Book of Mormon Feast
An Artistic Tour of 1 Nephi 8
1 Nephi 8
BOOK OF MORMON MUSIC
“The Iron Rod” – Joseph L. Townsend & William Clayson
In Lehi’s powerful and visually descriptive vision of the Tree of Life, he saw an iron rod that led to the tree. The iron rod is 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.”
A Priesthood Choir from BYU, under the direction of Ronald Staheli, performed “The
Iron Rod” at the Priesthood Session of the April 2010 General Conference of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-
1 Nephi 8:2
BOOK OF MORMON ART
“Behold, I have dreamed a dream, or in other words, I have seen a vision.”
Thus Lehi introduces one of the most memorable and spiritually impressive scenes in the Book of Mormon, now referred to as the Tree of Life vision.
This Liahona article combines a number of beautiful interpretations by various artists of Lehi’s Tree of Life vision.
1 Nephi 8:5
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Lehi’s Dream
David Hyrum Smith
about 1875. oil on canvas (61 x 45 cm).
The artist was born a few months after his father, the Prophet Joseph Smith, was martyred in 1844.
In the painting, Lehi is accompanied by the “Spirit of the Lord” (see 1 Ne. 8:5–6; 1 Ne. 11:11).
(Courtesy of Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Archives, Independence, Missouri; photograph by R. T. Clark.)
1 Nephi 8:9
BOOK OF MORMON CARVED WOOD
Lehi’s Dream of the tree of Life
Kurt Sjökvist, 1995, Mockfjärd, Sweden
Carved wood, painted (157 x 101 x 101 centimeters).
Lehi’s reference to “a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world” is interpreted as a globe upon which the allegory is presented. (Photo by R. T. Clark, Museum of Church History and Art.)
1 Nephi 8:10
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Joseph Smith and the Tree of Life
Juan M. Escobedo
1987, Caliente, Nevada, United States; oil on board (127 x 76 cm).
The Prophet Joseph Smith leads the way in this Mexican folk art interpretation of the tree of life.
1 Nephi 8:10
BOOK OF MORMON SCULPTURE BLACK-
Harrison Begay Jr.-
Navajo Indian artist (1914-
1994, Espanola, New Mexico, United States
(23 x 18 x 18 cm).
1 Nephi 8:11
BOOK OF MORMON WORKED METAL
Araceli Andrade
I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit. —1 Nephi 8:10–12
1 Nephi 8:11
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Kazuto Uota
This stunning artistic work by Kazuto Uota was created in 1990. It represents the Tree of Life as described in the Book of Mormon, with its fruit glowing as it displays the power of God.
This work was featured on the cover of the Ensign magazine in August, 2010, and generated much favorable response from the Ensign readers.
1 Nephi 8:11,12
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Real Heroes Poster – Steve Nethercott
Speaking of the fruit of the Tree of Life, which represents the love of God, Lehi said, “I did go forth and partake of the fruit. . . it was most sweet . . . . It filled my soul with exceedingly great joy.”
Real people – real power. Real Hero Posters strives to capture the spirit of real heroes, the uniqueness of their world, the strength of their character, and the reality of their heroism.
1 Nephi 8:12
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Xiu Wang
Chang-
Tempera on silk (170 x 68 cm).
This “mountain water” style of painting focuses on the joy of sharing the gospel with one’s family. The inscription quotes 1 Nephi 8:12
1 Nephi 8:15
BOOK OF MORMON SCULPTURE
Sharing the Fruit of the Tree of Life
Gary Lee Price. 2000
“Other than Lehi’s awesome description of this great vision and metaphor for life, I’ve always been most impressed by his instant reaction to share the incredibly brilliant and delicious fruit with his family. Nephi tells us that his father saw a symbol for the ‘love of God’ and that it is the most desirable thing there is! What could be greater or more powerful than unconditional, eternal love? Little wonder Lehi wanted to share that with those he loved most!
“I envision the symbolic tree as one that has withstood the test of time.
A tree that despite the elements and the centuries of seasons, has not only survived,
but thrived! Its roots have sunk deep into the life-
“It is my hope an as artist that Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life will inspire all of us to reach deeper inside ourselves and find that unquenchable source of love that nourishes and uplifts all we meet.”
