Good morning brothers and sisters. My name is Kaya. I am 13 years old and I am an eighth grader at Sowers Middle School. I have two younger sisters and a twin brother. I recently learned from a tv show that I was watching that when you have twins, one of them is always evil. I think we are still trying to figure out who the evil twin is, me or Cruz. Just kidding. We are both perfect… and humble.
Anyways, I was asked to speak today on Lehi’s dream and more specifically what does the tree represent and how do we partake of the fruit of the tree. In Lehi’s dream, the tree is the main focus. Everything points to the tree. When Nephi was shown Lehi’s
dream by an Angel, the angel asked him if he knew the meaning of the tree. Nephi said, “it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men”. Jesus Christ is the clear manifestation of the love of God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. The birth, life, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ are the greatest ways that God shows His love for His children.
The fruit on the tree is a symbol for the blessings of the Atonement. We can partake of the fruit of the tree by coming unto Christ and receiving ordinances such as being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost and going to the temple and by making and keeping covenants with our Heavenly Father.
When Lehi ate the fruit in his dream he said that it was the most sweet, above all that he had ever tasted. It filled his soul with exceedingly great joy. After he ate the fruit he immediately wanted his family to experience the fruit as well. We need to do the same thing in our lives. After we experience the sweetness of the Gospel and the blessings of the atonement, we should desire to share these things with our friends and family. We can do this by talking to our friends and neighbors about the Gospel and by inviting them to church and activities.
I know that Heavenly Father loves us and I am grateful that the Gospel teaches us the way to be close to Jesus Christ. When we come unto Jesus that is when we can feel God’s love the most. I know the church is true. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.