2 Nephi 25

Posted on December 18, 2014 by zachridd Standard 1

2 Nephi 25: Isaiah’s Prophecies will be Understood

Nephi opens up this chapter by explaining that he is going to share some of the words of Isaiah, but he explains that many will not understand, for the words of Isaiah; “…were hard for many of my people to understand…” (2 Nephi 25:1)

Nephi explains that the words of Isaiah are difficult to understand, for those who are not filled with the Holy Ghost; “…the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy…” (2 Nephi 25:4)

Nephi stresses that while he speaks, he is inspired by the words of Isaiah and encourages everyone to read them, for; “…they are of worth unto the children of men…” (2 Nephi 25:8) and he warns that “…in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.” (2 Nephi 25:8) In other words, when things come to pass, men will know that Isaiah did in fact preach of these things!

Nephi goes on to explain that the Jews shall return from Babylon, and they shall crucify the Messiah; “Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God…” (2 Nephi 25:13)

Nephi explains that Isaiah prophesied that after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Jerusalem would be destroyed and the Jews would be scattered among all nations; “… after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things.” (2 Nephi 25:16)

After many generations of being scattered, God the Father would once again bring His Children together, “… he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.” (2 Nephi 25:17) This Marvelous work and Wonder would be the Restoration of His Gospel and Church, here on the Earth. This was done through Joseph Smith, who was a servant to Jesus Christ.

Nephi warns that any nation with these words, will be judged by them. The works of the Lord will continue from generation to generation until the world no longer stands! Nephi explains that; “…we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do… we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (2 Nephi 25:23 and 26)

Nephi ends his writing in this chapter by telling his people that if you believe in God, you believe in His prophets. If you believe in His prophets, you believe in God;

“I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law… the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.” (2 Nephi 25:28-29)

The right way is to believe on and worship Jesus Christ and no one else. It is true that we are saved by God’s grace, but only after we have also done our part. We have to at least try and where we fall short, God will make up in His grace.

2 Nephi 16

Posted on November 9, 2014 by zachridd Standard Reply

2 Nephi 16: Isaiah sees the Lord

“In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” (2 Nephi 16:1) Here Isaiah sees the Lord and his sins are forgiven. Isaiah is called by the Lord to prophesy and he does, prophesying of the day of the Lord. Isaiah speaks about the pre-mortal world where Jesus Christ volunteered to be our Savior.

“…I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said: Here am I; send me. And he said: Go and tell this people—Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not.” (2 Nephi 16:8-9)

Isaiah knew that the Lord would be persecuted and would be rejected, and he prophesies of this!

2 Nephi 12

Posted on October 26, 2014 by zachridd Standard 2

2 Nephi 12: Isaiah Sees the Latter-Day Temple

Isaiah the son of Amoz, sees a vision of the Last Days;

“…it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (2 Nephi 12:2-3)

Essentially Isaiah sees a vision of the last days, where God’s church would be restored and the Temples would be built and shortly following that the Second Coming of Jesus would happen, where there would be 1,000 years of peace in the World.

Jacob and his people had record of Isaiah, which came from the Brass Plates which were recovered from Jerusalem from King Laban. The most interesting part of this, to me, is the following: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the tops of mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…” (Isaiah 2:2) It is the same passage, because Jacob and Nephi both taught from Isaiah and kept their own record of their teachings, which included passages from Isaiah. The reason this is so fascinating to me, is because the “tops of mountains” is a translation of a meaning of the word “Ute” which was the Indian Tribe of Utah, where the state was named and one of the most famous Temples in the world… the Salt Lake Temple has visitors from ALL around the world flock there on a daily basis. Isaiah was speaking of the Latter-day Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His Church, there will come a time of peace; “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (2 Nephi 12:4)

Jacob explains that when the day comes for Judgment, those who chose to follow idols made of Gold and Silver will hide themselves in mountains, caves and rocks for fear of the wrath of God!

“O ye wicked ones, enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for the fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty shall smite thee.” (2 Nephi 12:10)

2 Nephi 7

Posted on October 8, 2014 by zachridd Standard Reply

2 Nephi 7: The Learned will accept God

2 Nephi 6

Posted on October 5, 2014 by zachridd Standard Reply

2 Nephi 6: Jewish History

Jacob speaks to the people of Nephi, he explains that he is anxious and desirous of them, that they might have welfare unto their souls. He explains that Nephi has told them much of the history of the world, but that he would like to read to them the words of Isaiah to give them a better history of their own people, the Jews. Jacob explains that they might be likened unto themselves, because they too are part of the house of Israel.

Jacob speaks the words of Isaiah;

“…Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” (2 Nephi 6:6; see also: Isaiah 49:22)

Jacob reminds the people of Nephi that he reason for leaving the ‘Old World’ and coming to the ‘New World’ was because Jerusalem was to be destroyed (and at this point had already been destroyed) and for this purpose Lehi was led by God to safety with his family. Jacob explains that even though the people were destroyed that God will have them return, however they would also crucify their Savior.

