Three BYUH students share how Lehi’s dream of the Tree of Life impacted their faith, academic journeys and personal growth
From the comforting imagery of the iron rod to the pursuit of divine guidance, BYU–Hawaii students said during their college years, they hold fast to their faith while striving to uplift and support one another. They said they find inspiration in the timeless teachings of 1 Nephi 8 to 11, that discusses Lehi’s dream of the tree of life. Through their reflections, they revealed how the scriptures have shaped their spiritual journeys and helped them navigate academic challenges, personal trials and decisions about their future.
Noel Fulumu’a, a senior from Samoa majoring in Pacific Island Studies, said, “Lehi’s desire to partake of the fruit of the tree of life inspired me to seek the Savior’s will and … draw closer to Him and maintain the companionship of the Holy Ghost.”
The impact of Lehi’s dream
Fulumu’a shared a personal connection to a verse from the Book of Mormon that she said deeply resonates with her both physically and spiritually. “One of my favorite verses is 1 Nephi 8:12, where Lehi partakes of the fruit and immediately desires his family to partake of it,” Fulumu’a said. This verse in the Book of Mormon reads, “And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.”
Fulumu’a reflected on how this verse connects to her own experiences of living away from his family. “Sometimes when I experience things for the first time, I wish they could all be here and experience these things together,” she said. In increasing her desire to serve the Lord and partake of His goodness, Fulumu’a added, “I also hope each member of my family does their part so they can also enjoy the blessings that the Lord has in store for us.”
Teihani Gendron, a senior from French Polynesia majoring in hospitality and tourism management, reflected on the impact certain verses have had on her life. She shared how these scriptures provided her with faith and hope during moments of fear about the future. “These verses are very important teachings,” she said. Through God’s grace and mercy, Gendron explained she was able to survive difficult times when she feared for her family’s well-being and their future.
John Repuya, a junior from the Philippines majoring in finance, related the imagery in 1 Nephi when Lehi sees people in the great and spacious building mocking those at the tree of life. “This resonates with me,” Repuya said, drawing parallels between this scriptural scene and his own experiences of being teased as a member of the Church. He said the scene is relatable because it mirrors the challenges many members face in staying true to their faith amidst external judgment.
An influence on faith
Reflecting on the development of personal faith, Fulumu’a shared how 1 Nephi 9:5-6 has been a source of inspiration for her. She said she often finds herself in situations where she doesn’t fully understand the purpose behind certain tasks she’s asked to perform at home, in church callings or during school assignments and projects. Fulumu’a shared she has learned to trust in the Lord, believing “He knows all things and that one day it will make sense.” She shared,“This perspective has strengthened my faith, encouraging me to press forward even when the reasons behind my actions aren’t immediately clear.”
For Gendron, the teachings of Lehi’s vision are deeply intertwined with her hopes for her family. She expressed how Lehi’s emphasis on serving God first resonates with her desire for her family to be eternally blessed with unity and love. “I try, strive, and fail, but never give up,” she said, underscoring her belief that through hope and faith, everything will eventually work out for the best. Repuya echoed this sentiment, recalling the prophet Lehi’s teaching about two types of faith: the faith to try, like Laman and Lemuel, and the faith to reap, like Nephi. He said he strives daily to follow Nephi’s example, aiming not only to try but also to persevere in his efforts to grow his faith.
A personal connection to the symbols
When asked about how the symbols in the scriptures relate to her own life, Fulumu’a described the iron rod as a guiding force that keeps her on the straight and narrow path, especially during challenging times.
“The rod of iron has been something I’ve continued to hold on to as I navigate life [while] away from my family,” she said.
Fulumu’a said she also sees the tree of life as a symbolic beacon that stands as a constant reminder to keep the temple in sight physically and spiritually. Despite the exhaustion of working 40 hours a week during the summer, she said she finds peace in attending the temple regularly.
Gendron shared her interpretation of the symbols, noting the tree of life represents God’s mercy and love, guiding her and her family through life’s journey. The iron rod, she explained, symbolizes the scriptures, covenants, righteous people and the temple, all of which help keep her and her family on the covenant path. She also said she recognized the great and spacious building as a representation of worldly distractions that can lead one away from God’s eternal blessings.
Repuya summed up his thoughts by stating the scriptures serve as his iron rod.“They have the doctrine to lead me to eternal life,” he said, referring to the tree of life as the ultimate goal he strives toward by holding firmly to the teachings found in the scriptures.
