Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/1 Nephi/Chapter 11

by Timothy B. Wilson

heart.

Then I was caught away, in the Spirit of the Lord, to a very high mountain I had never seen before.

There the Spirit asked me, "What do you want?"

I answered, "To see what my father has seen."

The Spirit asked, "Do you believe your father really saw the tree?"

"You know I believe all the words of my father," I replied.

Then the Spirit cried out, "Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God, for He is God over all the earth, even above all. You are blessed, Nephi, because you believe in the Son of the Most High God.

Because you believe, you will see what you desire to see.

Note: Seeing is not believing, but believing is seeing.

First, you will see the tree that bore the fruit your father tasted. Then you will see a Man come down from heaven. By seeing Him, you will be able to testify that you have seen the Son of God, and that He lives!"

Then the Spirit said, "Look!"

I looked and saw the tree. It was more beautiful than anything I had ever seen before, and whiter than the driven snow.

I said to the Spirit, "I see the tree, bearing fruit more precious than anything."

“What do you desire now?" asked the Spirit.

I replied, "To know the meaning of the tree.”

I talked with the Spirit as I would talk to any man. Although He was in the form of a man, I knew He was the Spirit of the Lord.

The Spirit again said, "Look!"

But when I turned to look, He was gone. I looked down from the mountain and saw the great city of Jerusalem, and other cities as well. I saw the city of Nazareth, and in that city I saw a virgin who was very pure and beautiful.

Then I saw the heavens open. An angel came down, stood before me and said, "Nephi, what do you see?”

I answered, "A virgin, more beautiful and fair than any other.”

The angel then asked, "Do you know what the condescension of God means?"

I answered, "I know that God loves His children, but not the meaning of His condescension."

Then he said, "The virgin you see is the earthly mother of the Son of God."

I saw her carried away in the Spirit. After she had been carried away in the Spirit for some time, the angel said to me, "Look!"

I looked and saw the virgin holding a child in her arms.

Then the angel said, "See the Lamb of God, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Now do you know the meaning of the tree?"

"Yes," I answered. "The tree represents God's love which may fill the hearts of all His children, and it is worth more than anything!"

"Yes," said the angel, "And God's love is the most joyous thing to the soul!”

Then the angel said, "Look!"

I looked and saw the Son of God (the word), walking among His people. I saw many fall down at His feet and worship Him.

Then I understood the meaning of the iron rod that my father had seen. It represented God's word.

The iron rod led to a fountain of living waters and the tree of life. Both the pure fountain and the tree of life represented God's love.

Then the angel said, "Look and witness the condescension of God!"

I looked and saw the Redeemer of the world, and the prophet who would prepare the way before Him. The Lamb of God, or Redeemer, was baptized by the prophet.

After He was baptized, I saw the heavens open and the Holy Ghost come down upon Him in the form of a dove.

Then the Redeemer went among the people, ministering to them in power and great glory.

Multitudes gathered to hear Him, but many rejected Him and His words.

I saw twelve others follow Him, but after they were carried away in the Spirit, I could no longer see them.

"Look!" said the Angel.

I looked, and saw the heavens open once again. Angels came down to the people and spoke to them. I saw the Lamb of God going among them, healing their sick and casting out evil spirits.

And then I looked and saw the Lamb of God--the Son of the everlasting God, taken by the people and judged by the world. I saw him lifted upon a cross and slain for the sins of the world.

After He was slain, I saw the multitudes of the earth gather together to fight against the gospel of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

This multitude was gathered in the large, spacious building that my father had seen.

The angel said, "Look at the world and its wisdom. Even the house of Israel has gathered together to fight against the gospel of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."

And then I understood that the large, spacious building represented the pride of the world. It fell with a great crash, after which the angel said, "This is how all nations, kindreds, tongues and people that fight against the gospel of the twelve apostles of the Lamb of God will be destroyed."