Jacob 5 Olive Tree

Jacob 5

Jacob 5: 1-14

Zenos.............................................................................an unknown prophet  (Zenos Enos?)
olive tree...................................................................extended metaphor.  Multiple parallels.
waxed old and began to decay..........................................the work of time destroys the tree
prune, dig, nourish..........................................................work to fix it.  Proactive steps
somewhat a little..............................................................improvements, but not very much
will lose..........................................................................needs a stronger intervention
graft elsewhere.................................................................productive parts transferred to other places and plants
the wild........................................................................brings in outside trees, not part of orchard
might preserve................................................................movement of others into the tree

The story begins with a need for Israel's scattering.  The fruitful shoots are taken outside the area to invigorate itself and promote growth elsewhere, and some are brought back in.

Jacob 5: 15-25

tree good fruit.............................................................the grafted branches are doing well
much fruit.....................................................................very productive decision
go...........................................................................check the various experiments
much fruit..................................................................many of the others fruitful and good
poorest spot...............................................................some of the worst places have best fruit
counsel me not.............................................................the owner doesn't humor the servant
gather it........................................................................the idea worked

The Lord of the orchard understands his olive tree better than the servant, and he reminds him that he doesn't take counsel from the servant.  To a large degree the grafting and scattering works very well in producing good fruit.

Jacob 5:  26-35

pluck off......................................................................with the mixtures there are bad branches
servant wants to pluck, cultivate, prune, etc........................anxious to use the same methods
long time..............................................................this methodology used for a long time
visit to test..........................................................need to do an inventory of the whole system
end cometh..........................................................Lord sees the need to stop the whole thing
all sorts of fruit.......................................................the Lord and servant see every imaginable fruit
none good.................................................................the system is now a complete loss
done all........................................................................all acceptable means have been employeed

For a considerable time the system works very well, producing good fruit.  Eventually the wild fruit begins to reemerge, and the whole system is in failure mode.

Jacob 5: 36-50

roots good............................................................there are still things that an work
need to destroy bad growth and bad fruit..............................the burning at harvest time
wild has overcome the good......................................seems fairly universal
wild and corruption have led to a disaster....................................time to burn all the bad
who............................................................................looks for a reason for the corruption
lets hew down....................................................intend to clear massage sections of the orchard
servant:  spare.......................................................intercession of the servant,  let's try again

Due to the fallen state of the orchard, the inventory leads the owner to say lets tear it all down.  the production has completely stopped.  The servants pleads for another attempt

Jacob 5: 51-64

yes.....................................................................owner willing to try another cycle
graft back in.....................................................pull all the better fruit together
spare tree..............................................................all grafted to the natural tree
preserved the roots.................................................the natural tree has the natural roots
grafting............................................................putting the original trees back together
take strength....................................................orginal roots reinvigorate the original tree
first fruit the best.................................................the idea that the original tree best olives of all
last time............................................................will do this one more time, but not again
dig prune nourish...........................................the same methods again employed

The owner now intends to do a great gathering.  He expects that the system will produce the very best fruit of all, but it will not last forever.  He will need to vacate the whole system

Jacob 5: 65-72

not all at once................................................grafting to be done gradually,  not too much trauma
a chance to let the good overtake the bad........................each tree will have this opportunity
natural tree....................................................main feature of the orchard
pruning will take place.....................................as things become more apparent, destroy the worst
ye shall have joy................................................the servant promised a part with the fruit
did obey..........................................................the plan is worked to the t.

A plan of gathering and pruning is employed.  All the plan is done exactly according to the plan.

Jacob 5: 72-77

natural fruit again...............................................plan working very well,  Good and bad fruit
Main tree become equal.......................................eventually the good fruit become becomes
dominant
servants commissioned.......................................best of all.  Lord of orchard employs the best servants.  Fruit gathered
long time............................................................this system works for a long time.
This will continue until the lord calls time.  Then the whole thing will be assessed

The final stages of the garden.  Eventually the only thing that will be allowed to remain is the good. All other types of trees and fruits will be destroyed.

Jacob 5

Olive tree.

