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The Parable of The Olive Tree |
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Introduction (For a synopsis of the Parable of Zenos, See also The Old Man and the Tree)
Joseph Smith was once asked how to
understand the meaning to parables given in the scriptures. Joseph's response was that in order to
understand the parable, one must first discern the question which prompted
the parable. This handout is designed to help
understand the parable given in the Book of Mormon in Jacob chapter 3. It is not intended to be a 'paper' as such,
but rather an outline that one may use for scriptural references when studying
the parable. But to first understand the
parable, we need to seek out the question asked that prompted the response. The question which solicits this
entire prophecy (for it is a thorough, specific, accurate foretelling of events
to come for the church and world) is contained in Jacob 3:28: …22 But
behold, the Jews were a stiff-necked people; and they despised the words of
plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not
understand. 23
Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond
the mark, they must needs fall: 24 For
God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many
things which they can not understand, because they desired it. 25 And
because they desired it, God hath done it, that they may stumble. 26 And
now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying: for I perceive by the
workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews, they
will reject the stone upon which they might build, and have safe foundation. 27 But
behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the
last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build. 28 And
now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the
sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their
corner? In other words, Jacob is saying
'How will the Jews come back to Christ after they have already rejected &
crucified him?' The answer, comprises the rest of
the chapter. The story beautifully illustrates
the process by which God will bring his ancient covenant people back to a
knowledge of him. While this allegory may seem
overwhelming by it's mere length, and perhaps may seem unclear given its
multitude of symbolic references (Master of Vineyard, tame trees, wild trees,
pruning, grafting, nourishing, visiting the vineyard, etc…), this allegory was
NOT intended to be shrouded in mystery (as were some other parables); rather, it WAS intended to be
understood. The symbolism used in this parable
is easily defined by other scripture, which God gave to us for our understanding. If God wanted us to understand these events, why then is this
particular scripture given in story form? The answer is quite simple: We humans remember stories easier than we
recall sermons, history, etc.
Therefore, God gave us a story that we can remember, define, and apply
its understanding to scriptural events--events of the past and events of the
days to come. Ultimately the story's message is
this: Because of disobedience to God's
word, the covenant people would be scattered.
In a day when they come to a knowledge of Christ again and believe, they
would be gathered together again.
(Deuteronomy chapters 29 & 30).
Nephi wrote: 1 Nephi
5:242 …And to be buried in a sepulcher, according to the words of Zenos, which
he spake concerning the three days of darkness, 243
Which should be a sign given of his death, unto those who should inhabit the
isles of the sea; 244
More especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel. 245 For
thus spake the prophet, The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel
at that day; 246
Some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and
salvation; 247 And
others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by
fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and
by mountains which shall be carried up; 248 And
all these things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos. 249 And
the rocks of the earth must rend; 250 And
because of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the
sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim, The God of nature
suffers. 251
And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be
scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their
hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and power and glory of the God of
Israel; 252
And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised
the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become
a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations; 253
Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn
aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the
covenants which he made to their fathers; 254
Yea, then will he remember the isles of the sea; 255
Yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith
the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters
of the earth; This parable which compares the
covenant people to a tame olive tree.
While we study it from the Book of Mormon, is was not 'created' or
originally written by the Book of Mormon writers--on the contrary, it was
written by the Hebrew prophet Zenos in the land of Jerusalem some time before
600 BC. The Nephites had a copy of it
in the brass plates which they brought with them from Jerusalem. The prophecy was apparently common knowledge
among the Jews, as Paul refers to the Jews and Gentiles, using the exact
symbolism of the parable, without introducing it, as if its details were
already commonly held and understood (Romans chapter 11). A few scriptures as way of
introduction: ·
1 Nephi 3:16 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the
Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared
like unto an olive tree, whose branches should be broken off, and should be
scattered upon all the face of the earth. 17 Wherefore he said it must needs be that we
should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of
the word of the Lord that we should be scattered upon all the face of the
earth. 18 And after the house of Israel should be
scattered, they should be gathered together again; ·
Matthew 21:44-55
Jesus said unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone
which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is
the Lord's doings, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from
you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. For whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall
be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had
heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. And they said among themselves, Shall this
man think that he alone can spoil this great kingdom? And they were angry with
him, but when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude,
because they learned that the multitude took him for a prophet. And now his disciples came to him, and Jesus
said unto them, Marvel ye at the words of the parable which I spake unto
them? Verily, I say unto you, I am
the stone, and those wicked ones reject me.
I am the head of the corner. These Jews shall fall upon me, and shall be
broken. And the kingdom of God shall be
taken from them, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits
thereof; (meaning the Gentiles.)
Wherefore, on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it shall grind him to
powder. And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy
those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other
husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their
seasons. · Deuteronomy 29:24-29, 30:2-5 24 Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger? 25 Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt; 26 For they went and served other gods, and worshiped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them; 27 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book; 28 And the Lord rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day. 29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. 1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing, and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, 2 And shalt
return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I
command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with
all thy soul; 3 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. 4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee; 5 And the Lord
thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou
shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy
fathers. The next
section helps to define some of the events in the Parable of the Olive Tree. Prophecy of Zenos, Jacob Chapter 3,
Worksheet. All these
terms below appear several times in the prophecy of Zenos. Each term has significance in the
understanding of what the allegory represented in the life of the House of
Israel. For each
term, look up the reference scriptures given (or use a concordance and find
others--this is not an exhaustive list).
Then, in your own words, give a short definition (3 or 4 words) of what
the term represents in a spiritual sense.
Full Scriptures from Worksheet Listed Term: Vineyard Definition: The World References:
Term: Branch Definition:
A Group of People, a Nation References:
Term: Husbandman Definition: The Lord God References:
Term: Servant, Servants Definition: Primary Servant is Christ (the world's
advocate); He is the (only) one that the master is speaking to when discussing
the work needed in "the vineyard" (world). Others called (few in
number) are The Priesthood References:
Term: Nourish, Prune, Dig Definition: Preach the word, restore & teach the
truth, Remove the bad References:
Term: Tame Tree Definition: House of Israel References:
Term: Natural tree Definition: Original House of Israel References:
Term: Natural Branches Definition: Natural Branches are the remnants of the
House of Israel References:
Term: Natural Fruit Definition: Differs from Natural branches--Natural
fruit is the correct response to the Gospel--keeping commandments, plan of
salvation according to God's word References:
Term: Corrupt Fruit Definition: Defined by Nephi as false teachings,
false doctrines, churches lifted up in pride. References:
Term: Wild Tree Definition: Gentiles References:
Term: All kinds of fruit, all bad from one tree Definition: Many doctrines, none authorized by God References:
Term: Branches broken off, Grafting in Definition: Grafting in means to come to a full
knowledge of their redeemer References:
Term: Destroy the Vineyard with Fire Definition: End of the world, new heaven *&
earth References:
Term: Lay of Fruit for the season Definition: Preserve the righteous Grant Salvation References:
The Prophecy of Zenos, as found in Jacob
3:26-153 26 And now I,
Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying: for I perceive by the workings
of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews, they will
reject the stone upon which they might build, and have safe foundation. 27 But behold,
according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last,
and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build. 28 And now, my
beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure
foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their
corner? ·
This verse summarizes the
ultimate purpose of the prophecy. The
question is asked, paraphrasing, "How can the Jews come back to Christ
after having already rejected him?"
The rest of the prophecy is an allegory (type, similitude, analogy,
pattern, etc.) revealing in story form how the Jews will be restored to a
knowledge of Christ. The points of the
story--the trees, the servants, the grafting, the pruning, etc.,--all have
their perfect spiritual parallels in the history of time, and in the history of
the church. ·
Matthew 21:44-55 Jesus said unto them, Did ye never read in
the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the
head of the corner; this is the Lord's doings, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God
shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits
thereof. For whosoever shall fall on
this stone, shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him
to powder. And when the chief priests
and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of
them. And they said among themselves,
Shall this man think that he alone can spoil this great kingdom? And they were
angry with him, but when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the
multitude, because they learned that the multitude took him for a prophet. And now his disciples came to him, and Jesus
said unto them, Marvel ye at the words of the parable which I spake unto
them? Verily, I say unto you, I am the
stone, and those wicked ones reject me.
