Elder David A. Bednar noted that the group identified in verses 24 to 28 were only “clinging to the rod of iron” and that after partaking of “the fruit of the tree,” they became ashamed, fell away, and were lost. He stated that “even with faith, commitment, and the word of God, this group eventually was lost—perhaps because they only periodically read or studied or searched the scriptures. Clinging to the rod of iron suggests to me only occasional ‘bursts’ of study or irregular dipping rather than consistent, ongoing immersion in the word of God” (“Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod,” 35).