After showing Nephi these scenes of holy cities and condescension and conception and birth, the angel asked him if he now understood the meaning of the tree. Yes, Nephi responded, “it is the love of God … the most desirable above all things.” And the angel added, “And the most joyous to the soul.” All of what he had thus far seen was to help him understand how great is the love of both Gods—Father and Son—for the children of men, making available mortality, the Atonement, resurrection, and eternal life. The latter is the greatest of all the gifts of God (D&C 6:7, 13).
Nephi saw that the iron rod was the word of God and that it led to the waters of life and the tree of life—both representing the love of God, which is manifested in the coming of Jesus in the flesh. In other words, the scriptures lead us to Christ. And we need to come to him daily through the scriptures.