This post contains links to a few books that have helped me understand the context and content of the scriptures. As an Amazon Affiliate, I do earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you). Click here to see all of my favorite books on Amazon.
Why is the vision of the Tree of Life in the Book of Mormon? How will Nephi use this vision throughout the rest of his writings? What are the 5 major images of 1 Nephi 8 and what role do they play in the text?
For another way to view the Tree of Life, go here.
For more on the highly symbolic nature of the vision, as well as more detailed show notes of how it relates to the First Israelite Temple, go here.
Dinah Dye’s two books referenced on the podcast The Temple in Creation: A Portrait of the Family, and The Temple Revealed in the Garden: Priests and Kings can be found in the links referenced.
Raphael Patai’s The Hebrew Goddess can be found here.
William Dever’s Did God Have a Wife?: Archaeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel can be found here.
Daniel C. Peterson’s article “Nephi and his Asherah” can be read here.
Geo Widengren’s book The King and the Tree of Life in Ancient Near Eastern Religion can be found here.
Super interesting. Thank you! What is the significance of holding to the king’s rod or scepter? Is it the same as in the story of Queen Esther where the king extended his scepter to her to save her life? (I have a feeling I’m not grasping that significance entirely either.) I read through Geo Widengren’s book you provided the link for and saw the scepter mentioned several times, but I didn’t see anything about the king’s subjects touching it (or holding on to it). Thanks for this episode!
Do you have the transcripts available from these?
I am pretty sure YouTube can render a transcript for you, but I do not have one that I have worked on or produced.
I have a very difficult time finding your full show notes particularly for Ep 249. All I get is what this page shows. Previously you had pages on show notes. I have tried every way possible.