Isaiah an Open Book

AIDS to Uncover the Treasure of Isaiah

Key #1: Have a positive attitude—I can understand Isaiah

    2 Nephi 25:8

Key #2: Know the time periods in which he wrote

    His day

    Dispensation of the meridian of time (Christ’s day)

    The Latter-days, 1,800 to present and future events

Key #3: Realize that Isaiah wrote in symbols

    Ask yourself questions such as “How is this like . . . ? What can that be compared to?” etc. 

Key #4: Use other scripture as you study

    The best commentary on Isaiah is the Book of Mormon

Key #5: Know Isaiah’s chief doctrinal topics

    Historical commentary of his day

    Prophecies of Christ and his day

    Prophecies of the Latter-days

    Prophecies of the second coming of Christ and millennium

Key #6: Liken the scriptures unto yourself

    “Since I realize that Isaiah knew many things concerning my time, what could he be trying to tell me?” (1 Nephi 19:23)

Key #7: Keep in mind the plan of salvation

    Isaiah assumes we know the plan and how the house of Israel fits in that plan

Key #8: Read commentary by modern prophets

    Look for interpretations given by the Brethren to help understand Isaiah’s writings

Understanding Isaiah

As taught in the Book of Mormon

Basic Principles

1. God dispenses (reveals) his gospel to prophets and they teach it to the people (Amos 3:7 and Romans 10:13-17)
2. Each time God re-reveals his gospel it is called a Dispensation. There have been seven major dispensations in the history of the earth (that we know of). (Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith)
3. With each dispensation there has been a warning: Keep my commandments and you will prosper in the land—break my commandments and you shall be swept off the land (scattered and smitten)
4. God has held true to his covenant: (Were these not smitten and scattered?)
1. People in Noah’s day
2. Jaredites
3. Lost 10 tribes
4. Jews
5. Lamanites and Nephites
5. During Isaiah’s day the people had been warned and they had rejected the warning. Therefore, they were scattered and smitten (Lost Ten Tribes).
6. Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob see the same comparison in their family in America. Laman and Lemuel had rebelled against the Lord and had been cut off (2 Nephi 5).
7. Jacob and Nephi saw the parallel with Isaiah’s day and so they likened the writings of Isaiah to their people as a warning. 
8. Since we are living in the same Prommised Land and are under the same covenant, we too should see the parallels to Isaiah, the days of Nephi/Jacob, and our day. 
9. By reading the words of Isaiah (as recorded in the Book of Mormon) we should look for the ways: (a) in which the Lord warned the people, (b) how the people reacted to the warnings, (c) the consequences that followed either obedience or disobedience and (d) how these may show up in our lives.
10. In light of the “Likening Principle” we would be wise to ask the following questions while reading the Isaiah writings: What is he saying to me? How is this like my day? What warning is he giving and am I listening to that warning? What happened to them for failing to listen and will it happen to me? Does any of this match up with what our current leaders are saying today?
11. Don’t worry so much about the details of Isaiah’s writings, but rather look for this match up with what our current leaders are saying today?
12. Along with the scattering that comes from disobedience, there has always been a promise of a gathering back following the scattering (once the people had been sufficiently humbled and had fully repented).
13. Since today all the house of Israel has now been scattered, the gathering is occurring with the restoration. So, as you read Isaiah also look for gathering principles and you will see the nature of God revealed. You will see his yearnings for his people, his willingness to forgive, and his constant reaching out for them to come back to him. Here too you can see a likening. Have we not all drifted to some degree and have a need of his yearnings and reaching out to bring us back?

Background on Isaiah and his day

1. Isaiah lived around 700 B.C. In the land of Canaan (in NT times called Palestine and today called Israel)
2. His people had divided into two groups—10 tribes living in the north of the country and 2 tribes living in the south. The ten in the north had taken up on themselves the name Israel. They had become very wicked and were worshipping idols and were steeped in immorality. The two tribes in the south called themselves Judah or Jews. They were led by a king named Hezekiah. Isaiah lived in Jerusalem and also traveled and taught in both lands. 
3. The people in the north (Israel) did not give heed to Isaiah and his warnings. The people in the south (Judah) did obey. 
4. The Assyrian army entered their land, beginning at the north and conquered all the cities of the people of Israel. They were smitten and scattered as God had warned and promised through his prophet Isaiah.
5. The army proceeded south and encircled the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah resided in the city and had prepared the people spiritually to withstand the attack of the invading army. 
6. Because the people listened and obeyed the prophet Isaiah the city was spared in a miraculous way. One night a plague went throughout the Assyrian army and over 185,000 men died. The king fled to his homeland and there was assassinated. They were never again a powerful nation. 
7. God had kept his covenants with the people. He had scattered the northern tribes and spared the southern tribes based on their disobedience or obedience. 

Our Day

1. We have a prophet in our midst that is teaching, testifying, and warning us of the evil of our day. We too are under covenant to obey or be swept off.
2. One day powerful armies will gather to destroy the righteous.
3. One day the righteous will be gathered into places for safety and prophets will reside to protect and strengthen.
4. The message will be the same as that of Isaiah (and all the prophets throughout each dispensation).
5. Failure to heed the words of the prophets will bring the same consequences as experienced by Isaiah’s people and those of the Book of Mormon. We too will be destroyed and not be able to enjoy the millennial presence of Jesus Christ in the Promised Land.
6. We have all the words of the prophets (because this is the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times) and so if we read, ponder, liken, and listen to the Spirit we will be gathered back to our God and his land (the Celestial Kingdom).
7. To make all this work we must come unto Christ—which was also Isaiah’s message, as well as, Jacob’s in the Book of Mormon.