Chapter OverviewThere are various perspectives from which the allegory may be simplified, one such approach is the consideration of the 'Long Time' periods and what they are. Another is to simply view the events of the scattering of Israel abroad, and those times of gathering them back, that is the grafting of the branches out from the natrual tree into the world and the grafting in to the natural tree the wild branhed for their strength and so forth. And still another that may be used in association with the scenario gather is an analysis of the 'type' of the lands into which they were scattered. But perhaps a most important point is to start with Covenant Israel down through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph and so forth even until that time they were first established in the land of promise to begin with as the state of the tree becoming corrupted during the reign of the kings of Judah and of Israel. That all seems to constitute the basis for the estabished tree in the midst of the vineyard. And then the comes the scatterings and gathering and the branches back and forth until the end.
The 'Long Time' Analysis ApproachTo aid in the understanding and appreciation of the 'Allegory of the Olive Tree' it is beneficial to recognize that there are three long passages of time and eventful interims associated with them in respect to the allegory. It is helps to identify these three periods of 'long time' and the events associated with them and also the significant 'interim' events associate therewith. I've always found it easier to work from the end outcome backwards, thus the final 'long time' and the 'interim events associated just prior to it is considered first and thus back to the first.
The Last Long Time and the Associated EventsThe Millennium Day is the last 'long time' recorded in verse 76. The interim events prior to it are those of the latter-day restoration which are a preparation for and a leading up to the Second Coming.
The Second Long Time and the Associated EventsFrom the Great Apostasy through the dark ages and middle ages is the second 'long time' spoken of in verse 29. The interim events prior to it was Christ's ministry and the taking of the gospel to the world which not only included the Gentiles of all of the Old World but those in the Americas as well.
The First Long Time and the Associated EventsFrom the Scattering of Israel to the time of Christ marks the first 'long time' spoken of in verse 15. Prior to that time the Lord had preserved Israel in Egypt and bought them forth, pruning back the older rotten generation from the tree prior to their entering the promised land.
There are some cautions to understanding such an allegory as this. Such an allegory does not match every detail of life exactly, it is only a representative parallel metaphor. If one seeks to match every detail of historical event to the allegory, the allegory will break down and not communicate it desired representative effect. Second, as precise history does not chronolically need to fit in such an 'allegorical' represntation, some over lapping of events will occur. Such an example is found in that the Church established by Christ during his and his apostles' ministry fell into apostasy during the second century but the church established in the Americas lasted until after 300 A.D. and ended in the destrution of the Nephites. Further, such actual events leading up to and subsequent to these 'long times' are not as cleanly cut as the allegory might suggest if taken too literally. The restoration was led up and prepared by many events including the Reniasance, the age of Discovery including the discovery of America, the Reformation, the Revolution including the revolutionary war which led into establishing a nation of free agency and religious freedom. Thus real time and events are an ever evolutionary process which a single simple allegory just can not be expected to present and represent all such within its 'simplified' context. So with that 'looseness' of an 'allegory' we turn to viewing the scatterings of Israel and such related events of some of the grafting here and there and even back and forth.
The Scatterings and Gatherings of GraftingsIn this analysis, what is first significant is to identify the various locations to which the natural branches were scattered to the far reaches of the vineyard.
The First Scattering: The first place the natural branches were scattered to were to a 'poor/poorest' (v 21 & 22) place. And the first scattering was that of the 10 tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel and/or the Kingdom of Ephraim, that is Ephraim, the House of Israel and his companions. they were scattered to the north countries and over and through out Europe as well even unto the Isles of Great Britian. And traditional histories support this as well as the restoration of the gospel in and through Ephraim whose responsibility was unto the fulfilling of the Covenant of Abraham.
The Second Scattering: The second place the natural branches were scattered to were
to a place even 'poorer/poorer than the poorest'
The Third Sacttering: The third 'branch' or 'branches' of scattering was to a location
of a good/choice above all other parts) (v. 25 & 43) place. The tree there, when looked to see the fruit that was born there consisted of
both good and wild fruit, two branches of such. The decession was to let them continue to grow
together and later when check again, the wild fruit had prevailed and the good fruit was shriveled
and dried up and lost, which matched the Nephit nation being lost. And at that time the location
was not just stated to be a good location, but a location choice above all others.
