Bring in Our Sheaves to Christ

Today in many places of the world it is harvest time. 

Crops are being gathered for the 

use and benefit of all mankind. 

Besides being an appropriate time for all of us to give thanks, 

harvest time should be a 

time of personal contemplation, 

evaluation, 

and planning. 

"Bringing in the sheaves"

 

(plural noun: sheaves:

1. a bundle of grain stalks 
2. laid lengthwise and tied together after reaping.)
3. 
   

symbolizes the culmination of hard labor and 

reaping the rewards of a harvest, 

often signifying 

a time of 

joy and celebration after a period of toil, 

drawing heavily from the biblical concept of 

sowing in tears and reaping in joy, 

as depicted in Psalm 126:5-6 

where the "sheaves" represent the fruits of one's labor 

after a period of struggle; 

essentially, 

it represents the idea of 

overcoming challenges 

and achieving success.

In farming or in just plain living, 

what contributes to a successful harvest? 

What can we do to ensure 

better crops and production in life? 

In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, 

by use of the parable of the sower, 

the Savior points out conditions that cause crop failure. 

He answers the question, 

“Who will forfeit the harvest?” 

His warnings and observations are worthy. 

The same stony places are with us now; 

and unless we are mindful, 

our personal harvest can be lost.

“Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side and the 

fowls came and devoured them up:

“Some fell upon stony places, 

where they had not much earth: 

and forthwith they sprung up, 

because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; 

and because they had no root,

 they withered away.

But he that received seed into the good ground 

is he that heareth the word, 

and understandeth it; 

which also beareth fruit, 

and bringeth forth, 

some an hundredfold, 

some sixty, some thirty.” 

(Matt. 13:3–6, 23.)

The promise of the harvest is there 

for those who receive the seed ( the word of God)

unto good ground 

and establish roots that are strong.

When Jesus had taught with 

such profound wisdom, judgment, and skill, 

some of those closest to him were astonished by his amazing

 abilities and miracles, and said: 

Some will not accept 

Jesus Christ as the Savior because they are waiting for a 

Prince of Peace to come who is 

not quite as human as Jesus of Nazareth. 

“And they were offended in him. 

But Jesus said unto them, 

A prophet is not without honour, 

save in his own country, and in his own house.There are they who may forfeit the harvest  because they will not be obedient.  “Hearing they hear not, neither do they understand”  is the description the parable of the sower uses to describe those who fall into this vulnerable territory (Matt. 13:13).“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them” (Matt. 13:7). 

Meaningful testimonies have roots planted in fertile soil. The sun, the rain, and even the storms make them stronger and more durable. As the events of daily life come upon us, 

some testimonies wither under the heat of everyday occurrences. Roots are shallow, testimonies fade, 

and there is no harvest.

... we can establish deep, 

strong roots 

and thus reap the harvest

 our Father in Heaven wants for all his children

by strengthening our testimonies

and belief in 

Christ. 

For this I pray in 

the name of Jesus Christ. 

Amen.

1. Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
   Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
   Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
   We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
   • Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
     We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
     Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
     We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
2. Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
   Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
   By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
   We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
3. Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
   Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
   When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
   We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

• Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
  We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
  Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
  We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
• 
  

Written by Knowles Shaw, 1874

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, 

shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 

bringing his sheaves with him."

Psalm 126: 5-6

Excerpts from the talk:

Who Will Forfeit the Harvest?

By Elder Marvin J. Ashton

Of the Council of the Twelve

1978