The Glory of Zion Will Be a Defense
Lesson 36 – Isaiah
1-6
The Lord often repeats the same idea many times
throughout the scriptures. Counsel the
Lord has given to help us endure the trials of the last days is found in
D&C 45:32; 87:8, and 101:22. “Stand ye in
holy places, and be not moved.”
This phrase means being worthy at all times,
desiring to be in holy places frequently, choosing not to go into unholy
places, having confidence that God will guide you, and taking a stand for truth
and holiness. Today’s lesson reminds us
that the Lord has commanded us to stand in holy places and tells us what these
holy places are. We may also draw
strength from Isaiah’s example of willingness to serve.
Background: “Great are the
words of Isaiah,” the Savior proclaimed as he commanded
the Nephites to search Isaiah’s prophecies (3 Nephi 23:1).
Isaiah’s prophecies are quoted more often in the New Testament, Book of Mormon,
and Doctrine and Covenants than the words of any other prophet. He prophesied
many things about the earthly mission of the Savior, about the destruction that
would follow Israel’s wickedness, and about the mission and destiny of
latter-day Israel.
Isaiah 1:11, 16-17 -
The Israelites’ sacrifices were unacceptable to the Lord. Although the
Israelites tried to be outwardly religious, their hearts were far from God.
Some people—then and now—try to be outwardly
religious even though their hearts are far from God. That kind of hypocrisy offends God because it is a form of
mockery and dishonors him.
Isaiah described the condition of the world in the last days.
Many of Isaiah’s warnings and prophecies apply
both to his time, which was a time of great wickedness, and to our time. The conditions described in the following
scriptures are evident in the world today:
Isaiah 1:3-5 - Rebellion
against the Lord
Isaiah 1:11-15 -
Religious ceremonies without meaning or faith
Isaiah 2:7-8 - Worship of
worldly things and military security instead of the Lord; note that horses and
chariots were used as instruments of war in ancient times
Isaiah 2:11-12 -
Pride
Isaiah 3:5 - Oppression of
other people and failing to honor older people
Isaiah 3:9 - No shame for
sin
Isaiah 3:14-15 -
Taking advantage of the poor and failing to care for them
Isaiah 3:16-24 -
Emphasis on outward physical beauty at the expense of righteousness
and good character
Isaiah 5:8 - Greedy
desires to own more and more material things
Isaiah 5:11-12 -
Constantly seeking worldly pleasures instead of seeking the Lord and his work
Isaiah 5:20 - Saying that
evil things are good and good things are evil
Isaiah 5:21 - Trusting in
oneself instead of in God
Isaiah 5:24 - Despising the
commandments and word of God
These prophecies are being fulfilled today as we
see in the following:
Israel’s ability to
distinguish between good and evil was impaired because they did not have the
spirit of the Lord in their lives.
People today also call evil good and good evil, such as proclaiming that it is good to give women “choice” and control over their own bodies when abortion as a form of birth control is clearly evil in the Lord’s eyes. Evil is called good in the entertainment industry when “stars” are promoted as role models when their behavior is anything but model behavior.
2 Nephi 32:5; D&C
45:57 - We can ensure that we recognize the
difference between good and evil by living according to the commandments and
maintaining the companionship of the Spirit.
Isaiah counseled the faithful to stand in holy places.
Isaiah 4:5-6 - Certain
places offer safety from the worldly conditions mentioned by Isaiah. Three holy
places are mentioned in this verse.
·
Every dwelling place of mount Zion (homes)
·
Assemblies (stakes, wards, and branches; see
also D&C 115:5-6)
·
Tabernacle (temples)
Our homes can be holy places offering refuge
from the wickedness of the world if we maintain high standards of behavior
there, speak kind words, and observe the commandments at all times.
Stakes, wards, and branches can be holy places
and refuges as we assemble there to worship, discuss the scriptures, uplift
each other in good fellowship, and render service to each other.
A temple is a holy place and refuge as we go
there to make sacred covenants, serve our dead by assuring that their
ordinances are completed, and bind our families together through sealings.
These three holy places provide a defense for
you against the evils of the world only when you stand in righteousness there
and maintain or enhance the holiness that is there.
Isaiah 4:5-6 - Expressions
used to describe how these holy places will protect us include the following:
·
“A shadow in the daytime from the heat”
·
“A place of refuge”
·
“A covert [a hiding place or shelter] from storm
and from rain”
Many of Isaiah’s writings are also included in
the Book of Mormon.
2 Nephi 14:5 – The words of
Zion are added to Isaiah 4:5 in the Book of Mormon.
Isaiah 2:2-3 – A prophecy
about temples in the last days is included in this verse, stating that many
people will come to the house of God and desire to learn God’s commandments and
walk in his ways.
Isaiah described the temple as a “mountain of the
Lord” because ancient prophets often went to
mountains to commune with the Lord and receive counsel from him. He revealed
his instructions and other sacred things to them there. Of course, we can have similar experiences
in the temple today.
Isaiah described the gathering
of Israel in the latter days.
Isaiah 5:26-29 –
Here, Isaiah describes the latter-day gathering of Israel. The ensign that is
being lifted up is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To “hiss”
is to whistle or summon, which represents the invitation to the nations of the
earth to gather to the Church. This gathering will be swift and powerful.
The prophecy that nations will be gathered to
the Church is being fulfilled today as missionaries are going throughout the
world to teach the gospel and gather people to the truth.
Each of us can help fulfill this prophecy by
following the prophetic counsel, “Every member a Missionary.”
Isaiah responded willingly to his
call to be a prophet.
The Lord called Isaiah to be a prophet through a
vision in which Isaiah saw the Lord in his glory. This vision is recorded in Isaiah
6.
Isaiah 6:1-4 - Isaiah described
the glory of the Lord.
Isaiah 6:5 - Isaiah’s
response when he saw the Lord was to feel unworthy to be in the Lord’s
presence.
Isaiah 6:6-7 - The Lord
symbolically showed that Isaiah was clean before him by having a seraphim place
a live coal upon his lips.
Isaiah 6:8 - When the Lord
called for a prophet, Isaiah answered the call.
Abraham 3:27 - In accepting
his call, Isaiah used the same words as the Savior did when He accepted the
responsibility to carry out the plan of our Father in Heaven for the salvation
of his children.
Some situations in which we may also need to
answer the Lord with similar words include:
when we are called to serve missions, when we are asked to serve in the
Church, and when we are asked to endure difficult trials or endure tribulation.
Many chapters of Isaiah are recorded in the Book
of Mormon, including chapters 2 through 6.
2 Nephi 11:8 - The prophet
Nephi gave some of his reasons for including Isaiah’s writings in his record,
indicating that Isaiah’s message should cause rejoicing and it could be applied
to Nephi’s people.
The words of Isaiah teach us many things about
the latter days. By studying Isaiah’s counsel, we can learn how to stand in
holy places and avoid the evils of the world. By following his example, we can
be more willing servants of our Father in Heaven.
These
lessons are posted on the Internet at http://www.geocities.com/jeninstitute/