Welcome back to Scripture Central. Come follow me for the Book of Mormon. This is John W. Welch,

and I'm Lynn Hilton Wilson, excited to talk about Nephi's vision of the Tree of Life.

Today, we're on chapters 11 through 15 in First Nephi. And this is some of the most beautiful text in the entire scripture.

I'm so glad we get a chance to dive in today.

This is amazing. It really is.

He starts out in chapter 11 saying he's just finished hearing his dad's vision and he is pondering it.

He's thinking about it. That's chapter 11 verse 1.

What does the word ponder mean to you, Lynn? Ponder is the level of thinking beyond just casual

thought, but I usually include it in my prayer. I'm asking the Lord, lead my thoughts. Help me to

understand. What about you?

Well, when you, I think when you ponder, the word has to do with weighing and it's weighty.

It ponderous. Something is ponderous when it weighs a lot. And you ponder something when you think

heavily about it and you weigh and think about it.

So pondering isn't just being quizzical, but actually starting to put the pieces together and think about how it impresses you and presses deeply upon you.

Not a fleeting thought. Oh, yeah, I'd love this.

I think it's a great word.

And then it says, in my heart, I was caught away in the spirit of the Lord,

yea, into an exceeding high mountain, which I had never seen, and upon which before I had never

set foot.

So the Lord is able to allow him to see a vision of himself in a different location, but mountains are often temples. You know, it's higher places for higher thoughts, for godly things. Moses is in a mountain. Perfect. And then he says, the spirit comes to him and says, what desirest thou?

And I love to just step back and think about that.

What do you really want?

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