Joseph F. Smith learned that the Savior's work in the spirit world lasted far longer than the brief time between His death and resurrection. It continues today. Why? Because change takes time, and God is long-suffering with us. We need to keep believing in our loved ones on both sides of the veil.
Cheerfully
How can we calibrate our efforts in God's work? Joseph Smith wrote that we should "cheerfully do all things that lie in our power." Maybe "cheerfully" is the key. When our efforts are so intense that we feel miserable, we may need to simplify, trust God, and more fully experience the joy of gospel service.
“My Strange Act”
Isaiah prophesied that God would perform a "strange act." The Lord reiterated this prophecy in modern revelation. Scriptures teach that being in unfamiliar places and working with people from different backgrounds can unlock God's blessings. The Savior invites us all into one covenant family and urges church members to welcome new converts with open hearts.
The Eleventh Hour: Laboring with Urgency
In the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, laborers are recruited for the final hour of the day. A similar pattern occurs in the Allegory of the Olive Tree. The Savior combined these two parables in an 1830 revelation to emphasize the urgency of preparing for His Second Coming.
“I Myself Will Go With Them”
In the Allegory of the Olive Tree, the Lord of the vineyard labors alongside His servants. In 1830, the Lord promised four missionaries, “I myself will go with them” (D&C 32:3). As we fulfill assignments from God, we can have confidence He labors alongside us.
“Taking Strength Unto Themselves”
When the olive trees all produced bad fruit, the servant explained that the branches had overpowered the roots, "taking strength unto themselves." In our daily lives, we need to make sure that our activities support our goals instead of overpowering them.
“The Roots are Good”
In the Allegory of the Olive Tree, when a tree was producing bad fruit, the servant reminded the leader that the roots were still good. When you're working on a worthy goal and encounter setbacks, don't give up. Remember the goodness of the roots.
Olive Trees and Forward-Looking, Blame-Resistant Leadership
In the Allegory of the Olive Tree, when the servant's advice results in a negative outcome, the Lord of the vineyard could easily have blamed him, but he does not. Blaming is backward-looking. Effective leaders learn from mistakes but focus on the future.
Relentless
God's love for us is unwavering. Eight times in Zenos's Allegory of the Olive Tree, the Lord of the Vineyard says, "It grieveth me that I should lose this tree." Elder Patrick Kearon testified, "God is in relentless pursuit of you."
Trusting the Answers We Receive from God
"Counsel me not," says the Lord of the vineyard when his servant questions a prior decision. Jacob urges us to "take counsel from [the Lord's] hand." An important part of that is trusting the revelation you have already received on a given topic.