FHE Lessons 21 and 22

21

The Golden Rule
(Ruler)

“Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

This is one of the things that Jesus taught us while giving the Sermon on the Mount to his disciples. We all know it as the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In other words, treat people the way that you would like to be treated, with kindness, love, giving, respect, etc.

Matthew 7:12

__________________________________________________________________________________________

22

Lehi’s Vision of the Tree Of Life
(Tree)
Lehi had a dream, or a vision, in which he saw a tree whose fruit looked very good. The fruit was exceedingly white, and when he tasted it he said it was the sweetest ever, and it filled him with joy. Lehi wanted his family to eat it too, so he looked and saw that they were lost and wondering where to go. Lehi called to them and they came and ate the fruit with him. Laman and Lemuel, however, did not want to eat the fruit with the rest of their family and this worried Lehi.

Lehi looked around and saw a great river, with a rod of iron next to it, and a straight and narrow path that led to the tree where Lehi and his family stood. Lehi noticed that there were many people trying to find their way to the tree, but a mist of darkness came and the people wandered off and got lost. There were other people who grabbed onto the iron rod and held on through the mist of darkness, and the rod of iron led them to the tree where they tasted the fruit. But when they looked around, they were embarrassed and went away and got lost. Lehi also saw a great, big building with all kinds of people inside who were pointing and laughing at the people eating the fruit. There were still other people, however, who held onto the iron rod until they reached the tree, tasted the fruit, and stayed there because they were happy.

After the dream, Lehi was afraid for Laman and Lemuel who did not eat the fruit and he told them to always keep the commandments. Later, Nephi helped us to understand the meaning of his father’s dream. The tree stands for the Love of God, and the fruit is the joy we feel because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. The river and mist of darkness represents wickedness and temptations of Satan. The people in the building were those who loved worldly things, and were ashamed of God and righteousness. The rod of iron stands for the word of God. If we hold to the iron rod, or in other words, listen and do what the scriptures and prophets say our whole lives, then we will have eternal life which is a gift from Christ to all those who keep the commandments. And this is the greatest joy of all.

1 Nephi 8, 11, 12, 15