Lehi's Dream, Part 2: The Man in White

Lehi being Visited by a Man in White

I wish to thank my family and friends who have email, called or stopped over to visit me.  Your friendship is extremely appreciated.  I love each of you and thank God for your involvement in my life.  We may disagree on matters of doctrine, but when it comes to loving the Lord our God we are exactly the same.  May His Grace be upon us all.


Man in White

As with all my posts, you are not to believe a word I write.  You are about to learn why.

 "And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.  And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.  And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste." 1 Nephi 8:5-7

Father Lehi is about to learn a very powerful object lesson... for our benefit.  

"And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies." 1 Nephi 8:8

In this vision Lehi sees a man in a white robe.  "Follow me" says the man and Lehi followed.  And where did this man lead him?  Darkness.  A waste land.  The middle of nowhere.  So, after traveling for many hours Lehi began to pray to God.  Only after he began to call upon God was he delivered from the path of men and shown the Tree of Life.

Lesson

Never trust man no matter how authoritative or holy he seems to be.  Never trust the arm of flesh. Man, no matter his status, calling or position, will ever bring you to the Tree of Life. That is the work of Jesus Christ.  




The Strait and Narrow Path

"And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood..." 1 Nephi 8:20

What is the strait and narrow path and how do we obtain it?

"For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.  And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate..." 2 Nephi 9:17-18 (emphasis added)

The steps for obtaining the Strait and Narrow Path that lead to Eternal Life:

1. Repentance
2. Baptism By Water
3. Remission of Sins by Fire and the Holy Ghost.
4. Now you are in the Strait and Narrow Path the leads to Eternal Life

Commencing In The Path

In Lehi's Dream there are three main groups of people that commence in the strait and narrow path.

Group 1

"And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood." 1 Nephi 8:21

This great numberless concourse of people start in the path but never lay hold upon the Rod of Iron.  Consequently they never reach the Tree of Life.  If any in this group did manage to lay hold upon the Rod of Iron and partake of the Tree of Life, they were so few in number that their accomplishment goes unnoticed by Lehi.

Immediately after this group started in the path their arose a mist of darkness.   Not just any mist of darkness but: 

"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  

This is the first group to find the path and to start traveling in it.  Notwithstanding their great numbers, none are recorded as finding the Tree of Life.  Lehi never mentions this group holding the Rod of Iron.  They simply started in the path, were overcome by the mist of darkness and were lost.

Group 2 & 3

Group two and three are very similar yet very different.  They both commence in the path and lay hold upon the Rod of Iron.  They both press forward through the mist of darkness.  They both partake of the Tree of Life.  Unlike the first group, they do all this in the shadow of the Great and Spacious Building.  These two groups press forward under the scornful watch of those produced by that Strange Building.

Their Differences

Group 2:

1. Clings to the Rod of Iron
2. They are ashamed after partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life
3. Listen to those in the Great and Spacious Building
4. Fall away into forbidden paths and are lost

Group 3:

1. Held Fast Continually to the Rod of Iron
2. Fell down and partook of the Fruit of the Tree of Life
3. Gave No Heed to those in the Great and Spacious Building

The Fruit of the Tree of Life

Father Lehi partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life

"Partaking of the fruit of the tree represents the receiving of ordinances and covenants whereby the Atonement can become fully efficacious in our lives."   David A. Bednar, (sustained prophet, seer and revelator and Member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Iron Rod, October, 2011).

It is Elder Bedanr's view that partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life is to receive ordinances, like baptism.  To him these ordinances are the end of the journey, especially temple covenants.  However, as you have just read, Nephi disagrees.  Ordinances are the beginning of the path, not the end.  It's at the beginning of the path when we repent, are baptized by water and baptized by Fire for a remission of sins.  Then are we in the strait and narrow path that leads to the Tree of Life and its Fruit.  The Atonement becomes efficacious at the beginning of the journey, not journey's end.  

Perhaps his teachings extend from the premise that the LDS Church provides salvation.  If that where true, his explanation would be correct. However, his understanding of the Fruit of the Tree of Life is not in harmony with the Book of Mormon.  It also entices you to look no further as salvation is found through the LDS Church.

This is an example of the philosophies of men being mingled with scripture.  They are dangerous to everyone's salvation.  As Father Lehi has shown, we are to trust no man, apostles notwithstanding.  

The Tree Of Life

I will not be commenting on the Tree of Life.  I am inadequate to do so. 


Conclusion 


Trust no one to lead you except God.

Groups one, two and three may be seen as attempting to reach the Tree of Life simultaneously.  I do not have that view.  The first group has the path available to them, multiple millions commenced in that path but were overtaken by the mists of darkness or the philosophies of men and never reached the Tree of Life.  Groups two and three contend also with these same philosophies yet, unlike group one, they do so in the shadow of the Great and Spacious building.  


If you entertain the premise that the Great and Spacious building is a real structure, then the relevance of Lehi's dream becomes more profound.  It puts his prophecies in our time and further testifies that Lehi and Nephi have, in fact, seen our day.  The LDS Conference Center is evidence that they have, further proving the Book of Mormon.  Prophecy is being fulfilled.  

My View:

Group 1:  Everyone commencing in the path since Joseph Smith to Denver Snuffer.

Group 2:   All who embrace the notion that the restoration has recommenced, are baptized  and fall away from it.  

Group 3:  All who embrace the notion that the restoration has recommenced, are baptized  and remained faithful to it.
   
Group 4:  All who love and remain with the Great and Spacious Conference Center and her owner.  They have no need of the Tree of Life, nor its Fruit. Many, however not all, make it their life's mission to scorn those who do.  I find this very curious seeing they are taught to have Christ like love for everyone, yet in many cases, the opposite is displayed.  This degree of scorn and ridicule exemplifies the hypocrisy in their hearts and how truly far their hearts are remove from Christ.  I have witnessed it first hand. Many of us have.  We must counter it with love.


I believe those who fall away after partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life are members of the LDS Remnant, who, like me, have embraced the opposite of vanity and pride being taught in the Great and Spacious Building.  I am deeply saddened by the notion that any should fall away.  I may be one of them.  May God have mercy upon us all.

There is much more to the Fruit of the Tree of Life than Elder Bednar would have you believe. I make no claim to have eaten the Fruit of the Tree of Life myself. However, I have tasted of the Love of God on many occasions and know that I am on the right path because He has told me so, with His own Voice.
  
As I mentioned before, the Lord has spoken Denver's name to me.  Because of this, Denver has great credibility with me.  However, I continue to seek the confirming Voice of God with everything he teaches.  If I fail to do this I might as well begin worshiping idols or following men with impressive titles.

With that, I extend my love and support to all who have heard the voice of the Lord in the teachings of Denver Snuffer.  Several thousand of you have started in the path that leads to the Tree of Life.  Wonderful things are happening as a result.  Many have posted your experiences online: revelations, vision, healings, and visitations from Heavenly Messengers.  Some of you have been taken through the Veil into the presence of Jesus Christ and can bear apostolic witness of Him.  

The Restoration was interrupted.  It has now recommenced.  I am so grateful to be a part of it.  May His Mercy and Grace attend us all.