Some interesting thoughts!
I think parables, like Scripture and prophecy, are sometimes able to be fulfilled in multiple ways... so I would not insist the parable must only represent one fulfillment. It does for sure represent a basic truth that can be applied to any number of situations, including the one you speak of.
I have seen the opposite meaning regarding the parable.
Looking at the context of the historical location and time frame in which Jesus gave the parable, He spoke this parable to the Jews.
He does not appear to give it to the Nephites, or at least its not recorded. Nor is it repeated to the Ephraimites in the D&C. That doesn't prove anything, of course.
But I tend to think this parable was designed specifically for the Jews to hear, because of something they needed to consider. NOT that the parable is not of great worth to us all, in any age, for the fundamental truth it depicts. However, I do believe He gave this parable to the Jews at that time for a specific reason...knowing they needed to hear it.
So - now looking at the time-frame in which we are talking about, the Jews were all that was left of the House of Israel. They remained in their homeland (even as the older son in the parable does) and despite the fact that for many of them, their religion had become a dead form, they were none-the-less a very devote and religious people, zealous for keeping the law as they understood it. In their minds they were the good son doing the Father's will, whereas the northern Kingdom, Ephraim, and the other lost tribes, had gone off - they had worshiped other gods, bowed to idols, indulged in many worldly ways, adopted the ways of the strangers and other nations, and because of this, God had sent Assyria and carried them off... they had lost everything, their inheritance, in this punishment. The younger son in the parable likewise lost his inheritance as a result of his wicked ways. Ephraim was now dispersed among the Gentile nations and had lost their way... somewhat like the Prodigal Son.
The way I read this parable is in the context of the "restoration of the House of Israel" prophesied to take place in the last days. The Jews feel that they have kept the Law of Moses as they should. They feel they have not taken on pagan practices. They don't eat pork. They worship on the proper sabbath. etc. etc. etc. You talk to any Messianic Jewish movement and you will usually come away with the distinct sense that they believe they are doing things the PROPER way, according to Torah. They can be quite strict about it, and more than a little judgmental of Gentile Christianity. And these are Jews who actually believe in Jesus... or some who are not Jews, but have been caught up in the Jewish ways. I even read a periodical put out by one Messianic group that implied all Gentile Christians may be in danger of going to hell because they are saved by the name of "Jesus." And the Scriptures say there is only ONE name under Heaven by which man can be saved, and it isn't Jesus, but "Yeshua." How legalistic is that?
Regardless... I don't think this parable is even so much about them, but Judah. They have kept the law, not gone after other gods, and have remained faithful to Jehova, in their mind. And they feel that THEY are Israel - even having named their newly formed nation "Israel" having changed it at the last moment, when the United States was ready to recognize them, instead of going with the name they had originally thought to use: New Judea.
For the purposes of this parable and its fulfillment, I don't consider the majority of Gentile Christianity to even be represented here.
I believe this story is representative of the two ruling tribes of Israel, which Isaiah 11 prophecies will have to be "reconciled" in the last days. And that the restoration and coming home of the prodigal son is Ephraim coming back into his Israelite heritage and covenant, coming home to the Father after coming to his senses and realizing that his gentile influenced spiritual life is really just eating with the pigs compared to the riches that God's covenant people are called to. Ephraim was called to so much more. We must realize that our fathers had gone astray, became pagan. And even after the restoration begun through Joseph Smith, Jr., they ultimately rejected much of the true purpose of that restoration, having twisted the meaning of the "restoration of all things" into something God did not intend, ....instead of embracing their Israelite heritage, and preparing to receive the other tribes, they decided to remain Gentiles - being rebellious - and took to contending with the other Gentiles for "1st place" among the Gentile Churches.
The restoration of Ephraim really hasn't happened yet. How could it? Most don't even think they are Israelite by lineage, but believe themselves to be Gentiles, and act like Gentiles.
We were called to that restoration, but we rejected it for a lesser vision. We are now in the humbling of Ephraim. Those who are humbled and broken will come back into remembrance of who they truly are. They will repent of their rebellion, and come back into the House of Israel.
I believe this parable shows that our Jewish brothers will not understand how a people, like us, can waste our inheritance on all the things of the world and essentially become pagans and Gentiles, and then be welcomed back by the Father at the end of days as a Son. And that God will celebrate, setting up the New Jerusalem, the restoration of Shiloh (the place where God will reside among them), when we finally come unto the fullness that we were called to.
The Parable does not address what must then happen in the life of the older son who stayed home. He has his own journey and repentance to make. It is obvious that his heart is not right. Anyway, I believe the parable is warning the Jews about their judgmental nature, particularly against Ephraim and the rest that have gone out among the Gentiles, and will one day return back to the household of God, the House of Israel.
In either case, whether it is how you view it, or how I do, there is an important truth that is good for all of us to embrace and put to use in our own lives.
