THE BOOK OF MORMON. Joseph F. Smith
desirable to make one happy.
1 Nephi 8:11
11 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.
1 Nephi 8:12
12 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.
1 Nephi 8:13
13 And as I cast my eyes round about, 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.
1 Nephi 8:14
14 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.
1 Nephi 8:15
15 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.
1 Nephi 8:16
16 And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of
the fruit also.
1 Nephi 8:17
17 And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel
should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine
eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see
them.
1 Nephi 8:18
18 And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come
unto me and partake of the fruit.
1 Nephi 8:19
19 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.
1 Nephi 8:20
20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along
by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it
also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious
field, as if it had been a world.
1 Nephi 8:21
21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were
pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto
the tree by which I stood.
1 Nephi 8:22
22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in
the path which led to the tree.
1 Nephi 8:23
23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea,
even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they
who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they
wandered off and were lost.
1 Nephi 8:24
24 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.
1 Nephi 8:25
25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did
cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
1 Nephi 8:26
26 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.
1 Nephi 8:27
27 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.
1 Nephi 8:28
28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed,
because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away
into forbidden paths and were lost.
1 Nephi 8:29
29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.
1 Nephi 8:30
30 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.
1 Nephi 8:31
31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards
that great and spacious building.
1 Nephi 8:32
32 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.
1 Nephi 8:33
33 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.
1 Nephi 8:34
34 These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them,
had fallen away.
1 Nephi 8:35
35 And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my
father.
1 Nephi 8:36
36 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words
of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because
of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared
for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off
from the presence of the Lord.
1 Nephi 8:37
37 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender