Jacob 5:41, 47, 49


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41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?

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47 But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?

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49 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have done more for my vineyard?

Quotes for Discussion

“What could I have done more?”

There is much more here than simply the unraveling of convoluted Israelite history. Of greater significance in this allegory is the benevolent view of God that it provides. He is portrayed here as one who repeatedly, painstakingly, endlessly tries to save the work of His hands and in moments of greatest disappointment holds His head in His hands and weeps, “What could I have done more for my vineyard?” (Jacob 5:41, 47, 49). This allegory is a declaration of divine love, of God’s unceasing effort as a father laboring on behalf of His children.

Jeffrey R. Holland, Heroes from the Book of Mormon [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1995], 37

That vivid moment in the Book of Mormon allegory of the olive tree, when after digging and dunging, watering and weeding, trimming, pruning, transplanting, and grafting, the great Lord of the vineyard throws down his spade and his pruning shears and weeps, crying out to any who would listen, “What could I have done more for my vineyard?”

What an indelible image of God’s engagement in our live? What anguish in a parent when His children do not choose Him nor “the gospel of God” He sent! How easy to love someone who so singularly loves us!

Jeffrey R. Holland, in Conference Report, Oct 2003 [salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003], 74

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