What is meant by grafting wild olive branches into a tame olive tree?

Thomas R. Valletta

“Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen lineage, or Abraham’s children through Isaac and Jacob unto whom the promises were made. The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs” (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:246).

Allegory of the Olive Tree
Allegories and parables should not be forced to perfectly correlate every item with precision. Note the following possible interpretations for the symbols in Zenos’s allegory:

 

The Book of Mormon Study Guide: Start to Finish

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