The Parable of the Vineyard: Jacob 5

Why Parents Drink The boss wondered why one of his most valued employee had not phoned in sick one day. Having an urgent problem with one of the main computers, he dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper. "Hello ? " "Is your daddy home?" he asked. " Yes," whispered the small voice. May I talk with him?" The child whispered, " No." Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there?" "Yes.“ "May I talk with her?“ Again the small voice whispered, "No.“ Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, "Is anybody else there?" " Yes," whispered the child, " a policeman ". Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked, "May I speak with the policeman?" " No, he's busy ", whispered the child. "Busy doing what?" " Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer. Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background, the boss asked, "What is that noise?" " A helicopter " answered the whispering voice. "What is going on there?" demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive. Again, whispering, the child answered, " The search team just landed a helicopter.“ Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, "What are they searching for?" Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle... " ME."

Question/Reminder Why did the Lord and his prophets choose to teach in parables and allegories? Wouldn’t more “plainness” have been easier to understand?

Bruce R. McConkie “I do not think I overstate the matter when I say that next to Isaiah himself-who is the prototype, pattern, and model for all the prophets- there was not a greater prophet in all Israel than Zenos” The Joseph Smith Translation, The Restoration of Plain and Precious Things. Edited by Monte S. Nyman and Robert L. Millet. Religious Studies Center, BYU, Provo, Utah, 1985, p. 17.

Who Was Zenos? We don’t know Some speculation as to his identity (Hugh Nibley and others) House of Joseph (3 Nephi 10:15) Prophet after Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Writings contained in the Brass Plates 4,261 Words of Zenos in the BofM Teachings focused on the Mission of the Savior and the Gathering of Israel Died as a martyr

Zenos’ Multilayered Parable of the Vineyard A story about how to have a productive vineyard The Scattering and Gathering of Israel

Natural Olive Tree- Israel Wild Trees- Different parts of the World Seven Tribes of Lehi Fall of Jerusalem, 587 BC Jacob 4-14 Good Fruit Everywhere Just before the time of Christ Jacob 5: Bad Fruit Everywhere After First Century to Dark Ages Jacob 5: Restoration and Last Days Jacob 5: Israel Gathered In Zion and Jerusalem for the Millenium

In addition, however, (Jacob 4) 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 (Sin) of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation. But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone (Jesus Christ) shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build. [The Great Question!] 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? [How Can They Repent?] Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you;

Zenos’ Multilayered Parable of the Vineyard A story about how to have a productive vineyard The Scattering and Gathering of Israel Our Own Scattering (Sin) And Gathering (At-One-Ment)

St. Hugh Nibley “The long and puzzling story of the olive orchard in the fifth chapter of Jacob seems to present an endless combination of tactics to preserve the orchard. The point is that any combination is possible; God will try any scheme, general or local, to redeem the people.... sixteen times the trees are given a last chance to get growing again— there is no end to the Lord’s patience.” Hugh Nibley, Prophetic Book of Mormon, 498

President Spencer W. Kimball Long ago, an elderly Navajo brother told me something that I have reflected upon many times in the years that have intervened. He said: “This gospel is something we have been trying all our lives to remember; now all at once it comes back. Our fathers used to be with your fathers in the long ago, but then we came to a division in the road with a great stone in the middle. We went one way and you went the other. We went around that big rock for a long time; but now we are back together, and we will always walk together from now on.”

President Spencer W. Kimball I have met some who are a little bit ashamed that they are Lamanites. How can it be? Some would rather define themselves as Nephites, or Zoramites, or Josephites, or something else. Surely there must be a misunderstanding. Would they separate themselves from the great blessings the Lord has promised to his covenant people? Would they cast off their birthright? For the Lord himself has chosen to call these people Lamanites—all the mixed descendants of Father Lehi, and Ishmael, and Zoram, and Mulek, and others of the Book of Mormon record; all of the literal seed of the Lamanites, “and also all that had become Lamanites because of their dissensions.” (D&C 10:48.)D&C 10:48 You who are Lamanites remember this: Your Lamanite ancestors were no more rebellious than any of the other branches of the house of Israel. All the seed of Israel fell into apostasy and suffered the long night of spiritual darkness, and only through the mercy of God have any of the branches been saved from utter destruction—the gentile-Ephraimite mixture first, and then the Lamanite remainder of Joseph, that the saying might be fulfilled, “the last shall be first, and the first last.” (Matt. 20:16.)Matt. 20:16 Ensign, December, 1975