I Will Follow Gods Plan My life is

I Will Follow God’s Plan My life is a gift; my life has a plan. My life has a purpose; in heav’n it began. My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth And seek for God’s light to direct me from birth. I will follow God’s 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. wma Words and music: Vanja Y. Watkins, b. 1938. © 1981 IRI mp 3

I need 3 volunteers!

Birth ÔOne Etern al Life of you will stand on one side of the room and hold the “Birth” sign. ÔOne of you will stand on the other side of the room and hold the “Eternal Life” sign.

Birth ÔOur Etern al Life third volunteer gets to wear a blindfold! Ï I will turn you around a few times, then you will walk from one sign to the next without help.

Birth ÔNow, Etern al Life the sign holding friends are going to have something that will help.

Birth ÔWhy was the second time easier than the first? Etern al Life

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

This lesson will explain how following Christ’s teachings can help us return to Heavenly Father’s presence.

The scriptures often use symbols.

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

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

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

The Tree of Life “Lesson 4: The Tree of Life, ” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997), 12 “Lehi’s Dream, ” Book of Mormon Stories, Chapter 6, pgs 18 -20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ÔOthers held tightly to the iron rod and made it through the darkness to the tree. ÔThey tasted the fruit.

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

ÔLehi saw many people in his dream. ÔSome held firmly to the iron rod and traveled through the dark mist to the tree. ÔThey tasted the fruit.

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

ÔLaman and Lemuel would not eat the fruit. ÔLehi worried about them and tried to help them obey God’s commandments.

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

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

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

ÔNephi understood that the rod of iron represents the word of God. ÔThe angel showed Nephi the prophet who would prepare the way for Jesus. ÔHe saw this prophet baptize Jesus.

ÔNephi saw many people gathered to hear Jesus. ÔHe saw the twelve that followed Jesus.

ÔNephi saw Jesus heal the sick and cast out devils.

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

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

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

ÔLet’s read 1 Nephi 8: 10– 12 ÔWhy did Lehi want his family to eat the fruit of the tree of life? ÔWhat does Heavenly Father want for all His children?

ÔLet’s read 1 Nephi 8: 13– 17 ÔWhy do you think some of Lehi’s sons ate the fruit of the tree and others didn’t? ÔWhat are some reasons we do not always obey Heavenly Father’s commandments?

What do the symbols in Lehi’s dream mean? ÔThe tree - 1 Nephi 8: 10 Ï The love of God in giving the world his Only Begotten Son (see 1 Nephi 11: 21– 22; John 3: 16)

ÔWhen Nephi asked the angel to show him the meaning of the tree, he saw a vision of the birth and ministry of the Savior. ÔHow do the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ show God’s great love for us?

What do the symbols in Lehi’s dream mean? ÔThe fruit- 1 Nephi 8: 11 Ï Eternal life (see 1 Nephi 15: 36; D&C 14: 7)

ÔWhat does the fruit of the tree represent? ÔNephi 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. ÔEternal life means living with Heavenly Father as families in the celestial kingdom. ÔWhat must we do to obtain eternal life?

What do the symbols in Lehi’s dream mean? ÔThe rod of iron 1 Nephi 8: 19 Ï The word of God (see 1 Nephi 15: 23– 24)

ÔWhat does the iron rod represent? ÔHow will reading the Book of Mormon every day help us stay on the path back to our Father in Heaven? ÔLet’s read 1 Nephi 15: 24 ÔHow has reading the Book of Mormon blessed you?

What do the symbols in Lehi’s dream mean? ÔMist of darkness - 1 Nephi 8: 23 Ï Temptations of the devil (see 1 Nephi 12: 17)

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

What do the symbols in Lehi’s dream mean? ÔGreat and spacious building - 1 Nephi 8: 26– 27 Ï Pride of the world (see 1 Nephi 11: 36)

ÔWhat does the great and spacious building represent? ÔThe pride of the world. ÔIn what ways have you been made fun of because you were trying to do right? ÔWho influences people who make fun of us?

Tree of Life Matching Game! ÔWe will take turns turning over two cards. Try to match each tree of life symbol with its meaning. ÔIf the cards match, leave them face up. Enr. Act. 1

Let’s Memorize! Ô 1 Nephi 15: 23– 24 Ï 23 And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? Ï 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

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

Ô Images and clipart are from lds. org, ldsclipart. com, Microsoft Office, and other websites indicating the images were in the public domain or permitted for church and home use. Ô The hymns, lesson and scripture story are from lds. org. Ô Please do not use this presentation for commercial use. Feel free to alter the presentation for use in church or home to suit personal preference. Ô This presentation is intended to supplement, not replace, the lesson manual and scriptures. Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures and other resources when preparing and conducting the lesson.