I cannot begin to properly explain this allegory from the Book of Mormon so I'll take the explanation from Monte S. Nyman, publisher and author. The prophet Zenos tells a story in Jacob 5, in which he likens the House of Israel to a tame Olive Tree that was planted, grew mature, and started to decay. The Master of the Vineyard (Jesus Christ) and his servants (the prophets) saw it, pruned it, and nourished it. Some natural branches were cast off and wild ones grafted in. When that didn't work, the Master left the location of the tame Olive Tree roots (the blood of Israel among the Gentiles) and took some tender young natural branches to the nethermost part of the vineyard and grafted them in to wild olive trees (the Gentiles). This story goes on to span the history of the House of Israel until the end of the earth. [Monte S. Nyman, An Ensign to All People, pp. 35, 36]. The part that impressed me the most was the word nourish. I was told that some form of this word shows up 20 times in Jacob 5. I definitely have a need to be spiritually nourished. Moroni 6:4 speaks of our need to be "nourished by the good word of God..." We are told in Jacob 6:5-8 that God nourishes us all the time '...And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day ... For behold ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long..." I am very grateful for the concern the Lord shows for us. He is always concerned about our welfare and He is always there to help us and protect us and to bless us. I know that these words in the Book of Mormon are true. I know that the Lord's suffering and teachings and examples are real. He wants to help us have a fullness of joy, if we just remember "the plain and simple truths" of the Gospel.
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