Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
An Allegory is a literary, dramatic, or pictorial device in which each literal character, object, and event represents symbols illustrating an idea or moral or religious principle.
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “The parable of Zenos, recorded by Jacob in chapter five of his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded. This parable in and of itself stamps the Book of Mormon with convincing truth. No mortal man, without the inspiration of the Lord, could have written such a parable. It is a pity that too many of those who read the Book of Mormon pass over and slight the truths which it conveys in relation to the history, scattering, and final gathering of Israel” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:142).
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “And I think this is one of the greatest passages in the Book of Mormon…No matter how many times you have read the Book of Mormon,…take a few minutes at some convenient time and sit down and just read carefully every word in the fifth chapter of the Book of Jacob…No greater parable was ever recorded…I tell you, my brothers and sisters, Joseph Smith did not write it. That was written by the inspiration of the Almighty…When you read that chapter through if you cannot say in your soul, “this is absolutely a revelation from God,’ then there is something wrong with you” (Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 4, p. 203-7).
Breakdown of Jacob 5
As you study, keep a list of:
President Russell M. Nelson: “There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth.”
"What exactly is the gathering? “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that” (President Russel M. Nelson hopeofisrael.lds.org)
Jacob 5: Allegory of the Tame and Wild Olive Trees
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “The parable of Zenos, recorded by Jacob in chapter five of his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded. This parable in and of itself stamps the Book of Mormon with convincing truth. No mortal man, without the inspiration of the Lord, could have written such a parable. It is a pity that too many of those who read the Book of Mormon pass over and slight the truths which it conveys in relation to the history, scattering, and final gathering of Israel” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:142).
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “And I think this is one of the greatest passages in the Book of Mormon…No matter how many times you have read the Book of Mormon,…take a few minutes at some convenient time and sit down and just read carefully every word in the fifth chapter of the Book of Jacob…No greater parable was ever recorded…I tell you, my brothers and sisters, Joseph Smith did not write it. That was written by the inspiration of the Almighty…When you read that chapter through if you cannot say in your soul, “this is absolutely a revelation from God,’ then there is something wrong with you” (Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 4, p. 203-7).
Breakdown of Jacob 5
- 1st Visit – verses 4-14:
- “The first step began when the Assyrians destroyed the Northern Kingdom and carried away many people from both the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms (including many of the upper classes). The second step occurred when the Assyrians mixed the covenant people with other people in their kingdom. The third step occurred when the Babylonians captured the Southern Kingdom and planted many Israelites in other parts of the world. Also, there were groups like the Nephites who left and were planted in other parts of the world” (Paul Hoskisson, “The Allegory of the Olive Tree in Jacob”).
- 2nd Visit – verses 15-28:“After a long time (a period of apostasy) the vineyard produces tame fruit (during the Savior’s ministry). The fruit planted in the choice part of the vineyard (the Americas) produced both good and evil branches” (Paul Hoskisson, “The Allegory of the Olive Tree in Jacob”).
- 3rd Visit – verses 29-60:
Great Apostacy. - 4th Visit – verses 61-70:
“No significant period of time passes between acknowledging of the Great Apostasy and the gathering of Israel. The gathering begins very slowly (Jacob 5:64-65). The branches that produce wild fruit are pruned and destroyed. This continues as the weeding out process” (Paul Hoskisson, “The Allegory of the Olive Tree in Jacob”).
As you study, keep a list of:
- Items
- Symbols
- Meanings
President Russell M. Nelson: “There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth.”
"What exactly is the gathering? “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that” (President Russel M. Nelson hopeofisrael.lds.org)
Jacob 5: Allegory of the Tame and Wild Olive Trees
Personal Applications of Olive Symbolism
Robert L Millet: Jacob ends a lengthy recitation of and a brief commentary on the allegory of Zenos by pleading with his readers to receive and pay heed to the words of the prophets and traverse carefully that gospel path which is strait and narrow. “Finally,’ he concludes, “I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you before, the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear’ (Jacob 6:13). This would appear to be a farewell statement, an indication to the reader that Jacob had initially planned to close his record at that point. Subsequently, however, he had an experience worthy of inclusion in a record which would come forth to a cynical and highly secular world his encounter with Sherem the anti Christ” (Robert L. Millett, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and CD Tate, Jr., 1988, p. 175 81).
Portrait of an Anti-Christ
“There are certain characteristics of an anti-Christ, certain patterns of belief and practice which we might expect to find among those, like Sherem, who are bent upon overthrowing the doctrine of Christ. Some of these are as follows:
Elder Deiter F. Uchdorf: “What about doubts and questions in principle? How do you find out that the gospel is true? Is it all right to have questions about the Church or its doctrine? My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people. We have always been, because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is the way that the Church got its start, from a young man who had questions. In fact, I’m not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions.
