I was drifting off to sleep again when many thoughts and images came into my mind at 1:21 am and woke me up. My mind was filled with Lehi’s Dream about his vision of the tree of life. And then all of the words to ‘The Light He Gives’ filled my mind, as if to liken the times today to Lehi’s Dream. And then a pep-talk, relating to all of this, was in my mind.
Lehi’s Dream – What Lehi saw in his vision
(Nephi’s interpretation of his father’s dream)
A large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
A tree, (the love of God) whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. (Lehi partook of the fruit and it was sweeter than anything he had ever tasted. The fruit was whiter than he had ever seen. As Lehi ate the fruit it filled his soul with exceedingly great joy and he knew that it was more desirable than any other fruit.) (fruit: the greatest of all the gifts of God)
A river of water, ran along side the tree by where Lehi was partaking of the fruit. (The head of the river was a little way off.) (river of filthy water)
A rod of iron, extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by where Lehi stood. (word of God: -scriptures; -inspired words influenced by the Holy Ghost)
A strait and narrow path, came along the rod of iron to the tree. It also led by the head of the river, unto a large and spacious field.
Group #1 heading toward the tree – People, too many to number. Many pressed forward to obtain the path which led unto the tree. They reached the path and commenced walking on it when an exceedingly great mist of darkness arose and they lost their way their way and wandered off the path and were lost.
An exceedingly great mist of darkness, attempts at causing people on the path to lose their way, wander off and get lost. (temptations of the devil, which blind people’s minds and harden their hearts)
Group #2 heading toward the tree – People, walked the path for a while. Others made it to the path and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron and made it through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, and came to the tree and partook of the fruit. But after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they looked around as if they were ashamed.
A great and spacious building, on the other side of the river of water a great and spacious building was high in the air above the ground. (The building was filled with people, both old and young, male and female. Their demeanor impressed others and they mocked and pointed their fingers at the group partaking of the fruit of the tree.) (wisdom of the world)
Group #2 – Their demise. After they tasted the fruit they were ashamed, because of those in the building that scoffed at them, and so they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
Group #3 heading toward the tree – People, never fell away. Others walked the path and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron. They continually held onto the rod of iron, until they reached the tree and fell down and partook of the fruit.
Group #4 heading towards the great and spacious building. Other multitudes felt their way towards that great and spacious building. [They were blinded by the mists of darkness and so “felt their way.” They didn’t catch hold of the rod of iron or have the path to guide them and as a result] many drowned in the depths of the river of water or were lost from view and wandered in strange roads.
A great and spacious building, continuation, (pride of the world) a great many people entered the building and pointed their fingers of scorn at those who partook of the fruit; but they ignored them and those who didn’t ignore them fell away.
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‘The Light He Gives’
(from the 1993 EFY Sharing the Light Soundtrack)
Now in this day of darkness when we see
Evil and suffering ripe on ev’ry hand.
Wounded by lies, by loneliness and fear,
With joy we lift our hearts to feel Thee near.
(Chorus)
Walk with us through the wilderness of life.
Savior, Thy Light alone can mark the path,
Hush the confusion, still the storm within,
Help us at last the victory to win.
Help us at last to see the light He gives.
Savior, Thy words are written on our hearts,
Gladly we seek the beauty of Thy way.
Grieving with those who stumble lose their sight,
And wander in the blinding mists of night.
(Chorus)
Walk with us through the wilderness of life.
Savior, Thy Light alone can mark the path,
Hush the confusion, still the storm within,
Help us at last the victory to win.
Help us at last to see the light He gives.
Love lights our understanding as we seek
To lift the soul who suffers, find the one
Who cries to Thee. O, let our lights burn fair,
As we go forth to teach, to bless, to share.
(Chorus)
Walk with us through the wilderness of life.
Savior, Thy Light alone can mark the path,
Hush the confusion, still the storm within,
Help us at last the victory to win.
Help us at last to see the light He gives.
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Pep-talk to myself:
”Make sure spirituality is an every day part of your life. Continually read the scriptures and heed the words of the prophets and apostles. Sad temptations are blinding and you must have the constant influence of the Holy Ghost to recognize the good in this world and help you spiritually succeed. Regarding those who mock or try to discredit: Do they have your eternal interest in mind or do they just bully you thinking you’ll cower and support them? Stand strong. Have courage and be not moved.”