In the BOOK OF MORMON, 1 Nephi 8 contains Lehi’s vision of the tree of life, commonly called “Lehi’s dream.” Critics point out that this vision closely mirrors a story from Joseph Smith, Senior, Joseph Jr.’s father, which had been shared orally within the family before the Book of Mormon was published. Several factors indicate that these similarities are not coincidental:
THEMATIC AND NARRATIVE SIMILARITIES – Joseph Smith, Sr.’s dream reportedly involved a tree, a path, and symbolic choices, which are central features of Lehi’s vision. The resemblance goes beyond generic allegory; specific imagery like a “rod of iron,” a “mist of darkness,” and the importance of choosing the right path echo elements described by Joseph Sr.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT – Scholars note that Joseph Smith, Jr. had extensive access to his family’s religious ideas, personal stories, and visions while composing the Book of Mormon. The text often reflects contemporary family beliefs, experiences, and concerns, which is consistent with him adapting his father’s dream into the narrative.
LITERARY INSERTION PATTERNS – The Book of Mormon is known to incorporate multiple sources of oral or cultural material, including biblical stories, contemporary moral teachings and possibly local folk tales. The insertion of Joseph Sr.’s dream fits this pattern of borrowing and reworking familiar stories to build a larger religious narrative.
TIMING AND FAMILIARITY – The dream was part of the Smith family’s oral tradition long before the Book of Mormon’s publication. The specificity of the imagery and the detailed moral lessons match what Joseph Jr. could have heard directly from his father, suggesting deliberate inclusion rather than independent inspiration.
CONCLUSION: The evidence of copying lies in the strong parallels between Joseph Smith, Sr.’s known dream and Lehi’s vision, combined with Joseph Smith, Jr.’s access to and familiarity with that family story. The Book of Mormon’s tree-of-life passage is far more detailed and idiosyncratic than a generic allegorical vision, which supports the conclusion that Joseph Jr. incorporated his father’s dream into the text.
(Adapted from AI)
