The Fruit of the Tree of Life

“Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God. And thus I spake unto my brethren. Amen.”¹

“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”²

What is Life Eternal?

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.³

Jesus Christ is the Fruit of the Tree of Life.

For God so loved the world (Tree)

And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.⁴

That He gave His Only Begotten Son (Fruit)

And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.⁵

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Rod of Iron)⁶

And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?

And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.⁷

Notice some similarities?

What are the fruits of the womb? The child.

That’s why 1 Nephi 11 bounces back and forth between the fruits of Mary and the fruit from the tree. Jesus is the fruit of the tree, He was the fruit of Mary.

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.⁸

Elizabeth greeted Mary, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”⁹

Jesus was literally the “Fruit of the Loins” of our Father in Heaven. He was the Fruit of our Father’s Love.

And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?¹⁰

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.¹¹

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.¹²

There seems to be a connection with fruit and doing the works of righteousness also. Notice what Alma is saying here:

For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn.¹³

To bring forth “good fruit,” is to do “the works of righteousness.”

Once again, after Nephi is shown the tree, and the fruit of the womb, he is then shown Christ going about doing the works of righteousness.

And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.

And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.¹⁴

Notice the reaction of those who worship Him. It’s very similar to some of those who reach the tree¹⁵. Through this vision, Nephi becomes a special witness to the Lord’s birth¹⁶, ministry¹⁷, crucifixion¹⁸, and post resurrection ministry to his people¹⁹. All of these things are the “fruits” of the Lord. This is who He is. The Son of God.