And there there was a period of time in which the Lord called his 'servants' (plural) to come
and work in the vineyard in that last great plan of gradually pruning and cutting away the most
bitter and leaving the better fruit to remain. And this is that time of Israel under the leadership
of Ephraim to take the gospel to the world in preparation for the Second Coming and that great
Millennial day where the bitter no good branches had been burned and only the good branches would
remain and the Lord would for the long season of the Millennium bring in much fruit thereof before
Satan is loosed again, and evil returns.
Like an Opera performance that loosely presents a tale in song often in another language, it helps to
have a program that sets out what is going on and just who is who, in order to more fully comprehend
what is usually truely quite a simple story plot line. Once again, since it is an 'art' form of an
allegory, 'loosely' seems to be the key word to the application and understanding as to just what
is going and. Too much detailed application to the actual details of history but seems to spoil the
beauty of the allegory.
Now further, beyond the simple association of the 'tree' with the house of
Israel, there is a greater and deeper doctrinal significance to the 'tree'
or the 'vine'. Such things are only obtained by scriptural study and further
familiarity with God's Plan and of such things as incorporatings such as
the tree of life. And the analysis of Israel as the Olive tree is often
referenced in the scriptures and they seem to testify that once the full
allegory was had among them and well understood. Some such understanding
are often found 'condensed' in such other scriptures as the one taken
from John as follows:
Beyond this, it seems appropriate to thus now leave the study of the allegory
of the olive tree to the student of the scriptures.
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CHAPTER 5
Jacob quotes Zenos relative to the allegory of the tame and wild olive
trees—They are a likeness of Israel and the gentiles—The
scattering and gathering of Israel are prefigured— |
The prophetic allegory of the tame olive tree given through the prophet Zenos to Israel before the scattering of Israel is quoted in its entirety— The Scattering of Israel, the Great Apostasy, and the Great Millennial Day are presented as 'long periods of time' with the surrounding critical events which work to bring about man's salvation—Allusions are made to events which occur in both the old and new world such as those relative to the people of America. |
 Scattered, Gathered, and Exalted in the Lord |
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1 BEHOLD, my brethren, do ye not
remember to have reada the words of
the prophet aZenos, which he spake unto the house of
Israel, saying:
2 Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of the Lord.
The Branches of Joseph Now these three branches of Joseph were all scattered (Samaria and a part of Judaea was not scattered but was grafted into of the wild branches). THE FIRST, the 'wicked branch' was scattered in the Old World, particularly the nations of Europe, the poorest spot of the pagan world and also the dark ages of that world (Jacob 5:20-22). THE SECOND, which was that of 'THE BRANCH of the Messiah'. (Note: The Branch of the Messiah was that of the house of David and that house was also of a legal and lawful descend of Joseph (SEE: Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph). And it would be carried away into Babylon reaching their captivity there even before Lehi's party did reach America. Of couse symbolically Babylon is representative of the sins of the world, the poorest place of them all, even poorer than the poorest, as that Branch of the Messiah would have descended below them all. And from that branch would be produced much fruit, even the early Christian church and those who would follow Christ and from that group they would be 'gathered up that which would be preserved unto the Lord of the vineyard (Jacob 5:23). And THE LAST was placed in a good spot - South America (Jacob 5:25), even that which was choice - North America - above all other parts of the land of my vineyard (Jacob 5:39-43). (It should be noted that this 'last', by the way, would have also include a part of the house of David in Mulek's party as they also were scattered in the New World, the Americas. |
1a do ye not remember to have read The plates of brass were brought to preserve the word of God among the Nephites and also to preserve their language. Nephi's people were a learned people. And it is evident that the words of the plates of brass were being disseminated amongst them as they, according to Jacob, had access to have read the words of Zenos the Israelite prophet. |
1a
1 Ne. 19:12 (12, 16); Jacob 6:1; TG Scriptures, Lost
It should also be noted that while the Jewish Old Testament does not have a record of this prophet Zenos of the seed of Joseph, much is spoken of in the Bible record concerning this concept of the Lord's vineyard to such an extent that it well be considered that they have reference this allegory of Zenos in many respects though they preserved not the writings of Zenos himself. |
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3 For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O house of
aIsrael, like unto a tame bolive-tree,
which a man took and nourished in his cvineyard; and it
grew, and waxed old, and began to ddecay.
