After the Lord and his servant visited the Gentile grafts, they went to the natural branches that had been planted in the nethermost parts of the vineyard (v. 38). All of these had become corrupt, including the wild fruit ( Lamanites) that overcame the tame fruit ( Nephites), whose branch withered away and died (vv. 39–40). The fall of the Nephites in the America’s is recorded in Mormon 6:10–15. The wild fruit that remained (Lamanites) is described in Mormon 5:15–16.
The Lord lamented over the loss of the natural branch he had planted “in a good spot of the ground.” The land was, he emphasized, “choice unto me above all other parts of the land of vineyard” (Jacob 5:43; the Americas, see 1 Nephi 2:20; quoted above). Those he had cut down so that he “might plant this tree” (Jacob 5:44) were the Jaredites. The last survivor of this people, who preceded the people of Lehi’s coming to the America’s, was Coriantumr. The “account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people … was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine months” (Omni 1:21). That account, the book of Ether, states:
… the word of the Lord came to Ether, that he should go and prophesy unto Coriantumr that, if he would repent, and all his household, the Lord would give unto him his kingdom and spare the people—
21 Otherwise they should be destroyed, and all his household save it were himself. And he should only live to see the fulfilling of the prophecies which had been spoken concerning another people receiving the land for their inheritance; and Coriantumr should receive a burial by them; and every soul should be destroyed save it were Coriantumr. [Ether 13:20–21]
In answer to the Lord’s query of what he could have done more, the servant suggested that the branches had overcome the roots and had taken strength unto themselves (Jacob 5:47–48). This probably describes the appointment of officers in the church and kingdom. As apostasy crept in, the apostles and other stalwart officers were killed or imprisoned. Others were given these positions, but their appointments were not by revelation. They were political appointments rather than church or spiritual appointments. This is best exemplified under the rule of Constantine, where Christianity was made the state religion. The offices in the priesthood were appointed by the emperor, instead of by the Lord through his prophets and apostles. The Lord’s decision to cut down the vineyard and burn it, and the servant’s plea to spare it a little longer (vv. 49–50), display the laws of justice and mercy. Justice would rule that the vineyard be destroyed, but mercy pleads “to appease the demands of justice” (Alma 42:15).