Three Keys to Understanding the Things of the Spirit

About 600 BC prophets are warning the Jews of impending destruction.  Jeremiah was one of the prophets.  He was put in prison for the things that he said.  Other unnamed prophets were killed. Lehi may have heard Jeremiah and repeated the warnings.  Because of his concern for his family's safety and even for their lives, they left Jerusalem and traveled in the wilderness.  They are commanded to go back to Jerusalem and obtain the Brass Plates of Laban   There is a need to have spouses for Lehi's children they go again go into Jerusalem and invite Ishmael and his family to come with them.

While on their journey Lehi has the vision that is called the Vision of the Tree of Life, which he shares with his family.  Nephi wants to see the same vision that his father had.  The following verse in the Book of Mormon.

• "...I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, ..."  1 Nephi 11:1

The three basic elements in this verse are keys to our own understanding of the scriptures are:

• Desire:  This is really basic.  If there is no desire, of course there will be no understaining.
• Belief:  If one truely believes that they could gain an understanding
• ponder: to contemplate the experience  meditate, and prayer

Nephi done this and was granted the same vision of his father.

In contrast Laman and Lemuel did not understand the vision of The Tree of Life.  Nephi asked if they had inquired of the Lord.  They said that they "...had not..."  The following verse was Nephi's response:

Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ^aask me in ^bfaith, believing hat ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

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