4 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyarda went forth, and he saw that his olive-tree began to decay; and he said: I will aprune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not. 5 And it came to pass that he apruned it, and digged about it, and nourished it according to his word.
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4a master of the vineyard The Master is the Lord. The earth is his vineyard. And Israel is his chose, select and elect people. |
3a
TG
Israel, Twelve Tribes of b Ezek. 36:8 (8-15); Rom. 11:21 (1-36); 1 Ne. 10:12; Jacob 6:1 (1-7); TG Israel, Mission of; TG Vineyard of the Lord c Matt. 21:33 (33-41); D&C 101:44 d TG Apostasy of Israel 4a TG Prophets, Mission of 5a 2 Kings 27:13 (13-18)
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6 And it came to pass that after many
daysa it began to put forth
somewhat a little, young and tender branches; but behold, the
main atop thereof began to perish.
7 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he said unto his aservant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a bwild olive-tree, and bring them hither unto me; and we will pluck off those main branches which are beginning to wither away, and we will cast them into the fire that they may be burned.
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6a after many days |
6a
Luke 3:9 (8-9);
2 Ne. 30:2; TG Chief Priest 7a TG Servant b Rom. 11:17 (17, 25)
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Scattering of Israel |
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8 And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take
aaway many of these young and tender
branchesa, and I will
graft them bwhithersoever I will; and it mattereth not that
if it so be that the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit
thereof unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and
tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will.
9 Take thou the branches of the wild olive-tree, and graft them in, in the astead thereof; and these which I have plucked off I will cast into the fire and burn them, that they may not cumber the ground of my vineyard.
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8a young and tender branches At least four of these branches where brought to the Americas that we know of. There where perhapst more as who accompanied Mulek is not stipulated and he did not arrive alone. |
8a
TG
Israel, Sacttering of b Ezek. 17:22 (4-10, 22) 9a Acts 9:15; Acts 14:27; Rom. 1:13; Gal. 3:14
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10 And it came to pass that the servant of the Lord of the
vineyard did according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard,
and grafted in the branches of the awild olive-tree.
11 And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myselfa, I have done this thing. 12 Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish it, according to my words.
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11a that I might preserve them unto myself The Lord's work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. All the Lord's work in His vineyard is that he might bring about this purpose, which is that He might preserve souls unto the Lord. |
10a
TG
Gentiles
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13 And these will I aplace in the nethermost part
of my vineyard,
whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I do it
that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree;
and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof against the
seasona,
unto myself; for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree and
the fruit thereof.
14 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural abranches of the tame olive-tree in the nethermost parts of the vineyard, some in one and some in another, according to his will and pleasure.
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13a that I may lay up fruit thereof against the season Within the confines of the middle east and the ever present traditional history and presence of the corruption of Israel and Judah, it was difficult raise up fruit unto the Lord. Just as the settlers of America came forth to obtain religious freedom and the exercise of their God given rights and free agency, so it was with Lehi's colony. It was placed by the hand of the Lord in the nethermost part of the vineyard that it might be cultivated and grow and produce good fruit to be raised up unto the Lord. Apart from the old world, the Nephites came know Christ and be fully converted unto him to the point that even the Law of Moses became dead unto them. And despite the cyclic nature of the people between good and evil, the Lord was able to preserve much fruit unto himself in the Nephite nation of America. |
13a
Hosea 8:8;
1 Ne. 10:12 14a TG Israel, Bondage of, in Other Lands
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Israel and Judah Scattered |
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15 And it came to pass that a long time passed
awaya, and the
Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go down
into the vineyard, that we may alabor in the vineyard.
16 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and also the servant, went down into the vineyard to labor. And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Behold, look here; behold the tree. 17 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard looked and beheld the tree in the which the wild olive branches had been grafted; and it had sprung forth and begun to bear afruit. And he beheld that it was good; and the fruit thereof was like unto the natural fruit. 18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.
