D&C 86:6 – Scripture
"But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also."
Why does a tare grow with the wheat? Why does it look like wheat?
Tares are a type of weed that grow in the same fields as wheat. In biblical times, the "tare" referred to a plant called darnel, which looks almost identical to wheat when young. You can’t easily tell them apart until they are fully grown.
Why do they grow together?
-
They’re planted in the same field
Jesus taught in Matthew 13 that an "enemy" (meaning Satan) came at night and planted tares among the wheat. Spiritually, this means that good and evil are allowed to grow side by side in the world. -
They look the same at first
Tares and wheat both look like simple green grass when young. You can't see the difference until harvest time. Likewise, in life, some people or ideas seem good on the surface, but their true nature shows over time.Spiritual meaning
Good and evil often grow in the same places: families, churches, schools, or communities. Some people or influences may appear righteous or kind but are actually harmful underneath. God allows both to grow because removing the evil too early could harm the good. He gives everyone time to grow and reveal their true identity.
Modern example
Imagine two people at school or work who both seem nice. They smile, help out, and act friendly. But over time, one shows real love and honesty, while the other begins to spread gossip or manipulate others. At first, you couldn’t tell them apart — just like wheat and tares. But their fruits reveal who they really are.
Summary to share
Tares grow with the wheat because evil often hides next to good. They may look the same at first, but over time, their true nature becomes clear. God lets them grow together so people can choose their path, develop spiritual strength, and let the truth reveal itself in the end.
God is giving a message using a farming example:
-
“Tares” are like weeds bad or harmful things (like wicked people or bad influences).
-
“Wheat” represents good things like good people, truth, or faith.
-
The “blade is yet tender” means the wheat (or good) is still growing and not strong yet.
-
“Pluck not up the tares” means: Don’t remove the bad too early.
Why? Because the good is still young and weak, and if you pull the bad out now, you might also harm the good.
How can we stay like strong wheat and not let the weeds around us affect our growth?
1. Stay rooted in truth
Just like healthy wheat needs deep roots, we need to stay grounded in the scriptures, prayer, and personal revelation. This helps us recognize what’s true and what’s not, even when things look similar on the surface.
2. Grow strong by nourishing our faith
Tares can only choke out weak wheat. The stronger and healthier we are spiritually, the harder it is for bad influences to affect us. Faith grows when we consistently choose to follow Christ, even in small decisions.
3. Focus on becoming, not judging
Wheat doesn’t waste energy fighting tares — it just grows. Instead of focusing on who around us might be “tares,” we focus on becoming more Christlike ourselves. That includes love, forgiveness, and patience.
4. Surround ourselves with light
We can’t always avoid tares, but we can choose to spend more time with people, places, and media that uplift us. The more light we bring in, the less room there is for confusion or deception.
5. Ask the Lord for discernment
Sometimes tares look so much like wheat that we need spiritual help to tell the difference. Through the Holy Ghost, God can help us see what’s real and what isn’t, especially when something feels off.
Simple analogy you can share
Think of yourself as a healthy tree. If your roots are deep in good soil (truth), and you get plenty of sun (God’s guidance), then no matter what weeds grow nearby, you’ll still bear good fruit.
