Isaiah Insights-Part 5

Watching General Conference the weekend before studying these last Isaiah chapters really framed the way I studied this weeks Come, Follow Me material (Isaiah 58-66). In the talk entitled “That They Might Know Thee” given by Elder Jonathan S.Schmitt he talked about the importance of taking the Lord's name upon us and challenged us to learn about all the different names of Jesus Christ, and by so doing, it might inspire us to become more like Him and to develop those different Christlike attributes. As I thought about this challenge and wondered how/when to start gathering those different names, one of the Come, Follow Me podcasts I listened to (Follow Him) talked about how prolific the book of Isaiah is when it comes to giving us different names of Jesus Christ! So, I had my answer. Start now with the book of Isaiah. Here are the names that I found...

Chapter 58: rereward (rearguard, or protector),  the holy of the Lord

Chapter 59: intercessor, Spirit of the Lord, Redeemer

Chapter 60: Lord thy God, Holy One of Israel, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel, Savior, Redeemer, mighty One of Jacob, Salvation, Praise, everlasting light

Chapter 61: bridegroom

Chapter 62: bridegroom

Chapter 63: Savior, father, redeemer

Chapter 64: father, potter

Chapter 65: God of truth

I also found it interesting to see some of the names that He calls us, His righteous followers...the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths, trees of righteousness, Priests of the Lord  Ministers of our God, clay and the work of thy hand.

I loved what I learned about what it might mean to be a "tree of righteousness." In the Follow Him podcast, Dr. Ross Baron talked about the characteristics of trees and how we might compare them to ourselves. 

1) trees always grow towards the light

2) trees require opposition to thrive

3) trees are best grown in forests, not in isolation

4) trees draw strength from previous generations of trees

5) trees point upward and use the power of the sun to provide oxygen for life

I love how he went into detail about point #3 and talked about how your ward and family are great laboratories where you get to practice developing Christlike attributes like faith, knowledge, temperance, patience...because you don't get that kind of development in isolation. It’s easy to be spiritual living alone on top of a mountain, but the real test of spirituality is found by putting yourself in a ward and in a family and then try living the gospel of Jesus Christ. This principle reminded me of another talk that was given in General Conference. Sister Michelle D. Craig in her talk entitled "Wholehearted" said "when your faith, your family, or your future are challenged-when you wonder why life is so hard when you are doing your best to live the gospel-remember that the Lord told us to expect troubles." She goes on to say that "living in convenience does not bring power." We don't need to go looking for trials, they will come no matter what. But when they do come we can try to see that adversity as a way to develop some Christlike attributes.

Isaiah Insights-Part 4

This week the Come, Follow Me manual covered Isaiah chapters 50-57. Here's what I learned...

Isaiah 50:1-2 If we ever feel distanced from God, it is us that have moved away from Him and not Him that has left us.

Isaiah 51 Invitations to remember who we are and invitations to act according to that knowledge (i.e. hearken, look, lift up your eyes, awake, put on and stand up.

Isaiah 53:12 what God gives us (divides) can only end up being multiplied to make more of it (i.e. His knowledge, His power, His love). It is the divine economy of heaven. It's why He can promise to give everyone all that he has, because those attributes are only multiplied once they are shared.

Isaiah 54:1-3 even those without children are told to expand their living spaces and to expect those spaces to be filled. God will promise us unexpected blessings.

Isaiah 55:8-9 God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We need to look to Him to inspire our ways and our thoughts.

Isaiah 56:3-8 Righteous living (not our genealogy) determines whether or not we are accepted into the Lord's kingdom. God is willing to let everyone in, if they choose to make and keep covenants with Him.

(my study resources were: "Don't Miss This" podcast, "Book of Mormon Central" podcast, "Follow Him" podcast, "Unshaken Saints" podcast, NIV Bible translation, ESV Bible translation, KJV Bible & footnotes, Old Testament Student Manual)

Isaiah Insights-Part 3

This weeks study of the book of Isaiah concentrated on chapters 40-49. Here are some of my take-aways...

