Zenos was a prophet of ancient Israel whose writings were kept on the plates of brass that Lehi carried out of Jerusalem (1 Nephi 19:10; 3 Nephi 10:15-17). He was of the tribe of Joseph (3 Nephi 10:15-17; Helaman 8:19). He is best known for his allegory of the olive tree, in which he likened the house of Israel to a tame olive tree to describe its scattering and gathering; Jacob quotes the allegory in full as a single chapter (Jacob 5; Jacob 6:1).
Alma quotes a prayer of Zenos affirming that redemption comes through the Son of God (Alma 33:11; 34:7). Nephi cites Zenos’s prophecy of the death of Christ: three days of darkness as a sign of his death, with earthquakes, tempests, fire, and the rending of rocks, given to those who inhabit the isles of the sea and especially to the house of Israel (1 Nephi 19:10-12).
Alma cites Zenos’s words on prayer to the Zoramites, that God hears prayer offered in the wilderness, in the field, in the house, in the closet, and amid affliction and being cast out (Alma 33:3-11). Zenos also prophesied that the Lord would gather the house of Israel from their dispersion once they no longer turn their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, and that the Lamanites would be restored to a knowledge of their Redeemer (1 Nephi 19:16; Helaman 15:11-13).
Zenos testified boldly, and he was slain for it (Helaman 8:19).