How Do We Know? We Ask.

The First Book of Nephi

Chapter 15

"Lehi’s seed are to receive the gospel from the Gentiles in the latter days—The gathering of Israel is likened unto an olive tree whose natural branches will be grafted in again—Nephi interprets the vision of the tree of life and speaks of the justice of God in dividing the wicked from the righteous. About 600–592 B.C."
-Introduction to 1 Nephi Chapter 15

A representation of Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life,
found in Mexico in 1941.

Nephi's vision ends, and as he returns to his family, he finds his brothers, Laman and Lemuel, arguing about the interpretation of one of Lehi's dreams.  As Nephi approaches, his brothers ask him what the visions mean.

Nephi had just come from learning what his father's dreams meant for himself, and so he knew exactly how to respond to the inquiries.  "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" he asked.

They hadn't, and Nephi scolds his brothers for not praying, but he tells them what some of the visions mean.  He tells them about the vision of the olive tree, which branches had been grafted away and then grafted back into the original tree. 

The olive tree is symbolic of the House of Israel, and the branch that is taken from the tree represents Lehi and his descendants that have left Jerusalem.  Nephi tells his brethren how the fulness of the gospel will be revealed to the Gentiles, and that through the Gentiles, Lehi's descendants will come to know that they are a part of the house of Israel.  The branch will be grafted back into the main tree of the House of Israel, which is the restoration of everything. 

Laman and Lemuel then ask him about Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life, with the river of dirty water and the iron rod, and Nephi shares the interpretation he was given earlier.

To read the scripture story, go to 1 Nephi 15.

So What?

How do we know about spiritual things?

We ask our Heavenly Father who will communicate answers through the Holy Ghost. We can know anything. All we have to do is what Nephi did and what he told his brothers to do. That was go to the Lord, ponder, pray. Prayer is an essential part of knowing what is true, of learning truth. That is the only way we

can know if it is of God, through prayer.

If you want to know if something is of God and if it is true, there is no other way than to ask God himself.