I am the head of the corner. These Jews shall fall upon me, and shall be
broken. And the kingdom of God shall
be taken from them, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits
thereof; (meaning the Gentiles.)
Wherefore, on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it shall grind him to
powder. And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy
those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen,
even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. ·
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a
stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that
believeth shall not make haste. ·
Psalm 118:22 The
stone which the builders refused has become the headstone of the corner. 29 Behold, my
beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any
means get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over
anxiety for you. 30 Behold, my
brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the prophet Zenos, which
spake unto the house of Israel, saying: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear
the words of me, a prophet of the Lord: ·
Zenos was apparently a
prophet known in Jerusalem prior to Lehi's departure to America. His writings were had among the plates of
brass, brought to America. While the
bible does not mention 'Zenos' by name, the apostle Paul also referred to his
writings in Romans 11, referring to the House of Israel as the 'Tame Olive
tree' and the gentiles as the 'wild' tree. ·
Perhaps this writing will one
day be discover in dead sea scrolls, or otherwise, will reveal this ancient
revelation in Israel. External proof of
the Book of Mormon. ·
Also note, this message was
written to the House of Israel, (the descendants of Jacobs 12 sons), therefore,
the allegory has to start with their history, not people like the Brother of
Jared, etc. The study of the story of
Joseph is also a type and shadow of the restoration of the House of Israel by
the remnant of the descendants who preserved the Book of Mormon. 31 For behold,
thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O house of Israel, like unto a tame
olive tree, which a man took and nourished in his vineyard: and it grew, and
waxed old, and began to decay. ·
1 Nephi 3:16 Yea, even my
father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of
Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree, whose branches
should be broken off, and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. ·
2 Nephi 8:77 For the vineyard
of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant
plant: ·
1 Nephi 4:19
Wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, and the very
points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.
(20) And then at that day, will they not rejoice and give praise unto their
everlasting God, their rock and their salvation? (21) Yea, at that day, will
they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine? (22) Yea, will they not come unto the true
fold of God? (23) Behold, I say unto
you, Yea: they shall be remembered again among the house of Israel; (24) They shall be grafted in, being a
natural branch of the olive tree, into the true olive tree; (25) And this is what our father
meaneth; (26) And he meaneth that it
will not come to pass, until after they are scattered by the Gentiles; (27) And he meaneth that it shall come by
way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may shew his power unto the Gentiles, for
the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of
Israel: (28) Wherefore, our father hath
not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to
the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; (29) Which covenant the Lord made to our
father Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be
blessed. ·
The olive tree is a slow
growing tree which fills during the first 7 years of it's life. It is
especially productive between the age of 7 to 35 years, and beyond 150 years
its crop diminishes. Normally the first flowering only takes place after about
8 years. (Isn't it interesting how even
the tree itself appears to follow patterns of spiritual principles--bearing
fruit after 8 years old likened unto the age of accountability.) 32 And it came to
pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and he saw that his olive tree
began to decay; and he said, I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it,
that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not. Who is the
Husbandman? God the Father. ·
John 15:1 I am the
true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ·
James 5:7 Be patient
therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman
waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it,
until he receive the early and latter rain. What does it
mean to "wax old, decay"? ·
Waxing old, beginning to decay,
(not bearing fruit), likened to falling away from the truth, losing the truth
of God's plan of salvation. ·
Pruning, digging, nourishing
are all helpful acts for a tree. In the
spiritual sense, these are likened to preaching, teaching the word of God to
people. In this case, the House of
Israel were receiving the word of God. Shoot forth
branches ·
When an olive tree begins to
die, new branches will rise from the base of the trunk, (not the
branches). They are getting their
nourishment close to the roots. In the
allegory, those of the covenant (for example, Lehi & family) responded to
the preaching of the prophets and, being covenant people, brought forth new
life, but not fruit until they were pruned off and transplanted. The children
of Israel are still blinded to the truth regarding the coming of Christ. But,
people have misinterpreted the scriptures to believe them this way. Part of the
confusion (in reading the scriptures) is that even Christ's disciples believed
that his second coming would occur soon, and that Israel would soon rise to
glory and prominence among the nations. Not so according to the ways of God. · II Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished; 14 But their minds
were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the
reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto
this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless, when their heart shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is
that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 33 And it came to
pass that he pruned it, and digged about it, and nourished it, according to his
word. What is the
spiritual element being compared to 'nourishment'? Receiving the (true) word of God. ·
Moroni 6:5 …And their names were taken, that they might be remembered
and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep
them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ,
who was the author and the finisher of their faith. ·
Pruning, digging, nourishing
are all helpful acts for a tree. In the
spiritual sense, these are likened to preaching, teaching the word of God to
people. In this case, the House of
Israel were being given the true word of God. 34 And it came to
pass that after many days, it began to put forth somewhat a little, young and
tender branches; but behold, the main top thereof began to perish. ·
Reaching the age of 200 the
trunk disappears, shoots develop at the base of the trunk which eventually grow
into a new tree, hence the reputation as the immortal tree. ·
From preaching the word, some
people within the House of Israel responded.
(He is the vine, we are the branches).
Recall that few heeded Lehi (and other contemporary prophets with him)
when he preached in Jerusalem. 35 And it came to
pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he said unto his servant, It
grieveth me that I should lose this tree; 36 Wherefore, go
and pluck the branches from a wild 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. The Gentiles
(who ever was not a Jew, or of the covenant 12 tribes) were compared to the
'Wild' tree. Paul refers to them below. ·
Romans 11:17 And if
some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wast
grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the
olive tree; ·
Romans 11:24 For it
thou wast cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wast grafted
contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which be
the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? ANYONE can fall, irregardless of your origin (tame, or wild
tree; covenant Jew or grafted in Gentile) ·
Romans 11:21 For if God
spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 37 And behold,
saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many of these young and tender
branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will; ·
Removing the new branches
with life, (the believers) would preserve original pieces of the tree. One example of God leading away a 'righteous branch': ·
Genesis 50: 24 And
Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers; and I go down to
my grave with joy. The God of my father Jacob be with you, to deliver you out
of affliction in the days of your bondage; for the Lord hath visited me, and I
have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of my loins, the
Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins; and unto thee, whom
my father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet; (not the Messiah who is called
Shilo;) and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of
thy bondage. 25 And it
shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be
broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be
remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he
shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power;
and shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and
out of captivity unto freedom. ·
2 Nephi 2:7 And he
obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins, the Lord
God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; ·
2 Nephi 6:105 And
because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that
our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he
would preserve them; and in future generations, they shall become a righteous
branch unto the house of Israel. ·
Jacob 2:34 Wherefore,
thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem,
by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from
the fruit of the loins of Joseph. 38 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; ·
Covenant was broken by
disobedience (root was the covenant).
God had preserved some born from the covenant. 39 Wherefore, I
will take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever
I will. ·
Historically, olive trees
were a significant, if not the significant means by which the Mediterranean
world was settled. While they were
found in eastern Mediterranean regions more than 2000 B.C., it was at 600 B.C.,
that the olive tree itself started being found in other parts of the world
(from mediterranean). Isn't it
interesteing how God allowed the physical to replicate the spiritual in this
example? 600 B.C. is the time that Lehi
left Jerusalem (spiritually representing part of the allegory). Historically, the trees themselves began to
be transplanted at about the same time. ·
Olive tree cultivation was
spread to Greece or North Africa to Italy and to other Mediterranean countries around
600 B.C.. The olive tree was probably introduced to Spain by the Greeks,
the Romans and the Arabs. That is indicated by the use in Spain of both
Greco-roman and Arabic words associated with olives. The olive fruit, for
instance, is called"aceituna" and the olive oil "aceite"
which are Arabic words, while the tree is called "olive" which is
Latin from the Greek "elea".