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15a a long time passed away |
15a
TG
Millennium, Preparing a People for 17a Matt. 12:33; John 15:16; Gal. 3:9 (7-9, 29); Col. 1:6 (3-8)
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19 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto
the servant: Come, let us go to the nethermost part of the
vineyard, and behold if the natural branches of the tree have not
brought forth much fruit also, that I may lay up of the fruit
thereof against the season, unto mine own self.
20 And it came to pass that they went forth whither the master had hid the natural branches of the tree, and he said unto the servant: Behold these; and he beheld the afirst that it had bbrought forth much fruit; and he beheld also that it was good. And he said unto the servant: Take of the fruit thereof, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self; for behold, said he, this long time have I nourished it, and it hath brought forth much fruit. 21 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spota in all the land of thy vineyard. 22 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spota of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit. 23 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the firsta. But, behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit; therefore, gather it, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self.
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21 & 22a the poorest spot ... a poor spot
Of interest here, what the servant of the Lord denotes here as 'the poorest spot' they Lord
merely denotes as 'a poor spot.' This seems to be but the different perspectives of the
servant of the Lord an the Lord's own perspective of the spot that the first scattering of
Israel was placed in, that is in the north countries and throughout all of Europe even until
the British Isles. 23a poorer than the first That the scattering of the kingdom of Judah was unto the eastern Empires beginning with Babylon, the Lord denotes these as being 'a poorer spot thatn the first.' That is it was considered as being poorer that where the kingdom of Israel, the northern kingdom of Ephraim was displaced to. And while a small remnant of the 'Jews' would be returned to build the second temple before being scattered again, most of the Jews did not return and have remained in varieous degrees of lost identity and location. |
20a
Jacob 5:39 b TG Israel, Restoration of
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24 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said again unto
his servant: Look hither, and behold another abranch also,
which I have planted; behold that I have nourished it also, and it hath
brought forth fruit.
25 And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold, this have I planted in a agood spot of grounda; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a bpart of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the cother part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruitb; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others. 26 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck off the branches that have not brought forth good afruit, and acast them into the fire. 27 But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it a little alonger, that perhaps it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up against the season. 28 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant of the Lord of the vineyard did nourish all the fruit of the vineyard.
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25a I plated in a good spot of ground
This good spot of land in the the Americas, consistered here to be in South America,
though not all Book of Mormon map makers would agree.
25b only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit This, of course, would be that division of those who were of Lehi's party, the Nephites who believed in Christ and the Lamanites who did not. |
24a
Ezek. 17:22 (22-24);
Alma 16:17 25a Ezek. 17:8; 1 Ne. 2:20; Jacob 5:43 b Hel. 15:3 (3-4) c Alma 26:36 26a Matt. 7:19 (15-20); Alma 5:36; D&C 97:7 26a John 15:6 (4-6) 27a Jacob 5:50 (50-51); Alma 42:4
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Apostasy ~ Darkages ~ Middle Ages |
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29 And it came to pass that a along time had
passed awaya, and the Lord of the
vineyard said unto his bservant:
Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor again in the
vineyard. For behold, the time draweth near, and the cend
soon cometh; wherefore, I must lay up fruit against the season, unto mine own
self.
30 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant went down into the vineyard; and they came to the tree whose natural branches had been broken off, and the wild branches had been grafted in; and behold all asorts of fruit did cumber the tree. 31 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard did ataste of the fruit, every sort according to its number. And the Lord of the vineyard said: Behold, this long time have we nourished this tree, and I have laid up unto myself against the season much fruit. 32 But behold, this time it hath brought forth much afruit, and there is bnone of it which is good. And behold, there are all kinds of bad fruit; and it profiteth me nothing, notwithstanding all our labor; and now it grieveth me that I should lose this tree.
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29a a long time had passed away
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29a
TG
Last Days b D&C 101:55; D&C 103:21 c 2 Ne. 30:10; Jacob 6:2 30a TG Apostasy 31a TG Jesus Christ, Judge; TG Judgment 32a Hosea 10:1 b JS-H 1:19
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33 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: What
shall we do unto the tree, that I may preserve again good fruit
thereof unto mine own self?
