There are many, many people who haven’t yet heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you ever feel overwhelmed by the immensity of the task of gathering them into the Lord’s Church, what Jacob said about olive trees in Jacob 5 has a reassuring reminder: the vineyard belongs to the Lord. He has given each of us a small area to assist in His work—our family, our circle of friends, our sphere of influence. And sometimes the first person we help gather is ourselves. But we are never alone in this work, for the Lord of the vineyard labors alongside His servants (see Jacob 5:72). God knows and loves His children, and He will prepare a way for each of them to hear His gospel, even those who have rejected Him in the past (see Jacob 4:15–18). And then, when the work is done, all those who have been “diligent in laboring with [Him] … shall have joy with [Him] because of the fruit of [His] vineyard” (Jacob 5:75).
See also “Jacob Teaches the Allegory of the Olive Trees” (video), Gospel Library.
Jacob 5 is a story with symbolic meaning. It describes trees and fruit and laborers, but it’s really about God’s interactions with His people throughout history. So as you read the basic story, think about what some of the things in the story might symbolize.
For example, if the vineyard represents the world, and the tame olive tree represents Israel (or those who have made covenants with God; see Jacob 5:3), what might the wild olive trees represent? What could the good and bad fruit represent? What other symbols do you see?
Even though Jacob 5 teaches about nations and centuries of world history, it’s also about you and your life. What messages do you find for yourself in Jacob 5?
Perhaps most important, Jacob 5 is about Jesus Christ. Look for Him as you read. What do you learn about Him, for example, in verses 40–41, 46–47?
For additional insights about Jacob 5, see the diagram at the end of this outline.
The Lord invites me to labor with Him in His vineyard.
The “other servants” (Jacob 5:70) who were called into the Lord’s vineyard include people like you. What truths do you find in Jacob 5, especially verses 61–62 and 70–75, about working in the Lord’s vineyard? What have you learned about Him by helping with His work?
As you read about the “last time” that the Lord labors in His vineyard, what inspires you to serve the Lord “with your might”? (Jacob 5:71). Maybe you could think of a personal experience in which you felt joy while serving the Lord of the vineyard—for example, through sharing the gospel, serving in the temple, or strengthening others. You might also explore the examples Elder Gary E. Stevenson shared in his message “Simply Beautiful—Beautifully Simple” (Liahona, Nov. 2021, 47–50).
President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that” (“Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Consider starting a list of ideas of what you can do to help gather Israel. From your list, what do you feel the Lord would have you do today in His vineyard? According to verse 75, how does the Lord reward us for service in His vineyard?
Teach doctrine. Make sure your discussions focus on the foundational doctrine in the scriptures. You can do this by reading scriptures together and then sharing with each other the truths you find, as well as experiences with living these truths.
One meaning of the word cleave is to adhere to or stick to something firmly, closely, and unwaveringly. How does that definition affect the way you understand Jacob 6:4–5? In the story of the olive tree, how did the Lord of the vineyard extend his “arm of mercy”? (see, for example, Jacob 5:47, 51, 60–61, 71–72). How has He done this for you?
I can stand strong when others challenge my faith in Jesus Christ.
The Nephites’ experience with Sherem is often repeated today: people are trying to destroy faith in Christ. How did Jacob respond when his faith was attacked? What do you learn from his responses? What can you do now to prepare for times when your faith in the Savior will be challenged?
See also Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 6–9; “Sherem Denies Christ” (video), Gospel Library.
How can you share the story of the olive trees in a way that your children can understand? One way is to take a walk outside to look at a tree and briefly review the main points of the story. What did the Lord of the vineyard do for His trees? How can we be like workers in the story and help others feel the Savior’s love?
Jacob shared the story of the olive trees to invite his people to come unto Christ. It can do the same for your children. Perhaps you could summarize the story with verses such as Jacob 5:3–4, 28–29, 47, and 70–72 (see also “Old Testament Olive Vineyard” [video], Gospel Library). You or your children could then read Jacob 5:11, 41, 47, and 72, looking for things that show how much the Lord of the vineyard (Jesus Christ) cared about the trees. What does the Savior do to show that He cares about us?
Heavenly Father loves me and will forgive me as I repent.
Jacob 6:4–5 has an important message for us when we make wrong choices. Maybe you could help your children find it. Which words in these verses give us hope in God’s redeeming love? Elder Allen D. Haynie’s story about getting dirty in a mud pit, in his message “Remembering in Whom We Have Trusted” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 121–22), could help. What do this story and Jacob 6:4–5 teach us about what we need to do to be saved in the kingdom of God?
How can you inspire your children to stand for truth like Jacob did? Your children could watch the video “Chapter 10: Jacob and Sherem” (Gospel Library) and act out the interaction between Jacob and Sherem, using Jacob 7:1–23 as a guide. How did Jacob stand for what he knew was right? Invite your children to share experiences when they stood for the right, or share your own. Perhaps they could also sing a song that expresses courage like Jacob’s, such as “Stand for the Right,” Children’s Songbook, 159.
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
