2008 Gospel Doctrine Lesson 9: “My Soul Delighteth in the Words of Isaiah”, Book of Mormon Class Member Study Guide, 6

Link:

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Comments

[Stan]

2 Nephi 12: when Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon he had no idea that the Church he helped to restore would eventually relocate to the Rocky Mountains. He also didn't know that there would be temples -- the Lord's house -- built in those mountains.

I am really amazed at how relevant Isaiah is to modern times. This is a prophet that was writing and speaking thousands of years ago! He described modern life almost perfectly: there is no end of their treasures, no end of their horses, no end of their chariots! They worship idols -- things they have made themselves. There is no humility. I suppose in a way that this is a description of every society when it becomes materialistic, as the Nephites did on numerous occasions.

The daughters of Zion are described as being haughty with "stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go...in that day the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion...burning instead of beauty." This is such a poignant description because it describes the inevitable outcome of mortality, particularly a life that is materialistic, that has no hope of salvation in the afterlife.

I am really amazed by these passages taken from Isaiah. This is the first time I have felt they were relevant to me and to modern life, but for some reason this time they seem to be all about me and modern life. I'm going to spend more time reading them and thinking about them.

[Shannon]

Isaiah makes prophecies about the House of Israel that were confusing to me at first--I couldn't figure out the chronological order, or keep the location straight in my mind.

However, the patterns in Israel's behavior are probably more important than the specific 'when' or 'where' of the events. Some of the patterns I picked out are:

- First, Israel seems to forget God for one reason or another. Either they worship their wealth, worry about men's opinions too much, ask for signs, or adopt the practices like witchcraft.

And even though the Lord is angry, "his hand" is always "stretched out still." Isaiah's beautiful descriptions of the blessings that lie in store for the children of Israel are amazing.

One passage hit me powerfully this time through--it is when the Lord lifts an ensign and gathers Israel in Chapter 15. Isaiah decribes how fast they will be gathered, and how strong the Lord's power is to gather his children: "their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind, their roaring like a lion...like the roaring of the sea." Wow!!! I'm glad that the Lord is in control, and that He has told us through his prophets that he will gather everyone together and take care of us. However, I don't think this takes any responsibility off our shoulders--we still have to be obedient and try to build up his kingdom in the way we live our lives.

[Liz Patterson]

Thanks, Bishop; I really appreciated your thoughts on Isaiah. I had never thought about the fact that at the time Joseph Smith translated those chapters, he had no idea about temples or migrating west. I read a great thought about the daughters of Zion: They should have been totally consecrated to their "Beloved Bridegroom," and only wanting to please Him, yet they broke covenant with Him with their "wanton eyes," caring more to attract the praise and admiration of the world.