Dreary Wasteland | 1 Nephi 8:7-10

As his vision opens up, Lehi finds himself in a dark and dreary wilderness and then later in a dark and dreary waste or wasteland.

I find this symbolic of this life--it is like a dreary wasteland compared with the glory and splendor of the celestial world yet to come. Adam and Eve, when cast out of the garden, were put in the lone and dreary world.

I also find it symbolic of what life is like without Christ and the hope of the Atonement. I can imagine the dread, despair and loneliness that Lehi felt as he traveled for hours in the dark and dreary world of his dream. This hopelessness brought him to his knees where he prayed for mercy. The Lord heard his prayer and brought light and knowledge to him as the vision opened up to include the tree of life off in the distance. I can feel the joy and gladness he must have had as his eyes were drawn to the tree—the hope of salvation. I can follow Lehi's example by praying for mercy and turning to the Atonement when the weight of the world bears down on me.