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	HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #13 Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona Weekly E-mail Reminder << The Allegory of the Olive Tree >> Jacob 5-7 --------------------------------------------------------------------- (1.) OLIVE TREES – AS A SYMBOL: --------------------------------------------------------------------- The olive branch has long been a sign of peace. The silvery-leaved olive tree has been considered sacred as far back as the 17th century B.C. Native to the Mediterranean area, the olive is a small, oily fruit that contains a pit. All fresh olives are bitter, and the final flavor of the fruit greatly depends on how ripe it is when picked and the processing it receives. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (2.) IMAGERY OF OLIVES & CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Olives originated in the Mediterranean area and spread throughout the world, so also did the Children of Israel originate in the Mediterranean and proliferate throughout the world. As olives vary in size and flavor, the Children of Israel grew to include many ethnic backgrounds. The olives must be ripened and processed, the Children of Israel were given time to mature and prove their worthiness to be the covenant people. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (3.) CONSIDER TIMING: --------------------------------------------------------------------- The simplicity of Jacob’s olive trees allegory lies in a pattern of planting, scattering, gathering and an ultimate harvest plus the principle of first and last. As the Lord is First and Last (Isaiah 48:12), so are his chosen people, "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." (Matthew 19:30; 20:16) (1 Nephi 13:42) (Ether 13:12) (D&C 29:30) My own forefathers were chosen first to represent God. Now, they are to be the last. How blessed am I to be one of the first of the last to know my God again and represent Him! --------------------------------------------------------------------- (4.) PATTERN OF SCATTERING/GATHERING: --------------------------------------------------------------------- The allegory of the olive tree portrays the Children of Israel, genetically and spiritually set apart to be a covenant nation in both lands of everlasting hills. Due to lack of faith, followed by disobedience, they began to apostatize. Prophets were sent to teach them. "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets . . ." (Amos 3:7-11) Sometimes Gentiles were brought in and parts of the original "chosen" were cut off. At other times, young, tender and yet strong members were sent elsewhere to the nethermost part of the world. ". . . I will send those that escape of them unto the nations . . . to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles." (Isaiah 66:19) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (5.) POOR SPOT OF LAND BECOMES FRUITFUL: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Lehi and Nephi continued teaching the same truths that were given in the original vineyard. What they recorded as their scriptures became an even clearer source of teaching materials for later generations. Even in the distant or "poorest" spot of land, the truths thrived and the righteous created a "genetic imprint" of true dealings with God. As an additional example of poor land producing fruit, let me remind you that returning Jews are making the once wilderness, Israel, "blossom as a rose." More roses are exported from Israel than any country in the world. Where once annual rainfall was one inch or less per year, the new flower farms and date groves, receive six or seven inches rainfall per year. Israel’s genetic engineering has taken the genetic structures of date palms which grow well in depleted or poor soil and placed them into other domestic crop structures elsewhere in the world. That means the poor spot of land can also become fruitful. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (6.) PROPHETS PLEAD FOR ROOTS TO CONNECT TO THE TRUE PAST: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Even though, ethnically, Israelis look like a mixed fruit salad, their roots still bear the genetic imprints of the original House of Israel. Connecting to those roots will trigger a recollection of ancient covenants. So, when the fruit in the nethermost part of the vineyard becomes apostate, there still is a root connection to the old tree. Recollection of roots will bring our families back together. ". . . the book of life is the record of the acts of men as such record is written in their own bodies. It is the record engraven on the very bones, sinews, and flesh of the mortal body . . . every thought, word, and deed has an affect on the human body . . . leave their marks, marks which can be read by Him who is Eternal as easily as the words in a book can be read." (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Pg.97) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (7.) MY FOREFATHERS HAVE BLESSED MY LIFE TODAY: --------------------------------------------------------------------- I know that they were believers and that many were faithful in following the Lord, before and during his mortal ministry, and now my family follows him in the latter-days. In a very real sense, my family is another example of the allegory of the olive tree. I was born in Israel. At the tender age of five years old, I was plucked out of the old decaying tree and brought to the "nethermost part" of the vineyard. My father and I were introduced to the restoration of God’s ancient covenant. Now, I have returned to my home land and in a very real sense have been grafted back into the old tree. My family and I are committed to bring health and strength . . . connecting with our ancient roots and bringing life back to the old tree, teaching the restored ancient true covenants . . . the gathering of Israel is happening!
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