34 And the servant said unto his master: Behold, because thou didst graft in the branches of the wild olive-tree they have nourished the roots, that they are alive and they have not perished; wherefore thou beholdest that they are yet good. 35 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots thereof profit me nothing so long as it shall bring forth evil fruit. 36 Nevertheless, I know that the roots are good, and for mine own purpose I have preserved them; and because of their much strength they have hitherto brought forth, from the wild branches, good fruit. 37 But behold, the wild branches have grown and have aoverrun the roots thereof; and because that the wild branches have overcome the roots thereof it hath brought forth much evil fruit; and because that it hath brought forth so much evil fruit thou beholdest that it beginneth to perish; and it will soon become ripened, that it may be cast into the fire, except we should do something for it to preserve it.
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37a
D&C 45:30
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38 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto
his servant: Let us go down into the nethermost parts of the
vineyard, and behold if the natural branches have also brought
forth evil fruit.
39 And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupta also; yea, the afirst and the second and also the last; and they had all become corrupt. 40 And the awild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died.
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39a the natural branches had become corrupt
The concept of the corruption of the people of the Lord is not new to just the Lord's
vineyard of the land of Israel, to which the present Allegory does address. Corrupt of
the people of the Lord stems back to the times of Adam and then the times of Noah as well.
Both those times the people had entered into verious states of corruption. And thus in
the case of the corruptions since the time of Noah, there came in existance all the
various forms of false religion of paganism, some of which had in some forms a relationship
to asspects of the true religion twisted and turned by Satan into demonic worship and
false religions.
The corrupton of Israel and the allegory of the olive tree concerns Israel basically from the time of that 'pure religion' established by Moses. It is from this point that the allegory stems and its perspective is solely concerned with Israel from the time of its scattering and such events until its final gathering. Inserted in it is the Israelites, the branches of Lehi and Ishmael that came to the lands of America. And it verse 44 it speaks of the Jaredite nation being cut down because it cumbered the land which verse 43 stated was that which was choice above all other parts of the land of the Lord's vineyard. Now this 'corruption' was the metaphor of the rotten fruit being compared to the false doctrines of the corrupting force that over came the true religion of the Lord. And in the case of the believing Nephites, it would be layed at the foot of the corrupted or false religion of the Lamanites, who at that time consisted of may of the Nephite discenters as well. |
39a
Jacob 5:20 (20, 23, 25) 40a Hel. 15:4 (3-4)
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41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said
unto the servant: aWhat could I have done more for my
vineyard?
42 Behold, I knew that all the fruit of the vineyard, save it were these, had become acorrupted. And now these which have once brought forth good fruit have also become corrupted; and now all the trees of my vineyard are good for nothing save it be to be ahewn down and cast into the fire.
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41a
Isa. 5:4;
2 Ne. 2:27; 2 Ne. 26:24; Jacob 5:47; Alma 26:37 42a TG Apostasy b Matt. 3:10
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Planting of Joseph in AmericaAdam was driven out of the Garden of Eden and came and lived in the land of Adam-ondi Ahman where he offered sacrifice unto the Lord and to which he gathered all of his children to prior to his death for his last blessings upon them. This is heart of the land preserved unto Joseph. This is site of the 'Center Stake of Zion'. This is the region where will be built unto the Lord the New Jerusalem. All of the covenant promises of the Lord God were preserved in the Son of the Covenant. All of the promises ever made to the fathers were kept and fulfilled by the house of Joseph. (D&C 27:10) Even the great promise and covenant to Abraham, that through his seed the whole of the nations of the earth living, dead and yet to live; would be blessed unto the Lord through the 'Seed of Joseph'. |
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43 And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant
in a agood spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above
all other parts of the land of my vineyarda.
44 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which acumbered this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereofa. 45 And thou beheldest that a apart thereof brought forth good fruit, and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and because I plucked not the branches thereof and cast them into the fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch that it hath withered away.
