Post by Jacob –
My brother Joseph has done well with his summation of the things of which Zenos spoke concerning the house of Israel and how he likened them to a tame olive tree. Please permit me to now testify that these things must surely come to pass. I am certain the day will come when the Lord of the vineyard will indeed send forth His servants one last time to nourish and prune His vineyard. When that time is over, the end comes. Those of you who are called as servants to labor in the vineyard, I exhort you to labor diligently for you will be so blessed. And those that fail to do so will be cursed.
Zenos used a phrase that is easily glossed over which I would like to discuss. He said “the servants of the Lord shall go forth in His power.” This is how Zenos said it, “And the day that He shall set His hand again the second time to recover His people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh.”
The use of the words “in His power” strikes me as very important. Let’s talk about God’s power. By His power He brought our family out of Jerusalem, across the waters and to this promised land. By His power Nephi got the Brass Plates. By His power Israel was delivered from bondage. The list of demonstrations of “His power” can go on and on. Though there will be demonstrations of “His power” that will be evident, I believe the power Zenos refers to, is the power Christ will receive from His Father. At first we refer to “His Power” as the power needed to carry out those consequences that result from not heading the warnings –
“how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place!”
“bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire”
“stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God”
“ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment”
Yes, to carry out the execution of these consequences will indeed require great power, but I don’t see His servants wielding this power as they go forth into the vineyard to nourish and prune His vineyard.
I propose the power His servants will utilize is the divine power of love – see how Zenos refers to this collection of promises given to even the wicked.
“And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long;”
“But as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.”
“And cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.”
“Ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long,”
“O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life…”
Christ gains all power by progressing grace upon grace. Christ will grow in His capacity to love and extend mercy and once He is given all power from His Father He will be able to stretch forth His hands all the day long. As He calls His servants to go forth in His power – He is expecting them to nourish by the good word of God all the day long. He is expecting His servants to do so with perfect love and mercy and as they strive to do so, He will give them grace for grace until at some future day they too may have a fullness and even a fullness of His power. Which power is the power to influence, lift, edify, encourage, teach, rescue, forgive and heal with a perfect love.
(Book of Mormon | Jacob 6:1 – 13)
