Trivia: Which parable is taught in three of the standard works?

Answer: The Parable of the Fig Tree. (Found in Matt. 24:32-33; Mark 13:28-29; Luke 21:29-31; JS-Matthew 1:38-43). The parable of the fig tree is also spoken of twice in the Doctrine and Covenants (35:16; 45:34-39). I don’t know about you, but when a scripture is mentioned multiple times and in multiple books of scripture, I try to pay attention.

In the parable, the Savior indicated that when the fig tree began to shoot forth its leaves, we would know that his coming was nigh.

D&C 45:36–39 And when the light shall begin to break forth [The restoration of the gospel, with the light that thereby breaks forth in darkness, is the beginning of the shooting forth of the leaves of the fig tree – showing that this parable applies to the latter days.], it shall be with them like unto a parable which I will show you— 37 Ye look and behold the fig trees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender, that summer is now nigh at hand; 38 Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh. 39 And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.

The fig tree has broad green leaves that are a good source of shade in the summer. In the spring – often during the first week of April, the new leaves begin to come forth. When we see the signs of the times taking place, we will know that the Second Coming is near.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard said: "One characteristic of a fig tree is that it does not put forth its leaves until relatively late in the year, long after most of the trees are in full leaf. The Savior used this feature in a parable concerning his second coming. Although the world will not know the day nor the hour of his coming, we should observe the signs of the times, for when the fig tree puts forth its leaves, we know that summer is nigh. In other words, when the signs of the second coming begin to be made manifest, we know that the second coming is nigh or near at hand." (CR, Oct. 1923, p. 32.)

The parable is perfect for the Lord's purposes. It announces that he will most assuredly return in the "season" when the promised signs are shown. But it refrains from specifying the day or the hour when the figs will be harvested, thus leaving men in a state of expectant hope, ever keeping themselves ready for the coming harvest.

D&C 35:15-16 And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand— 16 And they shall learn the parable of the fig-tree, for even now already summer is nigh.

In this other reference (above) to the parable of the fig tree, it is the poor in spirit and the meek that possess the gospel who will “learn the parable” and “shall be looking forth” for Jesus’ second coming.

In a 1973 conference address, after reviewing the signs of the times, President Harold B. Lee said: Brothers and sisters, this is the day the Lord is speaking of. You see the signs are here. Be ye therefore ready.

And in 1976, Elder Bernard P. Brockbank quoted President Spencer W. Kimball as saying: The leaves are commencing to show on the fig tree.

So, are there other parables about the last days and second coming? Yes, at least 10 more of Jesus’ parables were about the second coming and events of the last days:

Parables of the second coming
(1) Wheat and tares (Matt. 13:24-43; D&C 86:1-11), (2) 10 virgins (Matt. 25:1-13, D&C 45:56-57), (3) fig tree

Parables of the Lord’s judgment and vengeance
(4) Parable of the gospel net (Matt. 13:47-53), (5) Parable of the wicked husbandmen (Matt. 21:33-46), (6) Parable of the great supper (Luke 14:12-24), (7) Parable of the marriage of the king’s son (Matt. 22:1-14), (8) Parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8)

Parables of our earthly stewardship in preparing for the Kingdom of God
(9) Parable of the laborer in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16), (10) Parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-28), (11) Parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30)