Note: Unrighteous leaders bring their people into sin and bondage. Both temporal and spiritual in nature.

Mosiah 21:30
And also that king Noah and his priests had caused the people to commit so many sins and iniquities against God; and they also did mourn for the death of Abinadi; and also for the departure of Alma and the people that went with him, who had formed a church of God through the strength and power of God, and faith on the words which had been spoken by Abinadi.

Note: See v. 26

Mosiah 18:24
And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.

Note: King Noah named this place Mormon. Why? Was it for the wild beast or the pure fountain found therein.

Mosiah 18:4
And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a place which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in the borders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.

Note: King Noah named this place Mormon. Why? Was it for the wild beast or the pure fountain found therein.

Mosiah 18:4
And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a place which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in the borders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.

Note: Privately: Secluded from the sight, presence, or intrusion of others

Mosiah 18:3
And as many as would hear his word he did teach. And he taught them privately, that it might not come to the knowledge of the king. And many did believe his words.

Note: Abinadi's death takes place in 148 B.C. and it appears that Alma fleeing King Noah's court and subsequent change of heart is over a three year period.

Mosiah 18:1
And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi—

Note: Abinadi talks strait to his enemies and then calls upon God to forgive them.

Mosiah 17:19
Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people. O God, receive my soul.

Note: As a result of their sins and actions, their enemies, the Laminites, would fall upon them.

Mosiah 17:17
Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, and shall be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious beasts.

Note: Due to the sexual abominations of this people, could this be the natural result of his warning.

Mosiah 17:16
And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities.

Note: As Americans, our first rights are freedom of religion, speech, the right to assemble, and the right of the press. In Abinadi's case, it is a sentence for his death.

Mosiah 17:7
And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death.

Note: One has to wonder what treatment Abinadi received. Was he restrained about the feet and hands, did he receive food and water, and we're his physical and biological needs taken care of.

Mosiah 17:6
And after three days, having counseled with his priests, he caused that he should again be brought before him.

Note: See v. 12

Mosiah 16:5
But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

Note: See v. 12

Mosiah 16:5
But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

Note: Infinite Atonement

Mosiah 15:21
And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.

Note: Christ is both the Father and the Son because of what he has done. The Father by the virtue that he is the Creator of the Universe and the Father of our Salvation. However, Christ is not the Father of our Spirits, that belongs to God, the Father). Christ is the Son because he submitted to his Fathers will and subjugated his will to the flesh. Thus, suffering all pain, temptation, and stress the Father put upon him. He is also "the only begotten son" of the Father in the flesh.

Mosiah 15:3
The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—

Note: I wonder when Peter read these words how he felt. More importantly, how do we feel when we read these words.

Mosiah 14:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Note: The law of Moses was replaced by the sacrifice of Christ and the sacrament is the performance by which we remember him as we perform our duties.

Mosiah 13:30
Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.

Note: Abinadi, if this is a direct quote, or Mormon placed in "it came to pass" is being spoken as if King Noah's fate is sealed.

Mosiah 12:3
And it shall come to pass that the life of king Noah shall be valued even as a garment in a hot furnace; for he shall know that I am the Lord.

Note: Disguised - to change the customary dress or appearance of. Synonyms: camouflage, dress up, or to cover.

Mosiah 12:1
And it came to pass that *after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them, saying: Thus has the Lord commanded me, saying—Abinadi, go and prophesy unto this my people, for they have hardened their hearts against my words; they have repented not of their evil doings; therefore, I will visit them in my anger, yea, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities and abominations.

Note: A building campaign that came at the expense and toil of the people based upon the taxes they paid. Ziff - In Hebrew, this term means brightness, i.e. metallic brightness.[2] John L. Sorenson, a Latter-Day Saint scholar of Mesoamerican archaeology has opined that the most likely possibility for ziff is an alloy called tumbaga composed of gold and copper.[3]

Mosiah 11:8
And it came to pass that king Noah built many elegant and spacious buildings; and he ornamented them with fine work of wood, and of all manner of precious things, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper;

Note: Noah had changed the way in which the Nephites kings had ruled. It went from "consent" and rule, to "dictate" and rule. It went from a benevolent king to a ruler ship privileged king. The consent of the governed was now enslaved by a dictator.