Jacob continues to explain the Jewish people; “…shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance.” (2 Nephi 6:11) Jacob explains that not only will the Jews be blessed, but also the Gentiles; “…if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things.” (2 Nephi 6:12) Jacob explains that those who fight against Zion shall ‘lick up the dust of their feet’ as Isaiah had explained in old.

Jacob explains that those who fight against Zion and believe not on the Lord shall be destroyed; “…both by fire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine. And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel.” (2 Nephi 6:15)

Micah 3-4

Posted on September 29, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Micah 3-4

Chapter 3: Pastors for Money

The heads of Jacob commit some pretty horrible acts of violence against their own people. (see 1-3)

Because of this Jacob’s people turn to the Lord “Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them…” (Micah 3:4) A darkness will descend on the prophets, and the prophets will be confused because there is “…no answer of God.” (Micah 3:7) This is the Apostasy, a time when men were so wicked that the Lord had to withdraw his power and authority from the earth (for a time). Meaning that there wouldn’t be a prophet and those who pretend to be a prophet would suffer great consequences.

“… the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? None evil can come upon us.” ( Micah 3:11) Today, and throughout History there has always been false prophets and priests trying to make a quick buck. They do it for money, sadly a large number of churches today follow this format, that God was so angered by in the first place. We further learn in this chapter that Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the temple like the bare hills of the forest.

Chapter 4: The Millennium

This is an almost word for word vision of what Isaiah sees as a vision of the latter days in Isaiah 2:2…

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.” (Micah 4:1)

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the tops of mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:2-4)

The most interesting part of this, to me, is the following: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the tops of mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…” (Isaiah 2:2) The reason this is so fascinating to me, is because the “tops of mountains” is a translation of a meaning of the word “Ute” which was the Indian Tribe of Utah, where the state was named and one of the most famous Temples in the world… the Salt Lake Temple has visitors from ALL around the world flock there on a daily basis. Isaiah was speaking of the Latter-day Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the last days, the proud and the wicked will be brought low and the judgment will occur for everyone during the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Nations will no longer know war, and the world will enter into a peace for 1,000 years, while Jesus Christ reigns as king over Zion!

Summary of Isaiah

Posted on August 2, 2013 by zachridd Standard 1

Summary of Isaiah

Chapter by Chapter:

Isaiah 1-2: Zion and the Restoration/Temples in the Last Days

Isaiah 3-4: Judah and Jerusalem are Punished/Zion Shall be Cleansed

Isaiah 5-6: The Apostate of Israel/Isaiah Sees the Lord

Isaiah 7-8: Ephraim and Sariah Wage War/Turn to God for Guidance

Isaiah 9-10: A Child is Born/Few People Shall be Left

Isaiah 11-12: The Lord Shall Raise an Ensign/In the Last Days God will be among us

Isaiah 13-14: The End of the World/Lucifer is Cast Out!

Isaiah 15-16: Moab shall be Laid Waste/Messiah Shall Sit on David’s Throne

Isaiah 17-18: Israel is Scattered/The Scattered People

Isaiah 19-20: The Lord Will Smite Egypt/Assyria Shall Overrun Egypt

Isaiah 21-22: Babylon is Fallen!/A Nail in a Sure Place

Isaiah 23-24: Tyre Shall be Overthrown/Men Shall Change the Scriptures

Isaiah 25-26: Tyre Shall be Overthrown/Men Shall Change the Scriptures

Isaiah 27-28: Israel Shall Fill the Earth/Revelation

Isaiah 29-30: The Book of Mormon/Rejection of Prophets

Isaiah 31-32: The Lord will Defend his People/The Messiah – The Restoration

Isaiah 33-34: The Stakes of the Church/The Second Coming

Isaiah 35-36: Babylon is Fallen!/A Nail in a Sure Place

Isaiah 37-38: Hezekiah and Isaiah/Hezekiah’s Life is added to

Isaiah 39-40: Hezekiah reveals his truth/Run and Not be Weary

Isaiah 41-42: Be Not Affraid/Isaiah Speaks to the Lord

Isaiah 43-44: Jesus is our only Redeemer/Why worship objects?

Isaiah 45-46: Come unto Christ/Idols are not to be compared to God

Isaiah 47-48: Babylon and Chaldea shall be destroyed/The Lord reveals His purposes

Isaiah 49-50: Messiah = Light unto the Gentiles/Isaiah shall have a tongue of power

Isaiah 51-52: The Lord shall gather Zion/Zion shall return

Isaiah 53-54: The Atonement of Jesus Christ/Zion and Her Stakes in the Last Days

Isaiah 55-56: Salvation if Free/Keep the Commandments

Isaiah 57-58: No peace for the wicked/The Law of the Fast

Isaiah 59-60: Israel is separated from God/Israel shall be Restored

Isaiah 61-62: In the Last Days, God will restore His Church/Lifting the Gospel Standard

Isaiah 63-64: We shall accept Jesus as our Father/Salvation at the Second Coming

Isaiah 65-66: The Millennium/All wicked shall be destroyed

The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding Ezekiel, and Jeremiah. The first 39 chapters prophesy doom for a sinful Judah and for all the nations of the world that oppose God, while the last 27 prophesy the restoration of the nation of Israel and a new creation in God’s glorious future kingdom.

