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Scripture Story Sketch Notes · 1 Nephi 8–15

Lehi's Dream

“I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.” 1 Ne 8:2

A whole plan of salvation, drawn as one landscape. Walk it one landmark at a time, decode what each symbol means, and find yourself on the path.

Start the walk ↓ Read 1 Nephi 8 first
Hand-drawn doodle map of Lehi's dream: a gray wasteland at the bottom, a river and rod of iron winding up through a mist to a glowing tree, and a building floating in the air.

Part 1 of 6

The dream, mapped

Nine landmarks, from where Lehi started to where the path leads. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.

    Part 2 of 6 · Lehi's journey

    From darkness to joy

    Notice

    Darkness, then prayer, then light. And the moment Lehi tastes joy, he looks for his family.

    “I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.” 8:12

    Part 3 of 6 · What it means

    Decode the symbols

    Nephi asked to know “the interpretation thereof” 1 Ne 11:11. Guess first, then tap a card to see what the angel and Nephi said it means.

    0 of 9 decoded

    Part 4 of 6 · Where are you on the path?

    Four kinds of travelers

    “The key phrase in this verse is continually holding fast to the rod of iron.”
    Elder David A. Bednar, “Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod,” Ensign, Oct. 2011

    Try it

    Hold fast through the mist

    Press and hold the button to walk along the rod. Let go, and the mist rolls back in.

    0% of the way

    Part 5 of 6 · The word of God

    What it means to hold to the rod

    Nephi's brothers asked the question you might ask: “What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?” 1 Ne 15:23

    “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.”

    1 Ne 15:24

    Three strands of one rod

    Elder Neil L. Andersen described three talks, given to the same audience, that “identified three aspects of the iron rod, or the word of God.” “Fruit,” Oct. 2019 general conference

    Doodle of open scriptures with a ribbon bookmark and light rising from the pages.

    1 · The scriptures

    “the scriptures, or the words of ancient prophets.” Elder David A. Bednar asked, “Are you and I daily reading, studying, and searching the scriptures in a way that enables us to hold fast to the rod of iron?”

    Doodle of a pulpit with a microphone and an open book.

    2 · Living prophets

    “the words of living prophets.” General conference talks are part of the rod you can hold today.

    Doodle of a heart surrounded by soft yellow light.

    3 · The Holy Ghost

    “the power of the Holy Ghost.” President Boyd K. Packer: “If you hold to the rod, you can feel your way forward with the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

    Clinging vs. continually holding fast

    Group 2 · 1 Ne 8:24–28

    “…clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.”

    They made it through the mist. Then the mocking from the building made them ashamed, and “they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.” 8:24, 28

    Group 3 · 1 Ne 8:30

    “…continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.”

    Same rod, same mist. The difference is a grip that is never let go. 8:30

    “Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the words of Christ. … This is the group you and I should strive to join.”
    Elder David A. Bednar, “Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod,” Ensign, Oct. 2011
    “The rod of iron represented for this group of people the only safety and security that they could find, and they held fast continually; they refused to let go.”
    Elder Kevin W. Pearson, “Continually Holding Fast,” Oct. 2013 general conference

    Spiritual survival, every day

    “Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It's the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost.”
    Elder Kevin W. Pearson, “Stay by the Tree,” Apr. 2015 general conference
    “I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. … I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day.”
    President Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?” Oct. 2017 general conference
    “Strong faith requires more than strong desire. It means daily trying, one step at a time, with prayer and scriptural learning.”
    President Dallin H. Oaks, Oct. 2026 general conference, as reported by Church News
    “Our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time.”
    Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of Scripture,” Apr. 2010 general conference

    Try it today

    Build today's grip

    Six small ways to hold the rod, each taken from a prophet's counsel. Tap each one as you do it, and watch the hand-holds fill in.

    0 of 6 hand-holds today

    A verse to hold this week

    Talks to study about the iron rod

    Part 6 of 6 · Living it today

    Hold fast today

    Doodle of a young man sitting alone on a mountain peak above the clouds, pondering.

    Want to see what Lehi saw?

    Nephi did. He desired, believed the Lord could show him, and pondered. Then he was “caught away in the Spirit” to a high mountain. 1 Ne 11:1–6

    1. Desire
    2. Believe
    3. Ponder
    4. See

    Look closer

    The tree points to Jesus Christ

    Right before the angel asks Nephi what the tree means, Nephi sees the virgin “bearing a child in her arms” and hears, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Then he answers: “it is the love of God.” 1 Ne 11:20–22

    From modern prophets

    “Grasp the iron rod, and do not let go.”

    “An unseen power will hold your hand as you hold to the iron rod.”

    President Boyd K. Packer, “Lehi's Dream and You,” BYU devotional, Jan. 16, 2007; New Era, Jan. 2015

    “The rod of iron is the word of God.”

    Elder David A. Bednar, Ensign, Oct. 2011

    Lehi's answer to the mockers: “but we heeded them not.” 8:33

    First-person doodle of two hands gripping an iron rod that stretches through gray mist toward a small glowing tree.

    Talk about it

    1. Where do you see a “mist of darkness” today?
    2. What is the difference between clinging and continually holding fast?
    3. Who could you beckon to the tree, like Lehi did?
    4. When have you had to “heed them not”?

    “…that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit”

    Lehi's first thought was his family. Who will you bring with you? 1 Ne 8:15

    Download the sketch notes Free PDF Keep reading: 1 Nephi 11

    Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the Book of Mormon; symbol meanings are taken from 1 Nephi 11, 12 and 15.