Preparing the way for the gathering of Israel

There have been numerous posts on the topic of "preparing the way". This expression is used in different contexts, but sometimes it is connected to the gathering of Israel, another topic that has been discussed a lot lately on this blog. This is especially the case for the "highway in the desert" symbolism discussed previously. All of these referenced earlier blog posts are too many to link, but here and here are two examples.

I noticed this expression popping up in Zenos' allegory in Jacob 5.

61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.

62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.

63 Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time.

64 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time, for the end draweth nigh. And if it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow.

Since English is not my native language, I may be on thin ice here, but to me, "preparing the way" for fruit or branches to grow seems an odd way of expressing yourself. This is why I think the expression has significance and is there for a reason. In these verses, the Lord of the vineyard has just checked on his trees and found they all bear evil fruit (the great apostasy). He is now planning on how to be able to obtain good fruit again, by grafting the natural branches back into the "mother tree" among other things (the gathering of Israel in these latter days). And this is where the expression comes up along with other expressions marked in different colors that are all connected to the gathering of Israel. Just compare with these other Book of Mormon passages:

at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel. (1 Nephi 14:17)

27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.

28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. (3 Nephi 21)

And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. (1 Nephi 13:42)

And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men. (2 Nephi 25:17)

My take from this is that there is a certain "gathering of Israel-language" that the Book of Mormon authors are using sometimes that seems to originate from the brass plates. In addition to the expressions from Zenos, we also know that the marvelous work and wonder in the last quote originally comes from Isaiah. As I have stated before, it seems that to the Book of Mormon prophets, Isaiah and Zenos go hand in hand. Another example of this is Jacob 6:2

2 And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh.

Jacob quotes Isaiah 11:11 (or 2 Nephi 25:17 that quotes Isaiah 11:11) while referring to Zenos' vineyard allegory.

Back to Jacob 5, the four quoted verses above show three examples of this gathering of Israel-language.

• The Lord prepares a way for the gathering. He makes a "highway in the desert" where we can come and partake of the living water and bread of life, entering into covenants with Him. In the vineyard allegory the way is prepared for the branches and fruit of the natural tree to be brought forth and grow.
• One characteristic of the gathering of Israel in these latter days is that those who used to be the first (Israel) now will be the last, and those who used to be the last (Gentiles) will now be the first. There is a wise purpose in this. In the vineyard allegory this is a crucial measure taken to save the vineyard and obtain good fruit again.
• The gathering of Israel is expressed as a marvelous work, the work of the Father, or similar. In the vineyard allegory it is expressed as heavy labor. There is a lot going on in these latter days. The gospel is reaching the ends of the earth, temples are built in rapid pace and generally these days the world is almost unrecognizable from one generation to the next. We are in the middle of a lot of pruning, grafting, dunging and nourishing.