Circle Squared
A Textual Analysis of the Book of Mormon
Chapter 5: "Parable Lost"
Chapter Summary:
Jacob quotes Zenos relative to the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees--They are a likeness of Israel and the Gentiles--The scattering and gathering of Israel are prefigured--Allusions are made to the Nephites and Lamanites and all the house of Israel--The Gentiles will be grafted into Israel--Eventually the vineyard will be burned. About 544–421 B.C.
One of the many ways through which the Book of Mormon could gain credibility as an accurate historical record and a book of prophecy is if the Book of Mormon cited a forgotten prophet of old whose writings were later discovered and corroborate with the Book of Mormon. Such a potential conformation exists in this chapter, as Jacob cites the prophet Zenos.
As you might have guessed, no ancient records have been found which contain anything about a prophet named "Zenos." What is the Mormon response to this conundrum? "No ancient records have been found yet."
This is essentially their rebuttal to virtually all criticisms levied against them that the historical, archaeological, anthropological, metallurgical, geological, and linguistic records supported by scientific evidence do not corroborate any aspect of the Book of Mormon's factual claims. "Just give it time," they insist. "Some day god will vindicate us. And won't you feel silly for doubting us then!" If this day ever comes, then Mormons will finally have a leg to stand on and should be considered seriously. Until this happens, however, I see no reason to believe anything they say.
This dry, laborious and incredibly long chapter (77 verses) is basically a reboot of Nephi's citation of Isaiah in a previous chapter (both Isaiah and Zenos seem to have used the same parable). Why? Why would Jacob spend more time and use more space--which he has reminded us is so very limited--to revisit a parable his brother already explained to us?
It's simple, really, when you entertain the thought that neither Jacob nor Nephi nor Zenos ever actually existed and Joseph Smith was wanting for material for his fabricated holy book. In fact, all of the questions asked of Mormons and their capricious crew of apologists become infinitely simpler when the supernatural aspects of their claims are rejected and replaced with the natural explanation that Joseph, perhaps with the help of others, made it all up.
Unlike Jacob, I have no interest in revisiting the parable of the lord of the vineyard and the multi-grafted olive tree. Suffice it to say that the notion which Zenos is propagating (that the house of Israel will be divided and gathered together again) was common among Joseph's society. As I have explained in several chapters already, Christians have been predicting this for centuries. Joseph could very easily be appealing to their understanding of Isaiah by constructing a parable both similar to a well-known scripture and easily understood by his agrarian society.
Again, my skepticism could be satisfied if only Mormons could find this oft-cited record of Zenos. I shan't hold my breath...