Pieta, by Michelangelo
1 Ne 8:5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.
11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
12 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.
And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy (1 Nephi 8.10)
GEN 30:13 And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher. ESV https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h842/kjv/wlc/0-1/
And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father. And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord. (1 Ne 8: 35-36).
ASHER is usually translated as "grove" in the KJV, but it actaully means to be blessed or happy. As a verb it menas to make straight or progress. more info o this word: please visit this link: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h842/kjv/wlc/0-1/
1 Ne
For it came to pass, after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart, I was caught away in the spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceeding high mountain, a mountain which I never had before seen and upon which I never had before sat my foot. And the spirit said unto me, Behold, what desirest thou? And I said, I desire to behold the things which my father saw. And the spirit said unto me, Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken? And I said, Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father. And when I had spoken these words, the spirit cried with a loud voice, saying, Hosanna to the Lord, the Most High God, for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all! And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the Most High God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired. And behold, this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bare the fruit of which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of Heaven, and him shall ye witness. And after ye shall have witnessed him, ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.
And it came to pass that the spirit said unto me, Look. And I looked and beheld a tree, and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty, and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow. And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said unto the spirit, I behold thou hast shewn unto me the tree which is most precious above all. And he said unto me, What desireth thou? And I said unto him, To know the interpretation thereof — for I spake unto him as a man speaketh, for I beheld that he was in the form of a man. Yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.
And it came to pass that he said unto me, Look. And I looked as if to look upon him and I saw him not, for he had gone from before my presence. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth, and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceeding fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the Heavens open, and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me, Nephi, what beholdest thou? And I said unto him, A virgin most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. And he said unto me, Knowest thou the condescension of God? And I said unto him, I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the Mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the spirit.
And after she had been carried away in the spirit for the space of a time, the angel spake unto me, saying, Look. And I looked and beheld the virgin again bearing a child in her arms. 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. And he spake unto me, saying, Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.
The Veil is Beginning to Burst. by Rose Datoc DALL. Rosedatocdall.com, @rosedatocdall
Proverbs 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold*/support/sustain/hold firmly to, devote: upon her: and happy:/Go on/advance is every one that grasp her.
(My translation).
NEPHI AND HIS ASHERAH:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1253&context=jbms&fbclid=IwAR2gGm6SX7jUdKDjSH_MibuSpUYd3NJAlew97dn-7KjHOH2cbp0mXZl74HE
For more information about this and to find other contributors to this amazing conversation, please follow: @mbgtravels on instagram. I will link that to a lot of AMAZING WOMEN who share a lot of insights and scholarship on this particular subject
PROVERBS 8: 1Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? 2On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand. 3Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out: 4“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men. 5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.a 6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right. 7For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. 8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse. 9They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge. 10Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. 11For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her. 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me. 18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
4 Ne 1:15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier* people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings;
"Looking for HER in the divine pattern, in the scriptures, in your life? INVITE HER IN.
You don’t need to wait to be told it is ok. You don’t need permission. You are her child. Make the invitation. INVITE HER IN.
Perhaps knowing her was never meant to happen at a big global event. Perhaps SHE was never meant to be revealed in mass. Perhaps this is the way it was always meant to happen. One at a time, in a quiet, sacred moment between the two of you. In the comminution of two souls, involving a new birth, and new life. One at a time. Mother and child. Just the two of you.
Knock on the door that echoes of eternity. Seek the love that came before. Invite. And find!"
Mandy Brooke Green, Oct, 8, 2021
By J. Kirk Richards
For further reading, I recommend: MOTHER OF THE LORD by Margaret Barker:
in tandem with "Plain and Precious" by D. John Butler
His Second book is also equally amazing: The Goodness and the Mysteries: