Jacob 5

The past month, our family scripture study has been focused on Jacob 5. I have loved studying Jacob 5, the allegory of the Olive Tree, through the eyes of my children and with the personal objective of finding those simple truths that will be a daily strength and blessing to them.

This morning, as we finished the final of the 77 verses, I asked each of my children: What are some of the main principles you have learned from Jacob 5 and Zenos's allegory of the olive tree (I've tried each day--no matter what verses we're talking about--to focus in on something that the kids could take away, something that could inspire them).

We decided the main lessons we learned were about
missionary work and helping others!

For me: I have read Jacob 5 so many times. . . and while important messages of gathering, of missionary work, and of the historical apostasy and restoration of the Church lie in the symbolism of the Olive Tree, for me, during this reading, I found such simple truths. I over and over had the feeling that the message for our family I needed to take from and teach my children about Jacob 5, is this--we are each little trees; our family is a "vineyard." We need to nourish each other.  We need to nourish each other, that we each may grow to our full potential and bring forth good fruit--or joy! Reading and studying and pondering Jacob 5 with my children. . .that was our message--we need each other.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a "poor" spot of ground; almost always there will be bad and good in our own selves, our own "trees." But, we need--as did the Master of the Vineyard--to nourish each other. We need to "graft" or "share" our good things (ideas, talents, testimony) with others, with each other in our family. This is how we will help each other.

Such a simple message. Such powerful imagery.

Jacob 5 has been a joy to read with my family. Here are some of the concepts, scripture aids, and parallels I found helpful:


SETTING THE STAGE:

What is an ALLEGORY?
An allegory is a symbolic representation that conveys a spiritual idea or truth. These symbols help us understand the truth or message and give additional meaning or depth when the symbol or symbolic story is studied (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 2009, 22). For example, in Lehi's dream, we learn that the Iron Rod is a symbol for the scriptures. We can picture ourselves holding to a straight, strong, iron rod that is leading us to the Tree of Life--just like the scriptures will lead us to Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father teaches us important truths about ourselves, the Church, and our Savior by using the allegory (or symbolic story) of the Olive Tree.



Why an OLIVE TREE?
Click HERE to download pictures of actual olive trees!!

A few interesting facts about Olive Trees. . . and some symbolic value!!

1. Olive Trees take time and cultivation in order to grow and bear fruit!
Olive trees are old--they're enduring. Some of the olive trees in Jerusalem are believed to be hundreds, maybe thousands, of years old. "The olive tree is an evergreen, not a deciduous tree. Its leaves do not seasonally fade nor fall. Through scorching heat and winter cold they are continually rejuvenated. . . . Only after long, patient cultivating, usually eight to ten years, does it begin to yeild fruit." [Truman Madsen, "The Olive Press: A Symbol of Christ," in The Allegory of the Olive Tree, ed. Stephen D. Ricks and John W. Welch (1994), 2].

Like the olive trees, our lives take "long, patient cultivating"--we must be patient and enduring. Our faith must become "old"--our faith must become an enduring faith!


2. Olive Trees are hardy!
Olive trees endure through heat and winter. They develop a deep root system that is rarely destroyed. Even a seemingly dead tree will often shoot forth new roots. The gnarled trunk shows the life endurance and strength of the tree, withstanding extremities and time (Madsen, 2).

Like the hardy olive tree, we must develop root systems that will strengthen and sustain us. How we can become strongly rooted like the olive tree? (scripture study, prayer, church). With a strong spiritual "root system," we will have the strength to endure our own personal extremities--not fire or snow but temptation and adversity.

What is the GRAFTING process?
With grafting, healthy branches are cut from a living tree and inserted into the trunk of another tree to stimulate growth. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught that the olive tree is like the House of Israel, and when its native land (Jerusalem) began to die, the Lord took "branches" of the House of Israel--like the Nephites--and scattered them all over the world so that there would be believing peoples across the nations and world. (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 2009, 126)
Abby (10) brought up the beautiful insight that grafting for us should mean that we share our talents and our testimonies with others--so that we help others around us to grow!

