Sacrament Talk - Gospel Gardeners

I gave this talk in Sacrament Meeting on January 26, 2003, in the Norman 2nd Ward. This was two weeks after I was sustained as Bishop of the ward. Thus, it was my first talk to the ward members as their bishop.

Tree of Life

Gospel Gardeners

I want to talk to you today about being “Gospel Gardeners.” I think we are all familiar with the account of Lehi’s Dream in the Book of Mormon. In his account, Lehi tells of partaking of the fruit of the “Tree of Life.” Lehi describes how he dreamed of a tree whose fruit was “desirable to make one happy” (1 Nephi 8:10) and “desirable above all other fruit” (1 Nephi 8:12).

After Lehi had partaken of the fruit, he wanted all of his family to also partake of the fruit (1 Nephi 8:12). Sariah, Nephi, and Sam all came and partook of the fruit (1 Nephi 8:13-16). However, Laman and Lemuel did not come forward and partake of the fruit (1 Nephi 8:17-18).

Adam and Eve were also very familiar with the Tree of Life. We know about two particular trees that grew in the Garden of Eden: 1) the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and 2) the Tree of Life. Of the former tree, Adam and Eve were forbidden not to partake. Of the latter tree, they could partake freely (Genesis 2:9-17; Moses 3:9-17; Abraham 5:9-13).

When Adam and Eve transgressed the law by partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Father cast them out of the Garden of Eden and placed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way. Thus, Adam and Eve could no longer partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:22-24; Moses 4:28-31; Alma 12:21-26; Alma 42:2-4).

Nephi tells us in his interpretation of Lehi’s Dream that the Tree of Life represents the “love of God...wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things...the most joyous to the soul” (1 Nephi 11:22-23). Thus, I think all of us would like to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life. Yet, the way is guarded.

Alma tells us “...the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that [Adam] should not partake of the fruit -- And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God” (Alma 42:3-4).

So, what are we supposed to do during this probationary state? I submit to you that we are supposed to become “Gospel Gardeners.” We must grow our own Tree of Life.

Grow Your Own Tree of Life

In addition to the Tree of Life, Lehi also saw an Iron Rod (1 Nephi 8:19), which Nephi tells us represents the Word of God (1 Nephi 11:25). Alma tells us of an experiment that we can do with the word of God (see Alma 32).

Alma 32:28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves--It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Alma 32:37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

Alma 32:38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

Alma 32:39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

Alma 32:40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

Alma 32:41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

Alma 32:42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

Alma 32:43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

3 Nephi 14:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

3 Nephi 14:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

3 Nephi 14:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

3 Nephi 14:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

3 Nephi 14:20 Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.

Proverbs 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life...

How do we go about growing our own Tree of Life?

D&C 97:8-9 Verily I say unto you, all...who know their hearts are honest...and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice...they are accepted of me. For I, the Lord will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree...

D&C 107:99 Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.

D&C 59:9 Thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day.

3 Nephi 18:21 Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.

2 Nephi 32:3 Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

Time permitting, give all-you-can-eat buffet example...

If your only gospel meal is what you receive on Sunday in the three-hour block meetings, it is very likely that your spirit is starving to death.

Testimony

I know that God lives. I know Christ is my savior and redeemer. I promise you that if you read in the scriptures every day, if you have personal and family prayer every day, if you attend your church meetings as commanded, and if you earnestly strive to do your duty in the church, “the Lord will cause [you] to bring forth as a very fruitful tree” (see D&C 97:9).

I conclude with the same challenge issued by Amalek to the Zoramites as a follow-up to Alma’s discourse of planting the word of God in their hearts. I pray “that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness” (Alma 34:4). In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.