Hold to the rod

So, I'm reading the Book of Mormon this morning—1 Nephi, Chapter 8 (Lehi's vision of the tree of life)—and as I read the description of an iron rod next to a river surrounded by mist, I couldn't help but think... By he time I got to the tree, holding onto that piece of iron the whole way, my hand would probably be coated with rust. I guess I'd pick my tree of life fruit with my other hand. ;-)