2/17/2018 - Section 86:1-11

February 17, 2018

Section 86:1-11

Parable Wheat and Tares, Last Days, Field is White, Missionary Work Wherever We Are,

It is now December 1832 and Joseph is still working on his translation of the Bible: “reviewing and editing the manuscript of the translation of the Bible”. He is going through the parable of the tares that Jesus taught—and then explained more fully to His disciples (Mat 13:24-30). It makes sense that the Lord would give greater clarification now, for this is a parable of the last days when the harvest will finally be gathered and the tares will be burned. The D&C tells us that the field is the world (v.2), that Christ and the early apostles were the sewers. Falling asleep implies the death of the original Apostles (v3). The great and abominable church (also in 1 Nephi 13:4-8) represents Satan’s power in this world—those who follow the practices of the world over the word of the Lord. The tares have long been identified with the darnel weed which is a species of bearded rye-grass which closely resembles wheat in the early growth period and which is found in modern Palestine. The darnel weed has a bitter taste, if eaten in any appreciable amount, either separately or when mixed with bread, it causes dizziness and often acts as a violent emetic. (McConkie Doctrinal New Testament commentary.) President Joseph Fielding Smith pointed out that we will find tares even in the church. But this parable reminds us that in the early days of growth wheat and tares are so much alike. If they are undistinguishable to us now, then our job is to nourish all the plants—the entire garden on field. We must never write anyone off.  We are now closer to the harvest. Our job is to protect and nourish all the plants.  V 3 also speaks of the church being driven into the wilderness. This indicates a time of apostasy—when the church and the priesthood were taken from the earth. In v 6, it speaks of the tenderness of the new wheat. In Dec 1832 the Church was 3 years old. The student manual states that “at this time many of the tares were not yet identifiable, and attempts to systematically root out those who would eventually prove themselves to be tares would have been very destructive.” V 7 tells of the burning of the tares. Joseph explained  “the servants of God go forth warning the nations, both priests and people, and as they harden their hearts and reject the light of truth”—we cannot expect everyone to embrace the gospel. It may be as tedious and careful a job as weeding a large and full garden. And finally, v 11 ends the revelation with the Lord’s encouragement: “…blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior unto my people…

8/2/2021 - D&C 86

Joseph is in Kirtland. While he was reviewing and editing the manuscript of his translation of the Bible, he received this revelation. Joseph then sent this to William W. Phelps who was in Missouri.

This section begins with the Lord helping us to more fully understand the parable of the wheat and the tares. In this section, He tells us that “the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the wheat” (v 2).  Verse 3 focuses on what happened after His crucifixion and resurrection, and after all the apostles had died. That’s when Satan stepped in with all his might: “behold, he [Satan] soweth the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness.” Tares look very much like wheat, but they are very different. The Bible Dictionary describes it as a poisonous weed.

In the parable, there are angels anxious to go down to the earth and reap the fields in preparation for the Lord’s Second Coming. But the Lord says to wait, not to pull up the wheat and tares quite yet, because before the plants are mature they look very similar to one another. So the Lord instructed the angels to “let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest if fully ripe.” (v 7) And I’m assuming that’s what the Lord was explaining to Joseph Smith at this time…and our time too.

And then there is the statement from President Nelson: “If the most important things in life are to know God and to keep His commandments, then to heed His prophets and abide by their teachings should be among our most important educational objectives. In a way, the very repetition of the teachings of prophets may have sounded monotonous through the years. The pleadings of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Abinadi have not differed significantly from those of today’s prophets. Surely, when measured by eternal standards, teachings of the prophets are more important and enduring than the latest findings of competent researchers, even if these findings were both discovered and taught by use of modern technology and teaching aids.”

In Ephesians 2:19-20, Christ taught: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”