Page:PlainBookOfMormon.pdf/195

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wild branches had born good fruit. Now all types of fruit burdened the tree.

The Father of the vineyard tasted each type of fruit from the mother tree, sorted and counted them, and said, "We have taken. care of this tree for a long time.

In the past the wild branches were fed by the natural roots, and this tree gave me much good fruit. It still bears much fruit, but now it is all bad (general apostasy in Jerusalem).

This tree no longer profits me in spite of all our work, and I will be sad to lose it now. What must we do to help this tree bear good fruit again?"

The Savior answered, "The wild branches we brought in, which once bore good fruit, are all corrupt again. However, the original roots are still good.”

The Father replied, "But even with good roots, this bad fruit is worthless to me. Yes, the roots are good. Because of their great strength, they once nourished the wild branches, which for a time bore good fruit.

But now look. The corrupt branches (governing powers) have overrun the spiritual roots. This is why their fruit is bad.

Because this tree bears so much bad fruit, it will die unless we do something. Let's go down to the other parts of the earth and see if other natural branches also bear bad fruit."