FAVORITE INSIGHTS:

I have so many insights to gospel truths that I gain each time I read from Jacob 5. But, here are some of my favorites--those that have deeply nourished my own spirit and strengthened my daily gospel living!

Jacob 5:9, 17-18 Our very nature is changed when we Come Unto Christ. 
One of the questions I had (and children can have) about the allegory of the olive tree is why the wild branches are grafted in to the good branches.  In fact, botanically, if wild olive branches are actually grafted onto a tame tree, the branch and all connected branches will be genetically different from the rest of the tree and they will produce wild olives. I love this explanation from Wilford M Hess, professor of Botany and Range Science at BYU: "in the allegory wild branches grafted into the tame roots began to produce tame fruit (Jacob 5:9, 17-18). This anomaly, wherein the grafted wild branches became tame and bore good fruit, is symbolic of the miraculous conversion that occurs when one is 'grafted in' or comes unto Christ and covenant: one's very nature is changed" (Book of Mormon Reference Companion, "Olive Trees," [2003], 620). I love, too, sweet Abby's "simple truth": we can help others "grafting" into our lives through our Christ-like love and examples.

Jacob 5:21 We can "bloom" no matter where we are planted.
I remember a member of our stake presidency once bringing to light this scripture. The Lord of the vineyard (the Savior) has just gone with his servant to walk to the "nethermost" [farthest away] part of his vineyard (vs 19), which to me represents going to a "far away" place in the vineyard. I know some people who I think are in a "far away from the gospel" place. I, too, sometimes have those periods of time when I feel like I'm in a "far away" place--maybe not as far away as someone who is literally not in the Church, but nonetheless a place "farther away than I want to feel" from feeling close to the Lord or to my best self.

The Lord goes to this "nethermost" place, and he finds that the tree that he had planted there has in fact "brought forth much fruit" (vs 20). The servant asks the Lord how this can be--why did the Lord plant the tree here and how could it have bloomed--in the "poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard" (vs 21). The Lord replies, "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 beholds that it hath brought forth much fruit" (vs 22). I LOVE this verse.

Each time I read verses 19-22, I feel such a sense of love and awareness from my Heavenly Father--that even though sometimes I feel like I am in a "spot of poor ground"--either physically or emotionally. . . this is NOT a limiting factor. This gives me such hope for people I love . . . for those who might seem to be in a difficult circumstance they didn't choose to be planted in. The Lord will NOURISH us. And, it also means we have NO excuses . . . even if we find ourselves in this "spot of poor ground"--we all have an equal chance to bring forth much fruit!

Jacob 5: 65 We must be patient--change takes time.
The olive tree itself is a symbol for the principle of eternal progression--the tree must be pruned and shaped and nourished over the course of many years before it will bear its first fruits. But, then, when it does. . . it lives for a LONG long time.

But, a number of years ago I learned a great lesson from Jacob 4:65-66. Here the Lord instructs his servants in how to prune and nourish his vineyard. He instructs the servants to dig, prune, and dung the trees one last time to try and bring forth the natural fruit of the tree that "then shall ye prepare the way for them [the trees, or people we care about and hope will change] that they may grow."

In the allegory, the Lord gives us an important principle of personal change. He says of the growing trees, "ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong of the graft, adn the graft therof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard. . . . [W]herefore, ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow, that the root and 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" (emphases added).

I hear a wonderful principle of PATIENCE and the POWER OF GOODNESS in these verses. I have at times had family members and people around me for whom I felt concerned because of their [or my own] "bad" behaviors. I have wanted them to change--but sometimes, in trying to get others to change--we chop off the tree before the good has had chance to take hold.

In other words, when we (as a tree) aren't ready to change--if we're not prepared for change--then chopping off all our branches could kill us!

