The Lord Often Taught in Parables

What is a Parable?

According to the Bible Dictionary a parable is something that conveys religious truth; a divine truth that is presented by a comparison with material things. A person can understand parables according to their faith and intelligence or if he seeks to understand. Parables draw on life as it is, not as it ought to be.

Interpretation of Parables	Application of Parables
The meaning of the parable should be looked at from the perspective of where it was first given	Varies depending on age and circumstances
Consider the setting and to whom it was given to

The parables of study are parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:31-33); the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46); and parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13: 47-50).

My opinion on the descriptions of these parables:

1. What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Parable of the Tares
2. Why does the Church send out so many missionaries? Parable of the Gospel Net
3. 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? Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven
4. Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church? Parable of the Treasure
5. Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church? Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

Parable of the Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price

What sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel?

The sacrifice that I am willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel is anything. The gospel contains all the answers to any question that I have in this mortal life.

This past weekend we went to visit some friends, who aren’t members, and we went to a barbeque with some of their friends. As I was sitting there listening to their conversations I found myself having a hard time joining into the conversation because of what they were talking about. They were talking about their tattoos and how awesome they look on each other and how it was okay for their children to be confrontational even if it meant being violent.

When I see I look at what my life could be like without the gospel—I choose the gospel and I will make the sacrifices necessary to obtain eternal life for my family and me.

What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?

When I think about sacrifices that I am making for the gospel, from a worldly perspective tattoos, coffee, alcohol, certain types of clothing are all some of the things that I am “giving up” to be a member of the gospel.

Some members of the Church sacrifice the relationships with other family members due to joining the Church.

Parable of the Gospel Net

What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea?

I think that it represents the Gospel of Jesus Christ

What does it mean to be gathered into the net?

The gathering represents those who are accepting the gospel when it is presented to them or those who are within the gospel and are truly living it.

What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away?

I felt like this represented the Judgments of God because at that point everyone would have had a chance to either accept the gospel or not. It’s at the judgment that it is decided whether you get celestial glory or eternal damnation.