Copyright 1992 by Gayla Prince
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-30)
The painting "Come Unto Me" by artist Gayla Prince portrays more than Lehi’s dream, or the universal theme of the tree of life. Her visual creation expands to include the entirePlan of Salvation and centers on our Savior, arms of mercy extended toward all mankind,with an open invitation to come unto Him, and partake of the fruit of the tree of life, the pure love of God.
Both father Lehi, and his son Nephi, have been portrayed in the lower right-hand corner of this painting, viewing the vision of the tree of life. Because it is through the eyes of both of these great prophets, we receive not only the vision, but also, the interpretation of this great eternal truth.
After departing out of Jerusalem with his family, father Lehi pitched his tent near the shores of the Red Sea, and shared with his family a remarkable vision.
In the beginning, Lehi was in a dark and dreary wilderness. A man dressed in a white robe came before him and bade him to follow. After traveling for the space of many hours in the darkness, Lehi began to pray to the Lord for mercy. He then beheld a large and spacious field, and a tree, whose fruit was exceedingly white. He partook of the fruit and found it was most sweet, and it filled his soul with great joy.
He then desired that his family should partake of the fruit, and cast his eyes about, discovering, a little way off, his wife Sariah, and his younger sons, Sam and Nephi. He called out to them, and they came and partook of the fruit. But, when he saw and called out to his older sons, Lamen and Lemuel, they would not come and partake.
Lehi beheld a rod of iron extending along the bank of a river, and a straight and narrow path near the rod of iron, leading to the tree. Lehi saw many people pressing forward toward the path, but there arose a great mist of darkness and many lost their way, and wandered off. Lehi saw others pressing forward clinging to the rod of iron, until they came forth and partook of the fruit, after which, they cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed. As lehi looked on the other side of a deep gulf, he saw a large and spacious building. It stood in the air above the earth, and was filled with many finely dressed people, both old and young, both male and female. They were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who were partaking of the fruit. Lehi saw many others making their way to the tree, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and partook of the fruit of the tree. Lehi also witnessed other multitudes feeling their way towards the great and spacious building. A number of people were drowned in the depths of the filthy waters, while others were lost from the view, wandering in strange roads.
After receiving this vision, Lehi shared it with his family and was concerned for Lamen and Lemuel because in this vision, they partook not of the fruit. He feared exceedingly that they would be cast off from the presence of the Lord (1 Nephi 8).
Nephi heard the words of his father, and knew he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost. He desired that he might see, and hear, and know of these things also, and believed it was possible that the Lord would be able to make them known to him (1 Nephi 10:17). As Nephi sat pondering these things in his heart, he was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord to a high mountain. He was shown not only all his father had seen, and the interpretation thereof, but witnessed the baptism, ministry, and crucifixion of the Savior. Nephi was shown the land of promise, the coming of the Lamb of God among his people, and the great wickedness and eventual destruction of the Nephite inhabitants. Nephi was also shown our time: the restoration of the gospel, the coming forth or Latter-day scripture, and the building up of Zion (1 Nephi Chapters 11-14).
After this sacred experience, Nephi returned to the tent of his father, and shared the interpretation of the vision with his family.
Nephi told them, the tree represents the tree of Life, exceeding all beauty, and the whiteness of the tree exceeds the whiteness of the driven snow (1 Nephi 11:8). The fruit represents the greatness of all the gifts of God, It is most precious, sweet, and desirable above all other fruits and most joyous to the soul, for it is the love of God. The rod of iron represents the word of God and whoso will harken to it and hold fast, will never perish nor can the temptation and fiery darts of the adversary overpower them, or blind and lead them to destruction (1 Nephi 15:24). The rod of iron leads to the fountain of living waters also representing the love of God.
The river running along side the rod of iron, and the straight and narrow path, represents filthiness. The awful gulf separating the wicked from the tree of life and the saints of God, represents that awful hell prepared for the wicked.
The large and spacious building represents the vain imaginations and the pride of the world. It is high above the ground, revealing that it has no solid foundation. The mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men.