1 Nephi 8:16
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Lehi’s Dream – Gary L. Kapp
Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life is a memorable high-
Speaking of a part of them, the Book of Mormon records, “And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.”
1 Nephi 8:16
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Lehi’s Vision of the Tree of Life
Robert Yellowhair, Snowflake, Arizona, United States
Oil on canvas (121 x 76 cm). 1992.
The artist uses traditional symbols to express his belief that Native Americans are
descendants of Lehi. Brother Yellowhair, a Navajo from the Zuni clan, has adapted
the essential themes of Lehi’s dream of the tree of life to a Native American setting.
A piñon tree, brilliant with light, symbolizes the tree of life; the pine cones are
the white fruit. Father Lehi is dressed as a Hopi priest because Hopis are acknowledged
among Native Americans of the Southwest as the traditional religious leaders. Sariah
is depicted as Crow Mother, the first mother of the Zuni. Nephi, on his mother’s
right, is depicted as the visionary Comanche chief, Quainapaker, from the early twentieth
century. Sam is depicted as the great peace-
1 Nephi 8:19
BOOK OF MORMON FIRED CLAY
Become Familiar with the Scriptures
Taichi Aoba, Sai jo-
1993. (35 x 26 x 10 cm).
Lehi’s vision of the tree of life is encircled by other key stories from the Book of Mormon.
1 Nephi 8:21
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Beeswax on rice paper (71 x 61 cm).
The artist suggests that some who set out for the fruitful tree of life may be lured toward barren trees shown at the right of the print.
1 Nephi 8:22
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Lehi’s Dream of the Tree of Life
Ink on paper
1 Nephi 8:23
BOOK OF MORMON ART
That Good Part blogger has illustrated Lehi’s dream with a dozen multi-
1 Nephi 8:24
BOOK OF MORMON STAINED GLASS
Leslie Vaun Martin
leaded stained glass door
“Behold, I have dreamed a dream” (1 Nephi 8:2), Lehi proclaimed to his family. He then described a tree whose bright, white fruit filled his soul with great joy. With the feeling of a tender parent, Lehi entreated his family to partake of the fruit of the tree—the love of God. In this piece, the tree of life feeds on the fountain of living waters. Its gnarly trunk, rooted in the rock of revelation, gives foothold to all who climb to partake of the fruit. Light enlivens the roots, leaves, and fruit. Righteous desire starts us on the path; joy is our reward.
1 Nephi 8:26
BOOK OF MORMON SCULPTURE
The Vision of Lehi (The Tree of Life)
Lukchau Tang
Pearl shell sculpture
“This work is pieced together with pearl shells, featuring ancient Chinese architecture and people. The colors displayed by the pearl shells are more dazzling than ivory and will not fade. That is why I chose pearl shells.”
1 Nephi 8:26,27
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Minerva Teichert
Lehi and Nephi saw the beautifully symbolic Tree of Life in vision, which represents the Love of God. The also saw a great and spacious building, filled with people mocking those who were partaking of the pure fruit of the Tree.
“In this representation of Lehi’s Dream from chapter 8 of the first book of Nephi, Teichert reverses traditional symbolism of light and dark. As in real life, the blessings of faith and obedience are sometimes not as immediately apparent or attractive as the entrapments of Satan.”
1 Nephi 8:33
BOOK OF MORMON RETABLO
The Tree of Life, (el árbol de la vida)
Jeronimo Lozano, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
1995. Painted plaster paste on wood (122 x 96 x 18 cm).
Using the compartments of a traditional Peruvian retablo, the artist depicts Lehi’s dream in sequence. (Photograph by R. T. Clark.)
1 Nephi 8:33
BOOK OF MORMON ART
Oil on canvas
1 Nephi 8:35
BOOK OF MORMON APPLIQUE
Abu Hassan Conteh, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Applique, fabric on fabric (152 x 99 cm). 1994
Cattle, a traditional African instrument of exchange used to seal sacred contracts,
here represent the covenant white-
