1 Nephi 11:1 For it came to pass that after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, wherefore as I sat pondering in mine heart, I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceeding high mountain, a mountain which I never had before seen and upon which I never had before sat my foot.
1 Nephi 11:2 And the Spirit saith unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?
{% margin 3 %} Joseph Smith’s father, Joseph Smith Sr., had a vision with elements very similar to Lehi’s Tree of Life vision. See Joseph Smith Senior’s Second Vision: The Tree and the Spacious Building. {% endmargin %}
1 Nephi 11:3 And I saith: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.
1 Nephi 11:4 And the Spirit saith unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?
1 Nephi 11:5 And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.
1 Nephi 11:6 And when I had spake these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the Most High God, for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou Nephi because thou believest in the Son of the Most High; wherefore thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.
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I drew near and began to eat of it [the fruit of the tree], and I found it delicious beyond description.
Joseph Smith Sr., Joseph Smith Senior’s Second Vision: The Tree and the Spacious Building
…bare record that this is the Son of God.
KJV Bible, 1769, John 1:34
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1 Nephi 11:7 And behold, this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bare the fruit of which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven and him shall ye witness. And after that ye shall have witnessed him, ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.
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[The tree] was exceedingly handsome, insomuch that I looked upon it with wonder and admiration. Its beautiful branches spread themselves somewhat like an umbrella, and it bore a kind of fruit, in shape much like a chestnut bur, and as white as snow, or, if possible whiter … the fruit which they contained, which was of dazzling whiteness
Joseph Smith Sr., Joseph Smith Senior’s Second Vision: The Tree and the Spacious Building {% endmargin %}
1 Nephi 11:8 And it came to pass that the Spirit saith unto me: Look! And I looked and beheld a tree, and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen. And the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty, and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow.
1 Nephi 11:9 And it came to pass that after that I had seen the tree, I said unto the Spirit: I behold thou hast shewn unto me the tree which is most precious above all.
1 Nephi 11:10 And he saith unto me: What desirest thou?
1 Nephi 11:11 And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof. For I spake unto him as a man speaketh, for I beheld that he was in the form of a man, yet nevertheless I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord, and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.
1 Nephi 11:12 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look! And I looked as if to look upon him and I saw him not, for he had gone from before my presence.
1 Nephi 11:13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city Jerusalem and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth. And in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceeding fair and white.
1 Nephi 11:14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open, and an angel came down and stood before me. And he saith unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?
1 Nephi 11:15 And I saith unto him: A virgin most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.
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[I was with] an attendant spirit, who kept constantly by my side. Of him I inquired the meaning of what I saw…
1 Nephi 11:16 And he saith unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?
1 Nephi 11:17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things.
1 Nephi 11:18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin which thou seest is the mother of God after the manner of the flesh.
1 Nephi 11:19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the spirit. And after that she had been carried away in the spirit for the space of a time, the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
1 Nephi 11:20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
1 Nephi 11:21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father. Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
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I presently turned to my guide, and inquired of him the meaning of the fruit that was so delicious. He told me it was the pure love of God, shed abroad in the hearts of all those who love him, and keep his commandments.
Joseph Smith Sr., Joseph Smith Senior’s Second Vision: The Tree and the Spacious Building
…because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts…
KJV, 1769, Romans 5:5
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1 Nephi 11:22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things.
1 Nephi 11:23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.
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The phrase "a going" is relatively uncommon in print from this period, but is also present in a letter written by Joseph Smith:
Mr. Stowell has a prospect of getting five or six hundred dollars he does not know certain that he can get it but he is a going to try and if he can get the money…
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1 Nephi 11:24 And after that he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked and I beheld the Son of God a going forth among the children of men. And I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.
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I beheld a beautiful stream of water, which ran from the east to the west. Of this stream I could see neither the source nor yet the termination; but as far as my eyes could extend I could see a rope running along the bank of it, about as high as a man could reach, and beyond me was a low, but very pleasant valley, in which stood a tree such as I had never seen before
Joseph Smith Sr., Joseph Smith Senior’s Second Vision: The Tree and the Spacious Building {% endmargin %}
1 Nephi 11:25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron which my father had seen was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters or to the tree of life, which waters are a representation of the love of God. And I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.
1 Nephi 11:26 And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!
1 Nephi 11:27 And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of which my father had spoken. And I also beheld the prophet which should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him. And after that he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open and the Holy Ghost came down out of heaven and abode upon him in the form of a dove.
1 Nephi 11:28 And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people in power and great glory, and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him. And I beheld that they cast him out from among them.
1 Nephi 11:29 And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the spirit from before my face, that I saw them not.
1 Nephi 11:30 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and I beheld the heavens open again. And I saw angels descending upon the children of men, and they did minister unto them.
1 Nephi 11:31 And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people which were sick and which were afflicted of all manner of diseases and with devils and unclean spirits—and the angel spake and shewed all these things unto me—and they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God, and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.
1 Nephi 11:32 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people, yea, the everlasting God was judged of the world. And I saw and bare record.
1 Nephi 11:33 And I Nephi saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.
1 Nephi 11:34 And after that he was slain, I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb, for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord.
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After feasting in this manner a short time, I asked my guide what was the meaning of the spacious building which I saw. He replied, 'It is Babylon, it is Babylon, and it must fall. The people in the doors and windows are the inhabitants thereof, who scorn and despise the Saints of God because of their humility.'
Joseph Smith Sr., Joseph Smith Senior’s Second Vision: The Tree and the Spacious Building
…the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
KJV Bible, 1769, Revelation 21:14
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1 Nephi 11:35 And the multitude of the earth was gathered together, and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold, the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
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…to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people…
KJV Bible, 1769, Revelation 14:6 {% endmargin %}
1 Nephi 11:36 And it came to pass that I saw and bare record that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and the fall thereof was exceeding great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.