# 1 Nephi 8

*Paraphrase*

We had gathered seeds of every kind—grain seeds and fruit seeds, everything we’d need.

### Lehi’s Vision Begins

While we camped in the wilderness, my father told us: “I’ve had a dream—a vision from God. What I saw gives me hope for Nephi and Sam. I believe they and many of their children will be saved.”

“But Laman and Lemuel—I’m terrified for you. In my dream, I saw myself in a dark, desolate wilderness. A man in a white robe appeared and stood in front of me. He told me to follow him. As I followed, I found myself in a wasteland—dark and empty. After walking in darkness for hours, I prayed to the Lord for mercy.”

“After I prayed, a vast field opened up before me.”

### The Tree of Life

“I saw a tree with fruit that looked wonderful—the kind that makes you happy just looking at it. 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. 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.”

“Looking around for my family, I noticed a river running near the tree. I traced the river to its source and saw your mother Sariah with Sam and Nephi. They stood there, looking lost. I waved and called out loud: “Come here! Taste this fruit—it’s wonderful!” They came and ate the fruit.”

“I wanted Laman and Lemuel to come too, so I looked upriver to find them. I saw them, but they wouldn’t come.”

### The Path and the Iron Rod

“Then I noticed an iron rod running along the riverbank all the way to the tree. 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.”

“I saw countless people pushing forward, trying to reach the path to the tree. They found the path and started walking. Then a thick darkness fell—so dense that people lost their way, wandered off, and disappeared.”

“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. After eating the fruit, they looked around nervously, as if embarrassed.”

### The Great Building

“I looked around too and saw a huge building across the river, floating in the air high above the ground. 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. Those who had tasted the fruit felt ashamed when they saw the mockers. They left the tree, took forbidden paths, and got lost.”

I, Nephi, won’t record everything my father said. 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.

He also saw crowds feeling their way toward that huge, floating building. Many drowned in the fountain’s depths. Many more disappeared from sight, wandering down strange roads. Huge crowds entered that strange building. Once inside, they mocked me and everyone eating the fruit. But we ignored them. My father said: “Everyone who listened to the mockers fell away.”

Laman and Lemuel never ate the fruit.

### A Father’s Warning

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. 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. After preaching and prophesying many things, he told them to keep the Lord’s commandments. Then he stopped talking.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/1-nephi/8)*