We need to be patient with each other. We need to graft in the good and clear away the bitter or bad behaviors in ourselves and in others "according to the strength of the good and the size thereof." I have seen on SO many occasions that as people increase their exposure to things of the gospel, they themselves let go of the "bad" behaviors.

We clear away the bad according as the good shall grow. So, as a parent, I need to be patient. I need to nourish my children, help their testimonies to grow. If all I do is worry about chopping off their "bad" branches, without having the good be there to replace the bad, there may not be anything left!

And most of all, I again have learned patience. When I see a family member or a loved one who seems to be growing "wild"--I need to take comfort that (a) it takes time for the tree (or a person) to grow, and (b) you can't clear away all the bad at once--the bad will be cleared away in proportion to the good that is there; as I nourish the good in that person, the good shall overcome the bad!"

Countless times I have found peace with myself after reading these verses. I have thought, "I need to be patient--my own 'bad' branches or habits will not [usually] be changed overnight. If I continually nourish the good things in my life, then as my spirituality becomes stronger, I WILL be able to clear away the bad--the good shall overcome the bad!!!"

Surely the Lord is giving us a message here to be more patient, more loving, and less judgmental with others and with ourselves. Every time I read this I think, "Focus on bringing goodness into your life, and the seemingly strong grip of your weaknesses will be lessened!"

Jacob 5:41, 47, 49 The Savior loves us and strives continually to care for us through His Atonement.
This time while reading Jacob 5, I began to see how the allegory conveys the power and depth of the Atonement. Elder Holland said,

“. . . At least fifteen times the Lord of the vineyard expresses a desire to bring the vineyard and its harvest to his ‘own self,’ and he laments no less than eight times, ‘It grieveth me that I should lose this tree.’ One student of the allegory says it should take its place beside the parable of the prodigal son, inasmuch as both stories ‘make the Lord’s mercy so movingly memorable.’"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 165-66.

This time, as I read, "What could I have done more for my vineyard?" I felt of the Lord's love and his anguish for his "wild trees." I began, as described by Elder Holland, to see the Lord's grief and to understand that the at-one-ment of the Lord's redemptive work: his digging, his pruning, his nourishing, was all "to gather [his children], heal them, and unite them with their Master" (Holland 166).

I could point out to my children the times/words the Lord said He would bring his trees to his "own self" (in symbolism of the atonement) and the times He said "it grieveth me." We discussed how we can help be like the Savior and nourish and nurture each other.

MARKING OUR SCRIPTURES:
Headers:
We marked the following in our scriptures:
Top of pg 126: vs 3-14 Scattering of Israel
Top of pg 127: vs 1-28 Time of Christ
Top of pg 128: vs 29-49 Great Apostasy
Top of pg 130: vs 50-76 Gathering of Israel: Gospel goes to the world

Insights Written in Margins :
margin of vs 21: "You can bloom no matter where you are planted" [in reference to the tree that brought forth much fruit even though it was planted in the poorest spot of the vineyard]

margin of vs 9: "15 times the Lord expresses desire to bring vineyard to 'mine own self'--symbolic of 'at-one-ment'" [in reference to the 15 times Lord says he will bring fruit unto "mine own self," which you can underline throughout the chapter]

margin of vs 32: "Christ expresses his love/grief for his lost children 8 times" [in reference to end of vs 32 where Lord says "it grieveth me that I should lose this tree; this is a powerful way to show how allegory conveys Lord's deep love of his children]

Glue-ins:
I created two glue ins for Jacob 5. I like having these glue ins so that I can remember Elder Holland's  testimony and the basic symbolisms helpful to a clearer understanding of Jacob 5.

Download and print a pdf copy of the glue ins HERE. (Materials taken and referenced from Book of Mormon Student Manual, and the Book of Mormon Reference Manual).


I am so grateful for the beautiful allegory and teachings of Zenos that have strengthened my testimony of the Savior's love and care for me and the enduring nature and role of my growth in the Plan of Salvation!

Power of Revelation . . .

