BoM 14--Jacob 5BoM 14--Jacob 5

6—Redeemer of Israel6—Redeemer of Israel

Jacob 5—The Olive TreeJacob 5—The Olive Tree

““The parable of Zenos, recorded by Jacob in chapter five of The parable of Zenos, recorded by Jacob in chapter five of his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded. This his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded. This parable in and of itself stamps the Book of Mormon with parable in and of itself stamps the Book of Mormon with convincing truth. No mortal man, without the inspiration of convincing truth. No mortal man, without the inspiration of the Lord, could have written such a parable. It is a pity that the Lord, could have written such a parable. It is a pity that too many of those who read the Book of Mormon pass over too many of those who read the Book of Mormon pass over and slight the truths which it conveys in relation to the and slight the truths which it conveys in relation to the history, scattering, and final gathering of Israel. Such history, scattering, and final gathering of Israel. Such members of the Church unto whom attention has been called members of the Church unto whom attention has been called to the great significance of this parable have said they fail to to the great significance of this parable have said they fail to comprehend it. It is simple and very clear to the minds of comprehend it. It is simple and very clear to the minds of those who earnestly seek to know the truth” (Joseph Fielding those who earnestly seek to know the truth” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:141). 4:141).

11stst Visit Visit

Jacob 5:4-14Jacob 5:4-14

Elements of Zenos’ AllegoryElements of Zenos’ Allegory

Item Item Interpretation Interpretation 1. The vineyard 1. The vineyard 1. The world 1. The world 2. Master of the vineyard 2. Master of the vineyard 2. Jesus Christ 2. Jesus Christ 3. The servant 3. The servant 3. The Lord’s prophets 3. The Lord’s prophets 4. Tame olive tree 4. Tame olive tree 4. The house of Israel, the Lord’s 4. The house of Israel, the Lord’s

covenant people covenant people 5. Wild olive tree 5. Wild olive tree 5. Gentiles, or non-Israel (later in 5. Gentiles, or non-Israel (later in

the parable, wild branches are the parable, wild branches are apostate Israel) apostate Israel)

6. Branches 6. Branches 6. Groups of people 6. Groups of people 7. The roots of the tame olive tree 7. The roots of the tame olive tree 7. The gospel covenant and 7. The gospel covenant and

promises made by God that promises made by God that constantly give life and constantly give life and sustenance to the tree sustenance to the tree

Elements of Zenos’ Allegory Elements of Zenos’ Allegory (continued)(continued)

8. Fruit of the tree 8. Fruit of the tree 8. The lives or works of men 8. The lives or works of men 9. Digging, pruning, fertilizing 9. Digging, pruning, fertilizing 9. The Lord’s work with his 9. The Lord’s work with his

children, which seeks to children, which seeks to persuade them to be obedient persuade them to be obedient and produce good fruit and produce good fruit

10. Transplanting the branches 10. Transplanting the branches 10. Scattering of groups 10. Scattering of groups throughout the world, or throughout the world, or restoring them to their original restoring them to their original position position

11. Grafting 11. Grafting 11. The process of spiritual 11. The process of spiritual rebirth wherein one is joined to rebirth wherein one is joined to the covenant the covenant

12. Decaying branches 12. Decaying branches 12. Wickedness and apostasy 12. Wickedness and apostasy 13.Casting the branches into 13.Casting the branches into 13. The judgment of God13. The judgment of Godthe firethe fire

11stst Visit Visit

Jacob 5:4-14Jacob 5:4-14 Early Israelite history Early Israelite history (pre-600 BC-ish)(pre-600 BC-ish)

22ndnd Visit Visit

Jacob 5:15-28Jacob 5:15-28

22ndnd Visit Visit

Jacob 5:15-28Jacob 5:15-28 Meridian of time 600 Meridian of time 600 BC-100 AD-ish)BC-100 AD-ish)

33rdrd Visit Visit

Jacob 5:29-60 (29-32, Jacob 5:29-60 (29-32, 38-40, 43-46)38-40, 43-46)

33rdrd Visit Visit

Jacob 5:29-60Jacob 5:29-60 The apostasy (100 The apostasy (100 AD-1820 AD)AD-1820 AD)

44thth Visit Visit

Jacob 5:61-77 (61-62, Jacob 5:61-77 (61-62, 72-77)72-77)

44thth Visit Visit

Jacob 5:61-77Jacob 5:61-77 The Restoration and The Restoration and the Last Days the Last Days (1820-?)(1820-?)

Interesting VersesInteresting Verses

5:11, 18, 34-37, 48, 53-54—Roots5:11, 18, 34-37, 48, 53-54—Roots

5:41, 47, 49—What could I have done 5:41, 47, 49—What could I have done more…?more…?