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43a this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did
plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts
of the land of my vineyard The land of promise that Lehi's people were brought
unto was the Americas. The first lived in South American, and then they moved into
North America. That the land where the Nephites who believed in Christ were destroyed
was in the northern portion where Adam had once lived might well be why the Lord added at
this time that it was a 'land choice above all other lands' to his discription of the land.
44a I also cut down that which cumbered
this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead
thereof Though the Jaredites were ripe in iniquity other cultures
of the world were also of wicked natures. Thus comes the added perspective
that not only were the Jaredites swepted off from the face of the land due
to their own rippened state of wickedness, but further there was the purpose
in the Lord here stated. And that was in order to plant
'this tree' in the stead thereof. And what is of further
significance is that this 'tree' or the branches from
the natural tree, the tree of Israel', were ALL actually those
of the tribe of Joseph and that this is Joseph's land of promise.
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43a
Ezek. 17:8;
Jacob 5:25; 44a Moro. 9:23; 45a 1 Ne. 15:12 (12-17); 2 Ne. 3:5; 2 Ne. 10:1; Alma 46:24 (24-25)
~ Genesis 49:22 This is the promised blessings of Joseph as pronounced by father Jacob. This is the promised fulfilled by the families of Lehi, Ishmael and even of Mulek. |
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46 And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken
of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring
forth no good afruit; and these I had hoped to preserve, to
have laid up fruit thereof against the season, unto mine own self. But,
behold, they have become like unto the wild olive-tree, and they are of no
worth but to be bhewn down and cast into the fire; and it
grieveth me that I should lose them.
47 But awhat could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it, Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have bstretched forth mine chand almost all the day long, and the dend draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?
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46a
Luke 3:9; b Alma 5:52; 3 Ne. 27:11 47a Jacob 5:41 (41, 49) b Isa. 9:12 (12, 17, 21) c 2 Ne. 19:17 (17-21); 2 Ne. 28:32; Jacob 6:4 d TG World, End of
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48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it
not the aloftiness of thy vineyard--have not the branches
thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have
overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the
roots, btaking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is
not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?
49 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have done more for my vineyard? 50 But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little alonger. 51 And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.
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48a
TG
Haughtiness;
TG
Pride b D&C 121:39; TG Unrighteous Dominion 50a Jacob 5:27
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See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth." ~ James 5:7 |
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52 Wherefore, let us take of the abranches of these
which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft
them into the tree from whence they came; and let us pluck from
the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and graft in
the natural branches of the tree in the stead thereof.
53 And this will I do that the tree may not perish, that, perhaps, I may preserve unto myself the roots thereof for mine aown purpose. 54 And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I planted whithersoever I would are yet alive; wherefore, that I may preserve them also for mine own purpose, I will take of the abranches of this tree, and I will bgraft them in unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of their mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own self, that when they shall be sufficiently strong perhaps they may bring forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of my vineyard.
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52a
TG
Israel, Gathering of TG Israel, Restoratin of 53a Ex. 19:6; Isa. 49:6 54a 3 Ne. 21:6 (5-6); Morm. 5:15 b 1 Ne. 15:16
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55 And it came to pass that they took from the natural tree
which had become wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees,
which also had become wild.
56 And they also took of the natural trees which had become wild, and agrafted into their mother tree. 57 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck not the wild branches from the trees, save it be those which are most bitter; and in them ye shall graft according to that which I have said. 58 And we will nourish again the trees of the vineyard, and we will trim up the abranches thereof; and we will pluck from the trees those branches which are ripened, that must perish, and cast them into the fire. 59 And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may aovercome the evil.
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56a
Jer. 24:6 58a Isa. 27:11 59a TG Triumph
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Latter-days & the Restoration |
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60 And because that I have preserved the natural branches and the
roots thereof, and that I have grafted in the natural branches again into
their mother tree, and have preserved the roots of their mother tree, that,
perhaps, the trees of my vineyard may bring forth again good
afruit; and that I may have joy again in the fruit of my
vineyard, and, perhaps, that I may rejoice exceedingly that I have preserved
the roots and the branches of the first fruit—
61 Wherefore, go to, and call aservants, that we may blabor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may cprepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit. 62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall aprune my vineyard.
