Explicating the Mystery of the Rejected Foundation Stone: The Allegory of the Olive Tree

The Book of Mormon contains a lengthy allegory representing the house of Israel. Because the allegory of the olive tree is associated with Israel, it is reasonable to assume that its symbolic events correspond to real events in the Israelites' history. Brigham Young University professor of ancient scripture Paul Y. Hoskisson attempts to pinpoint dates,events, and places that may be referred to. Hoskisson also seeks to answer the question of how apostate Israel could ever accept Jesus Christ, as the allegory asserts. He claims that the answer is also found in the allegory: such a conversion is possible only through the grace of Christ purging evil and pride from the hearts of men.