Lehi's Vision: the Mists of Darkness

One of the stories from the Book of Mormon that seems to have more and more meaning, no matter how many times I have studied it, is Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life. In short, Lehi saw a tree with a rod of iron extending from it and a path underneath the rod of iron. On one side of the rod of iron was a river and on the other side of the river there was a huge building. Countless people were in the dream either moving toward the rod or away from it. Nephi was able to see his father’s dream and was given the interpretation as well. This dream seems to represent the spiritual journey that we are each on in this life.

I was intrigued by one verse in particular; where the angel is explaining to Nephi about the mists of darkness:

“And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost” (1 Nephi 12:17).

This gives three examples of how the adversary uses temptation to lead us away from the iron rod—the word of God (see 1 Nephi 11:25)—are by: 1) blinding our spiritual eyes, 2) hardening our hearts, and 3) leading us away into broad roads where we get lost.

Spiritual Blindness

In reference to blindness, the Bible dictionary states, “In addition to the healing of physical blindness, the mission of Jesus included curing blindness to the things of the spirit” (Bible Dictionary:blindness). Isaiah describes spiritual blindness as, “Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not” (Isaiah 42:20). Paul taught about spiritual blindness to the Ephesians as, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness [footnote: GR hardness] of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18).

Elder Kim B. Clark taught,

“In His mortal ministry, Jesus worked such mighty miracles of healing and taught with such authority and power that the scripture says, ‘His fame went throughout all Syria … and there followed him great multitudes of people.’

“Some who saw Him heal and heard Him teach rejected Him. Others followed Him for a season but then walked with Him no more. The Lord Jesus Christ was there in front of them, but they did not see who He really was. They were blind, and they chose to turn away….

“However, there were many men and women, including His faithful Apostles, who centered their lives on Him. Though they struggled with worldly distractions, with confusion about what He taught, and even with fear, they believed in Him, loved Him, and followed Him.

“Of them, Jesus said, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear’” (Kim B. Clark,“Eyes to See and Ears to Hear”, Ensign, November 2015).

Spiritual blindness comes when we choose to ignore the truths we know—perhaps out of ignorance, or perhaps because we have alienated ourselves from God. No matter the cause, it seems that we are unable to see those things that are right before our eyes, because of choices that we have made.

In Nephi’s vision he was taught about a “great and abominable church” who’s sole intent was to “blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men”. This was done by their “[taking] away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious” and because of this “an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them” (see 1 Nephi13:26-29).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave this insight,

“Book of Mormon prophecies describe the ‘great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil’. This ‘church’ is prophesied to have ‘dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people’. Called ‘most abominable above all other churches,’ this church is also said to act ‘for the praise of the world’ in bringing ‘the saints of God … down into captivity’.

“Because no religious denomination—Christian or non-Christian—has ever had ‘dominion’ over all nations of the earth or the potential to bring all the saints of God down into ‘captivity,’ this great and abominable church must be something far more pervasive and widespread than a single ‘church,’ as we understand that term today. It must be any philosophy or organization that opposes belief in God. And the ‘captivity’ into which this ‘church’ seeks to bring the saints will not be so much physical confinement as the captivity of false ideas” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Stand AsWitnesses of God”, Ensign, March 2015).

We are surrounded by the ideas and philosophies of the world. As we hold to the rod of iron we can avoid deception.

Another way the mists of darkness cause spiritual blindness is by the temptation to “[look] beyond the mark” (Jacob 4:14). I think that means seeking for things that we can’t understand in this life, sometimes to the exclusion of all other things. Seeking is necessary in this life, but there are many things that we won’t have answers for until the next life. When on our quest for truth, which comes through seeking, it would be wise to remember the words of President Uchtdorf,

“It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Come, Join with Us”, Ensign,November 2013).

To avoid, or withstand, the mists of darkness we must cling to the rod of iron and not let the questions that we don't have answers to cloud our vision of what we already know.

Lehi told of “a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:20). I wonder if this path is made of “a sure foundation” (Helaman 5:12), a foundation of rock—rather than a dirt path—that the posts of the rod of iron are deeply embedded into. The iron rod is the word of God, and Christ is the rock. If we stray from the stone path we are near a river (a horribly, dangerous, swiftly moving river) that I imagine has gradually sloping, sandy banks.

I am reminded of the psalm, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105). The path is something solid to guide our steps. However, when the mists of darkness come if we don’t have hold of the rod, Nephi recorded that those people, “did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost” (1 Nephi 8:23) even though they were initially on the path. It is our grip on the rod that makes the difference when the mists of darkness come. And they will come.

“Traveling through mists of darkness is a completely normal part of God’s plan. He allows us to experience difficulties from time to time so that we can completely depend on Him and His Son. The key is to cling to the iron rod” (Juventa Vezzani, “Latter-daySaint Voices: Finding My Way through Mists of Darkness”, Ensign, January 2016).

Hardens the Heart

I think a key to understanding how hearts can be hardened is found in the Book of Hebrews,

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;” (Hebrews 3:12-14)

I feel that these verses say that we will start to disbelieve when we distance ourselves from God. We can then become more hardened in our hearts through continued disbelief or even the deceitfulness of sin, further distancing ourselves from God. We lose our connection with the Spirit through sin, and no longer have the continual guidance and direction available through the Holy Ghost.

We, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God” (Articles of Faith 1:8). The Lord has given us His word—an iron rod—to cling to as a spiritual protection in these last days. President Ezra Taft Benson shared this promise about the Book of Mormon specifically:

“It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path” (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion”, Ensign, November 1986, emphasis added).

