The Breaker as Messiah Ben Joseph

Last episode, we discussed the problematic interpretation of the parable of the Olive Tree Vineyard, offered by Sidney Sperry and still deferred to in the Church Education System.

This parable is meant to show the will of the Lord, concerning what is called the redemption of Zion, and it presages "a great evil" befalling the Lord's vineyard and his servants.

However, in the parable, the Lord sends one of his servants, later identified as Joseph Smith, the prophet, to gather the strength of his house and lead them in a military march to redeem Zion.

This presents no problem, if the application of the parable was to be understood in the early days of the Church, because Joseph Smith did gather the saints and march to the land of Zion, although the results were far from what was expected, given the parable.

The only other possible application of the parable is that it has not yet been fulfilled, and, if that is the case, and Joseph Smith is to lead "the army of the Lord" to redeem Zion, then he must do so as a resurrected being.

Today, we begin the discussion of this startling, but inspiring, possibility, from the holy scriptures.