Jewish belief in the Tree of Life is somewhat different than are those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A branch of Judaism called the, “Tree of Life Synagogue”, as the name attests in the Torah, the Jewish destiny is a ‘Tree of Life for all those who cling to it.’ (Proverbs 3:18) They state that; We, members of the “Tree of Life Synagogue”, are enjoined to choose life. That, after all, is the story of Abraham and Isaac: a story not of God asking Abraham to kill his son, but a story of God asking if Abraham is willing to obey God by placing his son in mortal danger in service to God – and God’s grace in saving Isaac thanks to Abraham’s commitment. They say that is the story of the Jewish people. The Jewish people do not believe in the resurrected Jesus Christ. If they did they would see a broader picture of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham was being tested to see if he was willing to sacrifice ‘his only begotten son’, even as God the Father was willing to sacrifice His only begotten son, to save mankind. That sacrifice, for both Abraham and the Father, was the greatest sacrifice they could give; their beloved and only begotten sons. Abraham was willing to do so out of love for the Father and the Father, out of love for all of mankind.
The most comprehensive story of the tree of life in the whole of the scriptures is found in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 11- 43). “In Lehi’s dream the tree of life represents the love of God and the fruit thereof is referred to as the greatest of all the gifts of God. Lehi explained that in his dream he saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me and he bade me to follow him; And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies. And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field. And it came to pass that 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. And as I cast my eyes roundabout, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit. And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go. And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit. And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also….I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come …but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit. …And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood. And I also beheld a straight and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, … And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.”
There are probably many renditions of the tree of life found in many different faiths throughout the world but Lehi’s dream is likely the most comprehensive. Lehi was a prophet, faithful and worthy of inspiration as evidenced by the many things that God did for he and his family. They were brought forth from Jerusalem, where he had warned the people of impending danger. When the people threatened his life and would not repent, God directed Lehi to leave Jerusalem and lead his family to a new and promised land. He did so in a miraculous way.
The Tree of Life is no more than the acceptance of and the desire to live according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And, ‘if ye will nourish the word, (the Gospel)…by your faith with great diligence, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. And because of your diligence, your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, …by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, …and pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.’ The fruit, thereof, will fill your soul with exceedingly great joy. That, my brethren, is reaping the rewards of your faith. Faith in the tree of life and/or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they are the same. The story of the Tree of Life was important enough to be included in First Nephi, the first book in the Book of Mormon.
The cover page of the Book of Mormon, written by the prophet Mormon, describes in some detail the future of the Lamanite people (Native Americans). Mormon’s Account reads; An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi.
“Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile. …And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”
Chief Crazy Horse (a Lamanite Chief), in 1877, describing his final vision to Chief Sitting Bull said: “Upon suffering beyond suffering, The Red Nation (Lamanites) shall rise again, and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations. A world longing for light again. I see a time of seven generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again. In that day, there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute the light within your eyes where the whole Universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am at that place within me, we shall be one.” Crazy Horse‘s words were prophetic. The Lamanites are to play a very important part in the restitution of all things.