Trees of Life

Family Tree

All of us have a “Family Tree.” To me, the family tree has three parts:

1. Roots
2. Trunk
3. Branches and Leaves

The roots of my family tree are my parents, grandparents, and my ancestral line. These are the people who have shaped my life in many ways. Some of these are:

• Morally
• Ethically
• Having Integrity
• Building Strong Relationships – family, friends, work, etcetera
• Having Good Health
• Mentally
• Physically
• Spiritually

My parents and grandparents taught me lessons as I was growing up. They showed through their example what it meant to be a good person, friend, father, son, brother, and coworker. My morals, ethics, and integrity came from them.

The roots of my family tree are strong because I not only followed their example but also trusted them. They also trusted me. This has strengthened our relationship, and I still receive “nourishment” from them in my life.

After marriage, my tree grew as my wife joined it. Her roots are now part of the tree, along with mine, which has strengthened our foundation.

My wife and I are the trunk of the tree. We receive nourishment from our roots and then pass that along to the branches and leaves. We also ensure that our relationship is healthy so that the trunk of our tree can pass along our good. Life experiences cause our tree to grow. Our goal is to have nourishment constantly flowing to the branches and leaves.

Our children, and one day grandchildren and other posterity, are the branches and leaves of our family tree. They receive nourishment from the trunk of our tree. This nourishment can help them in their lives as well.

Spiritual Tree

In like manner, each of us has a spiritual tree. A tree that defines what we believe and how that belief affects our lives. This tree also has roots, a trunk, branches, and leaves.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf describes this tree in “Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow.” He states, “Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice are the root of our testimony. All other things are branches.”

The roots of our spiritual tree are faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. A solid knowledge of Jesus Christ’s role in our eternal salvation creates strong roots for our spiritual tree. We are advised to “[deepen] faith in Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son” to strengthen our roots.

The trunk of the tree is our witness from the Holy Ghost that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to this earth. That the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Finally, Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration and restored Christ’s church on the earth.

Whenever I have a crisis of faith, I remember what the Lord told Oliver Cowdery in Doctrine and Covenants 6:22-23, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?”

This causes me to remember when, as a freshman in college, I knelt in my dorm room and pled to know if these things were true. I cannot forget nor deny the witness that came to me that night. It remains one of my most treasured experiences. God spoke to me that night and told me where the truth lay. Any doubts about the church begin to fade when I remember that night.

The branches and leaves of the spiritual tree are everything else. Joseph Smith stated, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

Elder Uchtdorf shows us the connection from the roots to the branches and leaves, “Without a connection to the Savior, to the nourishment found in the roots, a branch withers and dies.” The connection runs through the trunk and the strength of our witness opens up or constricts the conduits from the roots to the branches.

How Do We Strengthen the Roots?

“Strong faith in Jesus Christ doesn’t happen overnight.” Nor does it stay strong without effort on our part. One way to strengthen our roots is to make the Primary Answers a part of our daily lives. Another way to strengthen our roots is to study the Come, Follow Me lessons.

I like to use a journal edition of the scriptures to study Come, Follow Me. This has allowed me to take notes about what I’ve read and learned in the scriptures. I can go back and review what transpired in my study. This has enriched my understanding and faith.

How Do We Allow the Nourishment of the Roots to Flow Through Our Testimony to the Leaves and Branches?

To understand the doctrine and the “mysteries” of God, we must allow the nourishment of the roots to flow to the branches and leaves. How can we do this? I believe the following allow this to happen:

• Showing love to our neighbors
• Sharing our testimony
• Identifying the Spirit whenever it is present
• Listening to that still, small voice as often as it arrives

This is not a comprehensive list. As we act on the gospel, participate in ordinances and covenants, and share the gospel with others, the trunk of our witness expands and creates more conduits from the roots to the branches. The Spirit can, “always be with [us]” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).

What Happens When We Fall Away? Does the Tree Die?

When we stop doing the things that strengthen our testimony and nourish the roots, the tree begins to shrink. However, unlike an earthly tree, our spiritual tree never truly dies. The reason is that God and Christ’s love is never withdrawn. There is always a way back. Always a way to begin the nourishing of the roots and expanding of our testimony.

For me, when doubts come up and I feel as if I’m falling away, I’m reminded of the time where disciples of Christ began to walk away. As this occurred, Christ turned to Peter and the Apostles and asked if they would also walk away.

Peter’s response is one of the most touching expressions of faith and testimony ever uttered. He said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). That humble expression of knowing where the truth lies and how to return to God sticks in my heart and is a reminder to never walk away.

Conclusion

Our family tree helps to shape who we are. The lessons we learn from parents and grandparents help guide us to become good people. We then teach our children and grandchildren with the same goal. We also have a spiritual tree. Its roots are the Gospel of Jesus Christ and faith in Him and Heavenly Father. Our testimony of the truths here on earth forms the trunk of our spiritual tree helping us to understand the rest of the doctrine and the mysteries of God. As we nourish the roots of our spiritual tree and expand and strengthen our testimony, the branches and leaves receive strength and allow us a better understanding of gospel pieces instead of those pieces leading us off the path that leads back to Heavenly Father.