Parables

1. In the Bible Dictionary, read the first three paragraphs under the entry “Parables” (pp. 740–41).
2. Read the following parables: parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24–30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:31–33); parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44–46); parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13:47–50). Next to each of the following questions match the name of the parable that best answers that question.
• What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? 
  Parable of the tares -   As we mature, the members will manifest themselves from the tares.
• Why does the Church send out so many missionaries? 
  Parable of the gospel net.  The Church sends out missionaries to teach as many people as they can the gospel.
• How do you explain the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier? 
  Parable of the mustard seed and leaven.  Like the mustard seed, the church started out small, and as it grew, it became big and because it is Christ's church, the best of all the other herbs.
• Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church? 
  Parable of the treasure and pearl of great price.  They are aware of the treasure that they have and the joy that it brings.  Nothing is worth losing that for.
• Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church?
  Parable of the tares.  If you separate the church and world to soon, the church would cease.  If you pull the tares too soon, you'll take some of the wheat, too.  Same with members.  Some aren't converted and end up leaving.
3. Address the following questions:
• Considering the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (see Mattthew 13:44–46), what sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?
  I would be willing to sacrifice everything I possessed to know my Heavenly Father and his gospel.  There are many examples of this in the scriptures like King Lamoni's father.  Also, I've seen many converts give up their life styles, their family, and many other things to have the gospel.
• What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? (See Matthew 13:47). What does it mean to be gathered into the net? What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away? (See Matthew 13:48–50). 
  I think the net represents the kingdom of heaven.  To be gathered in means to be living with our maker, families, and those that were righteous and followed the gospel.  Judgement day is what I feel represents the action of gathering the good and casting the bad.  We will be judged by our hearts, our actions, etc. and we will be placed accordingly.
  
  ***I'm constantly in awe at the things parables teach us.  We can learn so much from them, but only if we are disciples of Christ.  We read about that in the Bible Dictionary.  Here's an excerpt from it:  "From our Lord’s words, we learn the reason for this method (speaking in parables). It was to veil the meaning. The parable conveys to the hearer religious truth exactly in proportion to his faith and intelligence; to the dull and uninspired it is a mere story, “seeing they see not,” while to the instructed and spiritual it reveals the mysteries or secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Thus it is that the parable exhibits the condition of all true knowledge. Only he who seeks finds."  I hope that I'm continually one that is finding the true knowledge of my Savior and his perfect teachings.