1 Nephi 8:4

4 But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.

Lehi saw in his dream a “dark and dreary wilderness” that to me is symbolic of the world. More specifically, a world or a life without God, or even a world without direction. I don’t think that being in “the World” means that you necessarily want to be there or participate in it. The descriptors “dark” and “dreary” are interesting. Dark implies that it is difficult or impossible to see, while dreary seems to indicate a lack of hope or enthusiasm. Getting out of this environment requires faith and effort. Lehi’s family was able to use the Liahona to find their way through the wilderness to their Land of Promise, which Liahona only worked by faith. (Alma 37:38–46) Faith in what? Faith in God. Christ is the Light that shines in the darkness. Faith in Him will bring us out of that dark and dreary waste.

1 Nephi 8:3–4

3 And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.

4 But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.

It’s not clear to me whether Lehi had the depth of understanding of this dream that Nephi was given a little later on, but clearly he understood at least the main points. He understood enough to be concerned for his wayward sons and their eternal welfare. This is a great example of a parent’s love for all of his children, even the bad ones. Surely Lehi knew the nature of Laman and Lemuel long before he had this dream. Surely he was concerned for them before this. He likely had expressed that concern to them before this as well, but this Tree of Life dream was yet another opportunity to try to win them back to the Lord’s side. On the other hand, Nephi and Sam were the sons that Lehi and Sariah didn’t need to worry so much about. Lehi certainly understood the implications of his dream and what it meant for all of his children. He has to keep trying to save Laman and Lemuel, no matter how hopeless. I think our Heavenly Father is like that as well. He will keep trying and offering us opportunities to succeed and return to Him. We have to be pretty hopeless for His Spirit to stop striving with us, as described in Ether 15:19 for the Jeradites, and Moroni 9:4 for the Nephites.

1 Nephi 8:2

2 And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.

Clearly the Lord reveals things to His children through dreams. This is not the only way He talks to us, but it is one way. There are some people who say that whatever you dream in dreams is true. However, there are a few references in the scriptures that talk about false dreams or visions. How do we know the difference? By the power of the Holy Ghost. Obviously Lehi could tell the difference. He was a prophet. He knew he was a visionary man, and by now I’m sure he was used to receiving revelation. It takes practice, I think.

• 1 Nephi 5:4

1 Nephi 8:1

1 And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.

They obviously realized they would be traveling for some time. They brought seeds of every kind, presumably so they could plant crops and reap the harvest. That implies that they would stay in an area long enough to do that. Later on we read that they were in the wilderness for eight years.

1 Nephi Chapter 8 overview

Lehi sees a vision of the tree of life—He partakes of its fruit and desires his family to do likewise—He sees a rod of iron, a strait and narrow path, and the mists of darkness that enshroud men—Sariah, Nephi, and Sam partake of the fruit, but Laman and Lemuel refuse. Between 600 and 592 B.C.

Nephi is careful to ensure that we understand this is his record, and not his father’s. in several places he tells us that he does not intend to take a lot of space in the plates with Lehi’s visions and his story or genealogy. And yet chapter 8 gives a pretty detailed account of Lehi’s Tree of Life vision. Then we’ll see later on, starting in chapter 11, a second description of this particular vision complete with interpretation. The image of the Tree of Life has been found in m any places throughout the world. This must be a very important vision. It’s so symbolic that I’m sure a careful study will reveal layers of understanding.

1 Nephi 7:22

22 And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.

Again, at the conclusion of a difficult journey, they take time to offer thanks to the Lord for their safe return and accomplished mission. We can learn a lesson from this. That is that the Lord helps us through difficulties, rarely stacks the deck against us, never more than we can handle, and He deserves our thanks and praise at all times.

1 Nephi 7:21

21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father.

The Lord is very clear throughout the scriptures, in every dispensation, on the matter of forgiveness. As long as an offender seeks forgiveness, he is to be forgiven. Period. Heavenly Father gave His Son, and the Son gave His life so that we might be forgiven of our trespasses. If they can sacrifice so much that we can be forgiven of our sins, surely we can sacrifice a thing as small as our pride to forgive others their trespasses. Holding a grudge does no good to anyone, and only harms the one bearing the grudge. As with other things, forgiveness needs to be done sincerely or it’s not really forgiveness. Nephi “did frankly forgive” his brethren, not out of duty or commandment keeping, but out of sincere love and concern for them. Paul taught that even if we do great and righteous things, if we do it without charity, it profiteth us nothing. (1 Cor 13:1–3)

• Nehemiah 9: 16–17
• Matthew 18: 21–22
• Mosiah 26:31
• D&C 64:9–10
• D&C 121:41–43

1 Nephi 7:20

20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.

This is the first time we see real sorrow and regret from actions from Laman and Lemuel. And there is no indication that their repentance is anything but sincere. So why do they keep falling back into the same habits? I think part of it has to do with just the fact that rebellion was a habit with them. Rebellion and anger. Anger is an addictive behavior that Nephi’s brethren had fallen into. Sometimes, after we sin, we fall back into the same pattern, even if we don’t want to. That does not make our desires any less sincere. I think that Laman and Lemuel, and now reinforced by some of Ishmael’s children, were full of anger and resentment over leaving their world, and jealousy over Nephi’s position of authority over them, his elder brothers. If they had the strength of character and the conversion of Nephi, this could have been a real turning point for them. They felt sorrow for their sins to the point of repentance. But, as we shall see, it didn’t last.

1 Nephi 7:19

19 And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my life.

Laman and Lemuel just don’t get it. I can’t believe that after Nephi breaks out of the bands, they got mad at him again. They did the same thing after the angel appeared to them. They seem to be so frustrated that they can’t find happiness in their rebellion. Now they see that Nephi has more allies than just Sam, they back off a bit. This daughter of Ishmael is most likely the one Nephi married later, the daughter that stood up for him.

1 Nephi 7:18

18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.

This is real interesting, especially if you put it in light of the spiritual as well as the physical. Nephi is bound with chords by his brothers. He prays for strength to “burst the bands with which [he is] bound.” Then the bands were loosed from off his hands and feet. Did the Lord strengthen him to break the bands, or did the Lord just release him? In either case, it was through the strength and power of the Lord that he was delivered.

The same principle applies to our temptation and spiritual bands that bind us. It is only through calling on the Lord to strengthen us to resist the temptation, to break away from the grasp that sin takes on us, that we are able to overcome it. We can’t do it alone. But does the Lord strengthen us to resist temptation, or does he “loose the bands,” take away the desire to sin? I think that may depend upon the circumstances and the person involved. The main point is that we don’t deliver ourselves. The Lord delivers us when we ask.

• 2 Peter 2:9
• D&C 24:1–2