(from http://www.gilboa.co.il/ol_tree.htm
) *Interesting that the time the olive
tree emmigrated was also the time that Lehi left Jerusalem. ·
House of Israel will be
across whole earth. ·
Genesis 49:22 Joseph
is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over
the wall: ·
Genesis 50: 25 And it
shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be
broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be
remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he shall
be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power; and
shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and out of
captivity unto freedom. 40 Take thou the
branches of the wild olive tree, and graft them in, in the stead thereof; ·
Wild olive
tree=Gentiles. They 'join the church'
and 'take hold of the covenant' (get nourishment from the roots), and sustain
the life of the roots (covenant). ·
1 Nephi 3:201 And it
shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in
that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power,
in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling-blocks, and harden not
their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of
thy father; ·
Compare, contrast differences
between tame and wild trees: ·
Tame tree is intentionally
planted; wild grows on its own. ·
Tame tree planted with
specific purpose of bearing fruit; wild may or may not. 41 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. ·
Jerusalem destroyed in about
592 B.C. The wicked remnants were taken
captive for their own disobedience and idolatry towards God (Deut. 29:31). ·
Others of the House of Israel
have been destroyed through time, including the worst--Hitler's holocaust. Nephi said: 2 Nephi 11:16 And never hath any
of them been destroyed, save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.
(referring to the Jews). 42 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 wild olive tree. ·
2 Nephi 12:77 For
behold, I say unto you, That as many of the Gentiles as will repent, are the
covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent, shall
be cast off; 43 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; 44 Wherefore, that
perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might
preserve them unto myself I have done this thing. 45 Wherefore, go
thy way; watch the tree, and nourish it, according to my words. 46 And these will
I place in the nethermost part of my vineyard, whithersoever I will, it
mattereth not unto thee; ·
Remote parts of the
earth. At least we've heard of the
Mulekites, Nephites, and others are definintely implied. Christ tells Nephites, that there are others
yet, who will also hear his voice, that he has not been commanded to tell the
Nephites about. These were also led
away from time to time. Technically,
the Jaredites would not count--although they were led away, they were not
officially part of the House of Israel
since it had not been established yet.
They were sent with the purpose of preserving the truth, however. ·
2 Nephi 7:38 For
behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel,
according to his will and pleasure. ·
3 Nephi 7:15 And not
at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto
your brethren at Jerusalem; neither at any time hath the Father given me
commandment, that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the
house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out of the land. 47 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 season, unto myself: for it
grieveth me that I should lose this tree, and the fruit thereof. ·
Preserve the natural
branches=save original type of good fruit that comes from those that obey the
commandments of God in all things (the covenant people) ·
Lay up fruit against the
season=save souls 48 And it came to
pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural branches
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. The events
preceding this verse all have to have happened prior to and including (circa)
600 BC Since one of these tame, transplanted branches is Lehi & Family. 49 And it came to
pass that a long time passed away, and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his
servant, Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor in the
vineyard. ·
Going down to the vineyard,
(I feel) specifically refers to Christs ministry. This parable discusses two major times the 'servant' comes to the
vineyard. This visitation seems to be
Christ's coming in the meridian of time--his ministry as a man in Jerusalem,
etc. Therefore, the verses prior to
their first visitation, would describe conditions in the House of Israel prior
to the birth of Christ. 50 And it came to
pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and also the servant, went down into the
vineyard to labor. 51 And it came to
pass that the servant said unto his master, Behold, look here; behold the tree.
3 Nephi 7:19 And verily, I say unto you again, that the other tribes
hath the Father separated from them; and it is because of their iniquity, that
they know not of them. 3 Nephi 7:20 And verily, I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I
said, Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring,
and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 3 Nephi 7:21 And they understood me not, for they supposed it had
been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be
converted through their preaching; 3 Nephi 7:22 And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my
voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time
hear my voice; that I should not manifest myself unto them, save it were by the
Holy Ghost. 3 Nephi 7:23 But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me, and
ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.
3 Nephi 7:24 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that I have other
sheep, which are not of this land; neither of the land of Jerusalem;
neither in any parts of that land round about, whither I have been to minister.
3 Nephi 7:25 For they of whom I speak, are they who have not as yet
heard my voice; neither have I at any time manifested myself unto them. 3 Nephi 7:26 But I have received a commandment of the Father, that I shall
go unto them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my
sheep, that there may be one fold, and one shepherd; therefore I go to shew
myself unto them. 3 Nephi 7:27 And I command you that ye shall write these sayings, after
I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me,
and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name, that they
may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost, and also of the other tribes
whom they know not of, 52 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 fruit. 53 And he beheld
that it was good: and the fruit thereof was like unto the natural fruit. ·
Preaching to the 'Gentiles'
was already happening prior to Christ (Jonah and the Ninevites, etc.) Remember, the wild tree was grafted in
(where the natural branches had been removed) By the correct response of some
Gentiles, they were spiritually grafted into the House of Israel, and their
works were correct and righteous. It
continues to be the Gentiles effect in the church that sustains the church, for
a time, after Christ's life, death, and resurrection. 54 And he said
unto the servant, Behold, the branches of the wild tree hath taken hold of the
moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much
strength; 55 And because of
the much strength of the root thereof, the wild branches have brought forth
tame fruit: 56 Now, if we had
not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. ·
In other words, had Gentiles
not been brought into the church, it would have ceased to exist. (This reference to the Gentile church is
not, at this point in history, the restored church through Joseph Smith.) ·
Gentiles are defined as:
anyone who is not a Jew, or specifically, a direct blood descendant of the
House of Israel. 57 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. 58 And it came to
pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant, Come, let us go to
the nethermost parts of the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches of the
tree hath not brought forth much fruit also, that I may lay up of the fruit thereof,
against the season, unto mine own self. ·
The Lord also plans to visit
the 'nethermost parts of the vineyard' or in other words, other remote parts of
the earth, to visit His people there.
Remember, that they were taken from the tame tree, and were remnants of
the covenant people of the House of Israel.
