African Tree of Life

This tree is an African baobab, known as the African Tree of life. We saw a couple of these coming back from Livingstone. The ones we saw were just babies, but still easy to spot because of their very large trunks. Since it is winter they didn't have leaves on them.

Maybe I am just new to the game but I didn't know anything about them until very recently.  They are quite fascinating to me.

  

I was reminded of a talk "Stay by the Tree" given in Conference a few years ago, by Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy. Some points he brought out were:

1)  "in a dark and dreary waste" don't forget to pray. 1 Nephi 8:7

2) The tree represents Christ and to realize the gift of Eternal life we must "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him" for He is "the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6

3) "Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ." 2 Ne 31:20

4) "Continually hold fast' to the word of God through scriptures and living prophets. 1 Ne 8:30

5) Only the Savior has "the words of eternal life" John 6:68 so don't be distracted by the spacious building or vain imaginations and pride. 2 Ne 12:18

6) Hearken to the word of God and hold fast to it. "Give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things." 1 Ne 15:24-25

This one is just a picture from the internet but it shows their massive size with the elephants next to it.

Native bushman used to rely on the water within it's trunk for survival when the rains stopped and the rivers dried up. The tree gives life to African wildlife by providing food and shelter from insects to elephants. 
 

This is a picture of the fruit. Maybe the ultimate superfruit containing 10 times the amount of vitamin C as a serving of a fresh orange and 50% more calcium than spinach, as well as high levels of iron and potassium. Interesting, don't you think?

And there you have a little mini lesson for whatever it might be worth.