I need to journal about the amazing, sacred experience that I had with Daniel at General Conference last Spring (because in truth it's almost time for October General Conference--but I have never written down about this experience, and every time I think of it or share it, I think "I NEED to write this down.")

I have always LOVED General Conference (at least as long as I can remember from my adult years). And, the kids and I have always sat and watched it together. Since I can remember, I have taken notes at Conference and had little post cards that I could write down those things I felt most impressed about and hang up those impressions/notes in a place I could see them and remember them.

I've always invited my children to also write down their thoughts and impressions. I have always believed, as taught by President J. Reuben Clark, in a famous address given to seminary and institute instructors in 1938:

“The youth of the Church are hungry for things of the Spirit; they are eager to learn the gospel, and they want it straight, undiluted. They want to know about the fundamentals I have just set out—about our beliefs; they want to gain testimonies of their truth. They are not now doubters but inquirers, seekers after truth.”

 (Address to Seminary and Institute of Religion Leaders • 8 August 1938 • President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.)

Sister Lant confirmed what President Clark said when she spoke of children in May 2010:

“Even young children can understand and accept things of an eternal nature. They love the scriptures, and  they love the prophet. They intuitively want to be good.  It is up to us to help them keep that connection to heaven open.”

Cheryl C. Lant, “That Our Children Might See the Face of the Savior,” Ensign, May 2010, 81–83

This is so true and was evidenced to me at General Conference in April, 2010.

Of course I had the cute conference packets printed and ready for Abby (10) and Daniel (6) to draw and color in--the cute bingo games; the ties on the apostles to color; the word searches to complete.

But I am so grateful that President Clark's words were in my heart and that I told my kids that before they could color in their activity books, they needed to write down at least one thing they learned from each speaker. . . Daniel can write now, but even before he could write, he could color what he felt and learned--children can draw or color their feelings, with sometimes as much vividness and meaning as written words!

And . . . my sweet, precious, in-tune son wrote the following on his white notepaper before he went on to color in more ties and play more bingo. And I saw the hand of the Lord, the Spirit,--my son's HEAVENLY Father-- teach and instruct and inspire His little six-year-old son.

Here is the message that so touched my mother heart and comforted me and reaffirmed that my Heavenly Father is watching over me and my children. You see, there is no priesthood holder in my home right now. No father to guide and direct and prepare his son for the sacred ordinance and calling of the priesthood. Yet,  the Father guides His children. Daniel wrote several things, but the words he wrote during President Eyring's talk are what touched me most:

  “To protect and love and watch over children and to do duty to God in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. This is what men should do.”

President Eyring

I talked with Daniel after, and I told him that the message he learned from President Eyring came from his Heavenly Father and that He wanted Daniel to know understand that the teachings my son learned from President Eyring are the power and purposes of the priesthood. I testified to my son that Heavenly Father is preparing him to receive the priesthood of God and that He would teach him how to use that priesthood as a father.

I have framed Daniel's special notes, and I keep them out where our family can seem them and where they can serve as a reminder to me of the great knowledge, mercy, and attention of our Father in Heaven to me and to all his children; and where they can remind my son of the power and importance of the priesthood and his future role as a father.

How eternally grateful I am for the blessing and influence of the Spirit.

Do our children hunger for the things of the Spirit? YES! Can even a child learn from General Conference? YES! Will the Lord teach and instruct and inspire ALL of His children? YES!

Are we preparing our children, even those who may be too young to write letters . . . to feel of the Spirit and be taught by their Father in Heaven?!

I can't wait for the wonderful opportunity of the General Conference--just two weeks away! And I pray that my children, that all children, will come with open ready hearts to be inspired and instructed of the Lord!

3 Nephi 10:12

Recently, I was asked to speak to a group of women (AFG retreat) about the principle of "gathering" in the scriptures. I decided to speak about the Savior's analogy of a mother hen gathering her chicks in 3 Nephi 10. But, the important point of this post relates to verse 12 of 3 Nephi 10.

