The Fruit of the Tree

Imagine a banquet table full of fruit with all kinds of varieties.  Most people could pick out any number of them, examine its characteristics (its color, shape, smell, taste, and feel) and be able to discern the type of tree the fruit has come from.  In fact, I bet most people could do it in the dark, blindfolded, by taste alone, because we've become so familiar.  

In the Book of Mormon, I'm currently studying one of my favorite parts, Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. Are we familiar enough with this Tree to recognize the fruit in our lives when we see it, feel it, or taste it?  How is this fruit described so that we may discern and know, truly know?

Fruit of the Tree of Life

• Desirable to make one happy (1 Nephi 8:10)
• Sweet above all that is sweet (1 Nephi 8:11)
• Exceeds all beauty
• Exceeds all whiteness - pure (1 Nephi 10:8)
• Most precious
• Desirable above all other
• Greatest of all the gifts (1 Nephi 15:36)
• The life of Christ and those who follow in His way
• Christ's Grace and infinite Atonement (1 Nephi 11:27-33)
• The fruit is light (Alma 32:35, 42)
• Partaking of this fruit, we hunger and thirst after nothing more (Alma 32:42)
• The love of God (1 Nephi 11:22)

(The Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23) Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance

The Savior also taught that through examining the fruit, we may recognize the kind of tree it is from.  He said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” - Matthew 7:20

Upon further study of fruit, I find it interesting the characteristic of carrying seeds is what distinguishes it from being any other other kind of food.  Now this goes for both good trees or corrupt trees… Either way, the seeds have capacity to replicate and perpetuate the tree that it came from over and over again.  There is no limit to the amount of fruit one tree can produce.

But as we ponder about the Tree of Life and the pure and precious fruit that holds these seeds, we can conclude that - Every good thing comes of Christ and there is also no limit.  When properly cared for, there’s no concern of “not enough to go around” no shortages, dividing stages, or caps placed upon it.  “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” (D&C 50:24)

Some other patterns of gospel living that can also be found in growing fruit:

• Doesn't happen over night - it takes time
• Needs constant care, nourishing, weeding, pruning and cutting back
• Can be preserved and stored for seasons of scarcity
• Meant to grow in abundance, meant to be shared
• Must have strong roots

President Harold B. Lee once said: “Beautiful, luscious fruit does not grow unless the roots of the … tree have been planted in rich, fertile soil and unless due care is given to proper pruning, cultivation, and irrigation. So likewise the luscious fruits of virtue and chastity, honesty, temperance, integrity, and fidelity are not to be found growing in that individual whose life is not founded on a firm testimony of the truths of the gospel and of the life and the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  - Stand Ye in Holy Places (1974), 218–19

I love the symbolism in trees. If we are familiar enough with the Tree of Life, we can know exactly "what fruit that is"... even in the dark.

-Alicia