The justice of God, has been protrayed by the artist, as a bridge spanning the deep gulf, which also divides the wicked from the righteous. The designs on the bridge are symbolic of the way in which our choices, or in other words our works here on earth, through tests, trials, and life’s experiences, shall be recorded and judged.
The sword of truth, is a two edged sword, and represents our treatment of others whether for good or evil. The arrow of light is symbolic of the intensification of the will of God through the power of the Holy Ghost, which operates in our lives to keep us on the path. The stalks of wheat represent the separating of the wheat from the tares. Also, twelve cherubim are protrayed on the bridge representing the twelve original apostles of Jesus Christ who will stand as judges in Israel.
There are three arches, of gates, spanning the bridge. These are representative of many things. The first arch is blue, symbolizing baptism by water for the remission of sins. It is the first gateway into the kingdom of God. Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may also be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life (Alma 5:62). And Christ hath said repent ye all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me that ye may be saved (Moroni 7:34).
The second arch is red to represent baptism by fire. The third arch is golden white representing sanctification by the Holy Ghost. Blessed are they who come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost and shall receive a remission of their sins (III Nephi 12:2).
For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witness of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye shall receive (II Nephi 31:17-18).
Those who cross the bridge and pass beneath the arches, have chosen the path of faith in their Savior, Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. Through humility and sincere repentance, a broken heart and a contrite spirit, their garments are washed white in the blood of the lamb. The arches then also symbolize the mercy of God which tempers justice for those that repent. The arches also symbolize FAITH in Christ, HOPE in Christ, and CHARITY to all mankind. They represent our stages of commitment to our Father in Heaven and coming unto Christ.
And if ye have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing (D&C 18:19). Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus sayeth the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under Heaven whereby man can be saved in the Kingdom Of God (II Nephi 31:20-21).
As we pass through the final arch we are met by the Savior, the keeper of the gate. He is placed in the center of this painting, as a reminder to each of us to make Christ the center of our lives.
O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name (II Nephi 9:41). He is the light and the life of the world (Mosiah 16:9).
Dressed as the King of Kings, the Savior’s face is filled with love for all mankind. He extends an invitation to each of us. He excludes no one, beckoning all to come and partake of the fruit of the tree of life. He inviteth them all to come unto Him and partake of his goodness; he denieth none that come unto him (II Nephi 26:33).
Behold he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you. Yeah, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely (Alma 5:33-34).
To eat of the tree is to have eternal life with God, The fruit, like manna given to the children of Israel in the Sinai wilderness, coupled with the living waters of the fountain, represent the sacrament, and thus, the atonement of the Savior. The fountain of living waters represents purity, righteousness, and truth. The rainbow over the fountain is symbolic of the rainbow around the throne of God (Rev. 4:3). The waters, as well as the tree represent the love of God.
Unlike Satan’s way where once you have entered into the large and spacious building your progression stops, the Lord’s way is continually progressing, learning, growing, and becoming, and is protrayed, by the artist, in the beautiful spiral stairway to Heaven. As truth is one eternal round, the progression of God’s children is planned to have no end. The break in the clouds lets through rays of light symbolic of all the promises of the Father through eternity, and that eternal families can be together, forever. Mount Sinai rests majestically in the background reminding us of the foundation of the laws and commandments of God.
The message of Lehi’s vision, or the tree of life, depicted in this painting is one of hope in Christ and His atonement. It emanates the attitude that through righteous choices made dally we can and will make it to the tree to partake of the fruit, and experience great peace and joy, as we recognize and meet our Savior once again.
The artist has expressed a desire for all of those who look upon the artwork to be filled with hope and joy realizing that the blessings promised us by the Savior are real and attainable, through our continued efforts in faith and good works along life’s journey, serving others, and enduring to the end
Therefore, I would that ye be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that ye may be brought to Heaven, that ye may have everlasting life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in Heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen (Mosiah 5:15).
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Copyright 2009 Gayla Prince - All Rights Reserved |
