Search the Words of Isaiah

You will notice that my posts coordinate with Sunday school scripture study. I don't teach Sunday school in church but I love to read along. It is a great way to study the scriptures. It almost feels like cheating. Someone else gets to figure out my regular scripture study regimen for me.

Right now we are in 3 Nephi 22-26. We just read the Isaiah chapters.

I know it is easy to dose off with the language found in Isaiah but lets think about this.

Christ is quoting Isaiah- who is speaking Messianically, meaning since Isaiah was a seer, perhaps one of the greatest seers to walk the earth, he is speaking as the Jehovah of the Old Testament.

So Isaiah is delivering the words from the Messiah to the House of Israel or of Christ before he came to earth.

And now here we have the resurrected Christ in the Americas, who is quoting Isaiah to the Nephites. Isaiah, however, was actually quoting Christ before he even walked the earth as a mortal! The pre-mortal Christ!

DOES ANYONE ELSE THINK THIS IS AWESOME?!!!

Christ is essential quoting himself through the words of Isaiah!

He gives us a commandment to not only read the words of Isaiah but search them. How many of us have heeded this commandment of Christ? I am recommitting.

In these verses Christ teaches us the power of language. He speaks to the house of Israel on a Macro level as well as speaks to us on a micro level, individually. I am not sure how he does it but he seems to accomplish this well. The language of the scriptures, particularly these verses, reminds me of the intricate order of mathematics. Everything Christ says in the scriptures somehow ties back to others passages in the scriptures...I mean, how is this all possible? It goes to show that the God of the earth is also the God of our language. The scriptures are so interwoven and timed together, it is impressive.

In 3 Nephi 22 Isaiah talks of a woman in labor who after many years of being barren is finally having children and alot of them at that. She must enlarge the tent to receive all the children. He is talking about the mourning period of the house of Israel when there was great wickedness but how in the last days there will be a great expanding and understanding of the gospel. There is so much in here at both the macro level which coordinates with gathering of Israel in the previous versus of 3rd Nephi as well as an individual level if we apply it to the atonement.

I LOVE LOVE verse 16 since I worry about the "last days". I fear both spiritual and physical "weapons of destruction" that may impact my children. In verse 16 Christ reminds us that he is the creator of the all things, even the creator of those who create weapons and it is all in his plan.

3 Nephi 22:
16 Behold, I have created the smith (meaning black smith) that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth and instrument for his work; and I have created the water to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord.

I don't know about you but I need to spend some time on these verses. If you like additional study helps there are several out there. I don't think it is wrong to tap into the expertise of a few scholars. I believe that it can enhance my "search" of Isaiah.

I love David Ridges guides (He used to be my stake president) of the Book of Mormon Made Easier as well as Isaiah Made Easier.

Words of Advice to Cancer Families

I went through an old blog this past weekend and found an unpublished post from over 9 Years ago. After reading this post, I felt like it did need to be published so here it is.
___________________
Aug 2008
As I was running the other day I had thoughts about my dad's battle with cancer. It became our battle as our family prayed and waded through that time with him.

It is something that you would never wish on anyone but something you wish everyone understood.

I thought about the hours on my knees as I watched my hero grow weak. It is true that if we are willing and humble in our sorrow we come to know Heavenly Father and the plan that he has and our purpose in this mortality.

I recently talked to a friend who has a family member who is undergoing treatments. The statistics are good for his type of cancer and recovery is within reach.

In a way cancer can be a blessing to those who recover. To those who have walked in the shadow of death it can lead to deepened understanding to enjoy life in a much richer, enlightened sense.

I pondered what I should say to others who were facing the battle that I once faced with someone that I loved.

It would be this:

Don't avoid the "lasts", and treat every occasion and day like the last. Drink it up and memorize every moment. I felt ashamed at times when I wanted to bring out the camacorder (that will tell you how old this post is) or talk about things because I didn't want to seem like I had lost hope. But the times that I pushed past that feeling are those that I am most greatful for.

