REFERENCE

COMMENTS

HC, J SMITH 2:265

And the disciples came and said unto Him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? [I would here remark, that the 'them' made use of in this interrogation, is a personal pronoun, and refers to the multitude.] He answered and said unto them, [that is unto the disciples] because it is given unto you, to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them, [that is, unbelievers] it is not given; for whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

HC, J SMITH 2:267

The very reason why the multitude, or the world, as they were designated by the Savior, did not receive an explanation upon His parables, was because of unbelief.

HC, J SMITH 5:261-262

In reference to the prodigal son, I said it was a subject I had never dwelt upon; that it was understood by many to be one of the intricate subjects of the scriptures; and even the Elders of this Church have preached largely upon it, without having any rule of interpretation. What is the rule of interpretation? Just no interpretation at all. Understand it precisely as it reads. I have a key by which I understand the scriptures. I enquire, what was the question which drew out the answer, or caused Jesus to utter the parable? It is not national; it does not refer to Abraham, Israel or the Gentiles, in a national capacity, as some suppose. To ascertain its meaning, we must dig up the root and ascertain what it was that drew the saying out of Jesus.
While Jesus was teaching the people, all the publicans and sinners drew near to hear him; "and the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." This is the keyword which unlocks the parable of the prodigal son. It was given to answer the murmurings and questions of the Sadducees and Pharisees, who were querying, finding fault, and saying, "How is it that this man, as great as he pretends to be, eats with publicans and sinners?" Jesus was not put to it so, but he could have found something to illustrate his subject, if he had designed it for a nation or nations; but he did not. It was for men in an individual capacity; and all straining on this point is a bubble. "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them."

ENSIGN, JE FAUST MAY:1998

A group of religion instructors [were] taking a summer course on the life of the Savior and focusing particularly on the parables.
When the final exam time came, … the students arrived at the classroom to find a note that the exam would be given in another building across campus. Moreover, the note said, it must be finished within the two-hour time period that was starting almost at that moment.
The students hurried across campus. On the way they passed a little girl crying over a flat tire on her new bike. An old man hobbled painfully toward the library with a cane in one hand, spilling books from a stack he was trying to manage with the other. On a bench by the union building sat a shabbily dressed, bearded man [in obvious distress].
Rushing into the other classroom, the students were met by the professor, who announced they had all flunked the final exam.
The only true test of whether they understood the Savior’s life and teaching, he said, was how they treated people in need.
Their weeks of study at the feet of a capable professor had taught them a great deal of what Christ had said and done.
In their haste to finish the technicalities of the course, however, they failed to recognize the application represented by the three scenes that had been deliberately staged. They learned the letter but not the spirit. Their neglect of the little girl and the two men showed that the profound message of the course had not entered into their inward parts.

BOOK OF MORMON STUDENT MANUAL, RELIGION 121-122:136

Our Lord used parables on frequent occasions during his ministry to teach gospel truths. His purpose, however, in telling these short stories was not to present the truths of his gospel in plainness so that all his hearers would understand. Rather it was so to phrase and hide the doctrine involved that only the spiritually literate would understand it, while those whose understandings were darkened would remain in darkness. (Matt. 13:10-17; Inspired Version, Matt. 21:34.) It is never proper to teach any person more than his spiritual capacity qualifies him to assimilate. For instance: Jesus first gave and then partially interpreted the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43), and yet its full meaning was so obscure that a special interpretive revelation was required in modern times. (D. & C. 86.)" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 553.)
In addition to this reason it should be noted that figurative language has several other qualities that make it valuable to us. First, the meaning is derived only from pondering, searching, and praying. This characteristic is related to what Elder McConkie said above. But in addition it creates in the spiritually literate an attitude of questing. This quest will bring great insights into all areas of scriptural study when pursued.
A third reason is that once the figure, parable, or allegory is understood, its impact is much more profound. For example, Jesus could have just said that without him his disciples would have no life or power. But instead, he used a figure drawn from nature, one whose vivid imagery was profound and beautiful. Said he, "I am the vine, ye are the branches…without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5. See vs. 1-8.)

LDS BIBLE DICTIONARY 740

The parable conveys to the hearer religious truth exactly in proportion to his faith and intelligence; to the dull and unintelligent it is a mere story, "seeing they see not," while to the instructed and spiritual it reveals the mysteries of secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Thus it is that parable exhibits the condition of all true knowledge. Only he who seeks finds. . . .
The word itself, "parable," is Greek in origin, and means a setting side by side, a comparison. In parables divine truth is explained by comparisons with material things.

TPJS, J SMITH 95

"And the disciples came and said unto Him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? [I would here remark, that the 'them' made use of in this interrogation, is a personal pronoun, and refers to the multitude.] He answered and said unto them, [that is, unto the disciples] because it is given unto you, to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them, [that is, unbelievers] it is not given; for whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."
We understand from this saying, that those who had been previously looking for a Messiah to come, according to the testimony of the prophets, and were then, at that time looking for a Messiah, but had not sufficient light, on account of their unbelief, to discern Him to be their Savior; and He being the true Messiah, consequently they must be disappointed, and lose even all the knowledge, or have taken away from them all the light, understanding, and faith which they had upon this subject; therefore he that will not receive the greater light, must have taken away from him all the light which he hath; and if the light which is in you become darkness, behold, how great is that darkness! "Therefore," says the Savior, "speak I unto them in parables because they, seeing, see not, and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand; and in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive."
Now we discover that the very reason assigned by this prophet, why they would not receive the Messiah, was, because they did not or would not understand; and seeing, they did not perceive; "for this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." But what saith He to His disciples? "Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."