1 Nephi 8:33

33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

Those who found their way to the great and spacious building turned around and mocked the ones who found the very thing that most of them were looking for when they found the building instead. This is not too bright. As recorded in Ether 12:26, “fools mock, but they shall mourn.” That is the end of pride. Humility does not mock or scorn.

I like those who, at the end of the verse, were partaking of the fruit and paid no heed to the scorners. This is someone who is secure in his beliefs and faith. It reminded me of Joshua 24:15, where he tells the people of Israel, “You guys do what you will, worship who or what you want, but it doesn’t matter to me, because I and my household will worship God regardless of what you do.” I like that idea of doing the right thing even if it’s unpopular and you’re the only one.

• Ether 12:26
• Joshua 24:15

1 Nephi 8:31–32

31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.

32 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.

These descriptions of people and their fate really make it look like most people are searching for some answers in their lives. The multitude “feeling their way towards that great and spacious building” sounds as if they are just as lost and blinded as those who came across the iron rod were. These just didn’t find the direction of that rod, so they drifted to the building instead of the Tree, almost unwittingly at first. Once they entered the building they joined the others who were persecuting and mocking the ones who found the Tree of Life. (see vs. 33) Is part of this out of jealousy? Some of those who were searching never found any answers, right or wrong, but “were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.” Although not mocking, they are just as bad off personally. So are those who are “drowned in the depths of the fountain.” It’s like they just give up hope of finding the answers they are looking for. The time to help these people is while they are searching and before they give up hope. It’s much harder to help someone who has given up or has entered the building than it is to help someone who is looking for answers. The ones who give up don’t believe there are answers, and those in the building think they have the answers and everyone else is wrong. All these groups are closed to the truth. Now the trick is to be able to recognize the people who are searching.

1 Nephi 8:29–30

29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.

30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.

This next group of people is the one who really become converted. Nephi doesn’t make a full description of their situation here, but this seems to be the people who ultimately return to Heavenly Father and stay there. These would be the ones described in D&C 76:50–70.

• D&C 76:50–70

1 Nephi 8:28

28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.

Those who enter into sacred covenants with the Lord, then break away from those covenants are worse off than those who never took the covenant in the first place. They are spiritually left to themselves, or as D&C 121:38 says, “[they are] left unto [themselves], to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints and to fight against God.” They had tasted the good fruit, but it takes self discipline to stay in the Kingdom of God. You have to want it enough to make fundamental changes in your life, to give up certain worldly things that may seem precious. I like the way King Lamoni’s father, in his prayer of repentance after listening to Aaron, said, “I will give away all my sins to know thee.” (Alma 22:18) That seems like a simple enough trade, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s definitely appropriate and worth it, but those sins are often habits hard to break. If we don’t do it, we can’t come to really know God. Then we “fall into forbidden paths and are lost.”

• 2 Peter 2:20 (19–22)
• Mark 4:17 (14–20)
• 8:38; Luke 8:13 (11–15)
• John 12:43 (42–43)
• Hebrews 6:4–6
• Luke 9:62 (57–62)
• D&C 121:34–35 (34–40)

1 Nephi 8:27

27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.

The irony of this verse is that the world, as represented by the mocking people in the spacious building, is mocking those who have rejected them. They are trying to appeal to the insecurities of those who have taken the fruit, but even in their pride, they themselves are not secure. If they were secure in their choices, why would they even care about anybody who made different choices? This is the way it has always been though. The Savior told His disciples that the world would hate those who have been chosen out of the world. (see John 15:19) In fact, if you find that you are popular with the world, you may need to reexamine yourself. The world will always accept those who conform to their beliefs. In fact, they will surround themselves with these people, so-called “yes men,” who will not tell them what they need to hear, but rather what they want to hear. (see 2 Timothy 4:3–4) So there is the irony. Pride puts on the face of security and confidence, when in fact it has none.

• Luke 6:26
• John 15:19

1 Nephi 8:26

26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.

Later we learn that this great and spacious building represents the learning and pride of the world. Considering that, it is completely appropriate that the building be floating high above the earth. The pride of man is baseless; it has no firm foundation. In spite of that, the proud have no eyes to see how silly they are. They think they are the beginning and end of wisdom. They can’t see beyond their own discoveries. Paul taught that the “foolishness of God is wiser than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25) There is nothing humble about this building. From its size to its foundation floating in the air, it is full of pride.

