The Tree of Life

Activity Days was a lot of fun this past week.  January's theme has been all about loving the scriptures.  The girls came prepared to share their favorite story about faith from the scriptures and then we had them "experience" Lehi's Dream.  Want to experience it with them?  Hold on tight to the Iron Rod, because here we go!  

Rod of Iron  (a jump rope in this case)

(1 Nephi 15) "What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." (1 Nephi 15:23-24)


The girls had to stay on the "straight and narrow path" (or in this case, the line of tape leading to their unknown destination)

Mist of Darkness (in their case - using a blindfold in a dark room)
"And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost." (1 Nephi 8:23)

One by one the girls were led into the dark room and had to listen for Glindy's directions (the Spirit) to help them find the rod of iron again.  It wasn't easy though, because the other girls could choose to be "hecklers" in the great and spacious building on the other side of the filthy waters........


River of Filthy Water
"What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?  And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water. 28 And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God." (1 Nephi 15:26-27)


Great and Spacious Building
"And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit." (1 Nephi 8:26-27)

"But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree." (1 Nephi 8:30)

Back on the path they go– moving forward to the Tree of Life (eh, my little Christmas tree)!


Tree of Life
(1 Nephi 11) 8 "And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me: Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow."

I used snow tinsel to make the tree look "white."

"And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said unto the Spirit: I behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious above all.  And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things." (1 Nephi 11:8-9, 21-22)


Fruit of the Tree of Life 
"And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen." (1 Nephi 8:10-11)

I dipped strawberries into white chocolate for the fruit, and yes, they were most desirable!

  It was a blast making the scriptures come alive for the girls, and I know they really enjoyed it.  All 8 of them completed the challenge to read their scriptures everyday for 2 weeks, and I was so proud of them!  Stay tuned to see their promised reward......