapter":8,"edition":"paraphrase","verses":[{"number":1,"content":"We had gathered seeds of every kind—grain seeds and fruit seeds, everything we’d need."},{"number":2,"content":"While we camped in the wilderness, my father told us: 'I’ve had a dream—a vision from God.'"},{"number":3,"content":"'What I saw gives me hope for Nephi and Sam. I believe they and many of their children will be saved.'"},{"number":4,"content":"'But Laman and Lemuel—I’m terrified for you. In my dream, I saw myself in a dark, desolate wilderness.'"},{"number":5,"content":"'A man in a white robe appeared and stood in front of me.'"},{"number":6,"content":"'He told me to follow him.'"},{"number":7,"content":"'As I followed, I found myself in a wasteland—dark and empty.'"},{"number":8,"content":"'After walking in darkness for hours, I prayed to the Lord for mercy.'"},{"number":9,"content":"'After I prayed, a vast field opened up before me.'"},{"number":10,"content":"'I saw a tree with fruit that looked wonderful—the kind that makes you happy just looking at it.'"},{"number":11,"content":"'I went and tasted the fruit. It was sweeter than anything I’d ever tasted—white and pure, brighter than anything I’d ever seen.'"},{"number":12,"content":"'As I ate it, joy filled my whole soul. I wanted my family to taste it too—I knew this fruit was better than anything else.'"},{"number":13,"content":"'Looking around for my family, I noticed a river running near the tree.'"},{"number":14,"content":"'I traced the river to its source and saw your mother Sariah with Sam and Nephi. They stood there, looking lost.'"},{"number":15,"content":"'I waved and called out loud: 'Come here! Taste this fruit—it’s wonderful!''"},{"number":16,"content":"'They came and ate the fruit.'"},{"number":17,"content":"'I wanted Laman and Lemuel to come too, so I looked upriver to find them.'"},{"number":18,"content":"'I saw them, but they wouldn’t come.'"},{"number":19,"content":"'Then I noticed an iron rod running along the riverbank all the way to the tree.'"},{"number":20,"content":"'A narrow path ran beside the iron rod to the tree, starting from the fountain and stretching into a field so vast it seemed like a whole world.'"},{"number":21,"content":"'I saw countless people pushing forward, trying to reach the path to the tree.'"},{"number":22,"content":"'They found the path and started walking.'"},{"number":23,"content":"'Then a thick darkness fell—so dense that people lost their way, wandered off, and disappeared.'"},{"number":24,"content":"'I saw others pushing forward. They grabbed the iron rod and held on tight, pressing through the darkness until they reached the tree and ate its fruit.'"},{"number":25,"content":"'After eating the fruit, they looked around nervously, as if embarrassed.'"},{"number":26,"content":"'I looked around too and saw a huge building across the river, floating in the air high above the ground.'"},{"number":27,"content":"'The building was packed with people—young and old, men and women, all dressed in expensive clothes. They were laughing and pointing at those eating the fruit.'"},{"number":28,"content":"'Those who had tasted the fruit felt ashamed when they saw the mockers. They left the tree, took forbidden paths, and got lost.'"},{"number":29,"content":"I, Nephi, won’t record everything my father said."},{"number":30,"content":"To keep this brief: He saw more crowds pressing forward. They grabbed the iron rod and held tight, never letting go until they reached the tree and ate its fruit."},{"number":31,"content":"He also saw crowds feeling their way toward that huge, floating building."},{"number":32,"content":"Many drowned in the fountain’s depths. Many more disappeared from sight, wandering down strange roads."},{"number":33,"content":"Huge crowds entered that strange building. Once inside, they mocked me and everyone eating the fruit. But we ignored them."},{"number":34,"content":"My father said: 'Everyone who listened to the mockers fell away.'"},{"number":35,"content":"Laman and Lemuel never ate the fruit."},{"number":36,"content":"After telling us his whole vision—and there was much more—my father said he was terrified for Laman and Lemuel. He feared they’d be cut off from the Lord’s presence."},{"number":37,"content":"With all the love of a worried parent, he begged them to listen. Maybe the Lord would show mercy and not abandon them. He preached to them with everything he had."},{"number":38,"content":"After preaching and prophesying many things, he told them to keep the Lord’s commandments. Then he stopped talking."}],"paragraphing":{"paragraphBreaks":[{"verseNumber":4,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":1},{"verseNumber":9,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":2},{"verseNumber":13,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":3},{"verseNumber":17,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":4},{"verseNumber":21,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":5},{"verseNumber":24,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":6},{"verseNumber":29,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":7},{"verseNumber":31,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":8},{"verseNumber":35,"position":"before_verse","sortOrder":9}],"headings":[{"verseNumber":2,"position":"before_verse","text":"Lehi’s Vision Begins","level":3,"sortOrder":1},{"verseNumber":10,"position":"before_verse","text":"The Tree of Life","level":3,"sortOrder":2},{"verseNumber":19,"position":"before_verse","text":"The Path and the Iron Rod","level":3,"sortOrder":3},{"verseNumber":26,"position":"before_verse","text":"The Great Building","level":3,"sortOrder":4},{"verseNumber":36,"position":"before_verse","text":"A Father’s Warning","level":3,"sortOrder":5}]},"audio":"https://archive.org/download/bofm-paraphrase-audio/1-nephi-8.mp3"}