Comments on 1 Nephi 11 Nephi's point of view and primary concern in this vision is quite different from Lehi's in ch. 8. Nephi's primary interest is in discovering the meaning of the various symbols in the dream. Thus, the structure of this vision is quite different from Lehi's. We have an alternating pattern where the vision is repeated and symbols are displayed (A's) with pauses for interpretation of the symbols (B's), as follows: A - (v. 8) Tree of Life B - (v. 9-24) Interpretation of the Tree of Life A - (v. 25) Rod of iron B - (v. 26-34) Interpretation of the rod of iron A - (v. 35) Great and spacious building B - (v. 36) Interpretation of the great and spacious building As the text is largely self-interpreting I will not comment on it to any great length. v1 "the Spirit of the Lord", some assume that "Spirit of the Lord" means the pre-mortal spirit of Jesus Christ. This is not the case. In 1:12 we have Lehi "filled with the Spirit of the Lord" and in 15:12 we have "the Spirit of the Lord which was in [Lehi]". Such descriptions would be reserved for the Holy Spirit, and not the pre-mortal spirit personage of Jesus Christ. Then in 13:15 Nephi says "I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles". Now, 3 Ne. 15:23 states: And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost. Thus, the "Spirit of the Lord" must be the Holy Spirit as the Lord will never manifest Himself personally to the Gentiles except by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the phrase is repeatedly used in the OT synonymously with the Holy Spirit. Take for example Isa. 11:2 and Isa. 61:1 which state the Messiah will be anointed by the Spirit of the Lord. Finally, if we look at what this present spirit says in v. 6-7 we see him bearing witness of the Son of God. This is the kind of thing the Holy Spirit would say (cp. 3 Ne. 11:32), not the kind of thing the Lord himself would say (ct. Ether 3:11-16). v7 "a man descending out of heaven", referring to 12:6. v8 "snow", the mountains to the West of Jerusalem do get snow on them in winter. v13 "a virgin, exceedingly fair and white", interestingly enough, Nephi's description of Mary is quite similar to that of the fruit of the Tree in v. 8. v18 "the mother of the Son of God", the 1st Edition BofM had "the mother of God". This is the case with v. 21, 32, and 13:40 as well. Anti-mormons and RLDS Modalists make much of this change. Anti-mormons use it to say that Smith was confused in his early theology. RLDS Modalists use it to say the Father and Son are in fact one, with the Son being the Father. Both of these approaches ignore the fact that preceding and following these verses the matter that is otherwise implicit is made explicit. Verses 6 and 7 both state he is the "Son of God" as does v. 24. Thus, the emendation, which occurred in the 2nd edition BofM, was only making explicit what was otherwise implicit by surrounding text. Those who grasp at ambiguities such as implicit meanings must ignore this in order to forward their private interpretations. v22 Nephi perceives the parallel between the Tree and the incarnation of the Lord, that incarnation being a manifestation of His love for us. v25 "the fountain of living waters", this is not the same fountain in the vision, which Nephi later identifies as being filthy, cf. 15:27. Nephi is equating the Tree of Life with the Fountain of Living Waters described in Isa. 12:3, Jer. 2:13, see also Zech. 13:1, John 7:38, Alma 42:27. v27-33 The "iron rod" is the "word of God" and is personified in John Baptist when he heralds the Messiah (v. 27), the Messiah himself as an incarnation of the Law of Moses (v. 27-28, 31-33), and the apostles called to minister to the twelve tribes of Israel (v. 29). v30 It isn't clear to me what this is referring to. The preceding and following verses are all referring to the time of Christ's mortal ministry, so we would assume this is supposed to as well. If we ignore the surrounding chronology then I would assume this is referring to the manifestation of the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles referenced in 10:11 and recounted in the book of Acts. v33 "slain for the sins of the world", this phrase carries a dual meaning. The wicked in v. 32 and 34 slay him because they choose the sins of the world instead. However, in being slain, he overcomes the sins of the world for those who believe on him. v35-36 "large and spacious building...the world and the wisdom thereof...the fall thereof was exceedingly great", while drawing on the tower of Babel, the rhetoric is couched in the terms of Isa. 2:11-15. v35 "the house of Israel", while the majority of the people at Jerusalem during 30-70 AD were of Judah, there was certainly a liberal mix of Levites and Benjamites as well. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.