5:22—Counsel me not5:22—Counsel me not

5:49-56—God’s relationship with his 5:49-56—God’s relationship with his servantsservants

Christ at the Center of the AllegoryChrist at the Center of the AllegoryElder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presented the principal theme Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presented the principal theme of Zenos’s allegory:of Zenos’s allegory:““This allegory as recounted by Jacob is from the outset intended to be about Christ. . . .This allegory as recounted by Jacob is from the outset intended to be about Christ. . . .““Even as the Lord of the vineyard and his workers strive to bolster, prune, purify, and Even as the Lord of the vineyard and his workers strive to bolster, prune, purify, and otherwise make productive their trees in what amounts to a one-chapter historical sketch of otherwise make productive their trees in what amounts to a one-chapter historical sketch of the scattering and gathering of Israel, the deeper meaning of the Atonement undergirds and the scattering and gathering of Israel, the deeper meaning of the Atonement undergirds and overarches their labors. In spite of cuttings and graftings and nourishings that mix and mingle overarches their labors. In spite of cuttings and graftings and nourishings that mix and mingle trees in virtually all parts of the vineyard, it is bringing them back to their source that is the trees in virtually all parts of the vineyard, it is bringing them back to their source that is the principal theme of this allegory. Returning, repenting, reuniting—at-one-ment—this is the principal theme of this allegory. Returning, repenting, reuniting—at-one-ment—this is the message throughout.message throughout.““. . . At least fifteen times the Lord of the vineyard expresses a desire to bring the vineyard . . . At least fifteen times the Lord of the vineyard expresses a desire to bring the vineyard and its harvest to his ‘own self,’ and he laments no less than eight times, ‘It grieveth me that I and its harvest to his ‘own self,’ and he laments no less than eight times, ‘It grieveth me that I should lose this tree.’ One student of the allegory says it should take its place beside the should lose this tree.’ One student of the allegory says it should take its place beside the parable of the prodigal son, inasmuch as both stories ‘make the Lord’s mercy so movingly parable of the prodigal son, inasmuch as both stories ‘make the Lord’s mercy so movingly memorable.’ memorable.’ ““Clearly this at-one-ment is hard, demanding, and, at times, deeply painful work, as the work Clearly this at-one-ment is hard, demanding, and, at times, deeply painful work, as the work of redemption always is. There is digging and dunging. There is watering and nourishing and of redemption always is. There is digging and dunging. There is watering and nourishing and pruning. And there is always the endless approaches to grafting—all to one saving end, that pruning. And there is always the endless approaches to grafting—all to one saving end, that the trees of the vineyard would ‘thrive exceedingly’ and become ‘one body; . . . The fruits the trees of the vineyard would ‘thrive exceedingly’ and become ‘one body; . . . The fruits [being] equal,’ with the Lord of the vineyard having ‘preserved unto himself the . . . fruit.’ From [being] equal,’ with the Lord of the vineyard having ‘preserved unto himself the . . . fruit.’ From all the distant places of sin and alienation in which the children of the Father find themselves, all the distant places of sin and alienation in which the children of the Father find themselves, it has always been the work of Christ (and his disciples) in every dispensation to gather them, it has always been the work of Christ (and his disciples) in every dispensation to gather them, heal them, and unite them with their Master” (heal them, and unite them with their Master” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 165-66).Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 165-66).

Olive Tree InfoOlive Tree InfoThere is further symbolic significance in the cultivation of an olive tree. If the There is further symbolic significance in the cultivation of an olive tree. If the

green slip of an olive tree is merely planted and allowed to grow, it develops into the green slip of an olive tree is merely planted and allowed to grow, it develops into the wild olive, a bush that grows without control into a tangle of limbs and branches wild olive, a bush that grows without control into a tangle of limbs and branches producing only a small, worthless fruit (see HaroldN. and AlmaL. Moldenke, producing only a small, worthless fruit (see HaroldN. and AlmaL. Moldenke, Plants of Plants of the Bible, the Bible, p.159). To become the productive “tame” olive tree, the main stem of the p.159). To become the productive “tame” olive tree, the main stem of the wild tree must be cut back completely and a branch from a tame olive tree grafted into wild tree must be cut back completely and a branch from a tame olive tree grafted into the stem of the wild one. With careful pruning and cultivating the tree will begin to the stem of the wild one. With careful pruning and cultivating the tree will begin to produce its first fruit in about seven years, but it will not become fully productive for produce its first fruit in about seven years, but it will not become fully productive for nearly fifteen years. In other words, the olive tree cannot become productive by itself; nearly fifteen years. In other words, the olive tree cannot become productive by itself; it requires grafting by the husbandman to bring it into production. it requires grafting by the husbandman to bring it into production.

Two other characteristics of the olive tree further illustrate how it is an Two other characteristics of the olive tree further illustrate how it is an appropriate symbol for Israel. First, though requiring nearly fifteen years to come into appropriate symbol for Israel. First, though requiring nearly fifteen years to come into full production, an olive tree may produce fruit for centuries. Some trees now growing full production, an olive tree may produce fruit for centuries. Some trees now growing in the Holy Land have been producing fruit abundantly for at least four hundred years. in the Holy Land have been producing fruit abundantly for at least four hundred years. The second amazing quality of the tree is that as it finally grows old and begins to die, The second amazing quality of the tree is that as it finally grows old and begins to die, the roots send up a number of new green shoots that, if grafted and pruned, will the roots send up a number of new green shoots that, if grafted and pruned, will mature into full-grown olive trees. The root of the tree will also send up shoots after mature into full-grown olive trees. The root of the tree will also send up shoots after the tree is cut down. Thus, while the tree itself may produce fruit for centuries, the root the tree is cut down. Thus, while the tree itself may produce fruit for centuries, the root of the tree may go on producing fruit and new trees for millennia. It is believed that of the tree may go on producing fruit and new trees for millennia. It is believed that some of the ancient olive trees located in Israel today have come from trees that were some of the ancient olive trees located in Israel today have come from trees that were ancient during Christ’s mortal ministry. ancient during Christ’s mortal ministry.