“1 Nephi 8:19–38: Hold Fast to the Word of God” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“1 Nephi 8:19–38: Hold Fast to the Word of God” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
1 Nephi 8:19–38
Hold Fast to the Word of God
Many people in the world want to feel joy and love but don’t know where to find it. Through his vision of the tree of life, Lehi learned about the path we must travel and how to stay on it to enjoy the blessings of God’s love. This lesson can help you follow the word of God to guide you to His greatest blessings.
Praying for your students regularly. Heavenly Father knows each of your students. As you pray to Him, He can help you discern the needs of your students and inspire you with ways to meet those needs. Listen for promptings as you prepare to teach and during the lesson.
Student preparation: Encourage students to read 1 Nephi 8:19–34 to become familiar with the symbols in Lehi’s vision and be prepared to discuss them in class. Students could also watch the video “Lehi Sees a Vision of the Tree of Life” from time code 6:50 to 11:25, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Possible Learning Activities
Lehi’s vision
Take a moment to look at this painting of Lehi’s vision. It includes the tree, which represents the love of God, and its fruit, which symbolizes the blessings offered through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see David A. Bednar, “Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod,” Ensign, Oct. 2011, 32–37). It also includes several additional elements.
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What stands out to you about this painting?
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What can you learn from what you observe?
President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
You may think that Lehi’s dream or vision has no special meaning for you, but it does. You are in it; all of us are in it. (Boyd K. Packer, “Finding Ourselves in Lehi’s Dream,” Ensign or Liahona, Aug. 2010, 22)
As you study this lesson, seek guidance from Heavenly Father to understand how Lehi’s vision may relate to your life. Look for truths that might help you receive the promised joy through the Savior, as well as what obstacles you may need to avoid or overcome.
Many people pressing forward
In his dream, Lehi saw “numberless concourses of people” (1 Nephi 8:21) trying to make their way to the tree of life. They encountered several elements that affected their ability to come to the tree: mists of darkness, the iron rod, and people in a great and spacious building. You can see these three elements in the painting above.
You may want to invite students to draw their own representation of the vision as they study. Students could add details throughout the lesson.
The following reading activity is lengthy. Invite students who might struggle reading on their own to read in pairs. Encourage students to share what they find and their impressions with each other.
As you read 1 Nephi 8:22–34, look for these elements and what you think they may symbolize. You may also want to watch “Lehi Sees an Iron Rod and Those Who Fall Away” (3:30), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
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What do you think these elements of Lehi’s vision may represent?
Later, Nephi saw in vision what his father had seen and explained these symbols. Read 1 Nephi 12:17–18 to see what Nephi taught. Record what you learned.
If students drew their own representation of the vision, they could label their drawings with what they learned from Nephi’s explanation.
To help students discuss what they learned and apply it to their lives, consider asking questions like the following:
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What do the large and spacious building and the mists of darkness look like in our day?
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How do these obstacles cause people to lose their way today?
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What did you learn that is important to understand about your journey through life?
It could benefit students to further discuss the mists of darkness and the great and spacious building by posing the following questions:
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Why might the Lord have represented these obstacles this way?
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Why do you think many people sought to be in the great and spacious building?
Think about temptations you face and in what ways pride may affect you. Ponder how these may distract you or impede your ability to come unto Christ and feel the love of God.
The help God offers us
In Lehi’s vision, God had also prepared ways to help His children come unto the tree. There was “a strait and narrow path” (1 Nephi 8:20) that led to the tree. Along the path, He provided a “rod of iron” that guided people (1 Nephi 8:19, 24, 30).
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What do you think might be significant about the rod being made of iron?
Read 1 Nephi 15:23–25 to discover what Nephi taught about the meaning of the rod and his promises about it.
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What stood out to you from these verses?
Students drawing the vision could add the path and the iron rod and what it symbolizes. Invite students to summarize what they learned about the iron rod and how it can help them. The following is one truth that may be helpful.
One truth we can learn is that if we hearken and hold fast to the word of the Lord, the adversary’s temptations will not overpower us.
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How can the Lord’s words in the scriptures and those spoken by His prophets provide safety and strength during times of temptation?
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What are some examples of how the word of God can lead us to receive the blessings and joy the Savior offers through His Atonement?
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What does this truth teach you about the Lord?
If it would benefit students to discuss the iron rod further, one or more of the following questions may be useful:
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Why might the Lord have represented His word as an iron rod?
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What might it mean to “hearken unto the word of God, and … hold fast unto it”? (1 Nephi 15:24).
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What are some different ways we can read, hear, or receive the word of God?
Students who are drawing the vision could add a few scripture references along the iron rod that personally help them stay on the path, overcome temptations, or receive the blessings of the Savior’s Atonement. If they need help finding a scripture, they could look up references that use the term “word of God” (Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Consider sharing a personal example with the class or asking a student to volunteer.
To conclude this lesson, ponder where you are in that vision. How have you come to the Savior, and how are you continuing to strive to come unto Him? What distractions and temptations do you face? How is the Lord helping you through His word?
Consider evaluating your scripture study goal and how it is helping you, as well as any improvements or changes you would like to make. If you do not have a study goal, consider taking a few moments to make one.