Isaiah 40:28-31 One of the characteristics of God is that he never grows faint or weary. We are promised those same characteristics as we "wait upon the Lord" (serve Him and trust in Him). Could this blessing apply not only physically, but spiritually as well?

Isaiah 41 Three times in this chapter the Lord tells us to "Fear not" because He is with us and will hold us and help us. I find those words very comforting during these last days.

Isaiah 42:1-3 Christ came to earth as a quiet leader "for His was not an earthly kingdom wherein His voice and His works and His wonders were to be heralded abroad; rather His was a heavenly kingdom." (Old Testament Student Manuel). Can we be more like Christ by quietly going about doing good works? And not expect our works to be heralded abroad? But do them instead for our Heavenly King?

Isaiah 44: 9-20 The Lord condemns the worship of idols several times in these verses and then compares the worship of idols to someone feeding on ashes (v 20). How is worshipping false gods like eating ashes? Ash will never satiate your hunger pangs. You can eat it and eat it and still be hungry and malnourished because it doesn't fill your real needs. What are some modern day ashes that people feed upon? (social media, worldly lifestyle..)

Isaiah 45:22 Salvation only comes by and through Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 46:3-4 The ultimate analogy of the love of God for each of each is the love of a mother for her children. Their life comes at the expense of her own life and that's exactly what Christ has done for each of us.

(my study resources were: "Don't Miss This" podcast, "Book of Mormon Central" podcast, "Follow Him" podcast, "Unshaken Saints" podcast, NIV Bible translation, ESV Bible translation, KJV Bible & footnotes, Old Testament Student Manual)

Isaiah Insights-Part 2

Isaiah 13:11-12 The Lord sees His righteous followers as being more rare than gold.

Isaiah 14 God's promises and purposes will be fulfilled and no one can stop that from happening.

Isaiah 25:4 The Lord is our strength, refuge and shadow from the heat.

Isaiah 26:3 Keeping our minds focused on Jesus Christ will bring us perfect peace.

Isaiah 27:1 The Lord can easily destroy Satan and the chaos he creates, so we should trust and believe in His power to save us.

Isaiah 28:7-8 Are we spiritually drunk? Stumbling because we're trying to walk and follow the messages of the world..(the "vomit" the world is spewing forth)?

Isaiah 28:23-29 Parable of the Plowman can be about the wisdom Christ has with His personal care for each of us.

Isaiah 29:4 God wants us to learn from our ancestors through the scriptures, temple work and family history stories.

Isaiah 30:9-14 Rejecting the word of God leads to destruction.

Isaiah 35:1 God will help things grow when you involve Him in your life.

(my study resources were: "Don't Miss This" podcast, "Book of Mormon Central" podcast, "Follow Him" podcast, "Unshaken Saints" podcast, NIV Bible translation, ESV Bible translation, KJV Bible & footnotes, Old Testament Student Manual)

Isaiah Insights

The Come, Follow Me manual suggested that one way to study Isaiah is to read each chapter and focus on what that chapter is teaching you about Jesus Christ. This is the way I tried to study chapters 1-12 of Isaiah this week. Although I didn't make it through all the chapters, I wanted to share what I found in the chapters I did study.

• Isaiah 1:11-17 Christ instituted religious rituals in order to stir up our hearts with a desire to change for the better and to help others along the way. If our worship is insincere then it is offensive to God.
• Isaiah 2:2-6 Christ wants us to go to the temple where we can be taught by Him how we should live and not look to the world for how we should live.
• Isaiah 3:16-26 Christ is warning us not to let the excesses of the world overcome us because they will lead us into bondage.
• Isaiah 4: 3-6 The Lord will save and protect the righteous.
• Isaiah 5:2-7 Jesus Christ has given us everything to be successful and to thrive in this life and He is frustrated when He sees us taking it for granted.
• Isaiah 6:6-8 Just like Isaiah received his call to be a prophet, we also are given the opportunity each week to be cleansed of our sins and to recommit ourselves to do the Lord's work as we partake of the sacrament.
• Isaiah 7:4 Christ wants us to listen to His chosen prophet. If we listen and do what he says then we have no need to fear.
• Isaiah 8: 11-14 The Lord wants us to fear (respect and reverence) Him before man.
• Isaiah 9:1-2 The teachings of Jesus Christ bring light to a world and to people that are living and suffering in darkness.
• Isaiah 10:12-15 Christ is the one in charge and he uses us to move His work forward here on this earth-either for good or for bad.

