“Come and Partake of the Fruit”

January 13-19

Scripture:

1 Nephi 10:17

And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the ^awords of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a ^bvision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the ^cMessiah who should come—I, Nephi, was ^ddesirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the ^eHoly Ghost, which is the ^fgift of God unto ^gall those who diligently seek him, as well in times of ^hold as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

Activity Idea:

Recreate the vision of the tree of life

Supplies needed:

• rope/string/yarn
• two places to tie the rope to
• treat at the end
• blindfold (optional)
• temptations (in form of toys, tv, games, treats in the kitchen)

Set up your rope/string/yarn inside or outside your home (depending on the weather). You can have it go through several rooms as you instruct family members to hold fast to the ‘iron rod’ you can tempt them throughout and blindfold at one point if you choose. I’m going to have a yummy treat at the tree. Most likely fruit snacks but if I’m feeling up to it a baked good.

It might be fun to invite some other families to join you. We are going to. This way we can have different tempters and people in the ‘great and spacious building.’ This activity is easily adaptable to however big or small you want to have it.

Here is what I sent out to some of my friends:

Vision of the Tree of Life

As a family we wanted to have a family home evening where we learn about the tree of life and we thought it would be more fun with other friends and families. So come join our family home evening where we recreate the vision of the tree of life from the Book of Mormon.

You can come and just participate or come and have your kids participate and you help out.

We are going to set up a rope that represents the iron rod that leads to a tree in our backyard. The play structure is the great and spacious building.

We thought it would be good to have some people in/near the “great and spacious building” mocking those on the path and those that participate in the fruit. Some people to tempt those on the iron rod. Some to put blindfolds on. Maybe someone could bring a treat to tempt people with.

I’ve been thinking about if we want to let people that let go of the ‘iron rod’ get back on once they get off. When I was in seminary we did this activity and I was tempted off the iron rod by one of my teachers asking me to come and help him. I let go of the rod and I was led to a dark room where we had to sit on the ground.

The more I’ve thought about the analogy, I think that there is always a way back if that is what we want. We can repent, go back to the word of God and press forward. That’s what I want to teach my kids. That day in seminary I felt like a failure and that I couldn’t make it and the whole time I was sitting in that dark room on the floor. It was just for a simple mistake. I wanted to go back and try again, but I was stuck. Satan wants us to think we are stuck.

I think we can let go of the rod, and get right back on. Didn’t Lehi want Laman and Lemuel to hold to the rod? They were clearly not holding to the rod. But Lehi beckoned them in a loud voice to come partake of the fruit. I want to let my kids know that no matter how many times they were tempted off the rod there is always a way back.