I think parables, like Scripture and prophecy, are sometimes able to be fulfilled in multiple ways... so I would not insist the parable must only represent one fulfillment. It does for sure represent a basic truth that can be applied to any number of situations, including the one you speak of.
I have seen the opposite meaning regarding the parable.
Looking at the context of the historical location and time frame in which Jesus gave the parable, He spoke this parable to the Jews.
He does not appear to give it to the Nephites, or at least its not recorded. Nor is it repeated to the Ephraimites in the D&C. That doesn't prove anything, of course.
But I tend to think this parable was designed specifically for the Jews to hear, because of something they needed to consider. NOT that the parable is not of great worth to us all, in any age, for the fundamental truth it depicts. However, I do believe He gave this parable to the Jews at that time for a specific reason...knowing they needed to hear it.
So - now looking at the time-frame in which we are talking about, the Jews were all that was left of the House of Israel. They remained in their homeland (even as the older son in the parable does) and despite the fact that for many of them, their religion had become a dead form, they were none-the-less a very devote and religious people, zealous for keeping the law as they understood it. In their minds they were the good son doing the Father's will, whereas the northern Kingdom, Ephraim, and the other lost tribes, had gone off - they had worshiped other gods, bowed to idols, indulged in many worldly ways, adopted the ways of the strangers and other nations, and because of this, God had sent Assyria and carried them off... they had lost everything, their inheritance, in this punishment. The younger son in the parable likewise lost his inheritance as a result of his wicked ways. Ephraim was now dispersed among the Gentile nations and had lost their way... somewhat like the Prodigal Son.
The way I read this parable is in the context of the "restoration of the House of Israel" prophesied to take place in the last days. The Jews feel that they have kept the Law of Moses as they should. They feel they have not taken on pagan practices. They don't eat pork. They worship on the proper sabbath. etc. etc. etc. You talk to any Messianic Jewish movement and you will usually come away with the distinct sense that they believe they are doing things the PROPER way, according to Torah. They can be quite strict about it, and more than a little judgmental of Gentile Christianity. And these are Jews who actually believe in Jesus... or some who are not Jews, but have been caught up in the Jewish ways. I even read a periodical put out by one Messianic group that implied all Gentile Christians may be in danger of going to hell because they are saved by the name of "Jesus." And the Scriptures say there is only ONE name under Heaven by which man can be saved, and it isn't Jesus, but "Yeshua." How legalistic is that?
Regardless... I don't think this parable is even so much about them, but Judah. They have kept the law, not gone after other gods, and have remained faithful to Jehova, in their mind. And they feel that THEY are Israel - even having named their newly formed nation "Israel" having changed it at the last moment, when the United States was ready to recognize them, instead of going with the name they had originally thought to use: New Judea.
For the purposes of this parable and its fulfillment, I don't consider the majority of Gentile Christianity to even be represented here.
I believe this story is representative of the two ruling tribes of Israel, which Isaiah 11 prophecies will have to be "reconciled" in the last days. And that the restoration and coming home of the prodigal son is Ephraim coming back into his Israelite heritage and covenant, coming home to the Father after coming to his senses and realizing that his gentile influenced spiritual life is really just eating with the pigs compared to the riches that God's covenant people are called to. Ephraim was called to so much more. We must realize that our fathers had gone astray, became pagan. And even after the restoration begun through Joseph Smith, Jr., they ultimately rejected much of the true purpose of that restoration, having twisted the meaning of the "restoration of all things" into something God did not intend, ....instead of embracing their Israelite heritage, and preparing to receive the other tribes, they decided to remain Gentiles - being rebellious - and took to contending with the other Gentiles for "1st place" among the Gentile Churches.
The restoration of Ephraim really hasn't happened yet. How could it? Most don't even think they are Israelite by lineage, but believe themselves to be Gentiles, and act like Gentiles.
We were called to that restoration, but we rejected it for a lesser vision. We are now in the humbling of Ephraim. Those who are humbled and broken will come back into remembrance of who they truly are. They will repent of their rebellion, and come back into the House of Israel.
I believe this parable shows that our Jewish brothers will not understand how a people, like us, can waste our inheritance on all the things of the world and essentially become pagans and Gentiles, and then be welcomed back by the Father at the end of days as a Son. And that God will celebrate, setting up the New Jerusalem, the restoration of Shiloh (the place where God will reside among them), when we finally come unto the fullness that we were called to.
The Parable does not address what must then happen in the life of the older son who stayed home. He has his own journey and repentance to make. It is obvious that his heart is not right. Anyway, I believe the parable is warning the Jews about their judgmental nature, particularly against Ephraim and the rest that have gone out among the Gentiles, and will one day return back to the household of God, the House of Israel.
In either case, whether it is how you view it, or how I do, there is an important truth that is good for all of us to embrace and put to use in our own lives.