The afternoon of the actual day of the reunion/retreat, I had a horrible day getting out the door. Daniel flooded the toilet shortly before I was to go, and it leaked clear into the carpeted hallway before anyone noticed. . My kids were amazing and kept saying, "Mom, just go; we'll take care of it." But,needless to say, I was stressed and late and did NOT behave very Christ-like towards my kids. I certainly felt like such a “loser-mom” and pretty much unfit and unworthy to try and teach and testify about Christ’s love for us and his wonderful analogy of mothering (I'm sure I'm the only one who's ever felt that way!).

I needed to go. I wanted to go . . . but I felt so unsettled leaving after having [here comes my confession] yelled at the kids for something that in reality was an accident.

Before walking out the door, I sat all three kids down. Humbly, in tears, I said, "Kids, I've been asked to talk about mothering and blessing families today to a group of moms. But, I haven't behaved like a very good mom today, and I can't go teach them unless I ask your forgiveness and unless I have your blessing. You are truly the most important thing in the world to me."

My sweet, sweet children accepted my forgiveness... in fact, their responses were definitely along the lines of "Oh, mom. Of course we forgive you. It's totally okay. You're a wonderful mom; you're going to do a great job!"

Bless my sweet children!

So, I went out the door, feeling better, but still feeling undeserving and unworthy.

I humbly prayed that the Lord would bless me--would help me conquer my own feelings at that moment of inadequacy and let me teach and testify from a place of hope and love.

Well, it was as I was teaching that my own miracle and realization happened. I was teaching about the metaphor (that's for another post), and I got to vs. 12 of 3 Nephi 10, and suddenly the verse struck me in profound and personal way.

Here Moroni tells us about the unrighteous Nephites who were destroyed at the time of Christ's death because of their "wickedness and abominations" (3 nephi 9:12). And, well, I was feeling pretty much like one of the wicked. Then, Moroni goes on to describe that it was "the more righteous part” who were saved. I definitely was NOT feeling very righteous. And. . . then I realized in a flood of feelings of love from my Heavenly Father, exactly how Moroni defines the more righteous part—it was “they who received the prophets and stoned them not” and they who “had not shed the blood of the saints”—these were they who were spared.

This was SO comforting to me. Suddenly, it hit me—and I could bear testimony to a group of young moms, who so often feel tired, overwhelmed and inperfect—that that left A LOT of people open to “saving”—Being worthy of the blessings the Lord has in store for me does NOT mean I need to be perfect.

After all, Am I prophet stoner? Have I killed anyone? (Of course, NOT). So, then . . . maybe I’m not so bad— I-who-yelled-at-my-kids (which is wrong, and I needed to apologize and repent of my behavior), I am confident that I would have been in that group that was spared. I have read and re-read this verse and verse 13 SO many times, and truly it would seem that those who were "crushed to death" and "not overpowered"--which sometimes I feel is symbolically what my insecurities are doing to me--crushing me and overpowering me--they were those who committed grievous crimes.

Is this not analogous to the Lord's promises--that salvation is there for each and every person, regardless of their own faults, flaws, and sins if we will turn to the Lord.

As moms, we’re SO hard on ourselves sometimes—much harder than I believe the Lord would have us be. He stands ready to “spare” us, to “save” us. EVEN FOR THOSE who in fact DID stone the prophets and shed the blood of the saints, the Lord stands ready to receive them if they will repent.

So, on those days when you feel like a "loser mom"--just ask yourself, "Have I stoned the prophets?" (pretty sure you can check that one off on the "no" list! And "Have I shed the blood of a saint?" (hopefully, that's a "no, too!") . . And then remember .. you would have been part of the MORE RIGHTEOUS PART who were spared! Put a smile on your face, hug your kids, and know with CONFIDENCE that you will NOT be overpowered in your righteous desires . . . and let yourself feel GOOD that you are worthy of saving. You can know that, had you been a Nephite mom--even if you had just yelled at your kids right before the miracle of Christ's coming--the Lord knows your heart; he knows your desires; and I truly believe you would have been one of the ones to be saved!