Christ says he will visit the 'Lost Sheep' of Israel. He only made this promise to the covenant
people, not the Gentiles. The Gentiles
would receive the Holy Ghost for their guide. ·
Matthew 15:23 (Christ's
words) He answered, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. ·
John 10:16 And other
sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they
shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 59 And it came to
pass that they went forth whither the master of the vineyard had hid the
natural branches of the tree, and he said unto the servant, Behold these: 60 And he beheld
the first, that it had brought forth much fruit; and he beheld also, that it
was good. 61 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; 62 For behold,
said he, this long time have I nourished it, and it hath brought forth much
fruit. 63 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 spot in
all the land of thy vineyard. 64 And the Lord of
the vineyard said unto him, Counsel me not: I knew that it was a poor spot of
ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time; and
thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit. 65 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 first. 66 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. To 'Lay up' means to preserve the righteous people, to
grant them salvation. 67 And it came to
pass that the Lord of the vineyard said again unto his servant, Look hither,
and behold another branch also, which I have planted; behold that I have
nourished it also, and it hath brought forth fruit. 68 And he said
unto the servant, Look hither, and behold the last: behold, this have I planted
in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a
part of the tree hath brought tame fruit; and the other part of the tree hath
brought forth wild fruit: behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the
others. ·
Good spot of ground=Americas ·
1 Nephi 1:54 (Promise to Lehi & Nephi when coming to
the Americas) And inasmuch as ye
shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of
promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is
choice above all other lands. ·
1 Nephi 3:176 (Nephi's vision of Gentiles on this land) Nevertheless
thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have
been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations upon the face of the
land, which is choice above all other lands, ·
Part was good (Nephites) and
part was bad (Lamanites)--the Nephites responded to the Gospel of Christ, the
Lamanites rejected it (at the point in time when Christ visited them shortly
after his resurrection) ·
3 Nephi 7:16 This much
did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them, that other sheep I
have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear
my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. ·
3 Nephi 7:20 And
verily, I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said, Other sheep I have
which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my
voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. ·
3 Nephi 7:22 And they
understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me
not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice; that I should not
manifest myself unto them, save it were by the Holy Ghost. ·
3 Nephi 7:26 But I
have received a commandment of the Father, that I shall go unto them, and that they
shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be
one fold, and one shepherd; therefore I go to shew myself unto them. 69 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 fruit, and cast them into the fire. ·
Only the most righteous were
spared (in America) during the thre days of darkness and destruction following
Christ's death: ·
3 Nephi 4:41 O all ye
that are spared, because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now
return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
·
3 Nephi 4:58 O ye
house of Israel, whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen
gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me
with full purpose of heart. ·
3 Nephi 4:66 And it
was the more righteous part of the people who were saved, and it was they who
received the prophets, and stoned them not; and it was they who had not shed
the blood of the saints, who were spared; ·
3 Nephi 9:98 Therefore
it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am
Jesus Christ, whom the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles,
and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles,
(it shall be done even as Moses said,) they shall be cut off from among my
people who are of the covenant; 70 But behold, the
servant said unto him, Let us prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it a
little longer, that perhaps it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou
canst lay it up against the season. ·
Promise extended to the
Lamanites because they kept one commandment: Jacob 2:56 And now this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore
because of this observance in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not
destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a
blessed people. ·
2 Nephi 3:10 But
behold, my sons and my daughters, I can not go down to my grave, save I should
leave a blessing upon you: 11 For
behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go, ye will not
depart from it. 12
Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the
cursing may be taken from you, and be answered upon the heads of your parents. 13 Wherefore,
because of my blessing, the Lord God will not suffer that ye shall perish;
wherefore, he will be merciful unto you, and unto your seed for ever. 14 And
it came to pass that after my father had made an end of speaking to the sons and
daughters of Laman, he caused the sons and daughters of Lemuel to be brought
before him. 15 And
he spake unto them, saying: Behold, my sons and my daughters, who are the sons
and the daughters of my second son; 16 Behold,
I leave unto you the same blessing which I left unto the sons and daughters of
Laman; wherefore, thou shall not utterly be destroyed; but in the end thy seed
shall be blessed. 71 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. ·
All have direct and true word
of God, at this point in time. ________ Note: All previous
verses have come to pass before 20th century All following verses have yet to come to pass. _______ 72 And it came to
pass that a long time had passed away, and the Lord of the vineyard said unto
his servant, Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor again in
the vineyard. ·
Time near the end, or the
second coming of Christ. 73 For behold, the
time draweth near, and the end soon cometh: wherefore, I must lay up fruit,
against the season, unto mine own self. 74 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 sorts of fruit did
cumber the tree. State of the Christian church after centuries of apostacy.
But we also have Judaism, which has continued to exist without the leadings of
the Spirit of God, Moslem, Hindu,
Buddhist beliefs are florishing in addition to wide spread pagan
practices 75 And it came to
pass that the Lord of the vineyard did taste of the fruit, every sort according
to its number. 76 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. 77 But behold,
this time it hath brought forth much fruit, and there is none of it which is
good. ·
Eventually, the original
House of Israel (except those who had been led away) had all lost the true
Gospel of Christ. ·
This also points to the
Gentiles that were also grafted into the covenant church--they were also
bringing forth corrupt fruit. 78 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. No one is obeying or remembering the commandments or
covenants of God. 79 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? 80 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. ·
Roots alive….because of the
grafting in of the Gentiles ·
1 Nephi 3:201 And it
shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in
that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power,
in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling-blocks, and harden not
their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of
thy father; 81 And it came to
pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant, The tree profiteth me
nothing; and the roots thereof profiteth me nothing, so long as it shall bring
forth evil fruit. People are the tree, their covenants with God are their
roots. Practice of syncretism - the merging of beliefs
between the gospel of Christ and the pagan practices of the Gentile nations.
This was rampant behavior for the Children of Israel ·
Ezekiel 5:5 Thus saith
the Lord God; This is Jerusalem; I have set it in the midst of the nations and
countries that are round about her. 6 And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more
than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about
her; for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked
in them. 7 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye multiplied
more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my
statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the
judgments of the nations that are round about you; 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, am
against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of
the nations. 82 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 the
wild branches good fruit. 83 But behold, the
wild branches have grown, and have overrun the roots thereof: and because that
the wild branches have overcome the roots thereof, it hath brought forth much
evil fruit; ·
Truth lost because of rampant
Gentile churches. Growing, but not in
the covenant (from the roots) ·
1 Nephi 3: 166 Wherefore,
these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to
the truth which is in God: 167 And
after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the
Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the foundation of a great and abominable
church, which is most abominable above all other churches; 168 For
behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are
plain and most precious; 169 And also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away; 170 And
all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord;
that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men: 171
Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of
the great and abominable church that there are many plain and precious things
taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God; 172 And
after these plain and precious things were taken away, it goeth forth unto all
the nations of the Gentiles: ·
1 Nephi 3:150 And I
beheld the wrath of God that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were
scattered before the Gentiles, and were smitten. 84 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. ·
Ripened in iniquity 85 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. 86 And it came to
pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. 87 And it came to
pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt
also; yea, the first, and the second, and also the last; and they had all
become corrupt. ·
The Lord will apparently
visit his remnant people. 88 And the wild
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. ·
Nephites (believers in
Christ) had died out, only Lamanites left (unbelievers) ·
Helaman 2:14 ............
the Nephites, even until they have fallen into transgression, and have been
murdered, plundered and hunted, and driven forth, and slain, and scattered upon
the face of the earth, and mixed with the Lamanites until they are no more
called the Nephites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, even
becoming Lamanites. ·
2 Nephi 11: 72 But behold, the righteous, that hearken
unto the words of the prophets, and destroy them not, but look forward unto
Christ with steadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding all
persecutions; behold they are they which shall not perish. 73 But the Son of
Righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall
have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away and many of
the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness. 74 And when
these things shall have passed away, a speedy destruction cometh unto my
people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I
know that it shall come to pass; 75 And they sell themselves for nought; for,
for the reward of their pride, and their foolishness, they shall reap
destruction; 76 For because they yield unto the devil, and choose works of
darkness rather than light; therefore they must go down to hell, for the Spirit
of the Lord will not always strive with man. 77 And when the Spirit ceaseth to
strive with man, then cometh speedy destruction; and this grieveth my soul. ·
1 Nephi 4:26 And he meaneth
that it will not come to pass, until after they are scattered by the Gentiles; ·
1 Nephi 4:33 And after they
were restored, they should no more be confounded, neither should they be
scattered again. 89 And it came to
pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant, What could
I have done more for my vineyard? ·
Genesis 7:35 And
it came to pass, that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people,
and wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying, How is it that the heavens weep,
and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains? And Enoch said unto
the Lord, How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all
eternity to all eternity? 90 Behold, I knew
that all the fruit of the vineyard, save it were these, had become corrupted. 91 And now, these
which once brought forth good fruit, have also become corrupted. 92 And now, all
the trees of my vineyard are good for nothing, save it be to be hewn down and
cast into the fire. 93 And behold, 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 the other parts of the land
of my vineyard. Remnant in
the good ground were those of the covenant who came to Americas. 94 And thou
beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this spot of ground, that I
might plant this tree in the stead thereof. ·
The people known as Jaredites
came from the tower of Babel and inhabited this land over 2000 years before
Christ. They were not one of the
"young branches planted in the nethermost parts of the vineyard"
because the "branches" came from the House of Israel and the
Jaredites lived long before them.
However, God promised the Jaredites they would be led to a land of
promise--a choice land above all other lands.
This was the same land and the same promise given to Nephi. If they did not keep the commandments, they
would be swept off the land. God
reminisces in verse 94, how he had "cut down that which (previously)
cumbered this spot of ground."
