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I also find it long and redundant and it is the hardest part of the Book of Mormon for me to get through, but probably because it is one that requires a lot of concentration and thinking. I enjoy studying it - even if the chapter is really long - but it takes me a lot of time to get through it (stupid short attention span). I actually skipped this chapter in my last reading of the Book of Mormon, but you've inspired me to go and give it another look.john63 said:I was just reading Jacob's telling of the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees. Although I found it a bit long and redundant in places, it is a beautiful metaphor for Christ's Love for us.
How did this story touch you when you read it?
He says it better than I ever could. We really learn through our struggles. I don't know if I agree with the idea that Christ gives us these problems directly - they are a product of the world we live in - but he allows his followers to have trials, which in the end will strengthen the entire group. PRUNEThis word and the next two (dig, nourish) appear often together in this narrative. But the idea of pruning suggests a more drastic intervention that loosening the soil and applying fertilizer. Hebrews tells us that even the Savior learned . . . obedience by the things which he suffered. (Heb. 5:8) Job was pruned. Paul had his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7). My son has diabetes. These afflictions speak to me more of pruning than of digging or nourishing.
 DIGAlma speaks of being harrowed up by his sins. That would be digging in its most dramatic form. But in a milder form, this word makes me think of the loosening of soil around a plant to increase its ability to receive nutrients. Thus, as God digs about us, he may be trying to loosen the hardness of the soil of our hearts and the stiffness of our necks, to make us more responsive to the whisperings of the Spirit and the words of the Prophets
I found it more than just a bit long and redundant! As for me, I don't think it's the best allegory you could find, but it suits its purpose.john63 said:I was just reading Jacob's telling of the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees. Although I found it a bit long and redundant in places, it is a beautiful metaphor for Christ's Love for us.
How did this story touch you when you read it?
Your probably right Aqualung but it's the first allegory I've studied so far. I'm sure I'll find many more.Aqualung said:I found it more than just a bit long and redundant! As for me, I don't think it's the best allegory you could find, but it suits its purpose.
The LDS Church will send you a copy for free. Just request one form their website.Nehustan said:Hope you guys don't mind me butting in, but I once had a book of mormom that I flicked through. I'm interested in what the text you are discussing concerns. How may I come by a copy of the Book? Is there a place to get one on the web??? I guess I should do a google, so if you answer and I've already found one apologies. Seeing such a large section of the RF community are LDS I guess I should give the book a proper read....
Cheers Jonny, I noticed that the main site was down, when its up I'll order a copy, no need for you to send one, but thanks for the offerjonny said:There is a link to have one sent for free at www.mormon.org, but it looks like the site is down right now until tomorrow morning. They are probably updating it or something right now. You can also call 1-888-537-7111 (I hope that number still works) and ask to have one mailed or delivered to you. They will ask you if you want LDS missionaries to deliver it or if you want to receive it in the mail.
Another option would be to just go into any LDS meetinghouse on Sunday morning and ask for one. They have lots of them to give out.
If you want, I can mail you a copy also. Just send me a PM.
I don't want to get too awfully far off-topic here, but we believe that God wants us to live the law of monogamy unless He specifically commands that polygamy be practiced for a period of time (as we believe was the case in the early days of the restored Church). I believe that Jacob states that He would occasionally authorize men to take more than one wife in order to raise up righteous seed to Him. (I could look it up, but I'm feeling kind of lazy right now. That's the jist of it, though.) The Church was founded in 1830, but the practice of polygamy did not come into being until several years later. Then, in 1890, it was abandoned. If you want to discuss polygamy further, there is already a thread on the subject somewhere here in the LDS forum.Nehustan said:I had a brief read...I notice that it seems, in part, to deal with monogamy...I thought that originally the LDS followed polygymous practices??? I am wrong in this information, and if not how was this possible in relation to this 'book' of Jacob?
Sorry for sidetracking the issue :sarcastic . I'll just watch the debate and learn.Katzpur said:If you want to discuss polygamy further, there is already a thread on the subject somewhere here in the LDS forum.
Hey, it's no biggie! I'm sorry if I came across as critical. I just thought that if you wanted to explore the topic further, you might want to look at what has already been posted on it.Nehustan said:Sorry for sidetracking the issue :sarcastic . I'll just watch the debate and learn.
Did you start with Jacob? Because I was thinking I liked the stuff in like 1 Nephi better even.john63 said:Your probably right Aqualung but it's the first allegory I've studied so far. I'm sure I'll find many more.