A long parable that parallels the history of God and his covenant peopl on the earth.  He illustrates the long time periods that are needed to grow a successful garden and developing a reasonable harvest from it.  The interesting question in it is "Who" has done the corruption in it.  Surely He and his servants have done everything correctly.  The wildness comes in.  The servants obey, but the branches and trees do not.  The owner and servants have a very emotional attachment to the garden.

Researchers say that this parable is very accurate and very instructive about real olive orchards.

Fascinating read.

2 Nephi 16

2 Nephi 16

2 Nephi 16: 1-8

seraphim......................................................................................angelic being
glory smoke............................................................................imagery of heaven
unclean lips.....................................................................unworthy mortal, impure
live coal..................................................................................heaven corrects the weakness
sin purged...............................................................power to forgive in heaven, mercy
whom send?...................................................................people sent for purposes, to the earth
send me..................................................................like the Lord, his servants agree to act

A small glimpse into the heavenly, depicting how man is out of step with the requirements for membership, but through the instrumentality of the heavens, man can qualify.  Also, we learn that the Lord assigns his servants to perform certain works.  The Lord did so, and the mission of Isaiah has parallels

2 Nephi 16: 9-13

Go and tell.....................................................the prophetic message for Isaiah to teach
tell them to make them responsible............................then the people will be judged
how long?......................................................the message is to long term (his writings continue to instruct)
removed..............................................................a great scattering due to lack of faith
a tenth...........................................................a small group will continue through time

Isaiah to teach his people about repentance to prepare them for the judgement.

2 Nephi 16

This chapter is instructive about the prophetic mission of Isaiah and can be likewise applied to others who serve the Lord.  They come as emissaries of the Lord.

2 Nephi 15

2 Nephi 15 ; Isaiah 5

2 Nephi 15:  1-7

my vineyard......................................................God as the vineyard owner, and his people
the tower ...........................................................He keeps special watch on the vineyard
sees the grapes, wild grapes..................................a careful look at the results of the work
men of Judah...................................................this is your people.  Pay attention
take away..................................................abandonment of a failing orchard
waste.............................................................Christ to step completely away from the people
looketh for judgement........................................Christ has expectations, but they are not happening
no rain.......................................................even the usual outside conditions are removed
a cry..............................................................the actual picture is a troubling.  People hurt

Christ keeps a careful watch on his people, but when the people sink to a position that nothing good is coming of the work, the work will cease, and the orchard will be abandoned.  Unlike a real vineyard, he will return when the fruits return.

2 Nephi 15: 8-16

wo, house to house............................................conditions where the people associate too much together (in sin)
desolate...........................................................such conditions overruled.  He will not allow.
follow strong drink..........................................example.  Party attitude.  People drink more than work
revelers..........................................................partiers have abandoned their duties.  Rejected.
multitudes thirst.........................................due to the malfeasance of leaders, the people languish
humbled.................................................both the leader and the followers need humbling
sanctified......................................................The Lord will chasten the people.  Shaped to the corrects ends.

God has a purpose for his people.  He does not want an evil group attitude that pursues the meaningless side of life, for example drunkards.  He will curse such behaviors because it leads both the leaders and the followers to destruction.  The people lose sight of their life purpose, and must undergo a changing humility, or they will not meet the expectations that the Lord has for his people.

2 Nephi 15: 17-25

cart rope...............................................pretty chains are still chains.  Men are to be free.
wisdom of Lord......................................men should seek God's will, not man's
twisting good and evil......................................men should not spin reality to meet their carnal desires
wise in own sight.............................................wisdom does not work that way.  Truth is truth,
remove righteousness from the righteous...................dwindling faith, caused by falsehoods
chaff.....................................................a destruction of the wicked.  This is not fruit.
kindle................................................................God will destroy the wicked.  Such behavior not allowed
Hand outstretched.................................................He will allow repentance, but man must act

The hope is with man.  When he discovers his wickedness, he ready for destruction, but the Lord allows man the opportunity to repent and to return to the fold.

2 Nephi 15: 26-30

ensign from afar.............................................Latter-day kingdom to be set up far away
none weary.......................................................these servants will do His will and succeed
none sleep.....................................................will be worthy workers in his kingdom
sharp arrows................................................the spiritual army is ready to redeem His kingdom.
roar like lions...................................................the youth of the group will make them invincible
look into the land.............................................these people will work and labor in a very dismal and wicked world

Christ will set up His kingdom in the last days.  The servants will do things the way he wants them act, and they will be very successful, negating the bad behavior of many years.  They will work tirelessly to build up the kingdom in a very wicked world.