This is a reference to the Jaredites, of whom Coriantumr was the sole
survivor, who were "swept off" the land prior to the Nephites
inhabiting this land. ·
Ether 1:29 (..referring to the Jaredites…)
And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond
the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto
the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God
had preserved for a righteous people; ·
Ether 1:32 (..spoken
to the Jaredites…)And the fullness of his wrath cometh upon them
when they are ripened in iniquity; for behold, this is a land which is choice
above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God, or
shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. ·
Ether 4:22 And thus
the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all
other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land, should
possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in
iniquity; for upon such, saith the Lord, I will pour out the fullness of my
wrath. 95 And thou
beheldest that a part thereof, brought forth good fruit; and a part thereof,
brought forth wild fruit. ·
Prophecy of Nephites
believing (most of the time) and Lamanites dis-believing (most of the time) ·
Alma 1:104 And the
skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon
their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and
their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and
Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men. ·
Alma 1:105 And their
brethren sought to destroy them; therefore they were cursed; and the Lord God
set a mark upon them, yea, upon Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael,
and the Ishmaelitish women; ·
Alma 1:106 And this
was done, that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their
brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might
not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their
destruction. ·
3 Nephi 1:52 And it
came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites, were
numbered among the Nephites: and their curse was taken from them, and their
skin became white like unto the Nephites; 96 And because I
plucked not the branches thereof, and cast them into the fire, behold, they
have overcome the good branch, that it has withered away. ·
Jacob 2:52 And the
Lamanites which are not filthy like unto you, (nevertheless, they are cursed
with a sore cursing,) shall scourge you even unto destruction. 53 And the time speedily cometh, that
except ye repent, they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord
God will lead away the righteous out from among you. ...55 For they have not forgotten the commandments of the Lord, which
were given unto our fathers, that they should have, save it were one wife: and
concubines they should have none; and there should not be whoredoms committed
among them. 56 And now this
commandment they observe to keep; wherefore because of this observance in
keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be
merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people. ·
Mormon 4:2 And now it came to pass that after the great and
tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the
country southward, were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed;
and my father also was killed by them; and I, even remain alone to write the
sad tale of the destruction of my people. ·
Mormon 4:8
And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the
Nephites, down from city to city, and from place to place, even until they are
no more, and great has been their fall; yea, great and marvelous is the
destruction of my people, the Nephites. 97 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 fruit: 98 And these I had
hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof, against the season, unto mine
own self. 99 But behold,
they have become like unto the wild olive tree; and they are of no worth, but
to be hewn down and cast into the fire: and it grieveth me that I should lose
them. ·
All corrupt, no one does
good. 100 But what could
I have done more in my vineyard? 101 Have I
slackened my hand, that I have not nourished it? ·
Isaiah 9:17 Therefore
the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on
their fatherless and widows; for every one of them is a hypocrite and an
evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned
away, but his hand is stretched out still. ·
Isaiah 9:21 Manasseh,
Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. For
all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 102 Nay; I have
nourished it, and have I digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have
dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long; and
the end draweth nigh. 103 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. 104 Who is it that
has corrupted my vineyard? 105 And it came to
pass that the servant said unto his master, Is it not the loftiness of thy
vineyard? 106 Have not the
branches thereof overcome the roots, which are good? 107 And because
the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold, they grew faster than the
strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. 108 Behold, I say,
Is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted? 109 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? 110 But behold,
the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard, Spare it a little longer. Christ our
Advocate: ·
D&C45 :1c Listen
to him who is the Advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before
him, saying, 1d
Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou
wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him
whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; 1e
wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they
may come unto me and have everlasting life. ·
I John 2:1 My little
children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. But if any man sin
and repent, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ·
Moroni 7:28
For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth
all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him, will cleave
unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of
men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens? 111 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. 112 Wherefore let
us take of the branches 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; ·
HERE IS THE PLAN. THIS BEGINS TO HAPPEN BEFORE 'THE ENDOWMENT': Parts of the original tree, which were transplanted, are now
grafted back into the original tree from whence they came. In other words, God is going to bring the
Word of God (specifically their knowledge of Jesus Christ and the fact that
they, too, are true descendants of the House of Israel.) from the covenant
people who were 'broken off' (i.e. one group is the Native Americans) back to
the original covenant people (i.e. the Jews).
The people may be combined, but most specifically, their records of
Christ are combined. ·
Brings branches of the new
trees, which started in the nethermost parts, as good branches from the
original tree, back to graft into the original tree, which is dying. ·
2 Nephi 2:20 Lehi to his son Joseph) And that which shall be written by the
fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the
loins of Judah, shall grow together, 21 Unto
the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and
establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, 22 And bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the
latter days; ·
2 Nephi 12:71 And it
shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the
Nephites shall have the words of the Jews: ·
2 Nephi 12:72 And the
Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and
the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. ·
Jeremiah 23:7
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say,
The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of
Egypt; 8 But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the
house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had
driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. ·
D&C108:6a And they
who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord, and
their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves, and
they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. ·
D&C108:6b And an
highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. Their enemies shall
become a prey unto them, and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools
of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. ·
D&C108:6c And they
shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim my
servants. And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their
presence. 113 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. ·
Pulls out the wicked, perhaps
the most corrupt Gentile churches 114 And this will
I do, that the tree may not perish, that perhaps I may preserve unto myself the
roots thereof, for mine own purpose. 115 And behold,
the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I planted whithersoever I
would, are yet alive; ·
Covenants are still in effect
(i.e., the roots have never died in this allegory) ·
While their current fruit may
be corrupt, they are possessors of the ability to keep the original tree
alive. It is as if a parent had a
child, then the child donated to keep the parent alive. 116 Wherefore,
that I may preserve them also, for mine own purpose, I will take of the
branches of this tree, and I will graft them in unto them. 117 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. ·
Restore the original house of
Israel (tame tree, now dying) to a knowledge of Christ. ·
Ezekiel 11:17 Therefore say,
Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble
you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the
land of Israel. 18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all
the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. ·
2 Nephi 75 Wherefore, as I
said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ (for in the last night
the angel spake unto me that this should be his name) should come among the
Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; 6 And they shall crucify him: For thus it behooveth our
God; 7 And there is none other nation on earth that would
crucify their God. 8 For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other
nations, they would repent, and know that he be their God; 9 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at
Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified. 10 Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions,
famines, pestilence and bloodsheds, shall come upon them; 11 And they who shall not be destroyed, shall be scattered
among all nations. 12 But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh
that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with
their fathers, that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto
the lands of their inheritance. 13 And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in
from their long dispersion from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts
of the earth; 118 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: 119 And they also
took of the natural trees which had become wild, and grafted into their mother
tree. ·
Double exchange ·
Isaiah 10:22 For
though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall
return; ·
Hosea 1:10 Yet the
number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot
be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it
was said unto them, ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye
are the sons of the living God. 120 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. ·
Ezekiel 11:18 And they shall
come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and
all the abominations thereof from thence. 121 And we will
nourish again the trees of the vineyard, and we will trim up the branches
thereof; and we will pluck from the trees those branches which are ripened that
must perish, and cast them into the fire. ·
This verse correlates with
scripture describing a cleansing of Christ's church first of the 'bad
branches,' and is the ultimate reference to correction of apostasy in the
church today. After this church is
righted, then the rest of the House of Israel begins to experience its
'purging.' · DC 105:9 Verily, verily I say unto you, Darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face. Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth--a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation--and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord. DC 105:10 And upon my
house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord.
