Branching Across the Continents
According to the prophet Joseph Fielding Smith, "The parable of Zenos, recorded by Jacob in chapter five in his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded" (Smith 4:141). In language that rivals the best literature, Zenos' allegory of the olive tree powerfully conveys the history of the house of Israel over a time span of thousands of years using symbolism that no man could have written. In addition to containing the historical value of the scattering and the gathering of Israel, the allegory also includes doctrine on the apostasy and the millennium.
The allegory of the olive tree forms the centerpiece of a farewell speech given by Jacob to the Nephites late in his life. As with other dissertations of past prophets, Jacob addresses his people with his final words of wisdom pertaining to the exaltation. As part of his speech, Jacob illustrates reconciliation to God through Christ with the specific example of the Jews who are the forefathers of the Lehites. Jacob describes the Jews as "a stiff-necked people" who "despised the words of plainness, killed the prophets," and "will reject the stone upon which they might have safe foundation" (Jacob 4:14-5).
The question at hand is, "How can the Jews be reconciled to God through Christ after rejecting the Savior?". In answer to this question, Jacob offered to the Nephites Zenos' allegory of the olive tree (Hoskisson 73-74).
The time span represented in the allegory starts with the first cultivation of the tame olive tree and continues to the destruction of the vineyard, or, in other words, it begins with the founding of the house of Israel and goes to the end of the world.&n ...