Jacob 5:54–77; 6:1–13

“How Blessed Are They Who Have Labored Diligently in His Vineyard”

people reading the Book of Mormon

How does the allegory of the olive trees recorded in Jacob 5 relate to you? The final part of this allegory symbolizes the Lord’s work in the last days, including the efforts He and His servants make to gather souls to Him for a final time. This lesson is intended to help you feel a greater desire to labor with the Lord in helping Heavenly Father’s children come unto to Him.

Help each student contribute to the learning experience. Each student is needed and has a contribution to make. Some students may be more inclined to participate than other students. Make efforts to help each student contribute in ways that are meaningful and comfortable for them.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to do the study activity under the heading “Jacob 5:61–75: The Lord invites me to labor with Him in His vineyard” in the study outline “April 8–14. Jacob 5–7: ‘The Lord Labors with Us’” in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2024.

Possible Learning Activities

A great work

Share the following scenario with the class:

Annika was recently asked by her bishop to prayerfully consider ways she might reach out to and help one of the young women in her ward who has not been attending church. Annika feels a little nervous and wonders, “Why is the bishop asking me to do this? He would probably be much more effective at helping her than I would.”

• What could be some of the reasons Annika’s bishop may have invited her to reach out to the young woman instead of reaching out himself?

Before sharing the following introduction, it may be helpful to invite a few volunteers to summarize what they remember about the portions of the allegory in Jacob 5 they studied in the previous lesson.

Today, you will study the final portion of the allegory of the olive trees recorded in Jacob 5. This portion of the allegory represents the last days. One truth we can learn from this portion of the allegory is that the Lord invites His latter-day servants to labor in His vineyard by participating in the gathering of Israel.

Before you begin studying, consider your feelings about being invited by the Lord to help gather people to Him. Have you ever wondered why He invites you to help Him in His work of saving souls? As you study, look for teachings that can help you better understand the Lord’s purposes for inviting us to participate with Him in the gathering of Israel.

The master of the vineyard invites servants to labor with him

The final part of the allegory begins with a conversation that takes place between the master of the vineyard, who represents Jesus Christ, and his servant, who represents the Lord’s prophets.

Read Jacob 5:61–62, 70, looking for what the master of the vineyard instructed his servant to do and why he asked him to do it.

• Who in these verses could represent you and other members of the Church?

President Russell M. Nelson discussed the work the Lord and His servants perform in the last days:

President Russell M. Nelson

The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith that now, meaning our day, is the eleventh hour and the last time that He will call laborers into His vineyard for the express purpose of gathering the elect from the four quarters of the earth [see Doctrine and Covenants 33:3, 6]. …

Would you like to help gather Israel during these precious latter days? …

… Think of it! Of all the people who have ever lived on planet earth, we are the ones who get to participate in this final, great gathering event. How exciting is that!

Our Heavenly Father has reserved many of His most noble spirits—perhaps, I might say, His finest team—for this final phase. Those noble spirits—those finest players, those heroes—are you! (Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], supplement to the New Era and Ensign, 8, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• What did President Nelson’s statement help you learn or feel about God?

• What did it teach you about yourself and the role you are to play in the gathering of Israel?

• What do you think are some of the reasons why the Lord invites us to help gather people to Him?

Your portion of the Lord’s vineyard

Consider completing the following activity on your own before class and showing the students your picture as an example.

In your study journal or on another piece of paper, draw a picture of a vineyard or a field that represents the Lord’s vineyard. Then draw or write a few things that represent the following:

1. Opportunities you have to labor in the Lord’s vineyard and help gather Israel. Examples could include pictures or words that represent people you could help come closer to the Savior, actions you could take to share the gospel in person or online, or efforts to bless people on the other side of the veil through temple and family history work.

2. Obstacles you face in your efforts to labor in the Lord’s vineyard. Examples could include pictures or words that represent obstacles such as fear, unsurety about what to do, or feeling too busy with other things.

