[color-box]For comparison purposes, the original Book of Mormon text is supplied (italicized and indented) after each Modern Book of Mormon verse.[/color-box]

Lehi has a vision of the tree of life. He is concerned about the welfare of his sons Laman and Lemuel.

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1 We got together all kinds of seeds from both grains and fruits.

1 And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.

2 While we were camped in the wilderness, my father said to us, I have had a vision on my dreams.

2 And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.

3 Because of what I saw, I’m so happy for Nephi and Sam. I believe that they and their descendants will be saved.

3 And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.

4 But I fear for Laman and Lemuel. In my dream, I saw a dark and dreary wasteland.

4 But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.

5 And I saw a man dressed in a white robe. He came and stood in front of me.

5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.

6 He spoke to me and told me to follow him.

6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.

7 As I followed him, I saw that I was in a dark and dreary wasteland.

7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.

8 After I had been traveling for many hours in the dark, I prayed that the Lord would have mercy on me.

8 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.

9 After I had prayed, I saw a large field.

9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.

10 And I saw a tree whose fruit was desirable and made you happy.

10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.

11 I went and ate the fruit, and it was the sweetest thing I had ever tasted. And the fruit was white, the whitest thing I had ever seen.

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.

12 As I ate the fruit, my soul was filled with joy. I wanted my family to eat the fruit, too, because it was better than any other other fruit.

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.

13 As I was looking around for my family, I saw a river that ran next to the tree that I was eating from.

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.

14 I looked to see where where the river was coming from and I saw the source not too far away. There stood your mother (Sariah), Sam, and Nephi. They looked like they didn’t know where to go.

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.

15 I waved to them and yelled that they should come to where I was and eat the fruit, which was better than any other fruit.

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.

16 So they came over and also ate the fruit.

16 And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.

17 Then I wanted Laman and Lemuel to eat the fruit, so I looked toward the source of the river to see if they were there.

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.

18 I did see them, but they wouldn’t come and eat the fruit.

18 And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit.

19 I saw an iron railing that extended along the bank of the river and led to the tree where I stood.

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.

20 I also saw a narrow path alongside the iron railing that led to the tree. It also went past the source of the river into a a large field that seemed to be as big as the world.

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.

21 I saw a countless number of people, many of which were coming forward to find that path that led to the tree where I stood.

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.

22 They came forward and started walking on the path that led to the tree.

22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.

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.

23 A really dark fog rose up, and those that had started walking down the path wandered off and got lost.  

24 I saw others coming forward, and they grabbed on to the end of the iron railing. They pressed forward through the dark fog, clinging to the iron railing, until they made it to the tree.

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.

25 After they had eaten some fruit from the tree, they looked down like they were embarrassed.

25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.

26 I looked around and saw a huge building on the other side of the river. It looked like it was hovering in the air, high above the ground.

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.

27 It was filled with all kinds of peopleóold, young, male, and female. All of them wore extremely nice clothing, and they were pointing and laughing at those who had had eaten fruit from the tree.

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.

28 The people who had tasted the fruit were embarrassed because of the people laughing at them. They wandered off onto off-limits paths and became lost.

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.

29 Now I, Nephi, won’t say everything that my father said.

29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.

30 But to be brief, he saw other groups of people coming forward. They grabbed the end of the iron railing and held on tight until they got to the tree and tasted the fruit.

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.

31 He also saw other groups of people heading toward the huge building.

31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.

32 Many of them drowned in the deep river, and many went out of sight on unknown paths.

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.

33 A large number of people entered into the strange building. Once they were inside, they pointed and laughed at those that were eating the fruit, but we didn’t pay any attention to them.

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.

34 And here’s what my father said: All the people that listened to them fell away.

34 These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away.

35 And Laman and Lemuel did not taste the fruit.

35 And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.

36 When my father finished telling us about his vision, he said that because of what he had seen, he was really worried about Laman and Lemuel. He was afraid that they would be banished from the Lord’s presence.

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.

37 He urged them with all the feeling of a loving parent to listen to his words, that maybe the Lord would be lenient with them and not banish them.

37 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.

38 After he had preached and prophesied many things to them, he encouraged them to keep the Lord’s commandments.

38 And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.