Jacob Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - "...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? (Jacob 4:16-18)..."

Symbol	What it may Represent
The Vineyard	The World
Master of the Vineyard; Lord of the Vineyard	God
Servants	God's Prophets, servants, and missionaries
Tame Olive Tree	The house of Israel, the Lord's covenant people
Wild Olive Tree	Gentiles, or non-Israelites (later in the allegory the wild branches are apostate Israel)
Branches	Groups of People
The roots of the Tame Olive Tree	The covenants the Lord makes with His children, a constant source of strength and life to the faithful.
The Fruit	The lives or works of men.
Digging, Pruning, Fertilizing	The work the Lord does for His children to help them be obedient and fruitful.
Transplanting the Branches	Scattering groups of people throughout the world, or restoring them to where they came from.
Grafting	The joining of one group of people to another; referring to scattered israel, it also means to "come to the knowledge of the true Messiah" (1 Nephi 10:14)
Burning	Destruction of the Wicked
Decaying Branches	People dying spiritually from sin and apostasy
Casting Branches into the Fire	God's judgments

5:48 - "...the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots..."
This could be interpreted as the people rejecting the roots (or covenants) and relying upon their own knowledge.  This is very dangerous.  We must keep our covenants if we truly want to be happy and return to live with God and be like Him.


5:50 - "...but, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little longer..."
This testifies of the love that the Lord has for us...that even though He knows the "best" procedure, He will answer our prayers and grant unto us pretty often what we ask for...even if sometimes it's not the best for us.

5:70 - "...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..."
Many are called, but few are chosen (D&C 121:34-36). We must choose God in order to become "chosen."

5:71-72 - "...if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come..."
This is really what it's all about...this describes our work and glory (Moses 1:39, D&C 11:20, Alma 29:9, 2 Nephi 2:25).

5:72-73 - "...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..."
If we are obedient and hearken unto the voice of the Lord, we will be effective servants in His hands.  We have to act in faith and work from our current knowledge and understanding.  As we do this, we will see the results and feel the Lord's approval, because He will be right there with us.  "...and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them."  We are not asked to do this on our own.  The Lord will help us, guide us, and direct us through the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We just need to do our part and act in faith.