First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name
and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house,
saith the Lord. 122 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 overcome the evil;
Won't
separate righteous and wicked immediately until the righteous is strong enough. ·
DC 84:2c Pluck not up the tares while the blade is
yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also;
therefore let the wheat and tares grow together until the harvest is fully
ripe; ·
DC 84:2d then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the
tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold, and lo, the tares are
bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned. ·
Isaiah 9:14 Therefore
the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. 123 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 fruit; ·
1 Nephi 4:16 And now,
the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural
branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days,
when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years
and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the
children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto
the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed; 124 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. 125 Wherefore, go
to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our mights in the
vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural
fruit, which natural fruit is good, and the most precious above all other
fruit. ·
2 Nephi 12:42 But
behold, there shall be many at that day, when I shall proceed to do a marvelous
work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the
children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my
people, which are the house of Israel; 126 Wherefore, let
us go to, and labor with our mights, for this last time; for behold the end
draweth nigh: and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard. ·
Last workers, endowed
priesthood. ·
DC 23:7c And thou shalt take no purse, nor scrip, neither
staves, neither two coats, for the church shall give unto thee in the very hour
what thou needest for food, and for raiment and for shoes, and for money, and
for scrip; for thou art called to prune my vineyard with a mighty pruning, yea,
even for the last time. ·
DC 32:1d for, behold, the field is white already to
harvest; and it is the eleventh hour, and for the last time that I shall call
laborers into my vineyard. ·
DC 85:23a Therefore, tarry ye, and labor diligently,
that you may be perfected in your ministry, to go forth among the Gentiles for
the last time, as many as the mouth of the Lord shall name, to bind up the law,
and seal up the testimony, and to prepare the Saints for the hour of judgment,
which is to come; ·
DC 87:1b therefore thou art blessed from henceforth
that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto thee; which kingdom is coming
forth for the last time. ·
DC 92:1c for the preparation wherewith I design to
prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I may bring
to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. 127 Graft in the
branches; begin at the last, that they may be first, and that the first may be
last, 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.
·
Last first, first last: First last=Gospel from Jews to Gentiles,
last first=Gospel from Gentiles to Jews. ·
DC 28:8c that the first shall be last, and the last
shall be first in all things, whatsoever I have created by the word of my
power, which is the power of my Spirit; for by the power of my Spirit, created
I them; ·
1 Nephi 3:192 And the
angel spake unto me, saying, These last records which thou hast seen among the
Gentiles shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which
have been taken away from them; ·
1 Nephi 3:198 And
the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the
Jews, and also unto the Gentiles; 199 And after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also
unto the Gentiles; then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles, and also
unto the Jews, 200 And the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. 201 And
it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God
in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in
power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling-blocks, and harden
not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed
of thy father; 202 Yea,
they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; 203 And
they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land for ever; 128 Wherefore, dig
about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time: for the
end draweth nigh. · Revelations 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 129 And if it so
be that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then
shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow; 130 And as they
begin to grow, ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit,
according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; ·
Romans 11:21 For if
God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 131 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. 132 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. ·
Won't separate righteous and
wicked immediately until the righteous is strong enough. 133 And the
branches of the natural tree will I graft in again, into the natural tree; and
the branches of the natural tree will I graft into the natural branches of the
tree; Means to
come to a knowledge of Christ, and know how to be saved. ·
1 Nephi 4:19
Wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, and the
very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be
saved. 20 And
then at that day, will they not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting
God, their rock and their salvation? 21 Yea,
at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the
true vine? 22 Yea, will they not
come unto the true fold of God? 23
Behold, I say unto you, Yea: they shall be remembered again among the house
of Israel; 24 They shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the
olive tree, into the true olive tree; 25 And this is what our father meaneth; 26 And he meaneth that it will not come to pass, until after
they are scattered by the Gentiles; 27 And
he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may shew
his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of
the Jews, or of the house of Israel: 28
Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the
house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the
latter days; 134 And thus will
I bring them together again, that they shall bring forth the natural fruit; and
they shall be one. ·
1 Nephi 5:253 (Nephi is quoting from Zenos in this
satatement) Nevertheless, when that day
cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against
the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to
their fathers; 254 Yea,
then will he remember the isles of the sea; 255 Yea,
and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the
Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of
the earth; ·
DC 83:16g until all shall know me, who remain, even
from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the
Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the
voice together sing this new song, saying: ·
Jeremiah 31:34 And
they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother,
saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto
the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I
will remember their sin no more. ·
Hebrews 8:11 And they
shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know
the Lord; for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. ·
3 Nephi 7:43 And when
the words of the prophet Isaiah shall be fulfilled, which say, Thy watchmen
shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing, for they
shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. 135 And the bad
shall be cast away; yea, even out of all the land of my vineyard; for behold,
only this once will I prune my vineyard. 136 And it came to
pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and
did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were
few. ·
DC 32:1e And my vineyard has become corrupted every
whit; and there is none which doeth good save it be a few; and they err in many
instances, because of priestcrafts, all having corrupt minds. ·
DC 92:1d But, behold, verily I say unto you, There are
many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called, but few of them are
chosen: · DC 98: 6a And now, I will show unto you a parable that you may know my will concerning the redemption of Zion. 6b A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said
unto his servants, Go ye into my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of
land, and plant twelve olive trees; and set watchmen round about them and build
a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the
tower; 137 And the Lord
of the vineyard said unto them, Go to and labor in the vineyard, with your
mights. 138 For behold,
this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard: for the end is nigh at
hand, and the season speedily cometh; 139 And if ye
labor with your mights with me, ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall
lay up unto myself, against the time which will soon come. ·
DC 49:2a And they have done unto the Son of man even
as they listed; and he has taken his power on the right hand of his glory, and
now reigneth in the heavens, and will reign till he descends on the earth to
put all enemies under his feet; which time is nigh at hand: ·
DC 6:2a Behold, the field is white already to
harvest, therefore whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with
his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul
everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God; ·
Alma 3:87 Yea, thus
saith the Spirit, Repent all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is
soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty,
power and dominion. 140 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. ·
3 Nephi 9:59 And
the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be
in the midst of you. ·
3 Nephi 10:4 And then
shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the
midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even
when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. ·
2 Nephi 9:137 Cry out
and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the
midst of thee. ·
Joel 2:28 And
it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall
dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; 141 And there
began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches
began to grow and thrive exceedingly; ·
Gospel is correctly lived
again ·
Isaiah 2:2 And it
shall come to pass in the last days when the mountain of the Lord's house shall
be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the
hills, and all nations shall flow unto it; 3 And
many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the
Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and
we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word
of the Lord from Jerusalem; 4 And he
shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall
beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
anymore. 142 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. 143 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; 144 And they
became like unto one body; and the fruit were equal; and the Lord of the
vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious
unto him from the beginning. ·
DC 83:16g until all shall know me, who remain, even
from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the
Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with
the voice together sing this new song, saying: ·
Galations 3: 27 For as
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond
nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
145 And it came to
pass that when the Lord 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; 146 And I have
preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the
beginning; and blessed art thou. 147 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 natural fruit, that my
vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold, ye shall have
joy with me, because of the fruit of my vineyard. ·
I Corinthians
2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that
love him. 148 For behold,
for a long time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self,
against the season, which speedily cometh; 149 And for the
last time have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and
dunged it; ·
Everlasting Gospel preached
for the last time. ·
Revelations 14:6 And I
saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people, 150 Wherefore I
will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit for a long time, according to that
which I have spoken. ·
During Millennium ·
Revelations 20:5 But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are they who have part in
the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall
be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 151 And when the
time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I
cause the good and the bad to be gathered: ·
After Millennium ·
Revelations 20:7 And
when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the
earth,… 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp
of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of
heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into
the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and
shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. ·
DC 28:6a And again, verily, verily I say unto you,
that when the thousand years are ended, and men again begin to deny their God,
then will I spare the earth but for a little season; ·
DC 43:7c for the great millennial, which I have spoken
by the mouth of my servants, shall come; for Satan shall be bound; and when he
is loosed again, he shall only reign for a little season, and then cometh the
end of the earth; ·
DC 85:35c And then he shall be loosed for a little
season, that he may gather together his armies; and Michael, the seventh angel,
even the archangel, shall gather together his armies, even the hosts of heaven. 152 And the good
will I preserve unto myself; and the bad will I cast away into its own place. ·
1 Nephi 4:61
Wherefore, the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of
God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken; ·
Alma 16: 230 For after
this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do
not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness,