• 1 Nephi 11:35 (35–36)
• 1 Nephi 12:18

1 Nephi 8:25

25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.

It’s interesting to me that people feel ashamed for feeling the Love of God. There seems to be no sense of accomplishment with some who live a good and righteous life. For example, the world heaps praise and respect upon those who complete their secular educations. The same honor is not given to those who raise a righteous family, even though it takes all the wisdom, energy, creativity, and most of your time throughout your life. The world dismisses that effort as if it has no value. Then they turn around and lament the awful state the world is in. Some who partake of the Love of God seem to get caught up in that and become more concerned with the honors of men than of God. It takes faith to stay at the Tree, just as it takes faith to get to it. I think that being ashamed of partaking of this fruit is a sign of a loss of faith. This is one of the scariest verses in this chapter to me. I never want to be ashamed of my relationship with Heavenly Father.

• Romans 1:16
• Alma 46:21
• Mormon 8:38
• D&C 60:2–3

1 Nephi 8:24 (24–28)

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

[verses 24–28] These verses describe a set of people who are very sad to me. After doing everything right, getting on the path, clinging to the rod of iron, pressing forward to the point of partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Life, the Love of God, they blow it. They get ashamed and self-conscious because they are different from those who are making fun of them. I hope and pray that I am not in this group. These people almost endure to the end, but once t hey get to where they want to be they give it up for popularity, or some other equally unworthy motive.

One thing I do admire about Christians these day, and especially Evangelical Christians in the “Bible Belt” is that they are not ashamed to be Christian. While I may not agree with some of their doctrines, I am encouraged to see them stand up to a very anti-Christian world. I think that gradually they are gaining that same respect for the LDS Church members, as we stand up to with them, and often lead the way in some issues that are definitely not taught by the Lord. I hope that I am that bold when it comes down to it.

1 Nephi 8:21–23

21 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.

22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.

23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even 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.

This first group of people that Lehi saw in his dream are, for the most part, good-intentioned people who want the right things in life. However, just knowing the way to the Tree of Life, and having a desire to obtain its fruits is not enough to get you there. Temptations will confuse and misdirect even those with the best of desires and highest of goals if they don’t keep the word of God. The fact is that the path is His path, and in order to travel it we must follow His rules. That’s where the iron rod comes in. How can we go by His rules if we don’t know what they are? People want to return to Father in their own way instead of by His word. They are deceived. If we don’t hold fast to the word of God, it is impossible to stay on the path, to do the things we need to do to return to Him, no matter what our desires may be.

• Matthew 7:21–23
• Matthew 13:19–22
• 1 Nephi 12:17
• D&C 76:75 (71–80)
• D&C 123:12

1 Nephi 8:20

20 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; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.

The “strait and narrow” path is an interesting study. Prior to the 1981 edition of The Book of Mormon, the phrase was rendered “straight and narrow.” While straight and strait definitely have two different meanings (and there is some discussion about which one is more accurate in this verse), I think that either rendition works here. On the one hand, strait, while a bit redundant in conjunction with the word “narrow,” since they have similar definitions, emphasizes how strict or how exact the requirements are to return to Heavenly Father. On the other hand, the term straight emphasizes that there are no hidden, secret ways to return to Father. Any deviation from straight forward is our deviation, not the Lord’s. The Lord does not “walk in crooked paths” (Alma 7:20), and neither is our path to Him crooked as we follow in His footsteps. So, while either strait or straight may be serviceable in this verse, I like the added meaning offered by “straight.”

This leads me to the Christian world’s attitude about being saved. Many believe that as long as you are Christian (confess Christ) it doesn’t matter what church you belong to; they all get you back to heaven. And in a sense they are right, but not the way they think. There are only two churches: God’s true church, and all the others. If you don’t belong to His true church, it really doesn’t matter which one you belong to. Both of these paths may indeed lead you to heaven and some form of salvation, but the difference is where in heaven you end up, and how much authority and honor you have when you get there. It’s not the same. The road to heaven is not so broad as what the world would have us believe. (Matthew 7:13–14)

• Matthew 7:13–14
• Alma 7:19–20