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==1. The Symbols in the Vision of the Tree of Life== | ==1. The Symbols in the Vision of the Tree of Life== | ||
===Helpful Insights=== | ===Helpful Insights=== | ||
| − | * The religion of Israel was significantly reformed approximately 50 years before Lehi's ministry by King Josiah. Josiah | + | * The religion of Israel was significantly reformed approximately 50 years before Lehi's ministry by King Josiah. Josiah cleared the temple of all the symbols of other divine figures besides Yahweh (Jehovah). One of the symbols that had a common presence in the temple before this reformation was an idealized carving of a tree on a wooden pole that represented the goddess "Asherah". Asherah was believed to be the consort or companion of Yahweh. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=2&chapid=36] [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=16&num=2&id=547] [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=19&num=1&id=639] |
*When Nephi asked his guide what the tree in his dream represented the answer was associated with "the mother of the Son of God" (1 Nephi 11:18) [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=9&num=2&id=223] [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=13&chapid=94] | *When Nephi asked his guide what the tree in his dream represented the answer was associated with "the mother of the Son of God" (1 Nephi 11:18) [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=9&num=2&id=223] [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=13&chapid=94] | ||
*The symbol of Asherah, a pole carved in the shape of a tree, was a part of worship in Solomon's temple for almost 2/3 of the temple's existence. [http://lehislibrary.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/raphael-patai-on-monotheism-asherah-and-more/] Asherah and her symbols were purged from Israel by King Josiah ~50 years before Lehi's ministry. Lehi would have been familiar with her symbols. | *The symbol of Asherah, a pole carved in the shape of a tree, was a part of worship in Solomon's temple for almost 2/3 of the temple's existence. [http://lehislibrary.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/raphael-patai-on-monotheism-asherah-and-more/] Asherah and her symbols were purged from Israel by King Josiah ~50 years before Lehi's ministry. Lehi would have been familiar with her symbols. | ||
*This is a rare instance in the scriptures in which we have the same dream discussed two times; once by Lehi and once by Nephi. Lehi appears to immediately grasp the symbolism and meaning of the dream, whereas Nephi appears to be less familiar with those symbols and requires an explanation (Gardner, "Second Witness", 2007, Kofford Books, vol. 1 pp. 153). | *This is a rare instance in the scriptures in which we have the same dream discussed two times; once by Lehi and once by Nephi. Lehi appears to immediately grasp the symbolism and meaning of the dream, whereas Nephi appears to be less familiar with those symbols and requires an explanation (Gardner, "Second Witness", 2007, Kofford Books, vol. 1 pp. 153). | ||
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===Potential Criticisms and Faithful Information=== | ===Potential Criticisms and Faithful Information=== | ||
Revision as of 20:43, 3 January 2012
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Contents
Lesson 3: "The Vision of the Tree of Life"
Disclaimer: The information provided here is a supplement to the lesson manual to assist teachers in addressing issues that might arise in the course of teaching. It is in no way intended to replace or supplant the lesson materials provided by the Church. It is intended only to be used as background information for prior preparation by teachers and should not be used in any way to replace correlated lesson materials.
LDS Lesson Manual
Lesson 3: The Vision of the Tree of Life: off-site
1. The Symbols in the Vision of the Tree of Life
Helpful Insights
- The religion of Israel was significantly reformed approximately 50 years before Lehi's ministry by King Josiah. Josiah cleared the temple of all the symbols of other divine figures besides Yahweh (Jehovah). One of the symbols that had a common presence in the temple before this reformation was an idealized carving of a tree on a wooden pole that represented the goddess "Asherah". Asherah was believed to be the consort or companion of Yahweh. [1] [2] [3]
- When Nephi asked his guide what the tree in his dream represented the answer was associated with "the mother of the Son of God" (1 Nephi 11:18) [4] [5]
- The symbol of Asherah, a pole carved in the shape of a tree, was a part of worship in Solomon's temple for almost 2/3 of the temple's existence. [6] Asherah and her symbols were purged from Israel by King Josiah ~50 years before Lehi's ministry. Lehi would have been familiar with her symbols.
- This is a rare instance in the scriptures in which we have the same dream discussed two times; once by Lehi and once by Nephi. Lehi appears to immediately grasp the symbolism and meaning of the dream, whereas Nephi appears to be less familiar with those symbols and requires an explanation (Gardner, "Second Witness", 2007, Kofford Books, vol. 1 pp. 153).
Potential Criticisms and Faithful Information
- Lehi's dream has some similarities to a dream that Joseph Smith Sr. (Joseph's father) had ~1815, as described by Lucy Mack Smith (Joseph's mother) in ~1844. Some critics claim that Joseph used his father's dream as a template for inventing Lehi's dream. However, because Lucy Smith described her husband's dream about 30 after the fact, and because she described it 15 years after the publication of the Book of Mormon, it is more likely that her telling of her husband's dream was more influenced by Lehi's dream in the Book of Mormon, and not vice versa. [7]
- An ancient Mesoamerican "stela" (large stone carving), Izapa Stela 5, depicts a scene that many LDS have interpreted as a representation of Lehi's dream. As LDS scientists have learned more about Mesoamerican culture and artwork they have come to realize that Izapa Stela 5 is not a representation of Lehi's dream. Latter-day Saints should be discouraged from promoting the stela as evidence for the Book of Mormon [8]
Faith Affirmations
- An ancient Hebrew document called "The Narrative of Zosimus", dating to before the time of Christ, contains a story with remarkable similarities to Lehi's dream. Points of correspondence include a righteous man entering a desolate area, a spiritual guide, and images of a tree and a river. [9]
- Some ancient middle eastern documents describe the Tree of Life as having white fruit. This corresponds to Lehi's vision of the tree. [10]
- 1 Nephi 8:3 contains a Hebraism called "cognate accusative" in which a direct object noun shares the same root as the preceding verb, such as "I have dreamed a dream". [11]