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60a
Isa. 27:6 61a Jacob 6:2 b D&C 24:19; D&C 39:17; D&C 95:4 b TG Millennium, Preparing a People for 62a D&C 75:2;
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that it may bear more fruit." ~ John 15:2 |
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63 Graft in the branches; begin at the alast that
they may be first, and that the first may be blast, and dig
about the trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and
the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time.
64 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time, for the end draweth nigh. And if it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow. 65 And as they begin to grow ye shall aclear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard. 66 For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard.
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63a
Matt. 20:16;
Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30; 1 Ne. 13:42 Ether 13:12 (10-12) b Matt. 19:30; Jacob 4:17; D&C 29:30 65a D&C 86:6 (6-7);
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67 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft in again
into the natural tree;
68 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft into the natural branches of the tree; and thus will I bring them together again, that they shall bring forth the natural afruit, and they shall be one. 69 And the bad shall be acast away, yea, even out of all the land of my vineyard; for behold, only this once will I prune my vineyard.
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69a
TG
Israel, Mission of 69a 1 Ne. 22;23 (15-17, 23); 2 Ne. 30:10 (9-10)
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70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his
aservant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had
commanded him, and brought other bservants; and they were
cfew.
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and alabor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the blast time that I shall cnourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
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70a
D&C 101:55;
D&C 103:21 b Matt. 9:37 (36-38) c 1 Ne. 14:12 71a Matt. 21:28; Jacob 6:2 (2-3); D&C 33:3 (3-4) b D&C 39:17; D&C 43:28 (28-30) b TG Millennium, Preparing a Pepole for
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72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with
their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with
them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the
vineyard in all things.
73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.
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74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the
commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast
away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the
trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto
aone body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the
vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most
precious unto him from the beginning.
75 And it came to pass that when the aLord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And bblessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the cnatural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have djoy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.
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74a
D&C 38:27 75a TG Jesus Christ, Millennial Reign b 1 Ne. 13:37; D&C 21:9 c TG Israel, Restoration of d D&C 6:31; D&C 18:15 (15-16)
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The Millennial Day |
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76 For behold, for a along
timea will I lay up of
the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which
speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my vineyard, and
pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore I will lay
up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time, according to
that which I have spoken.
77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the agood and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the bseason and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be cburned with fire. |
76a for a long time For about 1000 years, the period of the Millennium will this last 'long time' be. And the work of the millennium will to be to store up fruit unto the Lord without the hinderence of the influence of Satan upon the earth. |
76a
1 Ne. 22:26 77a D&C 86:7 b Rev. 3:3-10; D&C 29:2; D&C 43:31 (30-31); D&C 88:111 (110-112) c TG World, End of d Joel 1:19 (19-20); 2 Ne. 6:15 (14-15); Jacob 6:3;
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The Symbols and Meanings in the Allegory |
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| Vineyard | The Earth that is the Lord's |
| Master of the Vineyard | Jehovah, who is Jesus Christ |
| Tame olive tree & Natural branches | House of Israel, and those who are the Lord's covenant people |
| Wild olive tree & wild branches | Gentiles (those not of Israel) and eventually even those of Israel who rebel and apostize against God and who turn unto wickedness |
| Branches of Isreal | Groups of various people - The Branches of Israel - Lost Ten Tribes of Israel scattered and sifted - Branch containing the house of David unto Christ - Lehi's branch - Latter-day restored branch of Ephraim |
| Servants | The Prophets and others called of God in latter-days to spread the gospel to the world. |
| Fruit of the tree | The lives and works of people |
| The roots of the tame olive tree | The Gospel foundation of covenants and promises the Lord has made with His children. It is a constant source and supply of strength and life to the faithful. |
| Digging, pruning, fertilizing | The priesthood and church administerings to the Lord's children from missionary work to Sabbath Day worship and the preaching and caring for the body of the Lord's kingdom. |
| Transplanting the branches | Scatterings and Gatherings of the Lord's people throughout the world. |
| Decaying and rotting branches | The process of wickedness and apostasy from the word of God |
| Grafting in | Processes of spiritual 'rebirth' of joining in the covenants of the Lord. |
| Casting the branches into the fire | The judgments of God upon the wicked |
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