“How Beautiful upon the Mountains”
Many Church hymns help us understand the love
the Savior showed for us through his atoning sacrifice. This lesson will
discuss some of Isaiah’s prophecies about the life and mission of the Savior.
Isaiah spoke of messengers who
bring glad tidings.
Isaiah 52:7
- Isaiah poetically described people brringing a great message of glad tidings,
peace, good, salvation, and the reign of God. Isaiah referred to the
messengers’ feet because in the ancient world, before electronic communications
were available, important messages were often brought by runners traveling on
foot. Isaiah uses the messengers’ feet to symbolize the messengers themselves.
Mosiah 15:13-18
- The Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi exxplained that the messengers described by
Isaiah include the prophets and also the Lord himself.
2 Nephi 2:6-8
– These messengers brought a great message of peace and salvation.
In addition to the prophets, we are to take the
message of the gospel to the world.
Think about experiences you have had with sharing the gospel
message. Then, consider your feelings
about those who brought the gospel message to you.
Isaiah prophesied of the
Savior’s atoning sacrifice.
The following prophecies are about the Savior’s
atoning sacrifice and the blessings it provides us.
Isaiah 50:5-7
- This passage teaches us about the Savvior’s attitude toward the great
sacrifice he was to make in our behalf. He was not ashamed and was willing to
take whatever he would be subjected to so that he might accomplish his mission.
Matthew 26:39
and Philippians 2:8
teach about the Savior’s attitude as he faced great suffering. Even though He
asked that the cup might pass from him, he wanted to do his Father’s will, not
his own.
Isaiah 51:6 – A comparison
is made between heaven and earth in this verse, contrasting the difference
between that which is temporary and that which is everlasting.
Mosiah 16:9;
Alma 34:10,
Alma 34:14
– These verses assure us that the effects of the Atonement will last forever.
Its effects are infinite and eternal.
Isaiah 51:22
– Here, the Savior pleads for his people.
D&C 45:3-5
- The Atonement allows the Savior to bee our Advocate.
D&C 19:15-20 -
The “cup of trembling” that Jesus has drunk for us is payment for our sins.
To receive the full blessings offered through
the Atonement, we must go to Christ with a broken heart and contrite spirit,
repent fully of our sins, and covenant to obey his commandments.
Isaiah 52:3; 2 Nephi
26:27-28; Isaiah 55:1-3 – We are “redeemed without money” because
redemption is free to all who will accept its price—repentance and obedience.
Isaiah 53:2-4; Alma
7:11-13; Hebrews 2:16-18; Hebrews 4:15 - These verses
tell us about the life of the Savior—that he is acquainted with sorrows and
grief from his own experiences, so he understands our sorrows and our grief and
can empathize with our situation.
Those acquainted with the Savior have sensed
that he understands their sorrows and grief.
They have felt his comforting presence during their trials.
Isaiah 53:5
- The Savior was willing to suffer the pain of being wounded, bruised, and
scourged because he is loving, kind, and long-suffering toward his people. (See 1 Nephi 19:9.)
Isaiah 53:6-7
– The Savior displayed firm resolve, steadfastness, submissiveness and humility
when he was oppressed, afflicted, and made to bear our iniquities. Sometimes we choose to “turn [our] own way”
rather than submit to Heavenly Father’s will.
If we develop proper humility and gratitude for our Savior, his example
will help us submit to Heavenly Father’s will.
Isaiah 53:10
- Isaiah said that “it pleased the Lordd to bruise” the Savior. This meant that the Father was pleased to
see that his son was willing to give his life and complete his mission in a
voluntary sacrifice to prove his love for his Father.
John 3:16-17
- From this passage we learn that Heaveenly Father’s love for us was so deep
that he was willing to sacrifice his Only Begotten Son for us.
Isaiah 53:8-11
- The Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi gaave a powerful commentary on these verses
when he was speaking to the wicked priests of King Noah (Mosiah 15:10-13).
Mosiah 5:7-8
- According to Abinadi, those who are wwilling to follow him and be faithful to
him will be the seed of the Savior, being adopted by him as sons and daughters;
being spiritually begotten by him.
Isaiah 53:12
- At the end of a battle, the leader off the victorious army divides the fruits
of victory among his followers.
Romans 8:16-17;
2 Timothy 4:7-8
– These passages tell us what the fruits of Christ’s victory over sin and death
are. The fruits that he is willing to
share with us are celestial glory, a crown of righteousness, and all the Lord
receives as an heir.
Isaiah described some of our responsibilities.
Isaiah 51
and Isaiah 52 –
The following passages point out the responsibilities we have as those who have
accepted the Savior’s Atonement.
§
Isaiah 51:1,
Isaiah 51:4,
Isaiah 51:7.
Listen to and obey the Lord; do not fear the revilings of men.
§
Isaiah 51:12-13.
Remember the Lord, who is the Creator. Do not fear Satan.
§
Isaiah 52:1-2.
Awake and put on the strength of the priesthood (see D&C 113:7-8). Revelation
19:7-8 - Put on the beautiful garments of righteousness.
D&C 113:9-10
- “Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck”.
§
Isaiah 52:11.
Depart from the wickedness of the world. Do not touch unclean things; be clean.
Think about how we as members of the Church and
kingdom can better fulfill each of these responsibilities.
Walking in the light
Isaiah 50:10-11
- Isaiah gives us a choice in these verrses. If we choose to fear the Lord, obey
the voice of his servants, and trust him, we will have his light to guide us
and will not walk in darkness (John 8:12; John 12:46). If we choose to walk in our own light, which
is compared to the light of sparks, the Lord warns that we will “lie down in
sorrow.”
In Mosiah 15:18, the prophet
Abinadi describes the Savior as a messenger whose feet are beautiful upon the
mountains. One reason his feet are
beautiful is that they bear the prints of the nails, the tokens of his atoning
love. For most of us, the teachings of
Isaiah have strengthened our love for the Savior and our desire to be worthy of
the blessings of his atoning sacrifice.
These
lessons are posted on the Internet at http://www.geocities.com/jeninstitute/