The Last shall be first and the First may be Last
The order of the Scattering is the reverse order of gathering.
SCATTERING:
1. 10 Tribes (vs. 19-22)
2. Jews (vs. 23)
3. Nephites/Lamanites (vs. 24-28)
GATHERING:
1. Lamanites (the majority of the present gathering)
2. Jews (D&C 45_48-53)
3. 10 Tribes (the majority will be after the Second Coming at the beginning of the millennium(3 Nephi 21: 25-29)
SYMBOLS:
a. Tame olive tree = House of Israel
b. Lord of the Vineyard = Savior
c. Servant = prophets, missionaries
d. Root = Covenant people or blood of Israel . Wild olive tree = Gentiles
e. Decay (bad fruit, bitter fruit) = breaking covenants
f. Good fruit = keeping covenants
g. Grafting = Gospel opportunities
h. Vineyard = World
i. Plucking (burning) = judgment (justice)
j. Pruning (digging) = mercy, patience, long-suffering
k. Dunging = Nourishing
l. Branches = groups of people
Visit # 1 – Fall of Jerusalem – 587 B.C.
Visit # 2 – Time of Christ and Apostles
Visit # 3 - Apostasy to Restoration
Visit # 4 – Our Day to Second Coming
Group 1. A tame olive tree in the land of Israel. This geographical area is easy to identify as ancient Israel, or the land of Palestine located in and around Jerusalem, the holy city.
Group 2. The poorest spot of ground in the vineyard. Could be the British Isles. Could be a general category referring to a certain type of area where this branch was taken.
Group 3. A poorer spot of ground even than group 2. Not easily identifiable as to where it is. Could be the "north countries" where the ten tribes were led around 721 B.C. Could be a general category of land where the scattered tribes were scattered, a barren land without the covenants and blessings of the Lord.
Group 4. A good spot of ground, even choice above all other parts of the land of the vineyard. This land, too, is greatly separated, geographically, from the mother tree, or the land of Israel. This land is where the children of Lehi were led. It is the land of the Nephites and the Lamanites. It is likely not only Central America, but the continents of North and South America. Next to the land of Israel, this is the easiest location to identify.
The Tame and Wild Olive Trees—An Allegory of Our Savior’s Love - Aug. 1988 Ensign - Click below for direct line to talk:
http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9833d7630a27b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1