The Vineyard Lord is a central figure in the allegory of the olive tree found in the Book of Jacob, chapter 5, in the Book of Mormon. As the steward and guardian of the vineyard, he is deeply invested in the health and productivity of the olive trees within his care. The allegory describes various actions and decisions he takes to ensure the vitality of the vineyard, symbolic of his commitment and diligence. The Vineyard Lord is seen expressing concern when the olive tree begins to decay, leading him to prune, dig about, and nourish it in hopes of preserving its roots and fruit for himself (Jacob 5:4-5, 11).
Throughout the narrative, the Vineyard Lord demonstrates strategic planning and care by placing natural branches in the furthest parts of the vineyard, aiming to preserve them and store up their fruit (Jacob 5:13). Recognizing the potential for revival, he grafts wild branches into the decaying tree and is pleased with the subsequent production of good fruit (Jacob 5:17-18). Despite setbacks due to corruption among the branches, he vows to continue laboring in the vineyard, determined to save it from unprofitability and eventual destruction (Jacob 5:29, 35, 51).
His labor is persistent as he inspects the branches, nourishes them, and occasionally removes unfruitful branches to promote growth. He supervises a final effort, instructing servants to work with all their might, promising them joy in the fruit they help nurture (Jacob 5:62, 71). The Vineyard Lord ultimately witnesses the resurgence of the natural fruit and is able to rejoice over the restored vineyard, which is no longer corrupt, having successfully preserved the valuable natural fruit (Jacob 5:73, 75).