The Parable of the Tame and Wild Olive Trees

We usually think of the Fifth Chapter of Jacob in the Book of Mormon as an allegory. Indeed, the heading of this famous chapter states that it is an allegory, which is defined as a fictional representation of truths using symbols. Read in this way, we know that the tame and wild olive trees represent the tribes of Israel and the Gentiles, respectively. The lord of the vineyard (God) and his servant (the prophet) remove branches from the tame tree because the roots are rotting, and they plant them in other parts of the garden to preserve the good fruit of the tame tree. Eventually they gather up the tame branches and graft them back into the original roots to revive the tame tree, and thus save Israel.

Michael Wilcox, a former Institute Director, author, and lecturer, suggests that this chapter can also be read as a parable.We can read it in ways that apply to our personal lives.

The Parable

At one point in the story, the lord of the vineyard and his servant tour the garden and inspect the various places where they had previously grafted the tame branches. In verse 20 we read, "he beheld the first that it had brought forth much fruit; and he beheld also that it was good. And he said unto the servant: Take of the fruit thereof, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self; for behold, said he, this long time have I nourished it, and it hath brought forth much fruit."

The lord of the vineyard is pleased with the result of the branch after it had been transplanted because it had produced much useful fruit. The servant is surprised, however. He says in verse 21, "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." He could not understand why his master would put one of his prized branches in such an unlikely environment. Why would he not put his best branch in the best spot of his garden so that it would have the best chance of producing?

The lord of the vineyard mildly scolds his servant for questioning his methods in verse 22: "Counsel me not." He then explains his technique for growing good fruit. "I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit." The lord of the vineyard was not ignorant or careless or haphazard in his actions. He knew what he was doing.

To strengthen his lesson for his servant, the lord of the vineyard points out other grafting projects. "And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first. But, behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit; therefore, gather it, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self. And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said again unto his servant: Look hither, and behold another abranch also, which I have planted; behold that I have nourished it also, and it hath brought forth fruit" (verses 23-24).

Then by way of contrast, to complete the lesson, the lord of vineyard examines one last tree. "Look hither and behold the last," he says to his servant. "Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others" (verse 25).

The Application

In the story, the lord and the servant go on to discuss other aspects of his garden and the lord's plans for his trees. The author leaves it up to us to draw the meaning from the parable. Brother Wilcox points out some key ideas that we can gain from this brief exchange between the lord the vineyard and his servant.

First, it is not the ground in which we are planted that determines our ability to please the Lord. Some of us are placed in very favorable circumstances, and others are handed seemingly impossible trials and afflictions. Some are born into excellent families where gospel teachings fill their homes, and others are born into much less promising situations. Some are born with healthy bodies, and others are born with afflictions. Some enjoy prosperity while others are faced with a life of poverty. The point is that the Lord knows our circumstances. He has determined the environment in which we can best grow and achieve his goals, which are immortality and eternal life.

Second, because he knows us and our circumstances, which he has designed, the Lord nourishes us. He makes us equal to the task. He provides the nutrients and sunlight to enable us to grow, and he keeps the weeds from choking us. He helps everyone. He leaves none of his children unattended and unnourished.

The Lord knows us. He knows what we can handle. He knows what will make us strong. He knows how to nourish us. He knows what fruit we can bear. He has great expectations for all of his children.

Yet we do not all produce the same. What makes the difference? It is how we react to our circumstances and to the Lord's nourishing that makes the difference. We can look at our circumstances - the spot of ground in which we are planted - and we can get discouraged and wither and die. Or we can absorb the nourishment that the Lord provides, take strength from his help, overcome the weaknesses of our circumstances, and prosper. It is our choice - our exercise of agency - that determines our destiny. We can choose to bring forth the good fruit of obedience, faith, service, charity and love, or we can choose to curse God, shrivel on the vine, and become bitter. We can let our afflictions and trials overpower us and discourage us and ultimately destroy us, or we can draw on the Lord's strength, have faith, and marvel at the miracles that he can produce in our lives, despite what we may perceive as our poor circumstances. The hardiest trees can grow in some of the most adverse conditions.

Everything about us and within us constitutes our spot of ground. The century in which we are born, the country in which we dwell, the society in which we grow up, the community in which we live, the parents who raised us, our bodies, our health, our opportunities for education, our jobs, our spouse, our children, the availability of the gospel and the proximity of the church - all of these things and many more are the ground in which the Lord has planted us. One may have been born in the Dark Ages, or in a country dominated by an atheistic Communist regime, or in a milieu of gang violence, or in a community of poverty, or to abusive parents, or with physical handicaps, or with genetic or acquired diseases, or in a time and place where schools are not available. We may be beset with a myriad of problems and challenges and afflictions and disadvantages and bad breaks that make our life seem harder than we would want it to be.

The Lord is not ignorant of our circumstances. Our lives are not as haphazard as we may think. God is never surprised by where we are or who we are or what happens to us. He knows. And because he knows, he nourishes us with just the right nutrients to ensure that we have all that we need to overcome and improve and bear fruit. He does not delight in our suffering, but he rejoices doubly with us when we succeed. When we take what he has given us and make something of ourselves, he is thrilled.

Conclusion

To be honest, I think I am like the last example in the parable. I am planted in a pretty good spot of ground. I am surrounded by pretty favorable circumstances. The Lord has been nourishing me all along. But my fruit has been a mixed bag of good and bitter, tame and wild. I keep trying to lop off the unfruitful and bitter branches and encourage the good branches to grow stronger. I am grateful to have a good Gardner to help me, to point out the areas that need thinning and pruning, and who is patient while I try to respond to his loving care as he cultivates my soul.

In the end, it is not where I am but who I am that matters to the Lord.