The Four Groups of People in the Vision of the Tree of Life

In 1 Nephi 8, Nephi recorded the vision of the tree of life. Within this vision, there are four groups of people. Here is an outline of these four groups of people, specifically focusing on their connection to the iron rod.

Group 1: No Path and No Iron Rod

Lehi saw the first group “feeling their way towards that great and spacious building” (1 Nephi 8:31). This group did not even bother seeking after the tree of life.

Group 2: Obtained the Path but Not the Iron Rod

Lehi saw the second group “commence in the path,” but when a mist of darkness arose, “they … did lose their way, … and were lost” (1 Nephi 8:22–23). “Notice that no mention is made in these verses of the rod of iron” (David A. Bednar, Ensign, Oct. 2011). This group obtained the path but not the iron rod.

Group 3: Obtained the Path and Clung to the Iron Rod

The third group “caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:24). This group obtained both the path and the iron rod. However, as the record stands, the only time this group held onto the rod was during the mists of darkness.

Group 4: Continually Held Fast to the Iron Rod

The final group pressed forward, “continually holding fast to the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:30, italics added).

Note it well. The iron rod, this seemingly small and simple thing, is the defining characteristic that distinguishes and separates the four groups of people in the vision of the tree of life.

No Commitment	Low Commitment	High Commitment	Complete Commitment
Does not find the path or the iron rod.	Finds the path, but not the iron rod.	Clings to the iron rod sporadically.	Continually holds fast to the iron rod.

Applications for Us

Which group would best describe us? How often do we study our scriptures? What is our purpose in studying the scriptures?

In the vision of the tree of life, the first and second groups rarely if ever studied the scriptures.

The third group studied the scriptures but only in times of difficulty or despair. This group only knew how to use the word of God in a very limited scope and capacity (i.e. to overcome the mists of darkness). As a result, at a later time, they did not know how to handle the mockery and ridicule of others, for that was an entirely different type of challenge. This group was overcome by the social pressures of their day because they did not give enough heed to the word of God. Consequently, they were not able to see through the falsehoods promoted by their peers. They were too fluent in the language of the world and not fluent enough in the language of the Lord. Because of this, the language of the Lord started to sound like foolish gibberish to them, and they abandoned the tree of life—the Savior of the world.

In contrast, the final group studied the scriptures every day, in good times and bad. To them, the word of God was always important. This group’s normal condition and state of being was to be guided by the word of God at all times. They studied with real intent—their intention being to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.

As we continually study God’s word, there is far less fog in our lives and in Satan’s false ideas. Our path to the tree becomes far more clear. We become empowered to overcome every type of life challenge—whether it be the mists of darkness or the mockery of others or any other obstacle we might encounter.

Be it repeated, the iron rod, this seemingly small and simple thing, is the defining characteristic that determines whether we will be able to stay with the tree of life and abide in our Savior's love forever.

Two Analogies as One

The four groups of people presented in this vision—and the reasons they fell away—are powerfully mirrored in the parable of the Sower and the Soils recorded in Matthew 13. As Elder Jeffery R. Holland explains:

“Just as there were four different soils of varying receptivity to the gospel of Christ, … so too were the same four types of people outlined in the vision of the Tree of Life. Least receptive, paralleling the seeds that fell by the wayside, were the multitudes who filled the great and spacious building…

“The next group, comparable to the seed that was sown upon stony places and scorched by the sun, were those who had started toward the [tree of life] but had done little more. These ‘did come forth, and commence in the path’ … but when a mist of temptation and darkness arose, they lost their way and were lost.”

The third group corresponds “to the seed that was sown among thorns; which choked off the ongoing possibility of Christ-centered living that had actually taken root and begun. In Lehi’s vision this group … actually came unto Christ and did ‘partake of the fruit of the tree.’ But after partaking of the joy of the gospel, [they were] … embarrassed because of those who were pointing at them from the great and spacious building… Because of this social scorn, ‘they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.’

“Fortunately there is a group, like the seed that fell onto good ground, that savored the fruit of the tree (Christ and his gospel) and remained faithful. These … ‘caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and … 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’” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant, 161–162).

To me, the four groups of people in this vision provide a clear and unmistakable warning for us in the last days. We need to study the word of God every day. If not, we run the risk of being overcome by the unrelenting temptations and social pressures of our day.