wherein there can be no labor performed….234 Therefore the Spirit of the Lord
hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power
over you; and this is the final state of the wicked. ·
D&C108:13a Behold,
and lo, there are none to deliver you, for ye obeyed not my voice when I called
to you out of the heavens, ye believed not my servants; and when they were sent
unto you ye received them not; 13b
wherefore, they sealed up the testimony and bound up the law, and ye were
delivered over unto darkness; these shall go away into outer darkness, where
there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Behold, the Lord your God
hath spoken it. Amen. 153 And then
cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with
fire. ·
DC 43:7e and the earth shall pass away so as by fire; ·
DC 28:6b and the end shall come, and the heaven and
the earth shall be consumed, and pass away, and there shall be a new heaven and
a new earth; ·
DC 28:6c for all old things shall pass away, and all
things shall become new, even the heaven and the earth, and all the fullness
thereof, both men and beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; ·
DC 98:5b And every corruptible thing, both of man, or
of the beasts of the field, or of the fowls of heaven, or of the fish of the
sea, that dwell upon all the face of the earth, shall be consumed; and also,
that of element shall melt with fervent heat; and all things shall become new,
that my knowledge and glory may dwell upon all the earth. Time of the
Gentiles Is the Covenant to the House of Israel just for Jews, or
their descendants by lineage only? ·
2 Nephi 12:77 For
behold, I say unto you, That as many of the Gentiles as will repent, are the
covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent, shall
be cast off; ·
3 Nephi 10:1 …But if they (referring to the Gentiles) will repent, and hearken unto my words,
and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they
shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of
Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall
assist my people, the remnant of Jacob; ·
Ether 6:10 And then
cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is
they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they
who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house
of Israel. What is prophesied concerning the Gospel coming from the
Jews to Gentiles and Gentiles to the Jews? ·
DC 12:5b wherefore, I must bring forth the fullness
of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel. ·
3 Nephi 7:30 And
blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief in me, in and of the Holy
Ghost, which witness unto them of me and of the Father. 31 Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the Father, and
because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the
truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made
known unto them. ·
3 Nephi 7:37 And I
will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power
over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye
shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel. ·
Isaiah 42:6 I the Lord
have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep
thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; ·
1 Nephi 3:19 Or, in
fine, after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural
branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be
grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their
Redeemer. ·
a fallen people,
and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, and ) to the
Jews also, which was given by inspiration, ·
DC 42:5a And again, the elders, priests, and teachers
of this church shall teach the) principles of my gospel which are in the Bible
and the Book of Mormon, in which is the fullness of the gospel; ·
DC 45:4b And the love of men shall wax cold, and
iniquity shall abound; and when the time of the Gentiles is come in, a light
shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness
of my gospel; Is the 'Fullness of the Gentiles' a latter-day term only? ·
Romans 11:12 Now if
the fall of them is the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the
riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? ·
Romans 11:25 For I
would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should
be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. ·
Luke 21:23 And they
shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all
nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times
of the Gentiles be fulfilled. ·
Luke 21:25 And he
answered them, and said, In the generation in which the times of the Gentiles
shall be fulfilled, there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in
the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, like the sea
and the waves roaring. The earth also shall be troubled, and the waters of the
great deep; ·
Luke 21:32 Verily I
say unto you, this generation, the generation when the times of the Gentiles be
fulfilled, shall not pass away till all be fulfilled. What are signs of the 'Fullness of the Gentiles' (i.e. sign
that the covenant people are about to be restored? When shall it be? ·
1 Nephi 3:236 And when
the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots,
which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose foundation is
the devil, 237 Then at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in
preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants which he hath made to his
people, who are of the house of Israel. ·
3 Nephi 9:85 Then
shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people, be
fulfilled; and then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it
shall be the land of their inheritance. 86 And
verily, I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time
when these things shall be about to take place, that I shall gather in from
their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again
among them my Zion. 87 And
behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign, for verily
I say unto you, that when these things which I declare unto you, and which
I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy
Ghost, which shall be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto
the Gentiles, 88 That
they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob,
and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them; 89
Verily, verily, I say unto you, When these things shall be made known unto them
of the Father, and shall come forth of the Father, from them unto you, for it
is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, 90 And
be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might
come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the
Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of
Israel; 91
Therefore, when these works, and the work which shall be wrought among you
hereafter, shall come forth from the Gentiles unto your seed, which shall
dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity; 92 For
thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that
he may shew forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause, that the
Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come
unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my
doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel: 93 And
when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things,
it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father
hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made
unto the people who are of the house of Israel. Previous scripture contains a lot of information. Gleaning some of it out, the message says: I
give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be
about to take place, that I shall gather in from their long dispersion, my
people, O house of Israel… this is the thing which I will give unto you for
a sign… that when these things… shall be made known unto the Gentiles,
That they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of
Jacob… when these works,… shall come forth from the Gentiles unto your seed,…
that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto
them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced
unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are
of the house of Israel. ·
1 Nephi 4:16 And now,
the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural
branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days,
when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years
and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the
children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto
the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed; ·
1 Nephi 4:19
Wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, and the very
points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved. 20 And
then at that day, will they not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting
God, their rock and their salvation? 21 Yea,
at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true
vine? 22 Yea,
will they not come unto the true fold of God? 23 Behold,
I say unto you, Yea: they shall be remembered again among the house of Israel; 24 They
shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive tree, into the true
olive tree; 25 And
this is what our father meaneth; 26 And
he meaneth that it will not come to pass, until after they are scattered by the
Gentiles; 27 And
he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may shew
his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of
the Jews, or of the house of Israel: 28 Wherefore,
our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of
Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; ·
Matthew 24:12 Abomination of Desolation ·
DC 45:2k As ye have
asked of me concerning the signs of my coming, in the day when I shall come in
my glory in the clouds of heaven, to fulfill the promises that I have made unto
your fathers;… 3b But
verily I say unto you that desolation shall come upon this generation as a
thief in the night, and this people shall be destroyed and scattered among all
nations. 3d And
it shall come to pass that this generation of Jews shall not pass away until
every desolation which I have told you concerning them shall come to pass. 3e Ye
say that ye know that the end of the world cometh; ye say, also, that ye know
that the heavens and the earth shall pass away; and in this ye say truly, for
so it is; but these things which I have told you shall not pass away until all
shall be fulfilled. 3f And
this I have told you concerning Jerusalem; and when that day shall come, shall
a remnant be scattered among all nations, but they shall be gathered again;
but they shall remain until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 4a And
in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the
whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them,
and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the
earth. 4b And
the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound; and when the time
of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit
in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel; 4c but
they receive it not, for they perceive not the light, and they turn their
hearts from me because of the precepts of men; 4d and
in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled; and there
shall be men standing in that generation that shall not pass, until they shall
see an overflowing scourge, for a desolating sickness shall come over the land;
4e but
my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the
wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God, and die. 4f And
there shall be earthquakes, also, in divers places and many desolations; yet
men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword one
against another, and they will kill one another. 5a And
now, when I the Lord had spoken these words unto my disciples, they were
troubled; 5b and I
said unto them, Be not troubled, for when all these things shall come to
pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be
fulfilled; ·
3 Nephi 7:28 That
these sayings which ye shall write, shall be kept, and shall be manifested unto
the Gentiles, that through the fullness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their
seed who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth, because of their
unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their
Redeemer. ·
3 Nephi 7:31 Behold,
because of their belief in me, saith the Father, and because of the unbelief of
you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the
Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them. ·
3 Nephi 7:34 And thus
commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles
shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and
shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above
all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of
lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and
murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; ·
Ether 1:34 And this
cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God, that ye
may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness come, that
ye may not bring down the fullness of the wrath of God upon you, as the
inhabitants of the land have hitherto done. ·
Mormon 4:33 And no one need say, They shall not come, for they surely
shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by
the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; 34 And
it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and
it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead. 35 And
it shall come in a day when the blood of the saints shall cry unto the Lord,
because of secret combinations and the works of darkness; 36 Yea,
it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches
become defiled, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even
in a day when leaders of churches, and teachers, in the pride of their hearts,
even to the envying of them who belong to their churches; 37 Yea,
it shall come in a day when there shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and
vapors of smoke in foreign lands; and there shall also be heard of wars and
rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places; 38 Yea,
it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of
the earth; 39 There shall be murders and robbing,
and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations, when
there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not,
for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. 40 But
wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of
iniquity. 41 Yea, it shall come in a day when
there shall be churches built up that shall say, Come unto me, and for your
money you shall be forgiven of your sins.
