Part 1 is found here. The background for these two post is learning that the possible Hebrew origins of the name, Mormon, is the fountain of living water. The Hebrew equivalent of the letters, 'm' and 'r' have the symbolic meaning 'water' and 'head/source', respectively. Judaism connects the Torah to the tree of life. So we have the word of God, the Bible and the Book of Mormon, connected to the tree of life and the living waters. This image helped me connect the dots of a few previous posts and make sense of some things I didn't understand before. All that is written in part 1.
Another realization is the strength of the connection between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. My mental image after this realization looks something like this:
I created links for that image but it didn't work when I copied over. The point is that these connections have more or less been addressed individually in previous blog posts. I am just seeing the bigger picture here. Here are the links:
Gathering of Israel (physical)
Restoration of the gospel (spiritual gathering of Israel)
Gathering of all things in Christ
There are probably multiple previous posts that could have been linked to each item. The pattern we see is also one I mention in one of the linked posts: Our Heavenly Father created a world of dualism for us to learn and grow. Part of that journey is to ultimately gather into one. The Hebrew word for father, "aba", displays this pattern. Since Hebrew letters also are used as number, we get 1-2-1. We start in unity in the pre-mortal existence, enter into this dualistic/multi-faceted world (notice all the heaven-earth, light-darkness, day-night, water-land, etc. in the creation account), but with the purpose to gather and become united with out Father once again.
The Bible and the Book of Mormon stand as pillars representing this gathering into one. They themselves shall be gathered into "one in thine hand" (Ezekiel 37:17). They are the word of God, leading us to the tree of life and living waters. In a sense, they are the tree of life and living waters, because the word is the Son, the ultimate expression of the Father's love for us.
Eating and drinking symbolism, like the tree of life and fountain of living waters fit this gathering pattern. When we eat or drink, we take something external and put it inside of us, making it part of us. There is a 2-1 transition. Partaking of the tree of life and living waters marks the ultimate 2-1 transition. We become united with God, as we were meant to be, never to be separated again.
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never ; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water into . (John 4:14)
ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. (Alma 32:42)
He that eateth this bread eateth of to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled. (3 Nephi 20:8)