Joseph Smith - History

As I have begun to read the History of the Prophet Joseph Smith, I read an excerpt of a dream of his father - 

He again found himself traveling in a desolate field, again accompanied by a guide. The guide told him, “This is the desolate world; but travel on” (ibid., p. 48). Soon he came to a “narrow path” (ibid., p. 48). Following it, he soon saw “a beautiful stream of water, which ran from the east to the west” (ibid., p. 48). He saw “a rope, running along the bank of it, about as high as a man could reach … a low, but verythe tree “bore a kind of fruit … of dazzling whiteness” and “delicious beyond description” (ibid., p. 49). As he was partaking of the fruit of the tree, he said in his heart, “I cannot eat this alone, I must bring my wife and children, that they may partake with me” (ibid., p. 49). According to his description of the vision, recorded by Lucy Mack Smith, his wife and all seven children came and began partaking of the fruit, which brought them great happiness. He continued, “While thus engaged, I beheld a spacious building standing opposite the valley which we were in … full of doors and windows … all filled with people, who were very finely dressed. When these people observed us in the low valley, under the tree, they pointed the finger of scorn at us, and treated us with all manner of disrespect and contempt. But their contumely we utterly disregarded” (ibid., p. 49).

Can you imagine the feeling and testimony Father Smith experienced when he first read First Nephi chapter 8 in the Book of Mormon, which contains the account of Lehi’s vision of the tree of life! It will be interesting to hear him talk about this someday when we see him in the next life. By the way, in Father Smith’s vision, all of his children came when invited to partake of the fruit of the tree (whereas, in Lehi’s dream, Laman and Lemuel refused to come) and the guide told him that the fruit “was the pure love of God, shed abroad in the hearts of all those who love him, and keep his commandments” (ibid., p. 49). Furthermore, in the vision received by Joseph Smith Sr., the guide commanded him to bring the rest of his children to partake of the fruit of the tree. Brother Smith replied that they were already all there. The guide said, “No … look yonder, you have two more, and you must bring them also” (ibid., p. 49). Thus, Father and Mother Smith knew that they had two more children to bring into the world, which they did (Don Carlos on March 25, 1816 and Lucy on July 18, 1821).

Ridges, David J.. The Pearl of Great Price Made Easier (The Gospel Studies Series) (p. 278). Cedar Fort, Inc. Kindle Edition.