Dreams and Visions

Dreams and Visions

The essence of dreams and visions has been a major part of the Lords dealings with His children on Earth. They are used as a method to counsel us as well as reprimand our imperfections. In 1Nephi chapters 8-11, we see a few visions that allow us to see the plan that our Heavenly Father has in store for us. Although the vision of the tree of life is seen directly by Nephi and Lehi, it is just as important, if not more important, that we understand the symbolic meanings of the elements involved in the dreams/visions.

“We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.”(Article of Faith 7) A vision is “an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency.” As with many other ancient prophets in biblical history, dreams or visions of this nature were effective means by which the Lord communicated with his people through prophet-leaders. Visions are viewed by the non-LDS community as a hallucination caused by a mental illness. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we have a clear understanding that God does communicate to His children here on Earth through visions and prophets as well as through manifestations of the Spirit. This knowledge gives us hope that our Heavenly Father does watch over each and every one of us which leads a greater understanding and love for our Heavenly Father and all of the blessings that he gladly bestows upon us.

After Lehi’s vision of the tree of life “he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.” (1Nephi 8:36) Lehi, being the honorable prophet and father he was, told his two sons about their decisions that they had made in the vision. He told them of their stubbornness to partake of the fruit and the consequences that would come as a result if the continued on the path that they were on. It seems logical that if a parent of any human being today told their children about a vision that they had seen and the destruction that would come upon them if they didn’t repent, they would do everything in their power to alter their life in a manner that would be in more accordance with out Heavenly Father. Laman and Lemuel refused this valuable counsel from their father and we see that they continued on the course that they were on which led to their destruction.

The vision that both Nephi and Lehi saw involved trees; a tree of the knowledge of good and evil as well as the tree of life. It is significant that in this vision, life is represented through a tree, rather than a large body of water or something else of greater magnitude than a tree. I feel that the reason the in this vision, a tree is used to represent the love of God, is simply because of the simplistic and complete nature of a tree, as is God and the commandments and counsel he gives. Unlike a large body of water, a tree is predictable and changes in a non- extreme manner. Heavenly Fathers’ love for all of his children is just as the tree in every since, with each branch being his children. This love offered to us is “The greatest of all the gifts of God” (1 Nephi 15:36).

The ability to have a vision shows of one’s spirituality, in most cases. The determination to seek the understanding of the vision shows even more the spirituality of a human being. “For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.” (1 Nephi 10:19) Nephi’s desire to see the vision that his father saw and then to interpret it shows the kind of person that he was; a person that would do all of us well to follow him.

Being in accordance with the Lord and his dealings with us can lead us all to safety, both literally as well as spiritually. We see that by Lehi adhering to the vision he received concerning the destruction of Jerusalem led to his family prospering. By following his example, we too can receive personal revelation. Maybe the revelation won’t be a revelation but we should consider manifestations of the spirit just as important and special.

Later in the Book of Mormon, we see another situation of importance where Jacob lived his life in accordance with the Lord and was therefore able to receive an extremely important revelation regarding this continent that we are now living on. “And I will fortify this land against all other nations.” This revelation is proof that revelation doesn’t just occur but that it is 100% true.

Dreams, visions, and revelation are a big part of our lives since we are of a church where we have a living prophet and therefore we can know that these occasions of great importance aren’t a farce but rather extremely divine methods of our Heavenly Father intervening with his children here on Earth. These dreams and visions have been occurring since Adam and Eve were upon the Earth, and will continue forever.




Sources:
http://scriptures.lds.org/1_ne/8/36#36
Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vision
Pearl of Great Price: Article of Faith 7