Parable of the Sower

This beautiful parable that is spoken of by our Savior in Matthew 13:3-23 had been broken down by Mormon Apostles who took the meaning completely out of text. I couldn't believe that such a simple message of the different degrees of faith had been twisted so much as to totally change the meaning completely.
The following is what I found out about this parable just recently. I never knew that this is the Mormon church's stand on the subject.
This is from a Lesson (11) shown in "The Gospel Doctrine Class" segment in a web site called beardall2000.com. I will cover only the subject on the parable of the Sower here on this post.
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The lesson states that in this parable the Lord is talking about the condition of the soil, not the sower or the seed. Everything below is taken from a Mormon Lesson. The lesson here is not from a Christian lesson book. My comments are in red.

* There are four kinds of soil.
1. The soil by the wayside.
2. The soil in stony places.
3. The soil where thorns grow.
4. The good soil.

The Soil by the Wayside

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Matt 13:18-19
*Who are these people?
*Those who are hardened by false doctrines and evil deeds.
*Elder Bruce P. McConkie: "They are the religionists in our day who close their ears to new revelation and choose to believe such doctrines as that men are saved by grace alone, without more, thus leaving them free to walk in worldliness and still, as they suppose, gain salvation." (Mortal Messiah, 2:250)
The scripture is speaking of a person rejecting the word of God even though he hears the Word. The scripture in no way is speaking of false doctrines or religionists. It is talking about not understanding the word and getting caught up in the wickedness of his heart.

The Soil in Stony Places

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon (at once) with joy receiveth it: Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Matt 13:20-21
*Who are these people?
*They who believe the word
*They know the Book of Mormon is true
*They have a testimony of Joseph Smith
*They have the testimony of Jesus in their souls
*They do not press forward with a steadfastness in Christ
*They do not continue to learn the doctrines of salvation
*They do not pay tithes and offerings or serve the church
*Do not endure to the end
*When persecution, trials or temptation arises they are unable to bear them
*The new plant whithers in the bright sun of gospel light
This part of the parable is speaking of hearing the word of God and rejoicing in it, yet the person does not stand on solid ground in the truth in which the scriptures speaks. This results in a person with shallow faith and can be swayed to go towards wickedness. This word does not speak of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, tithes and offerings, or service in the church (Mormon church).

The soil Where Thorns Grow

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. Matt 13:22
*Who are these people?
*The seed is good and the soil is good
*They choose to let the thorns and thistles grow along with the seeds of righteousness
*They seek to serve God and mammon (money) at the same time
*The cares of the world lead them astray
*The lusts of the flesh lead believing men astray
*The Lord is not seeking part time saints
This part of the parable is defined well. The 'part time saints' thing could be up for debate.

The Good Soil

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it, which beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matt 13:23
*Who are these people?
*They that hear, understand, endure, bring forth fruit, receive the word in an honest and good heart, keep the commandments, and bring forth fruit with patience
*They will be judged and rewarded according to their works
*Those who keep the whole gospel law shall bring forth an hundred fold and inherit the fullness of the Father's kingdom
*Others shall gain lesser rewards in the mansions which are prepared
*Joseph Smith: "This parable was spoken to demonstrate the effects that are produced by the preaching of the word. And we believe that it has an allusion directly to the commencement, or the setting up, of the kingdom of that age." (TPJS, p97)
This part of the parable demonstrates what will happen to a person who hears and understands the word of God as it is written in the bible. It doesn't say anything about being judged and rewarded by works alone. 'Gospel law' could be up for interpretation, and 'lesser rewards in the mansions' is absurd. JS speaks of effects of preaching---not so---the parable is speaking of the different effects of hearing and understanding the word of God.
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Mormon theology, and those who made it up, twisted a simple truth about hearing and understanding the word of God. Jesus was plain and clear in His explanation of the sower.