“In the scriptures, you will rarely discover a revelation that didn’t come in response to a question. Whenever a question arose and Joseph Smith wasn’t sure of the answer, he approached the Lord, and the results are the wonderful revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. Often, the knowledge Joseph received extended far beyond the original question. That is because not only can the Lord answer the questions we ask, but even more importantly, He can give us answers to questions we should have asked. Let us listen to those answers … Some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel.
“But they needn’t feel that way. Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a precursor of growth. God commands us to seek answers to our questions see James 1:5-6 and asks only that we seek ‘with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ’ Moroni 10:4. When we do so, the truth of all things can be manifested to us ‘by the power of the Holy Ghost’ Moroni 10:5. Fear not. Ask questions. Be curious, but doubt not. Doubt not…
“Nevertheless, you know that one of the purposes of mortality is to become more like your Heavenly Father in your thoughts and in your ways. Viewed from this perspective, searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it. It’s true that ‘faith is not … a perfect knowledge’ Alma 32:21, but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances—apply those principles wherever you are, and whenever it is, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel. And by this fruit, you will know of its truth. See Matthew 7:16-20; John 7:17; Alma 32:41-43.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Reflection in the Water,” 2009, broadcasts.lds.org).
Notes on Sherem:
Modern Day Sherems:
Notes on Jacob:
“For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; …
“Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.” (D&C 18:34–36.)
Modern Day Jacobs:
President Russell M. Nelson: “I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” (D&C 42:61)
Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know” (President Russell M. Nelson, April 2018, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives).
Ideas for teaching:
Portrait of an Anti-Christ
“There are certain characteristics of an anti-Christ, certain patterns of belief and practice which we might expect to find among those, like Sherem, who are bent upon overthrowing the doctrine of Christ. Some of these are as follows:
- They Deny the Need for Jesus Christ…(Each characteristic is discussed in detail)
- They Use Flattery to Win Disciples…
- They Accuse the Brethren of Teaching False Doctrine…
- They Have a Limited View of Reality…
- They Have a Disposition to Misread and Thereby Misrepresent the Scriptures…
- They are Sign Seekers…”
Elder Deiter F. Uchdorf: “What about doubts and questions in principle? How do you find out that the gospel is true? Is it all right to have questions about the Church or its doctrine? My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people. We have always been, because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is the way that the Church got its start, from a young man who had questions. In fact, I’m not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions.
“In the scriptures, you will rarely discover a revelation that didn’t come in response to a question. Whenever a question arose and Joseph Smith wasn’t sure of the answer, he approached the Lord, and the results are the wonderful revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. Often, the knowledge Joseph received extended far beyond the original question. That is because not only can the Lord answer the questions we ask, but even more importantly, He can give us answers to questions we should have asked. Let us listen to those answers … Some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel.
“But they needn’t feel that way. Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a precursor of growth. God commands us to seek answers to our questions see James 1:5-6 and asks only that we seek ‘with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ’ Moroni 10:4. When we do so, the truth of all things can be manifested to us ‘by the power of the Holy Ghost’ Moroni 10:5. Fear not. Ask questions. Be curious, but doubt not. Doubt not…
“Nevertheless, you know that one of the purposes of mortality is to become more like your Heavenly Father in your thoughts and in your ways. Viewed from this perspective, searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it. It’s true that ‘faith is not … a perfect knowledge’ Alma 32:21, but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances—apply those principles wherever you are, and whenever it is, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel. And by this fruit, you will know of its truth. See Matthew 7:16-20; John 7:17; Alma 32:41-43.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Reflection in the Water,” 2009, broadcasts.lds.org).
Notes on Sherem:
- “Labored diligently” (v.3).
- “He had hope to shake me from the faith” (v. 5).
- Used revelation (the law of Moses) as the basis to deny the principle of revelation (v. 7).
- Believe he knows the scriptures (v. 10) but does not “understand them” (v. 11).
Modern Day Sherems:
- Labor diligently too.
- Have a hope to shake us from the faith.
- Use revelation (Bible) as the basis to deny the principle of revelation to modern day prophets and apostles.
- Believe they know the scriptures better than you, but they too do not understand them.
Notes on Jacob:
- Had faith (v. 5).
- “many revelations” (v. 5).
- “I have seen …” (v. 5)
- “I had heard …” (v. 5)
“For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; …
“Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.” (D&C 18:34–36.)
Modern Day Jacobs:
- Have faith.
- “Many revelations.”
- “Have seen …”
- “Have heard …”
President Russell M. Nelson: “I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” (D&C 42:61)
Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know” (President Russell M. Nelson, April 2018, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives).
Ideas for teaching:
- Remind that no matter how many times you have read the Book of Mormon,…take a few minutes … and just read carefully every word in the fifth chapter of the Book of Jacob.
- Invitation to help anyone—”on either side of the veil to take a step toward making covenants.”
- Allegories are made to be applied to our lives.
- We can see modern day Sharems and the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ.
- Be like Jacob. Have faith. Seek personal revelation from God.