WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE DONE

[Chorus]

Come let us all who labor
In the vineyard of God's Son
Think on the words our master sued,
"What more could I have done?"

[Verse 1]

Behold, our Lord and Master
Of his house of Israel
Would liken to an olive tree
That is tame and rich and well.

And in his vineyard planted there
This tree of olive wood
To bear the sweetest fruits of truth
In a spot that's choice and good

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]

Each day the servant labored long
With the love his master sent;
The branches pruned and dug about,
To the roots gave nourishment.

Yet, as the Olive Tree bore fruit
It grieved the master sore
For he looked upon the harvest fruits,
Half were good, and half were poor.

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]

O tree of Israel's labors
Why could you not withstand
The loftiness that faileth,
The pride of mortal man?

Thy branches reached for riches
Thy trunk grew thick with pride
O Israel, young and tender
Decaying from inside.

[Chorus]

Come let us all who labor
In the vineyard of God's Son
Think on the words our master sued,
"What more could I have done?"

[Verse 4]

O Wake ye servant, nourish strong
The branches grafted in
Entwine them all together
That they grow and thrive as one

Preserve the roots of Priesthood power
Through obedience to thy Lord.
O, heed the Spirit's whispering call,
And live His every word.

[Chorus]

Come let us all who labor
In the vineyard of God's Son
Think on the words our master sued,
"What more could I have done?"


Note: this hymn is sung to a slightly modified If You Could His To Kolob, where the first 4 stanzas are repeated. The last 4 stanzas of the original song serve as the chorus for this hymn.

Tom Christensen, a good friend of mine and a spiritual mentor to me help provide the inspiration for this hymn/poem. The reference comes from Jacob 5 in the Book of Mormon. Jacob wished to write the words of Zenos regarding his allegory of the Olive Tree. The Olive Tree referred to the house of Israel. It was once planted as a tender tree in good soil, but soon waxed old and decayed. The Master of the vineyard desired to preserve the tree and it's roots. Through much labor and great pains this was accomplished, but only be casting most of it into the fires and grafting in wild branches.

During all of these trials in the vineyard the Master repeatedly asks his servant, "What could I have done more for my vineyard?"

When reflecting upon the Master's words, Tom said they haunted him. What more could he do if he were to try to emulate the path the Savior walked. I told him that the Lord does not ask this of us. This question is upon himself. In all that we do wrong in this world God continues to want to do more to make things better. He loves us so immensely that he will fight for us, struggle for us, and cross the darkest chasm to save us from our errors. He will never give up on us. Let us never give on him.