The prophet Isaiah, whose name means “Jehovah is salvation,” was the son of Amoz (Isaiah 1:1), not to be confused with the prophet Amos. He prophesied during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. During the span of Isaiah’s ministry, Judah underwent great periods of change. His call came in the last year of King Uzziah’s reign, about 740 BC. Uzziah was, generally speaking, a good king and had brought to Judah a degree of wealth and power which she had not known since the time of Solomon. With these accomplishments, however, came sin, corruption, oppression and religious formalism. While gaining materially, Judah had deteriorated spiritually. Uzziah was succeeded by his son Jotham, who also sought to encourage the worship of Jehovah but who failed, as had his father, to break down the high places of idolatrous worship. Ahaz followed Jotham and set about to replace the true worship with devotion to heathen idols.

Isaiah 41-42

Posted on August 2, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Isaiah 41-42

Chapter 41: Be Not Afraid

The people from the coastlands are invited to approach for judgment. Along with everybody else. Who raised up one from the East, the Lord did. The people of the coastlands approach with fear.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee…” (Isaiah 41:10)

Israel has been chosen, and gathered from the ends of the earth. Fear not – you will be strengthened, and your enemies ashamed. You will thresh and winnow the mountains. God will supply water and other resources. One will come from the north who shall conquer. The Lord judges idols and deems them worthless.

Chapter 42: Isaiah Speaks to the Lord

The Lord starts off by saying that His servants do not “…cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.” (Isaiah 42:2) Like the hypocrite that Jesus spoke of in Matthew that prayed for praise of the people. The spirit does not move with loud noises it moves by the still small voice… (1 Kings 19:11-12)

The Lord’s servant will bring justice to the gentiles, and establish justice on earth. A light to the gentiles. Psalm-like invitation to sing to the Lord a new song. The Lord will unleash his devastating power against idolaters. The deaf and the blind come to the servant. The Lord’s people have been robbed, plundered and punished because they have not walked in the ways of the Lord.

Isaiah 37-38

Posted on August 2, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Isaiah 37-38

Chapter 37: Hezekiah and Isaiah

Hezekiah tears his clothes and covers himself with sackcloth. Isaiah speaks words of assurance to Hezekiah, and tells him that Rabshakeh’s blasphemy will be repaid. The Ethiopians move against Assyria. Hezekiah prays, and Isaiah further prophesies against Assyria and gives assurances that the Lord will protect Jerusalem. The angel of the Lord strikes 185,000 Assyrian soldiers dead. Sennacherib is killed by his sons back in Assyria.

Chapter 38: Hezekiah’s Life is added to

The sick Hezekiah is given an assurance by Isaiah that he will not die, but live a further fifteen years. The shadow on a sundial goes backwards (10 degrees), as a sign to confirm the promise. Hezekiah thanks the Lord for his deliverance.

Isaiah 11-12

Posted on August 2, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Isaiah 11-12

Chapter 11: The Lord Shall Raise an Ensign

A root shall come forth from the rod of Jesse, possessing the seven spirits of God:
He will judge the poor with equity, and slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.

“The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion… together…” (Isaiah 11:6) The world will come together and fighting and war will be a thing of the past. The gentiles shall seek him. The Lord will gather together scattered Israel. Peace will reign, and neighboring nations be subdued.

In Doctrine and Covenant Section 113 we learn more about Isaiah chapter 11 and come to understand more of the meaning behind Isaiah’s words.

Answers to certain questions on the writings of Isaiah, given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at or near Far West, Missouri, March 1838.

“Who is the Stem of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah?

Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ.” (D&C 113:1-2)

“What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th chapter of Isaiah, that should come of the Stem of Jesse?

Behold, thus saith the Lord: It is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph, on whom there is laid much power.” (D&C 113:3-4)

“What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter?

Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.” (D&C 113:5-6)

“ What is meant by the command in Isaiah, 52d chapter, 1st verse, which saith: Put on thy strength, O Zion—and what people had Isaiah reference to?

He had reference to those whom God should call in the last days, who should hold the power of priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel; and to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood, which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost.” (D&C 113:7-8)

“What are we to understand by Zion loosing herself from the bands of her neck; 2d verse?

We are to understand that the scattered remnants are exhorted to return to the Lord from whence they have fallen; which if they do, the promise of the Lord is that he will speak to them, or give them revelation. See the 6th, 7th, and 8th verses. The bands of her neck are the curses of God upon her, or the remnants of Israel in their scattered condition among the Gentiles.” (D&C 113:9-10)

Chapter 12: In the Last Days God will be among us

Praise will be offered to the Lord when his anger has passed away. The Lord is my strength and salvation! You will draw water from the well of salvation. Praise sung – great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!