Mosiah 11:4
And all this did he take to support himself, and his wives and his concubines; and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines; thus he had changed the affairs of the kingdom.

Note: Alma confesses that he too was caught up in these types of sins, but sought forgiveness and repentance.

Mosiah 11:2
For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.

Note: "If you build your home on the foundation rock of our redeemer and the gosple, they can be sanctuaries where your families can be sheltered from the raging storms of life". - Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Q-12, Apr. 1993.

Helaman 5:12
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Note: Be fiercely loyal to you spouse

Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Note: Hand to hand combat. The blood, the thirst, the sweat, the tears, and the pain of it all. Can we even comprehend the sarrow and destruction?

Mosiah 10:19
And now I, Zeniff, after having told all these things unto my people concerning the Lamanites, I did stimulate them to go to battle with their might, putting their trust in the Lord; therefore, we did contend with them, face to face.

Note: Verses 21 - 22 is commentary provided by Mormon. He indicates that Wisdom should be our ruler, but we do not listen. The scriptures teach us if we are wish, we shall live.

Mosiah 8:20
O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them!

Note: Urim and Thummum

Mosiah 8:13
Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.

Note: Ammon a descendent of Zarahemla would be a Mulikite and of the House of Juda. Thus entitled to the throne and birthright. This may very well be the head waters of rebellion and the birth of Kingmen.

Mosiah 7:3
And it came to pass that on the morrow they started to go up, having with them one Ammon, he being a strong and mighty man, and a descendant of Zarahemla; and he was also their leader.

Note: Teasing - To annoy or pester, vex

Mosiah 7:1
And now, it came to pass that after king Mosiah had had continual peace for the space of three years, he was desirous to know concerning the people who went up to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi, or in the city of Lehi-Nephi; for his people had heard nothing from them from the time they left the land of Zarahemla; therefore, they wearied him with their teasings.

Note: King Benjamin died in 121B.C.

Mosiah 6:5
And king Benjamin lived three *years and he died.

Note: Mosiah was born in 446 B.C.

Mosiah 6:4
And Mosiah began to reign in his father's stead. *And he began to reign in the thirtieth year of his age, making in the whole, about four hundred and seventy-six years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.

Note: Mosiah was born in 446 B.C.

Mosiah 6:4
And Mosiah began to reign in his father's stead. *And he began to reign in the thirtieth year of his age, making in the whole, about four hundred and seventy-six years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.

Note: Oath - Mosiah 5:5-7

Mosiah 6:3
And again, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of all these things, and had consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people, and had given him all the charges concerning the kingdom, and also had appointed priests to teach the people, that thereby they might hear and know the commandments of God, and to stir them up in remembrance of the oath which they had made, he dismissed the multitude, and they returned, every one, according to their families, to their own houses.

Note: Oath - Mosiah 5:5-7

Mosiah 6:3
And again, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of all these things, and had consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people, and had given him all the charges concerning the kingdom, and also had appointed priests to teach the people, that thereby they might hear and know the commandments of God, and to stir them up in remembrance of the oath which they had made, he dismissed the multitude, and they returned, every one, according to their families, to their own houses.

Note: What is the name by which ye should be called?

Mosiah 5:12
I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

Note: The answer to why sinner can not stand in the presence of God.

Mosiah 3:25
And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.

Note: See v. 11

Mosiah 3:16
And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.

Note: See v. 16

Mosiah 3:11
For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

Note: Could this be the Lord speaking to King Benjamin in a dream. The Angle as declared starts his statement with I AM.

Mosiah 3:3
And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy.

Note: A true theocracy where temporal and spiritual government are united under one rule.

Mosiah 1:15
And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had made an end of these sayings to his son, that he gave him charge concerning all the affairs of the kingdom.

Note: Aught: verb 1. to own; possess. Origin: before 1000; Middle English; Old English æht; cognate with Old High German ēht, Gothic aihts; akin to owe, own

Mosiah 2:25
And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.

Note: We are totally dependent upon the Lord and his grace towards us. All we have and all we are is given to us upon his pleasure and his love for us. King Benjamin informs us that what we do in his name is already blessed in accordance to our action. In other words, God can not be placed in a debter position. See v. 23-25

Mosiah 2:21
I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

Note: v. 12

Mosiah 2:16
Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God.

Note: V. 13

Mosiah 2:4
And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men.

