1 Nephi 8:29 - 8:33

1 Nephi 8:29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.

Nephi tells us that the dream had more details than he wanted to relate about those who had fallen away. I assume that these additional bits were of no value to us the readers.

1 Nephi 8:30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.

Nephi is trying to keep his depiction of his father’s dream as short as possible. He will however go into more detail when he has his own vision of his father’s vision in chapter 11. Anyway to sum up, Lehi sees many people catching hold of the iron rod and following it to the tree to partake of the fruit thereof.

Lehi says that the people fell down first before partaking of the fruit. I guess this is a symbol of the need to be humble before one can really see the value of the fruit.

Lehi also describes the numbers of the people making there way to the tree as a ‘multitude.’ Gives some hope that those who experience exaltation will not be a small number. I have heard that the number will be far in excess to those who end up in the lower kingdoms of glory. The vast majority will make in the end even if it has been a very rocky road to get there. I hope I am among that number.

1 Nephi 8:31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.

As Lehi observed those making their way to the tree, he also saw others purposely making their way towards the building. Since there was no rod to hold on to get to the building they were feeling their way. Feeling their way I think represents that trying to find some philosophy or idea to get hold of so they can use it to get to the building.

But since there is only the iron rod, they have to come with some other devise to get to the building. The philosophies of men of which there are a multitude of are offered by satan. But often they are not lasting and these people will get tired of one and look to another philosophy to see if it will give them happiness. So the continued looking for peace and changing approaches are equated with ‘feeling their way.’

1 Nephi 8:32 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.

Many people either give up looking, adopted a philosophy or keep on searching.

1 Nephi 8:33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

Since the folks in the building cannot prove the faithful wrong in their testimonies, they resort to the only tool they have that is mocking. They think that mocking us will cause us to feel bad and renounce our testimonies. The fact is, they have nothing to base their lives on and still want to rely on their own efforts to find the truth. Pride keeps them from listening to the Spirit.