1 Nephi 8:19 - 8:23
1 Nephi 8:19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
Lehi looks over the scene with more attention and notices a rod made of iron that followed the length of the river and ended at the tree.
1 Nephi 8:20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
Next to the rod was a path that was “strait and narrow”. The path came to the tree and continued passed by the source of the river and on to a large open field. The field had the resemblance of the world or seem to look the world.
The word used here is' strait’ not ‘straight’. This ‘strait’ in the dictionary refers to the characteristics of the path such as a narrow passageway and subject to perplexity or distress. The word ‘straight’ refers to being free from irregularities, such as bends or curves. Our path in this life will always require us to be on the ‘strait’ path, but it does not mean it will not have problems or difficulties in trying to stay on it.
1 Nephi 8:21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
Lehi’s views now widen and he sees a great number of people who were also trying to find the path. They were ‘pressing’ forward as he says. ‘Pressing forward’ connotates an effort to find the path which means they were searching for something they knew was out there but not knowing where to look. Or they were looking for something but did not know what they were looking for in the first place.
1 Nephi 8:22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
Anyway Lehi sees that the people he observes are making their way towards the tree via the path that lead to it.
1 Nephi 8:23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.
During the effort to travel on the path a mist of darkness descends upon the path. Those who are on the path become confused or loss sight of it and begin to wonder off in different directions. The mist obviously refers to the efforts by satan to blind people to the path that leads them to the tree.
Lehi does not tell us if the people were holding on to the rod when the mist fell upon them in this verse but it does in the next one. The point is that not holding on to the rod is why people fell away. The mist could refer to false ideas come up by men as the way to live spiritually or political philosophies that are said to cure all social problems.
Whatever system of behavior devised by man will not help to really put down contention and pride much less prepare for the next life. Only the Gospel does that. And since satan does not want people to become exalted but miserable like himself, which is the natural result of relying on men rather than God, he does all he can do to confuse or darken our minds as to the truth.
