Tree of Life in a WHOLE different light!

Hello my lovely ladies!

Figured better report my doings before meeting up with you on Thursday. So, I kind of half-heartedly worked on Value #1 for Faith. Figured the most important part was the praying for 3 weeks, which I did fervently. Really made me SO grateful for prayer...but figured that was enough. I was going to move on, but something kept prompting me to really read and study the scrips that went with it. Boy, I am SO thankful I did. I wanted to share a few of my thoughts because the Spirit provided some cool insights that I needed to learn, just hope it means something to you also :)

Alma 32 (for some reason Lehi's dream (Tree of Life compared to seed growing into a tree) really stood out to me during this, which studying the two together made it much more meaningful!)

v. 28-32: it talks a lot about planting a seed within us, nurturing it and allowing it to grow. The thing that stood out to me was that Alma points out that if it is NOT a GOOD seed, it will not enlarge, enlighten, swell and be delicious and we are to CAST it away! But what I thought was interesting was this was after the seed was planted. I began to think of all the things I give attention to in my life. Much of it does not meet those 4 qualities of a good seed, yet, I continue to give it nourishment. I realized I need to do some "casting out" of my own.

v. 38: after we plant the seed, if we do not care for it, it will not take root, causing it to whither in the scorching sun. Referring back to Lehi's dream, many people were ashamed after taking of the fruit and then fell away. It was like their seed never took root.

v. 41: look forward to fruit with faith, diligence & patience, springing up to everlasting life - in Lehi's dream, the Tree & fruit represented the Love of God, the most desirable and joyous thing. Maybe if we exercise our faith (plant and grow our seed), we will be able to understand the Love of God & partake of the fruit, His fruit. That's why it's essential to exercise our faith so our seed takes root! Once it does, we will know, feel and understand the Love of God, which will keep us from "scorching" in the trials of life.

v. 42: our seed will eventually produce fruit that is most precious, desirable, white & pure and we will never hunger. This description perfectly describes the fruit from Lehi's dream. But, just as in Lehi's dream, each person had to get there on their own, they could not go on borrowed faith.

v. 43: we will reap the rewards of waiting for our tree to bring forth fruit - then footnote cross-referenced to Alma 33:23 - Our tree will spring forth everlasting light (just as in Lehi's dream), then God will grant (or reward) us by making our burdens light through the joy of His Son (helping apply the Atonement and again, feeling the Love of God!).

I hope all of this makes sense. Go read Lehi's dream together with Alma 32, it really is incredible how intertwined it all is! It gave me a little different perspective on Lehi's dream. They were able to partake of the fruit because they had exercised their faith and nurtured it with great care. I can only pray that I have the faith to cast out the bad seeds and nurture the good so I too can partake of God's infinite love. Love you all!