1 Nephi 11-13

I got thinking about something new while reading chapter 11 this time. Nephi is taken on a grand vision-adventure by the Spirit of the Lord, and he is able to see the birth of the Savior, much of the life of the Savior, and the death of the Savior, which events are nearly 600 years away. He is also shown the Vision of the Tree of Life that his father saw, and he is given the interpretation. But it all starts by the Spirit appearing to Nephi while he is “pondering” and asking him the question, “what desirest thou?” (1 Ne. 11:2)

The Spirit already knew what Nephi wanted—He knows everything. But often when the Lord (or the Spirit) asks someone a question, it is to make him/her think about the answer. So I’ve been thinking about that question for me—what do I desire? What do I desire most? And are my daily choices and behaviors consistent with what I say I desire most?

Nephi is shown MANY visions throughout chapters 11-13, and it is fascinating to identify some of the famous events (historical events for us—future events for him) that he is describing!--As well as other important lessons. Look for the following:

• The Meaning of different elements from the Vision of the Tree of Life:
• The tree—the love of God (11:22)
• The rod of iron—the word of God (11:25)
• The great and spacious building—the pride of the world (11:35-36, 12:18)
• Fountain of filthy water—the depths of hell (12:16)
• Mists of darkness—temptations of the devil (12:17)
• The resurrected Savior appears to the people of the ancient American continent (Nephi’s descendants)—(12:4-11)—don’t worry, you’ll read about this later in the Book of Mormon
• The descendants of Laman eventually kill off all the descendants of Nephi (12:19-23)—spoiler alert! Sorry, this gives away the end of the Book of Mormon
• Christopher Columbus and other early settlers of America (13:12-15)
• American Revolutionary War (13:16-19)
• The Bible (13:20-29)
• The Book of Mormon (13:35-41)