The Parable of the Leaven
Matthew 13:33
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
President George A. Smith said:
“It is said, in one of the parables, that ‘the kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened’ [Matthew 13:33].
“In 1830, on the 6th day of April, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized with only six members. Joseph [Smith], in one of his letters in relation to Alexander Campbell, in December 1835, said that ‘the three measures of meal might be compared to the Three Witnesses who were called upon to testify of the Book of Mormon, and who selected and ordained twelve Apostles to go forth and be special witnesses to all the world.’
“Whether the application was really intended to be laid down as a rule I will not say, but it is very evident that when Joseph Smith laid the foundation of this kingdom he commenced depositing the leaven of truth, and that . . . leaven has continued to increase . . .
“. . . [T]he leaven is operating, and I may say gives fair and conclusive ground upon which to expect that the whole lump will eventually be leavened.”
(“Discourse,” Deseret News, Apr. 16, 1856, 44.)
