![]() Within this vision another angel descended from heaven to Nephi, and reflecting on this fair virgin asked Nephi if he knew how God bestowed his greatest gift upon man. He saw the city of Nazareth and an exceedingly fair and beautiful Virgin. Desiring to know the interpretation of this tree, Nephi was then told to look, and a vision of Jerusalem opened up to him. Nephi saw the Tree and marveled at its exceeding beauty and whiteness, but he still did not understand its relationship to the Son of God. He was then told that he would be given a sign, that after being shown the Tree of Life, he would behold a man descending out of heaven and witness that he is the Son of God (vs. He did not yet understand the connection of the Tree to the Son of God. An angel appeared to Nephi, and when Nephi declared his belief in his father’s teaching about the Tree of Life the angel rejoiced in Nephi’s belief in the “Son of the most high God,” (vs. Nephi sought prayerfully to understand the vision of the Tree of Life his father had related. Nephi and the Tree of Life On Christmas our family reads the meaning of our Christmas tree in the Book of Mormon from Nephi’s vision of the Tree of Life in the 11th chapter of 1 Nephi. Before electricity, they were candles, and they are now electric lights in the shape of candles or the candle flame. Similarly, Christmas trees always have their lights. The lamps were kept burning continually to signify the constant light and life of Jehovah that would lead and guide the Children of Israel if they would be obedient to the Gospel. Lamps set on top of each branch burned with oil of the Olive Tree, which is the traditional Tree of Life of Israel. ![]() Each branch was carved with alternating leaves and fruit. It was in the form of a stylized tree with seven branches. The central Tree of Life symbol was in the form of a large lamp stand, still used in the Jewish religion today. This art work was repeated around the inner walls of the Tabernacle. What could be more appropriate on Christmas than to contemplate this wonderful symbol for the Christmas tree? To our knowledge, the Tree of Life was first depicted in the Tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness (later in the Temple of Solomon), with guardian angels (winged cherubim) on either side of the tree, as a reflection of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Fruit of the Tree of Life of course represents eternal life as the greatest of God’s gifts to man (1 Nephi 8). Today the fruit has been mostly replaced by colorful round bulbs. ![]() This is part of the traditional tree decorations in some parts of Europe, where they hang real fruit on the evergreen tree and eat from it through the holiday season. The Tree of Life in heaven described in the Book of Revelation has twelve different kinds of fruit. And we similarly give gifts at Christmas time in remembrance of the first Christmas gifts. The most precious gifts of the earth from the three wise men -gold, frankincense and myrrh – are also remembered in ornaments, in fragrant candles, and herbs. The circle of the evergreen wreath reminds us of eternal life. The colorful bulbs are fruits of the Tree of Life, and the lights signify the everlasting light of life that comes from the Savior Jesus Christ. ![]() Nativity scenes frequently show a pure white little lamb closest to the Christ child to remind us that he is the pure and innocent “lamb of God” who was sent to be sacrificed for the sins of the world in fulfillment of the law of Moses. The angel represents the angel that came to the shepherds to tell them of the Savior’s birth, and to go and worship him, and also represents the angels who rejoiced with singing from the heavens. A star at the top of the tree represents the new star that appeared in heaven on the day that Christ was born. Traditional Christmas tree decorations remind us of the first Christmas. Its branches and triangular shape point heavenward, and its needles remain “ever green” through the cold winter months to remind us of eternal life symbolized in the Tree of life. The evergreen is the traditional Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve our family gathers around the Christmas tree, which for us represents the Tree of Life in remembrance of our Savior Jesus Christ. ![]()
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