Note: Good rulers or just rulers teach you to obey the commandments of God.

Mosiah 2:13
Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you—

Note: Extending his arm is an illusion to Christ's Atonement and Mercy.

Mosiah 1:14
For I say unto you, that if he had not extended his arm in the preservation of our fathers they must have fallen into the hands of the Lamanites, and become victims to their hatred.

Note: King Benjamin units these two groups of people under one name: Jesus Christ. This one thing will remove all the differences and make one people. Out of many, they become one under Christ.

Mosiah 1:11
And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord.

Note: And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all- Hel.

Omni 1:15
Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.

Note: Amalikia came through the linage of Jacob and did Mosiah come through the line of Nephi.

Omni 1:23
Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have lived to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead.

Note: Nine moons means nine months.

Omni 1:21
And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.

Note: Nephi; Jacob; Enos; Jarom; Omni (v. 1); Amoron (v.3), unto my brother Chemish; Abinadom, am the son of Chemish; Amaleki, the son of Abinadom; and Amaleki gave the plates to King Benjamin(v. 25), who in turn gave to his son Mosiah.

Omni 1:1
Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy—

Note: 320 yrs passed.

Omni 1:5
Behold, it came to pass that *three hundred and twenty years had passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed.

Note: 276 yrs passed

Omni 1:3
And it came to pass that *two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, *two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end.

Note: 276 / 282 yrs passed

Omni 1:3
And it came to pass that *two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, *two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end.

Note: V.7

Jarom 1:14
And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates are small. But behold, my brethren, ye can go to the other plates of Nephi; for behold, upon them the records of our wars are engraven, according to the writings of the kings, or those which they caused to be written.

Note: V. 14

Jarom 1:7
And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them away out of our lands, and began to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance.

Note: 238 - yrs since Lehi left Jerusalem. In the space of 200 years of history, imagine that of the History of the United States to that of the Nephites. One can only imagine the advancements and marvelous changes that took place.

Jarom 1:13
And it came to pass that *two hundred and thirty and eight years had passed away—after the manner of wars, and contentions, and dissensions, for the space of much of the time.

Note: The scriptures state that unholly spirits are unclean. Joseph S. stated of unclean spirits that they are impure or less refined.

D&C 131:8
We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter.

Note: 1. The highest kingdom where temple covenants have been entered into and kept. 2. Made temple covenants, but not the marriage covenant. 3. Faithful in Baptismal covenant.

D&C 131:1
In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;

Note: Jarem was also a mighty prophet and revelator.

Jarom 1:2
And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.

Note: I place the birth of Enos at 541B.C. (Jacob 7:27). This is approxmentally three years after the death of Nephi. Jacob would have been 48 years old at the time. The record of Enos is silent to his uncle Nephi, other than the preservation of the record. With Enos passing in 421 B.C. This would have made him 120 years old.

Enos 1:25
And it came to pass that I began to be old, *and an hundred and seventy and nine years had passed away from the time that our father Lehi left Jerusalem.

Note: See v. 19

Enos 1:5
And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

Note: Nourished by the good words of the Lord. In other words the Scriptures, the Prophets, and General Conference.

Jacob 5:11
And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this thing.

Note: Verses 21-23 - with the Lord the impossible is possible.

Jacob 5:21
And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard.

Note: The prophets plead their case before the Lord between justice and mercy. Just as Christ does before the Father, they also serve as advocates to the saints.

Jacob 5:50
But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little longer.

Note: Verses 51-54 is the Lord speaking

Jacob 5:51
And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.

Note: See Jacob 6:6

Jacob 7:16
And it came to pass that he said unto the people: Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I shall die.

Note: "why will ye die?". See Jacob 7:16

Jacob 6:6
Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die?

Note: Interesting observation. When we stand before "the pleasing" bar of Christ the pleasing may just be "the pleading" bar of Christ.

Jacob 6:13
Finally, 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. Amen.

Note: See v. 13

Jacob 6:9
Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the power of the redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ, will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God?

Note: The three great testators of God the Father: Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the administration of Angels.

Jacob 7:17
And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude were gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.

Note: See v. 7

Jacob 7:23
And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man.

Note: See v. 23

Jacob 7:7
And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem contend against me.