(my study resources were: "Don't Miss This" podcast, "Book of Mormon Central" podcast, "Follow Him" podcast, "Unshaken Saints" podcast, NIV Bible translation, ESV Bible translation, KJV Bible & footnotes, Old Testament Student Manual)

A Virtuous (Wo)Man

The Come, Follow Me manual highlights Proverbs 31 and challenges the reader to look for the different traits that describe a virtuous women. In addition to this, one of the podcasts I listened to (Don't Miss This) added the thought to analyze just the verbs that are mentioned in this chapter and think about what those verbs look like in your discipleship and effort to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.

By isolating the verbs, I was able to formulate questions that help me examine my character traits more closely and see in what areas I can improve.

• v. 13-seeketh; do I have a desire to look harder? 
• v. 13-worketh; am I putting in the daily effort to reach my goals?
• v. 14-bringeth; am I ready and willing to invite others to come unto Christ?
• v. 15-riseth; am I quick to stand up and help those around me?
• v. 16-considereth; do I think before I act?
• v. 16-planteth; do I have faith enough to "plant" and patience enough to wait for the harvest?
• v. 17-girdeth; am I preparing myself for challenges?
• v. 17-strengtheneth; do I build others up with my words and actions?
• v. 18-perceiveth; do I look to see things with a different perspective?
• v. 18-candle goeth not out; is my testimony always burning brightly for others to see?
• v. 20-stretcheth; am I willing to stretch outside of my comfort circle?
• v. 20-reacheth; do I give up on others too easily? do I help others feel loved?
• v. 22-maketh; do I use my talents?
• v. 24-delivereth; do I come to the rescue?
• v. 26-openeth her mouth with wisdom; do I share the things I know to be true?
• v. 27-looketh; am I an approachable person?
• v. 30-feareth the Lord; do I reverence the Lord enough to do all He has asked me to do?

Self-reflective questions can lead us to better be able to do what our prophet, President Nelson has asked us to do which is..."We Can Do Better and Be Better"

Power of Sacred Music

I learned this week that the book of Psalms was like an ancient hymn book and the words were designed to be set to music. Learning this important piece of information really helped shape my understanding of the Come, Follow Me reading. Another neat thing I learned about the book of Psalms is that it is the most quoted book in the New Testament (see Bible Dictionary).

When I thought about how important the Psalms must have been to the people living during Bible times, it made me think about how important sacred music is for us as well.

How often has music been able to touch your heart and bring comfort and peace to your soul? There is a power in music that reaches us differently than the spoken word. President Nelson has said “Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end…Hymns can also help us withstand the temptations of the adversary…Worthy music also has the power to persuade...Music has a sweet power to promote unity and love in the family…Music has power to provide spiritual nourishment. It has healing power. It has the power to facilitate worship. It provides power for us to express prayerful thoughts and bear testimony of sacred truths…Music has power to overcome language barriers…Worthy music is not only a source of power but also of protection.” (The Power and Protection of Worthy Music)

For the last (almost) 10 years, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been putting a greater emphasis on providing new music for the youth each year. The music is more contemporary, catchy and appealing to the youth and their families. If you haven’t tuned in yet, you are missing out! The Church is providing so many resources for families in an effort to help fortify us and our children and to help all of us get on and stay on the covenant path, and music is another one of those amazing resources! Here's a link to the new youth music website Youth Music, or you can download the app "Sacred Music" to your phone. Here's a link to one of my favorite songs "Healer" from this years youth album. Happy listening😀