There have been times during my life when I have been closer to the Lord and other times when I have been father away. How do we continually stay close to the Lord? I think that President Spencer W. Kimball gave wise counsel when he said,

“When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be ‘remember.’ Because all of [us] have made covenants … our greatest need is to remember. That is why everyone goes to sacrament meeting every Sabbath day—to take the sacrament and listen to the priests pray that [we] ‘… may always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us].’… ‘Remember’ is the word” (see Book of Mormon: Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual, Lesson 33, "A Sure Foundation").

I also love this insight on the power that comes through remembering that was shared about a seminary class,

“’If you remember,’ [the teacher] said, ‘you won’t forget to pray. You won’t forget to serve or love. You will remember to read the scriptures. You will not forget your family and friends. You will remember to obey the prophet. You’ll keep in your heart the knowledge that Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for us, and you will love him as he loves you. You will remember why you came to this earth. And you will remember you are sons and daughters of God. You can return home to him if you remember to keep his commandments and live your lives the way he has asked.’” (Laura Kay Worthington, “What is the Most Important Word?”, New Era, September1992).

Another key about why our hearts may be hardened is found in 3 Nephi. Nephi recounts,

“[A]nd the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen—

 “Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing” (3 Nephi 2:1-2).

The people began to forget about what they had seen and heard, and began to harden their hearts. They were not remembering. Each week we are reminded to “always remember Him” (Doctrine & Covenants 20:77, 79) during the sacrament prayers. This does not mean for those few minutes that we’re sitting in our seats, but always in our day-to-day lives. This is a great protection to us, to allow us time to really remember our Savior, so that we can (hopefully) keep from becoming hard in our own hearts.

We will be surrounded by mists of darkness at different times throughout our lives. During these times, if we can remember to grasp the iron rod we can find light, truth, and direction. Continually holding fast to the rod of iron takes faith, but is crucial when we are surrounded by these mists and unable to see. Elder David A. Bednar explains the importance of the day-to-day things that we need to do to be able to remember.

“In [1 Nephi 8:30] we read about a third group of people who pressed forward ‘continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.’ The key phrase in this verse is continually holding fast to the rod of iron.

“The third group also pressed forward with faith and conviction; however, there is no indication that they wandered off, fell into forbidden paths, or were lost. Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the scriptures. Perhaps it was diligence and devotion to a seemingly ‘small and simple [thing]’ that saved the third group from perishing. Perhaps it was ‘the knowledge of the Lord’ and ‘the knowledge of the truth’ obtained through faithful study of the scriptures that yielded the spiritual gift of humility—such that this group of people ‘fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree’. Perhaps it was the spiritual nourishment and strength provided by continually ‘feasting upon the word of Christ’ that enabled this group to heed not the scorning and mocking of the people in the great and spacious building. This is the group you and I should strive to join” (David A.Bednar, “Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod”, Ensign, November 2011).

Leadeth them Away into Broad Roads

When I read this sentence I wondered why the adversary chose to lead people into “broad” roads. Why didn’t he lead them to isolation? Perhaps it is because when we are alone, and take a moment for some quiet reflection and contemplation, that we can feel the whisperings of the spirit drawing us back to the path. I feel that the adversary is aiming for distraction. If he can put us in a broad road, filled with sights, sounds, and other distractions, it can put us in an awkward or uncomfortable situation of making ourselves stand alone, if we choose to be different. He wants to cloud our judgment with what seems to be a natural desire to want to be included and accepted. There is strength in numbers, both for good and evil.

I also like this explanation that President Boyd K. Packer gave:

“This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless.

“The first order issued by a commander mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends to conquer.

“Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit” (Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation”, Ensign,November 1991).

In Luke we read, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24). When I read this verse I wondered why would they “not be able” to enter? What would keep them from being able to enter?

King Benjamin taught about the broad road of sin when he said, “And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them” (Mosiah 4:29). The road to sin is so incredibly vast that we cannot fathom it. The road to the Savior, on the other hand, is very narrow. Nephi taught,

“Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter….

“And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life;…

“And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 31:17-21).

Once we are in the “broad” roads of life it is easy to stay there without any effort. But once we enter into the gate that leads to eternal life, it will take a concerted effort on our part to stay there.

The adversary does not often come out and attack openly. He uses subtlety, deceit, arrows and fiery darts that can be thrown from a distance, rather that hand-to-hand combat. He doesn’t attack when we are strong but waits until we are tired, rundown, and weak.

The mists of darkness are necessary to provide an opportunity for growth. We can’t fully comprehend something unless we’ve experienced it. This life gives us that opportunity to learn—to know for ourselves the good from the evil. In this battle we have our Savior on our side. The power that comes through the atonement of Jesus Christ can help to keep us on the strait and narrow path. It is only through Him that we will be able to stay on the path that leads back to Him.

The key to enduring through the mists of darkness, the temptations that will come throughout our lives, is the rod of iron.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gives amazing insight into the power of the word of god.

“The Savior warned that in the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth. If we think of this as a form of spiritual destruction, it may cast light on another latter-day prophecy. Think of the heart as the figurative center of our faith, the poetic location of our loyalties and our values; then consider Jesus’s declaration that in the last days ‘men’s hearts [shall fail] them’….

“Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: ‘Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived’—and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Safety for the Soul,” Ensign, November 2009).

May we do all that is in our power to keep our grip on the iron rod.