The Parable of the Prodigal Friend

A certain young man had two friends:

The young man had known his friends for a long, long time.  They were special to him, and he could see goodness in them that few other people possessed.  He thanked God day by day for their association.  He hoped that their friendship would continue forever.

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

The young man noticed a few things about one of his two friends that troubled him slightly.  They weren't necessarily big things, but they were significant.  He hoped that with time and concentration they would be worked out.  He was confident that he would.  He had learned so much from his friends; the thought of them reaching anything less than their monumental potential was unthinkable.

Something had been stirring inside the young man's friend recently.  He was determined to do what was right, but confused as to what that might mean.  He hoped that he and his Father could figure it out soon.

13 And not many days after the younger friend gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country.

The day, when it came, hit the young man like a landslide.  The sting of separation was real, but he comforted himself in knowing that many separations do not last forever.  "You may be gone, but my heart will be with you always," he said.  He had great confidence that his friend would find his way to their Ultimate Destination.

The young man's friend thought perhaps it was best to leave for a time so that he could work some things out on his own.  He wanted to make his decision with his whole heart, not looking back.  He would miss his friend, the example he had been to him, but he hoped to see him again someday.

and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

The young man's friend began to feel that the best thing he could do for his Father was to follow a path that differed from that of his youth.  It was a great sacrifice for him, and occasionally he had very poignant doubts, but ultimately he was convinced that this was the course of action that his Father wanted him to take, even though it meant travelling even farther from home.

When the lost one is your son or your daughter, your brother or your sister, and he or she has chosen to leave...after all we can do, we love that person with all of our hearts and we watch, we pray, and we wait for the Lord’s hand to be revealed.

Elder Brent H. Nielson, April 2015

Initially the young man was shocked at the plight of his friend.  He realized that the signs had been there for awhile, but the genuine goodness of his friend had blinded him from seeing how bad things had gotten.  His first reaction was a knee-jerk, almost spasmodic desire to rush into the far country and rescue him.  But the young man's Father knew better than he did and He held him back.                                                                                                                     "But anything could happen out there," pleaded the young man, not because he didn't believe his Father, but because the danger of his friend seemed so real.                                                                                                                "I am watching over him," said his Father.

 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

The young man's friend found happiness--at least that's what he thought it was.  He told himself that his Father was pleased that he was willing to take such a drastic course of action for Him.  His Father was testing him.  Wasn't that what this famine was?  He would soon see the miracles that would come because of his obedience.

The young man lived what seemed to be a normal life, but his heart was far away.  The struggles of his friends motivated him to fight harder against his own weaknesses.  If someone so powerful could be so threatened with destruction, then but for the protection of his Father, the young man would be in the same place. 

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

At times, a happy ending to the story seemed almost impossible to the young man.  The few letters his Father had asked him to send to his friend, which he had sent with great joy and hope for the future, seemed to have no effect.  There was often no reply, and when there was it was empty; there was something missing that had been there before.  For short periods of time he gave up, but something deep inside the young man would not let him let his friend go.

The friend thought the young man a bit pretentious in his haphazard attempts to convince him to come back, but he could see that the young man loved him, and that was enough to help him see past his overbearance...most of the time.  But often the messages served only to push the young man's friend farther away.

When you feel that there is only a thin thread of hope, it is really not a thread but a massive connecting link... Strive to live worthily and place your trust in the Lord.

Elder Richard G. Scott, April 2013

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

One day the young man's Father gave him permission to visit his friend in the far country.  The moment he saw his friend again felt a little surreal.  It had been so long.  The friend was as wonderful as he ever had been, but he was still very far from home, even though he was only a few miles away from the place where he had grown up.  The young man wanted desperately to pull his friend out of the pig sty and take him back.  But by now listening to his Father has made him wiser about such things.                                                                                                                     "I can't feed the pigs for you," said the young man.  "That isn't my role.  And anyway there's already someone who's done that for you."  He took a few steps away, then stopped, turned, rushed back to his friend, embracing him, and said, "But if I could, I would."

