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My life is a gift; my life has a plan. My life has a purpose; in heavn it began. My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth And seek for Gods light to direct me from birth. I will follow Gods plan for me, Holding fast to his word and his love. I will work, and I will pray; I will always walk in his way. Then I will be happy on earth And in my home above. Words and music: Vanja Y. Watkins, b. 1938. 1981 IRI mp3wma

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OOOOne of you will stand on one side of the room and hold the Birth sign. OOOOne of you will stand on the other side of the room and hold the Eternal Life sign. Birth E t e r n a l L i f e

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OOOOur third volunteer gets to wear a blindfold! IIII will turn you around a few times, then you will walk from one sign to the next without help. Eternal Life

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NNNNow, the sign holding friends are going to have something that will help. Birth Eternal Life

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Why was the second time easier than the first? Birth Eternal Life

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While we live on earth we are all trying to return to Heavenly Father. He has given us something to hold on to so we can find our way back to Him. What has Heavenly Father given us to lead us back to His presence?

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This lesson will explain how following Christs teachings can help us return to Heavenly Fathers presence.

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The scriptures often use symbols.

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A symbol is usually a familiar object that is used to represent a principle or teaching.

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FFFFor example, a lamb may be a symbol of purity. JJJJesus Christ is called the Lamb of God.

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In this lesson we will learn about symbols that Lehi saw in a dream and their meanings.

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Lesson 4: The Tree of Life, Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),12 Lehis Dream, Book of Mormon Stories, Chapter 6, pgs 18-20

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Lehi told his family about an important vision he had had in a dream. Lehis dream made him happy for Nephi and Sam but sad for Laman and Lemuel.

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In his dream Lehi saw a man wearing a white robe who told Lehi to follow him. Lehi followed the man into a dark and dreary wilderness.

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After traveling in the darkness for many hours, Lehi prayed for help. Then he saw a tree with white fruit. This sweet fruit made those who ate it happy.

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Lehi ate the fruit, and it filled him with joy. HHHHe wanted his family to taste the fruit because he knew it would make them happy too.

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LLLLehi saw a river flowing near the tree. AAAAt the head of the river he saw Sariah, Sam, and Nephi.

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Sariah, Sam, and Nephi went and tasted the fruit, but Laman and Lemuel would not. Lehi also saw a rod of iron and a strait and narrow path leading to the tree.

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He saw many people walking on or toward the path. Because of a mist of darkness, some wandered off the path and became lost.

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Others held tightly to the iron rod and made it through the darkness to the tree. They tasted the fruit.

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People in a large building on the other side of the river made fun of those who ate the fruit. Some who had eaten the fruit became ashamed and left the tree.

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Lehi Lehi saw many people in his dream. Some Some held firmly to the iron rod and traveled through the dark mist to the tree. They They tasted the fruit.

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Others went to the large building or drowned in the river or became lost.

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Laman and Lemuel would not eat the fruit. LLLLehi worried about them and tried to help them obey Gods commandments.

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Nephi wanted to understand Lehis vision. Nephi prayed and saw an angel of the Lord. Nephi asked the angel to show him what Lehi had seen. The angel asked Nephi if he believed Lehi had a vision from the Lord. Nephi said he did.

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TTTThe angel showed Nephi a virgin, Mary, and explained that she would be the mother of the Son of God. Nephi saw Mary holding baby Jesus.

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The angel asked Nephi if he knew the meaning of the tree Lehi saw. NNNNephi said the tree of life represents the love of God. TTTThe angel showed Jesus teaching the gospel and being worshipped.

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Nephi understood that the rod of iron represents the love of God. The angel showed Nephi the prophet who would prepare the way for Jesus. He saw this prophet baptize Jesus.

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Nephi saw many people gathered to hear Jesus. He saw the twelve that followed Jesus.

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Nephi saw Jesus heal the sick and cast out devils.

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Nephi saw Jesus suffer and die for the sins of the world. He saw that the twelve apostles were persecuted but were faithful.

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The angel explained to Nephi that the great and spacious building represents pride worldly wisdom. The angel told Nephi that pride and worldly wisdom would bring destruction.

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TTTThe angel told Nephi many plain and precious truths of the gospel would be lost. TTTThe angel showed Nephi that eventually the gospel would be restored. NNNNephi was shown many other events that will happen in the future.

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Lets read 1 Nephi 8:1012 1 Nephi 8:10121 Nephi 8:1012 Why did Lehi want his family to eat the fruit of the tree of life? WWWWhat does Heavenly Father want for all His children?

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Lets read 1 Nephi 8:1317 1 Nephi 8:13171 Nephi 8:1317 What are some reasons we do not always obey Heavenly Fathers commandments? Why Why do you think some of Lehis sons ate the fruit of the tree and others didnt?

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TTTThe tree - 1 1 1 1 1 N N N N eeee pppp hhhh iiii 8888 :::: 1111 0000 TTTThe love of God in giving the world his Only Begotten Son (see 1 1 1 1 1 N N N N eeee pppp hhhh iiii 1111 1111 :::: 2222 1111 2222 2222; J J J J J oooo hhhh nnnn 3333 :::: 1111 6666)

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When Nephi asked the angel to show him the meaning of the tree, he saw a vision of the birth and ministry of the Savior. How do the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ show Gods great love for us?

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The fruit- 1 Nephi 8:11 1 Nephi 8:111 Nephi 8:11 Eternal life (see 1 Nephi 15:36; D&C 14:7) 1 Nephi 15:36 D&C 14:7 1 Nephi 15:36 D&C 14:7

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WWWWhat does the fruit of the tree represent? NNNNephi saw that Jesus Christ, because of his love for us, would be crucified for our sins so that we might repent and gain eternal life. EEEEternal life means living with Heavenly Father as families in the celestial kingdom. WWWWhat must we do to obtain eternal life?

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The rod of iron - 1 Nephi 8:19 1 Nephi 8:191 Nephi 8:19 The word of God (see 1 Nephi 15:2324) 1 Nephi 15:23241 Nephi 15:2324

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What does the iron rod represent? How will reading the Book of Mormon every day help us stay on the path back to our Father in Heaven? Lets read 1 Nephi 15:24 1 Nephi 15:241 Nephi 15:24 How has reading the Book of Mormon blessed you?

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MMMMist of darkness- 1111 N N N N eeee pppp hhhh iiii 8 8 8 8 :::: 2222 3333 TTTTemptations of the devil (see 1 1 1 1 1 NNNN eeee pppp hhhh iiii 1 1 1 1 2222 :::: 1111 7777)

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What does the mist of darkness represent? The temptations of the devil can confuse us and lead us astray. In what ways does Satan tempt us to leave the strait and narrow path? What can we do to resist his temptations? Why are we happier if we stay on the strait and narrow path?

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GGGGreat and spacious building - 1 1 1 1 1 NNNN eeee pppp hhhh iiii 8 8 8 8 :::: 2222 6666 2222 7777 PPPPride of the world (see 1 1 1 1 1 NNNN eeee pppp hhhh iiii 1 1 1 1 1111 :::: 3333 6666)

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What does the great and spacious building represent? WWWWho influences people who make fun of us? TTTThe pride of the world. IIIIn what ways have you been made fun of because you were trying to do right?

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WWWWe will take turns turning over two cards. Try to match each tree of life symbol with its meaning. IIIIf the cards match, leave them face up. Enr. Act. 1

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1 1 1 Nephi 15:2324 23 23 And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? 24 24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction. Enr. Act. 2

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I bear testimony that by obeying the commandments we can return to live with Heavenly Father.

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