Summary of
story's meaning in terms of historical and prophetic events This summary will serve to bring
together the essence of the scriptures presented in the previous pages. God promised Moses (Deut. 29) that
if the House of Israel did not keep the commandments, they would be scattered;
when they turned toward Christ one day, they would be re-gathered. Around 600 BC, the House of Israel was
spiritual dying--they had lost the hope for Christ that Moses had given, becoming
confused with the Law of Moses purposes to point towards Christ, and thought
that the Law itself, brought salvation. In order to preserve the truth
among the covenant people, the work was preached and a few responded. God physically relocated at least three
groups of the original covenant people to various places around the world. God brought in Gentiles
(non-Israelites) into the church who were 'adopted' into the same covenants as
were the original Jews. These Gentiles are what kept the
church in existence. At the time of Christ's birth and
death (ministry as a man) he said he was sent to the Lost sheep of the House of
Israel. He visited the Israelites in
Jerusalem, and also 3 (perhaps others) groups of the scattered Israelites who
had been relocated around the earth. We don't know much about the first
two groups, but Jeremiah and Joseph Smith's writings make reference to a group
living in the 'North Countries.' These
must surely be one of these two groups. The third group was the Nephite-Lamanite
group, who were a descendant of Joseph through his son Mannaseh. They came to the Americas, were partly
righteous & partly wicked, and were visited by Christ in person. Later, the righteous were all destroyed by
the wicked people, and the remnant live today in (speaking collectively and not
individually) in 'spiritual darkness' regarding the truth of the covenants made
to their forefathers. The most wicked of this third
group were destroyed shortly before Christ's visitation in person. The fullness of the Gospel was
preached in all the world at this point in history. The story continues from this
point to speak of the present day and days in the very near future. At a time very near Christ's
return, they examine the world (just as the vineyard was examined) to find that
none of the original covenant people were living according to the truth. In order to preserve the covenant people,
the lost covenant people's words of Christ are exchanged with the other (Jews)
Israelites. God then gathers servants who will
go and preach this gospel to the world to preach repentance and re-gather God's
covenant people to Zion. While Christ
will endow these servants with the highest spiritual gifts and powers to accomplish
the task, only a few servants are actually employed in this task. Christ is in the midst of these people
during this effort. During this time, the wicked
people (and also the wickedness of people) are removed in a manner proportional
with the growth of the righteous. God
is trying to preserve righteous people unto himself. In time, the wickedness is
removed. Christ dwells with his people
in his kingdom here on earth for a thousand years of peace, abundant prosperty
and 'real' life as God intended it for man.
Satan is bound and not free to tempt man during this period. At the end of this 1000 year
millenium, Satan is loosed for a brief time.
When wickedness is again found on the earth, the wicked and righteous
will be separated, Satan, death, and those who rejected Christ after having a
full knowledge of him will be cast into the lake of fire. This earth and the heavens with it will be
cleansed by fire, and a new heaven & earth will be created for us to
inhabit. Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the
former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 10
Facts about Zion, the Endowment and the Gathering, Contained
within the prophecy of Zenos and related scripture 1. The Gentile Church that has the 'Fullness of the Gospel'
will "sin against it and reject it."
The 'Fullness' of the gospel
is specifically the Book of Mormon, as defined in DC 42:5a And again, the
elders, priests, and teachers of this church shall teach the) principles of my
gospel which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in which is the fullness
of the gospel; This rejection of the
fullness of the Gospel is referred in all 3 books of scripture as the end
of the 'Times of the Gentiles' or 'The
Fullness of Times.' 2. Before Zion is established, a sign to the remnant on this
land (Lamanites) will be their coming to a true knowledge of their being a
covenant people and Christ. When this
begins to happen, it will be a sign to them and us and God has already started
his plan to bring the Jews back to knowledge of Him. 3. The Gospel as recorded by the lost tribes (foremost
Manasseh with the Book of Mormon) will go to the Jews (in some degree) 4. 1 Nephi 3:18 And after the house of Israel should be
scattered, they should be gathered together again; 5. The ultimate "Endowment' does not happen until a) a
city is built and b) Christ is in our midst 6. The Endowed priesthood will 'nourish the vineyard' (preach
the gospel) one last time, but be specifically sent out to the lost coveant
tribe in this land (America) and then to all the tribes of Israel, that they
may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. 7. Christ will be 'in the midst' of us when the true Endowment
takes place. 8. The evil & good will be in the world together for a
time, with the evil being removed proportional to the good gaining strength. 9. The purpose of Zion is for the gathering of the covenant
people, prophesied by Moses (Deut 30), that when they should turn back towards
the truth (Christ) and keep the commandments, they would be re-gathered from
wherever they had been scattered (four quarters of the earth). 10. The gathering of Israel is supported and prophesied
extensively in the bible. This is not
something unique to the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith. People from every nation will be gathered
into Zion.
Synopsis
of 3rd Nephi Chapters 7, 9 and 10 The following tables are intended
to only assist during the study of 3 Nephi chapters 7-9. While the messsage is clear, at times the
main points can be lost due to the overwhelming volume of covenant-related
information that Christ gives during his visit
to the Nephites. The message is
clear: the covenant people will be
regathered according to God's promise to Abraham, Moses, Jacob. These chapters tell us how and when. 3rd
Nephi Chapter 7 Verse Number Summary
3rd
Nephi 8:2….Christ does not complete his sentence in 3 Nephi 43-45, and says
'I perceive that you can't understand
(absorb) everything I am telling you about these covenants." He then proceeds to give them blessings and
tell about important information such as baptism, communion, etc. This comprises the rest of chapter 8 and the
first 45 verses of 3 Nephi chapter 9. Then, Jesus continues his proclamation
about the covenants, and starts exactly where he left off, and explains what
will happen when Isaiah's words are fulfilled: Zion. 3rd
Nephi Chapter 9 Verse Number Summary
3rd
Nephi Chapter 10 Verse Number Summary
When the Jews begin to recognize
the Christ, and accept the fullness of the Gospel, Christ promised that this
would be the beginning of their gathering.
As a suggestion that the Jews are being prepared to receive the
fullness, I include the following direct quote from a (Nazarene) Jewish Rabbi,
James Trimm of Texas, with a portion of his commentary written on the book
of Hebrews in 1998 (see www.nazarene.net): "…Rom. 11 tells
us about the apostasy of Israel and quotes from Is. 29 in this regards:
"G-d has given you/them a spirit of
stupor,..." (Rom. 11:8 = Is. 29:10). Then Rom. 11 later tells us
that the natural branches will be grafted back in to their own olive tree (Rom.
11:21-24). Rom. 11 does not tell us how this will happen, however Is.
29:10-12, 18 makes it clear that this apostasy will end with the opening of
a "sealed book." This sealed book reappears in Rev.
5-6 & 10. Now few scholars have recognized the important parallel
between Heb. 8 and Rev. 5. In both settings, we have the Messiah
in the heavenly holy of holies at the right hand of the throne, doing something
that he is able to do because of his death/blood. In Heb. 8, he is
becoming mediator of the New Covenant and in Rev. 5, he is opening the
sealed book. It is therefore apparent that these are the same event. This is
made clear by Jer. 31-32 which discusses the New Covenant and in 32:1-15
discusses a "sealed deed",
however the Hebrew word for deed here is SEFER literally "record, account or book." When the sealed book is opened
the apostasy ends and the New Covenant is made. Scriptures relative to the final calling of
'servants' into the vineyard being 'the endowment' DC
92:1c for the preparation wherewith I
design to prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I
may bring to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.
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