Why was Israel scattered?
To preserve Israel. The House of Israel had become corrupt and apostasy had begun; therefore, the Lord, in order to preserve the family of Israel with His teachings and covenants, had to scattered or separate them.
The Vineyard
The world
Master of the vineyard:
Jesus Christ, the Master Gardner
The Servant(s)
Prophets and others called to serve
Tame olive tree
House of Israel, the Jews, the Lord's covenant people, active church members
Wild olive tree
Gentiles, Non-Israel (later in the parable wild branches are apostate Israel). Disobedient members.
Branches
Groups of people (Lehites, Mulekites, 10 lost tribes, others)
Roots of the tame olive tree
(A) Gospel covenants and promises made by God that give life and sustenance to the tree
(B) Blood of Israel and its influence
Fruit of the tree
The lives or works of people
Digging, pruning, fertilizing, nourishing
The Lord's work with His children, which seeks to persuade them to be obedient and produce good fruit.
John 15:1-8
2 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.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Transplanting the branches
Scattering of groups throughout the world, or restoring them to their original position. Full-time missionaries. Member families moving to new locations. Church being established throughout the world.
Grafting
Process of spiritual rebirth wherein one is joined to the covenant. Investigating the church, studying, praying, attending church, having the missionary lessons, having faith in Christ, repenting, being baptized and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Decaying branches
Wickedness and apostasy. Going less active in the church. Turning away from the gospel and church.
Casting the branches into the fire
The judgment of God leading to punishment and destruction. (Assyria, 721 BC, Babylon, 587 BC)
Trees
People
Mother tree
House of Israel of the Old World (Old Testament world). The homeland of Israel. Jacob and his original family.
Natural branches
Israelites by birth who were loyal and faithful.
Being bloodline descendants of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (see 1 Nephi 15:16)
Young and tender branches
Those who responded to the pruning and fertilizing. New converts.
Natural fruit
Personal righteousness. Good fruit, the best fruit, the most precious above all other fruit
Cumber
Burden
Nethermost
Lowest parts. Four quarters of the earth
Lay up unto myself, preserve unto myself
"Bring souls to me," Exaltation, eternal life, millennium
All trees become corrupt
Great Apostasy. Joseph Smith was told to join "none of the churches, for they were all corrupt."
Pluck
To move people to other places "for their own good".
Symbolism
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Meaning
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vineyard
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wild olive tree
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Judgment of God: Assyria in 721 BC, Jews taken captive into Babylon 587 BC,
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The Prophet Joseph informed us that the record of Lehi, was contained on the 116 pages that were first translated and subsequently stolen, and of which an abridgment is given us in the first book of Nephi, which is the record of Nephi individually, he himself being of the lineage of Manasseh; but that Ishmael was of the lineage of Ephraim, and that his sons married into Lehi's family, and Lehi's sons married Ishmael's daughters...
