Parables

What is a parable?

A look on lds.org gives us this definition for parables;

Parable:

See also Gospels—Harmony of the Gospels

A simple story used to illustrate and teach a spiritual truth or principle. A parable is based on comparing an ordinary object or event to a truth, and the underlying meaning or message of a parable is often hidden to listeners who are not spiritually prepared to receive it (Matt. 13:10–17).

Why did the Savior teach using parables?

 In Matthew 13:13-15, Mark 4:12, and Luke 8:10 we learn the reasons for using parables to teach was this; to veil the meaning. From the Bible dictionary it says this; The parable coveys to the hearer religious truth exactly in proportion to his faith and intelligence; to the dull and uninspired it is a mere story, 'seeing they see not' while to the instructed and spiritual it reveals the mysteries or secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Thus it is that the parable exhibits the condition of all true knowledge. Only he who seeks finds.' 

I have found in my personal experience that a deeper consideration for the parallels between physical and spiritual things given in parables allows me to understand more about a principle than just reading the words alone. Pondering and asking and seeking for answers gives us time to pause and reflect and for the true teacher, the Holy Ghost to instruct and bear witness of the things that we are learning by way of the spirit. 

How do we apply the parables in our own life? Here are some areas to consider and some parables to read as well.

Read the following parables: parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:47-50); parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46); parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13:47-50). Next to each of the following questions write the name of the parable that best answers that question. 

              Which of the above parables goes along with the following scenarios or questions? 

•  Why does the Church send out so many missionaries?  the mustard seed and leaven
•  What describes the future growth of the Church of Jesus Christ? the gospel net

•        How do you explain the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier? parable of treasures and pearl of great price

•       Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church? treasures and pearl of great price

•     Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church?parable of the tares 

  Considering the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (see Matthew 13:44-46), what sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel? 

I think that when given the above question that many people think of the big sacrifices that are made to obtain the pearl of great price, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Examples might include the pioneers and families who gave all they had to go to the temple one time in another country.  We may think that we do not have opportunities to make big sacrifices, but are we making the small ones? If we do not have to travel hours and hours away to attend the temple are we going more often? We live within walking distance to our ward meeting house, are we making every effort to go every Sunday? Are we getting there on time? I bring up these examples because they are ones that I can improve on. We (I) may say that we never have big sacrifices to make to obtain the gospel, do we make consistent small ones that will affect our commitment? 

My own husband is an example of giving much to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He grew up in Fiji, he attended Catholic church with his grandmother. They went every Sunday. He had aspirations of attending seminary and becoming a priest. He had many friends who were LDS and he loved attending their meetings with them. He was baptized when he was 16 years old. He is the only member of his immediate family who is LDS. Though they were accepting of his choices they still tried to make family gatherings, that included lots of alcohol, a little less comfortable for him, he took it all in stride and never wavered from his decision to follow Christ and do the things necessary to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He went on to serve a mission because of the sacrifices of a sweet sister, whom he knew from school in New Zealand, she was the librarian at the boarding school he attended. 


What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? (See Matthew 13:47). What does it mean to be gathered into the net? What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away? (See Matthew 13:48-50). 

The net represents the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To be gathered means that when it was given to us to decide to grab ahold or drop away and keep sinking we grabbed on. While many are interested at first catch, there are many who do fall away and will not be sorted into the good (safe) vessel of the Atonement the flounder about and get tossed back out to sea.