The young man's friend was touched deeply by his concern.  Although he was the same person he had always known, there was something different about him.  Different in a good way.  The young man reminded the friend of someone, though he couldn't quite put his finger on who.  He knew that he could always rely on him.  He was impressed as to how much he had grown, and grateful for his desire to help him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Day by day, the young man's belief in his friend remains active.  He doesn't hear from him for awhile, and so he has no idea what is going through his friend's mind, but he trusts that the integrity of his heart will see him through.  If anyone can pull through, it is his friend.  He also trusts that his Father will allow him to help his friend in the way that would be best for him, and that the many mistakes he has made in his over-anxiety for his friend have been mercifully planned for.  Against hope, he believes in hope.

Almost against his every effort, the young man's friend felt another change happening in his heart.  It confused him considerably.  Hadn't he been following his Father out here in the wilderness for these many years?  Hadn't he sacrificed everything for Him?  What more could he have done that he hadn't done?  He kept his doubts deep in his heart, but said nothing about them to anyone.

The children of Father in Heaven can do amazing things when they feel trusted. Every child of God in mortality chose the Savior’s plan. Trust that given the opportunity, they will do so again.

Elder Richard G. Scott, April 2014

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

The young man prayed for his friend every day by name.  He started to see more clearly how his love for his friend had changed his own heart.

The young man's friend knew he had to do something.  Life could not go on in this way.  He had to make a change.  But what that change would entail, he didn't know.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Almost on a whim, the young man's friend decided to return to the house where he had grown up.  It seemed like a good place to rethink things and orient his life once more.  But as he drew closer to the house a man that reminded him of his Father came around the house and sped rapidly over the grass toward him.  Immediately doubts began to emerge once more.  The young man's friend had promised himself that he would not go back.  He felt distant, out of sorts, and out of place.  How would his Father react to him being here after he had promised not to return?  No.  He would not go back on the commitment that he had made.  The young man's friend slowed to a stop, paused, and set his feet to turn around. 

With tears in His eyes, the Father told the young man what He has longed to say to Him for so long, "Thy brother cometh.  Go ye out to meet him."  Like a cry from an angel the milk pail the young man was holding clattered to the ground as its former wielder sprinted into the yard.  Seeing his friend in the distance, he crashed through the gate and ran with all his might toward him.  Not even letting him speak, the young man caught his friend in a tight embrace and never lets go.

[H]e grabbed me, held me, and refused to let me fall.

Elder Jeffery R. Holland, April 2015

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

In a blinding moment of revelation, the young man's friend knew instantly that he has done wrong and that for many, many years he has been far, far away.  How could he face his Father now?

The young man took his friend by the arm and lead him back to the house.  "Father sent me to come get you.  He would have come himself, but He sent me to go for Him.  He said it was the same as if He were to come personally, but that you might react better if you saw me first."

 

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

"We've been planning your return party for awhile now," said the young man.  "Father asked me to kill the fatted calf for you."                                                                                                                                                                  "What do you mean?" asked his friend.  I've done nothing but wrong.  I've been gone for so many years, and I haven't even written home."                                                                                                                                             "That's of no concern to us," said the young man.

25 Now his younger son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of his friends and asked what these things meant.

"Why would you celebrate my coming home after so many years of apostasy?" asked the young man's friend.         "Because of what you have done for me," said the young man.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was confused, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do your elder son serve thee, neither transgressed he at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest him a kid, that he might make merry with his friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

"I don't deserve any of this," said the young man's friend.  "Why are you celebrating for me. when your elder son is the one who has been faithful?"                                                                                                                                 "He was faithful because his love for you made him so," said the Father.  "But your heart was true to me even when you were far away.  Even in the error of your ways you tried honestly to do my will.  Now that you are safely home, I know that you will never depart again."

And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof...and they became like unto one body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.

Zenos, Jacob 5:73-74

31 And he said unto them, Sons, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.