Morals and daily applications
Fulumu’a also reflected on the timeless lessons found in the chapters. For her, the teachings are straightforward yet profound: “It’s continuing to put the Lord first in everything,” she said. Fulumu’a explained centering her life around the Savior influences all her actions and helps her to inspire others to do the same. She emphasized the importance of seeking the Savior intentionally, which, in turn, helps one draw closer to Him and maintain the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Fulumu’a also shared a personal struggle she faced as a student. She said writing papers can be particularly challenging for her, especially when she feels stuck or lacks sufficient research to support her arguments. “There have been many times when I struggle in school, especially writing my papers. I run out of things to say and sometimes there isn’t enough research to back the points that I want to make when I write a paper,” said Fulumu’a.
Her mother’s advice to read the Book of Mormon initially seemed unrelated to her academic challenges, but she decided to give it a try. She shared, “My mum always encourages me to read the Book of Mormon. At first I thought it was a silly idea. In logic, the content of the scripture does not come close to the things I write about in my secular learning,” she said, but after giving it a try, “The Book of Mormon has not only increased my ability to grasp new words I can use in my papers,” she said, “but has also enlightened my mind on other relevant issues with research sufficient to support what I want to write about in my scholarly papers.”
Gendron highlighted the significance of divine guidance in navigating life’s journeys. Reflecting on Lehi’s vision, Gendron noted how it came at a critical time when Lehi had just left Jerusalem, embarking on a journey with his family into the wilderness under God’s command. “When faced with important life choices, such as career opportunities after graduation, I often reflect on Lehi’s journey,” she said. Gendron said she draws inspiration from Lehi’s faith and reliance on divine instruction, which reminds her to seek spiritual clarity through prayer and scripture study.
Repuya shared the most crucial message he draws from these chapters is the importance of holding to the rod and enduring to the end. “By going to church every week and attending the temple, I endure to the end,” he said, underscoring the value of consistent religious practices in his life.
Strength and guidance amidst challenges
When discussing how these teachings have helped them overcome personal challenges, Fulumu’a shared, “The story of Lehi’s dream and the tree of life mostly bring me comfort I search for, knowing that even prophets of ancient times had their share of the same trials and challenges I go through today.”
If the Lord provided for them with their faith, Fulumu’a said, “The Lord can provide for me too, the same way He has yesterday, today, and forever,” she said, expressing her trust in the Lord’s consistent care. Gendron shared how Lehi’s vision of the tree of life instills a deep sense of faith and trust in divine guidance in her. When faced with difficulties, she finds reassurance in knowing that God is aware of her circumstances.
“This knowledge helps me to approach challenges with faith, knowing that I can seek and receive guidance through prayer and personal revelation,” Gendron said.
Repuya also spoke about a challenging time during his mission when his parents separated. He said the occurrence tested his faith, but he chose to hold to the rod and endure to the end of his mission, just as Nephi and Lehi did during their trials. “It really tested my faith, but I endured,” he said.
Growing spiritually at BYUH
Reflecting on how her time at BYUH has contributed to their spiritual growth, Fulumu’a acknowledged the spiritual maturity that comes from facing hardships as a student. She related this to the concept of the great and spacious building in 1 Nephi 8, which she said she often associates with the pressures and distractions she faces. “I’ve often felt like calling it quits because I’ve felt pressured by voices calling out from the great and spacious buildings,” said Fulumu’a.
She continued, “I have friends who seem to have it all together who never needed to leave home. I see the way they live their lives and I begin to wonder if I should just give all of this up and go home and enjoy life the way my friends do at home,” she said. However, over time Fulumu’a said she learned to block out the noise from that great and spacious building and press forward, holding on to the iron rod and trusting that one day she will reap the reward of this journey.
Fulumu’a also highlighted the supportive community at BYUH, where students help strengthen each other’s testimonies of the Savior.
“It is such a joy to go to the temple and see so many of my colleagues, classmates, and peers there too,” she said.
She said she believes despite the various trials students face, they are united in their efforts to grow closer to the Lord and help each other along the way.
Gendron noted how studying and pondering 1 Nephi 8 to 11 have deepened her understanding of the scriptures and strengthened her testimony of Lehi’s vision. She said she sees the stories as emphasizing the importance of a personal mission and purpose, encouraging students like her to seek personal revelation, make righteous choices and actively pursue academic, professional and spiritual goals.
Repuya shared his appreciation of the unique spiritual culture of the campus, particularly the weekly devotionals. “This university is very unique because of the devotional tradition,” he said. The regular reminders to hold to the rod and endure to the end are valuable to him, especially since he gains new insights each time he revisits the scriptures, he shared.