2 Nephi 15

This chapter describes the very sad results of what happens to the Kingdom that he has set up, but He will remember the covenants as the people repent.  Then he sets up his Kingdom and sends his righteous servants to cry repentance and convert the evil and wicked world.  He indicates that they will be successful because they are diligent.

2 Nephi 9

2 Nephi 9

2 Nephi 9: 1-6

Covenants..........................................................Jacob wants people know the Lord's promises
until........................................................................a law that will last until the Church comes
lift up.....................................................purpose, to inspire and to give hope to Israel
in bodies.....................................................a physical visit from God in the future
show.............................................................Christ to be born in the land of Jerusalem (Judah)
subject.....................................................he earns the right to rule by submitting to man
his plan..........................................................to die for man, atone, and to give choices

This illustrates the savior's part in the great plan of life and to His people.  He is born among his people to save them, although they will kill him.  If we meet the conditions and make the right choice, he will give us eternal life.

2 Nephi 9: 7-18

infinite atonement..........................................not just an earthly covenant.  It is forever.
first judgement............................................. our mortality's end. Death
the monster................................................physical death.  It must be overruled.  Christ does that.
give up the dead............................................Christ offers life to all.  Death is overruled.
spiritual death................................................a much more dangerous thing.  Losing the divine.
overruled......................................................Christ can save from that death as well.
deliver up.....................................................Mortal death has been conquered by Christ.
perfect remembrance.....................................Christ will join us in the final judgement.  We are accountable
go their way.................................................Men divided by Christ.  Righteous and Evil.

There are two stages of Christ's salvation.  He has already saved us for the earthly physical death.  But the second salvation comes when we meet the requirements for eternal life, and an eternal residence with God and all the righteous.  This part is subject to the choices by each person.

2 Nephi 9: 19-27

delivereth the saints..........................................Christ has a special salvation for saints.
resurrection......................................................We will stand physically before God.
damned......................................................fail to meet the qualifications
knows...........................................................Christ knows all.  The judgement is complete
suffered.........................................................All things subject to his desires
law.................................................................men held it.
no law...............................................................no expectations
atonement.........................................................will cover all those without law
woe..............................................................He gives the choice, then men are accountable

To receive the blessings, man must follow the law.  but there are no penalties for those without law.  We teach the law, because it offers men everlasting life, and it will come to every one, because there is a choice.  The atonement will meet all the needs of these requirements.

2 Nephi 9: 28-38

cunning one....................................................Satan works to stop the Lord's work,   He is a failure
the learned.....................................................a trick to make men think distorted and false thoughts.
the rich..............................................................false security in things and materialism
blind.................................................................cannot see the blessings
uncircumcised heart........................................failure to make necessary changes.
liar.......................................................................hell
murderer...............................................................shall die
whoredoms........................................................cast to hell
idols.......................................................................triumph of Satan
sins.........................................................................must be atone for.  They must be overcome.

Satan is working to stop and confine men, so that they do not reach the high potential laid before them.

2 Nephi 9: 39-49

awfulness.................................................................men can make it impossible to have the Holy Ghost
hard against revilers....................................................The truth hurts the evil doers
keeper of the gate...............................................Christ, who cannot be deceived
knock, and is open................................................if we seek Christ, he will be there.
despises those...................................................the wise, who will not listen;  the rich who are satisfied
happiness for the saints......................................to earn eternal life, one must be above such things
shook the garments.......................................by teaching others, the curse is lifted from us
partake.....................................................what God offers is precious, but it is not to be bought

Christ wants us to learn of him, and to reject simply pursuing money.  Such things can cause people to fail in their goals to succeed.

2 Nephi 9: 50-54

hearken diligently..........................................follow the Lords commandments very carefully
pray continually............................................we need his assistance.  Satan is busy
righteous branch..............................................a great promise made to the children of Lehi/Nephi

In order to succeed we will need divine assistance.  The promises are sure, and they are great, both spiritually, and on this world

2 Nephi 9

This chapter emphasizes the need and the importance of following the commandments of Christ