I am greatful for the moments when I did talk about death with my dad. I found that after the time came when the mortal barrier was crossed, I repeated every word in my mind from him from those conversations. I am greatful that my sister pushed past that feeling, of not wanting to show loss of hope, and insisted on family pictures. Now we all cherish those. I wish I would have had him write a little note to my children, something that they could have from their grandpa that was intended just for them.

I believe that preparation does not deter hope or faith rather it strengthens it and shows the Lord that we have faith in his judgement and that we are agents unto ourselves. It is a win, win situation to savor the goodbyes and to document those occasions that may be the last. If a person who is facing death prepares for death but beats their illness, they get to still benefit greatly from the fruits of their preparation. And they will get the blessing of the sweetness of getting a second chance after their preparation for death. And if death does come they are more, even if only a little, at peace when their sickness has its greatest fury knowing that they have spoke their love to family and friends.

There shall be no disputations among you.(Election chaos)

This is not a political post about any candidate but an observation about current political processes and about how we can protect ourselves from being swept away in the contentions that accompany them.

One of the first things Christ did after appearing in the America's is tell them that there should be no disputations among them. 

This may seem insignificant but if you consider that Christ is probably teaching the most important principles first, knowing the people would get weaker as the day wore on, then this takes on new meaning. Christ never seemed to do anything nonstrategically.

Christ telling his people not to be stirred up in anger against one another is also significant considering what he had just been through in the last few days, which were also the last days of his mortal life.

He was an innocent man, the most innocent of mankind, but became a political target to the Sanhedren.

The Jewish leaders stirred up the hearts of the people with terrible lies and strategy. Ultimately average people turned into ill-informed mobs who crucified their Savior and master. I wonder what he must have felt as he had just endured the pains of the atonement and looked down into to the faces of the angry crowd for whom he had just atoned. 

Even lynch mobs always, believe their cause is just, in the moment.

An angry crowd ill informed, with contention in their hearts is a powerful tool for Satan. An angry crowd that believes what they are doing is right, is dangerous when they act out of anger and ask questions later and act together. 

We are seeing this today with these mobs online. It is easy, actually human nature to be swept away in it. The anger, like the scripture says, begins to stir within our hearts. We feel as if it is our duty to stand up but there is a difference in standing and defaming. There is a difference in speaking up and tearing down. There is a great difference, and the greatest difference is not what happens to owr opponent but what happens to our own heart. 

It  is currently one week before the 2016 elections and it has been an ugly year. Again, this is not a political post about any candidate but an observation about the process and about how we aren't much different than the people in Christ's time at all.

I have watched the contention. I have even felt feelings of anger build in my chest as I have read discussions. I am reminded of the scripture below that Christ taught the Nephite people.

"For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away." (3 Nephi:29-30)

I understand the need for checks and balances. I understand the need for both sides. But the truth has become obsolete. What does it look like? Everything we read now has to be triple checked for facts and credibility because all sides are using trickery and then it should be put through a mental filter for bias "Do I think this is true because I want this to be true?"

Once you do speak kindly and turthfuly for right principles you can expect that not everyone will do the same back. 

I grew up with a hard working politically minded father who often held opinions that were different than those around him. I can't even begin to count the lectures I sat through as he taught me over and over again not to judge people. He believed strongly in people's rights and in their right to express opinions. He was passionate about allowing others to believe differently than he did.  How grateful I am for those lectures. I didn't realize that toxic environment he would prepare me against. 

I learned that although reputation may be tainted by enemies, character, which is much more valuable, is an inside job and can only by undone by our own actions. No matter what an opponent or opposing view says about us, our character will remain in tact if we remain true and upright to who we are.

If you for get who you are even for one discussion once the dust settles and the discussion passes, you may not have to live with the people you've burned but you will always have to live with yourself and the things you have said that were for perhaps "a good cause" but for a poor end.

• Triple check facts
• Mental filter for bias
• Be kind
• Be truthful
• And when all else fails and no one else does the same, be true to your own character. It is all you can control and it is all that matters.