Note: The Etymology of adieu is Old French meaning "a Dieu vos comant" (“I commend you to God”) Jacob is wishing his reader farewell and goodbye until he and you meet at the pleasing bare of the Judgement seat. Jacob was born sometime in 589 B.C. (1 Ne. 18:7). Jacob was

Jacob 7:27
And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu.

Note: 1 Chr. 15:29 - Like a dream meaning we are here for only a moment in time.

Jacob 7:26
And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.

Note: Sherem serves as an example how the Lord compares his people like a vine in his vineyard. How he takes the time to nourish, prune, sets about his servants to groom the garden. In the end Sherem suffers death, as all will, but Sherem's fate is he is cast off as if he is in a fire.

Jacob 7:15
And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days.

Note: - Know - See v. 5 for sub text.

Jacob 7:13
And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.

Note: The argument for the existence of God and the daily proofs that he exist.

Alma 30:44
But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

Note: Sherem understood the art of rhetoric in his argument and did so "according to the power of the devil".

Jacob 7:4
And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.

Note: Jacob 5:3 I will liken thee, O house of Israel, like unto a tame olive-tree A tame olive tree is one that is cultivated by the master of the vineyard, specifically grown to produce good olives. The olive tree is a carefully chosen simile for several reasons: “For centuries the olive branch has been associated with peace. When the dove returned to Noah in the ark, it carried in its beak an olive leaf, as though to symbolize that the earth was again at peace with God. (See Genesis 8:11) The olive branch was used in both Greece and Rome to signify peace, and it is still used in that sense in the great seal of the United States where the American eagle is shown grasping an olive branch in his talons… “There is further symbolic significance in that the olive tree is different from most other fruit-bearing trees in the manner of its beginning. If the green slip of an olive tree is merely planted and allowed to grow, it develops into the wild olive, a bush that grows without control into a tangle of limbs and branches that produce only a small, worthless fruit. (See Harold N. and Alma L. Moldenke, Plants of the Bible, p. 159) To become the productive ‘tame’ olive tree, the main stem of the wild tree must be cut back completely and then a branch from a tame olive tree must be grafted into the stem of the wild one. With careful pruning and cultivating the tree will begin to produce its first fruit in about seven years, but it will not become fully productive for nearly fifteen years. In other words, the olive tree cannot become productive in and of itself; it requires grafting by the husbandman to bring it into production. One remembers the figure used by Jesus to describe himself, his Father, and those that serve them: ‘I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ‘ (John 15:1-3) The word purgeth in Greek means ‘pruned,’ and in Greek verse 3 keeps the metaphor and says, ‘ Now ye are pruned.’ God is the husbandman and prunes off the wild branches of our spiritual lives if we will but submit to his tender care. Thus we become like the tame olive tree… “’The wild olive is a kind of reversion to the primitive plant—such as occurs also with the fig and almond—and it takes place whenever the growth of the olive is neglected…. “’In most neglected olive groves numerous little bushes of the ‘wild olive’ may be seen, which, though very unlike the cultivated tree—having a shorter, smaller, and greener leaf and a stiffer, more prickly stem—are nevertheless derived from it. As a rule the wild olive is but a shrub, but it may grow into a tree and have small but useless ‘berries.’ Where groves of wild olives are found in Palestine, they are probably always the descendants of cultivated trees long ago destroyed,’ (James Hastings, ed., Dictionary of the Bible, s.v. “Olive.”­) “The olive tree is remarkable for two other characteristics that are quite unlike other fruit-bearing trees. First, though requiring nearly fifteen years to come into full production, it may produce fruit for centuries. Some trees now growing in the Holy Land have been producing abundantly for at least four hundred years. The second amazing quality of the tree is that as it finally does grow old and begin to die, the roots send up a number of new green shoots which, if grafted and pruned in regular fashion, will mature to full-grown olive trees again. Thus, while the tree itself may produce fruit for centuries, the root of the tree may go on producing fruit and new trees for millennia. It is believed that some of the ancient olive trees in Israel today come from trees that were [in existence] when Christ was alive on the earth.” (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1981, pp. 138-9)

Jacob 5:2
Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of the Lord.

