Gospel Doctrine Commentary
Lesson No. Three
Lehi's Dream and the Parable of the Sower
Introduction – The Master Teacher was also a master of the use of parables. Jesus often taught with parables during his mortal ministry. Lehi’s vision of the tree of life is not a parable in the true sense yet it is a vision revealed by the Lord and accomplishes the same purpose for which he used parables in his ministry. It has many elements of a parable.
Parables are based on commonplace events. They are short stories that are designed to hold attention. They have points of comparison and feature symbolic elements. They teach gospel principles and conform to established truths. They appeal to people of all ages of the world and they do not have geographical boundaries.
Lehi’s Dream like the Parable of the Sower has to do with the spiritual receptivity or how four types of people receive the gospel. All people fit into one of these four categories. The rod of iron and the seed both represent the word of God.
First group of people: In Lehi’s dream these people start on the path but encounter a mist of darkness and lose their way, wander off, and are lost (1 Nephi 8: 21-23).
In the Parable of the Sower Jesus gives the interpretation: "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved" (Luke 8:12).
Interpretation: These people receive the word/seed and start down the path. But they get lost in the mist of darkness and the devil deceives them with false tradition and popular philosophies and they wander off and are lost.
Second group of people: In Lehi’s dream these people get hold of the iron rod which takes them through the midst of darkness to the tree. They partake of the fruit, but they become ashamed and embarrassed and fall away and are lost (1 Nephi 8:24-25, 28).
In the Parable of the Sower the rocky ground allow just enough soil that the seed gets some root, but as Jesus explained: “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13).
Interpretation: These people are or were members of the true Church. After they have gotten to the tree and partaken of the fruit or after the seed has started to grow they are diverted. The cares and things of the world which become first in their lives, and they may be embarrassed about the Church. They are more comfortable in the world than in the Church and chose to be in the world.
Third group: “And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit. And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building. And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads” (8:26-28; 31-32).
In the Parable of the Sower Jesus explained: "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Luke 8:14)
Interpretation: These are worldly people who are already occupants of the great and spacious building or they are trying to get into it. The great and spacious building represents the world. This group specifically includes the critics and cynics who ridicule and mock sacred things.
Fourth group: “But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree…And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not” (8:30, 33).
In the Parable of the Sower Jesus explained: “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring froth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). They "brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold" (Matthew 13:8).
Interpretation: These are the members of the Church who remain true and faithful and endure to the end. They are the ones who in the resurrection inherit the exaltation in the celestial kingdom. (See D&C 76: 50-70)
Conclusion and Testimony – One of the primary differences between the four different groups of people is their preparation that took place in the pre-mortal existence. Just as the Savior was prepared in the pre-mortal existence so were all the other spirit children of God. (See Alma 13:1-9) It was there we began to develop our character and personality, our interests and talents. The greatest and most important talent we could develop in the pre-mortal existence was spirituality or an inclination for spiritual things.
We brought these inclinations and talents with us to mortality where we have the continued opportunity for their growth and development. There is nothing more important for us than to daily do everything we can to increase our spirituality. This can only be done through obedience and righteous living.