Parables

This week is on parables. My definition of a parable is a story used to teach a gospel truth. Some of the parables I studied this week included: the parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:47-50); parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46); parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13:47-50). These parables are comparable to gospel principles.

-What describes the future growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
The parable of the mustard seed.
-Why does the Church send out so many missionaries?
The parables of the leaven and the gospel net.
-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?
The parable of the mustard seed.
-Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?
The parable of the pearl of great price.
-Why do some Church member choose to leave the Church?
The parables of the tares and the gospel net.

In the parable of the gospel net the net refers to the Church. To be gathered into the net is to join the Church. When it talks about gathering the good vessels and casting the bad away, the good are those who are active Church members and keep the commandments. The bad are those who fall away and do not.

Here is a bible video from lds.org that is the parable of the wheat and the tares:
http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/jesus-declares-the-parable-of-the-wheat-and-the-tares?lang=eng