Study the following verses, looking for teachings that could help you overcome the obstacles you identified. Consider adding pictures or words to your vineyard drawing based on what you learn.

• Jacob 5:71–72, 75

• Jacob 6:2–8 (teachings Jacob shared after quoting the allegory)

• Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–16

• What did you learn about the Lord from these verses?

• What words or phrases from these verses could help someone who is hesitant to participate in the gathering of Israel?

Consider sharing a personal example as part of the discussion for the next question.

• What blessings have you seen or experienced for participating with the Lord in laboring to bring souls to Him?

Take a moment to think about your next steps for participating with the Lord in the gathering of Israel. Record a goal related to this in your study journal or build on a goal you’ve already set for yourself. You could also include words or pictures that represent your goal on your drawing of the vineyard. Consider watching “2021 Youth Theme Song: ‘A Great Work’” (4:06), which is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, as you ponder what you want your goals to be.

Consider inviting a few volunteers to share their completed pictures, along with their goals, with the class. Testify of the truths discussed today and invite students to act on the goals they have created for themselves. Students will have an opportunity to revisit this goal in a future Assess Your Learning lesson.

Commentary and Background Information

What does the allegory of the olive trees have to do with me?

Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy taught:

Elder Brent H. Nielson

The Savior’s call is to you of the rising generation. He is asking for worthy, prepared, faithful young men and young women who will heed the prophet’s voice, who will step up and say, as the Savior Himself said, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27). The need has never been greater. The field has never been whiter. You are called to go “this last time” (Jacob 5:62). There is no greater work; there is no greater call. (Brent H. Nielson, “A Call to the Rising Generation,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 97)

Who directs the work that takes place in the Lord’s vineyard?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

While we strive to be diligent in building up Zion, including our part in the gathering of the Lord’s elect and the redemption of the dead, we should pause to remember that it is the Lord’s work and He is doing it. He is the Lord of the vineyard, and we are His servants. He bids us labor in the vineyard with our might this “last time,” and He labors with us (see Jacob 5:71–72). It would probably be more accurate to say He permits us to labor with Him. … It is He who is hastening His work in its time. Employing our admittedly imperfect efforts—our “small means”—the Lord brings about great things (see 1 Nephi 16:29). (D. Todd Christofferson, “Preparing for the Lord’s Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 83–84)

What are some of the ways I can labor in the Lord’s vineyard?

Consider watching the following videos to see examples of ways you can labor with the Lord in His work.

“Sharing the Gospel” (3:49)

“Because I Have Been Given Much” (4:25)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Strength in numbers

To help illustrate the increased productivity that can occur when many people work together with the Lord to gather Israel, you could scatter about 30–40 pieces of paper around the room with names or pictures of people on them. Give a volunteer 10 seconds to gather as many “people” (pictures or names) as possible. Next, scatter the papers again and ask a second volunteer to join with the first student in gathering for 10 seconds. Compare how many papers were gathered this time with the number gathered by the student on their own. If desired, this could be repeated with even more students.

Other scriptures about laboring in the lord’s vineyard.

There are many references to the Lord’s vineyard in the scriptures. Consider inviting students to study some of the following verses, looking for additional insights they gain about laboring in the Lord’s vineyard.

• Doctrine and Covenants 4:1–7

• Doctrine and Covenants 33:3–11

• Doctrine and Covenants 39:13, 17–20

An example of people laboring with the Lord in His vineyard

Consider showing the video “How One Conversion Grew into a Band of Brothers” (3:44), which is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Students could be asked to look for how a group of young men was blessed by the efforts of others to labor with the Lord in His vineyard.

“O be wise; what can I say more?” (Jacob 6:12)

Consider inviting students to read Jacob’s concluding counsel in Jacob 6:11–12. Students could be invited to think about why it would be wise to follow Jacob’s counsel to repent based on what they learned from Jacob 5–6.