Note: Jacob 5:3 it grew, and waxed old, and began to decay The chronology of this allegory is crucial to a proper interpretation. To give a sense for what time period is being spoken of we will take clues from the several instances in the chapter when the time period can be fairly well determined. The rest of the chronology must be extrapolated from known history and scriptural clues. This passage, describing when the house of Israel begins to decay, could be interpreted to refer to the time when Israel decided to establish a king. Note the interaction between Samuel and the Lord: ‘But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.’ (1 Sam 8:6-8) Because of this interaction, Saul was chosen as a king over Israel (c. 1095 BC). Saul, of course, was followed by king David and king Solomon. After Solomon’s reign, the children of Israel began to wax grosser in their iniquities, especially among the northern ten tribes.

Jacob 5:3
For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O house of Israel, like unto a tame olive-tree, which a man took and nourished in his vineyard; and it grew, and waxed old, and began to decay.

Note: Jacob 5:6 it began to put forth somewhat a little, young and tender branches; but behold, the main top thereof began to perish We can determine the general time period spoken of here because this is the time right before Israel begins to be scattered. The scattering of Israel begins with the sacking of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians. Therefore, this verse likely refers to the state of affairs before 721 BC. At that time, the northern kingdom was completely wicked. They were practicing idolatry. They had a long line of wicked, idolatrous kings, and had altogether turned from the Lord: ‘And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel’ (2 Kings 17:16-18) This was when the main top thereof began to perish. The other part of this prophecy refers to the young and tender branches which were still viable. This would refer to the same time period—when the smaller kingdom of Judah was still faithful to the Lord. Probably the most righteous king at this time was king Hezekiah. Of him the scriptures record: ‘And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.’ (2 Kings 18:3-5) However, the interpretation that the wicked kingdom of Israel is the “main top” and that the kingdom of Judah represents “the young and tender branches” cannot be too strictly adhered to because there were those of the northern kingdom who were preserved by being scattered, and there were those of the southern kingdom whose wickedness ripened until they were destroyed. The example above is given to the reader for a frame of reference.

Jacob 5:6
And it came to pass that after many days it began to put forth somewhat a little, young and tender branches; but behold, the main top thereof began to perish.

Note: Jacob 5:7,10 branches from a wild olive-tree are grafted in to the mother tree The branches from the wild olive-tree are brought in to replace the dying top branches. This again is referring to the time when the kingdom of Israel is being destroyed and other nations are brought in to replace them: ‘And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof… Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear the Lord. (2 Kings 17:24,28) These wild branches did not produce fruit right away. For centuries they believed in the Lord and yet continued to worship their own pagan gods. Because of this they were looked down on by their Jewish neighbors to the south. They eventually became “the Samaritans” and practiced a form of Judaism which was mixed with their pagan traditions. It was not until after the ministry of the Savior that they began to blossom, and the Gentiles were grafted in in greater numbers.

Jacob 5:10
And it came to pass that the servant of the Lord of the vineyard did according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard, and grafted in the branches of the wild olive-tree.

Note: Jacob 5:7,9 main branches…we will cast them into the fire that they may be burned Some of the wicked members of the northern kingdom were killed before the main body of Samaria was taken captive to Assyria. This likely occurred while the Israelites were under siege to the Assyrians for three years (1 Kings 17:5). No record specifically describes how many died in the wars and siege of the Assyrians. The record is more complete regarding the destructions which occurred in Jerusalem when the Babylonians took the city: ‘Therefore he (the Lord) brought upon them (the Jews) the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand… And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon’ (2 Chron 36:17,20).

Jacob 5:7
And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he said unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a wild olive-tree, and bring them hither unto me; and we will pluck off those main branches which are beginning to wither away, and we will cast them into the fire that they may be burned.

Note: Jacob 5:8,13,14 the young and tender branches are hid in the nethermost parts of the vineyard This is the scattering of Israel when the natural branches are taken and spread all over the world. Note that the execution of most of the work to this point has been done by the servant (v. 10). This act, the scattering of Israel, is done only by the Master of the vineyard himself, the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural branches of the tame olive-tree (v. 14). Later in the chapter we learn that the Lord hid four distinct branches (v. 20-25). The only branch whose identity is known is the last of the four, which is a representation of the descendants of Lehi. This helps us understand the chronology. It implies that the other three branches which were hid up by the Lord were taken before Lehi and his family in 600 BC. One of these three branches is probably a representation of the ten tribes which were taken in 721 BC. The identity of the other two branches is unknown.

Jacob 5:8
And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many of these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will; and it mattereth not that if it so be that the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will.