Isaiah 60-62
Isaiah 60
Vs. 1-3- A
prophecy of our time. Out of the darkness of the apostasy and the great
wickedness of our time will shine the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Vs. 3 is
the reason we have missionaries.
Hymn numbers
1, 265, 89.
Vs. 4- The
great gathering of our day. Isaiah will get to say, "I told you so!"
Vs. 5- Gentile converts will not come empty handed.
Note footnote c.
Vs. 6-
D&C 124:11-"Awake O kings of the earth! Come ye, O, come ye, with your
gold and your silver, to the help of my people, to the house of the daughters
of Zion."
Vs. 7- The
wealth of converts will build the kingdom with temples. (Nebaioth and Kedar,
Arab tribal confederations named for Ishmael's 1st and 2nd sons)
Vs. 8- Who
are these converts? Note footnote a.
Vs. 9- These
converts will be anxious to come
Vs. 10- They
will want to build Zion. (Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem)
Vs. 11-12- About the phrase “thy gates shall be open continually” (Isaiah 60:11), Elder Orson Pratt
said: “‘They shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring unto thee the
forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought, for the nation and
kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish, yea, those nations shall be
utterly wasted.’ What! no people or nation left that will not serve Zion? Not
one. What will become of this great republic [the United States] … ?
If they will comply with the ordinances of Zion, repent of their sins and be
prepared for this great and glorious day, God will save them; but if they will
not they will be utterly wasted away. Thus have the prophets declared.” (JD
14:355)
Vs. 13- There will be the best of materials to build the places the
Lord will walk.
Vs. 14- The descendants of former persecutors will know whose work
it is.
Vs. 15- Latter-day Israel
will be honored.
Vs. 16- Gentiles shall aid
in our getting to know Jesus.
Vs. 17- An upgrade in
building materials to build Zion's good leaders.
Vs. 18- Zion will be a land of peace.
Vs. 19-20- Hymn # 227- The Lord is My Light.
When the New Jerusalem is eventually built, and Jesus Christ returns to
earth in glory, the need will disappear for the sun and the moon to give light
to God’s covenant people. The Lord Himself will be an everlasting light. (D&C 133:57–58.)
Vs. 21- No
more bad guys!
Vs. 22- Zion
will be LARGE!
Isaiah 61
Vs. 1-2- Jesus
quoted these verses to the
people of Nazareth in their synagogue. When He had finished, “the eyes of all
them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him” (Luke 4:20). He then
said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (v. 21; see vv. 16–19). These
verses in Isaiah relate to Jesus as does the rest of Isaiah 61—to Him and to the building of
His Zion in the latter days. He it is who is appointed of the Father to preach
the gospel unto men, to heal or provide forgiveness to the wounded soul, to preach
deliverance to those captives in the spirit prison (see 1 Peter 3:18–19). Jesus
Himself cited this passage as evidence of His divinity (see Matthew 11:2–5; Luke 7:19–22). (OTSM p.
224) Note footnote 1k-Add to those references Isaiah 24:22; 42:7; 49:9; 1 Peter
3:18-19; 4:6.
Vs. 3- Jesus will make Zion possible: I noted 6 things.
Vs. 4- Millennial rebuilding of destructions at 2nd Coming.
Vs. 5- Service by those who do accept Gospel?
Vs. 6- Those who are prepared to serve will be provided for.
Vs. 7- Nobody gets ripped off. Actually, just the opposite of
getting ripped off for the righteous.
Vs. 8- Robbery= things taken
and things not given (Malachi 3:18-19).
Vs. 9- All shall know of the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Note
footnote 9a.
Vs. 10- We will be grateful for the blessings of the Gospel and
will acknowledge our temple blessings.
Vs. 11- The seeds of the gospel wi
Vs. 1- The world will see the good of the Gospel.
Vs. 2- New names are given for new covenants; Jacob, Abram,
Baptism, Temple.
Vs. 3- Moses 1:39
Vs. 4- Note footnotes and JST-Hephzi-bah=Delightful and Beulah=Union
Vs. 5- JST replaces sons with God.
Vs. 6- Prophets will continue to raise the warning voice.
Vs. 7- We should keep praying until Zion is established.
Vs. 8- God promises by his "covenant" hand that He will
give His children Eternal protection.
Vs. 9- Blessings to Israel during the gathering. Chief blessing,
"in the courts of my holiness" is a temple reference.
Vs. 10- Make a path for the gathered of Israel.
The standard, a flag or ensign, is variously given in the
scriptures as the "root of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:10; the Book of Mormon
(2 Nephi 29:2-3), the great Zion of the last days (D&C 64:41-43), & the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 115:4-5). (Parry p. 552)
Vs. 11- The Gospel will spread and Christ will come!
Vs. 12- The Holy People are the temple goers. Not forsaken-see vs.
4.
ll produce a beautiful garden!
Isaiah 62
Vs. 1- The world will see the good of the Gospel.
Vs. 2- New names are given for new covenants; Jacob, Abram,
Baptism, Temple.
Vs. 3- Moses 1:39
Vs. 4- Note footnotes and JST-Hephzi-bah=Delightful and Beulah=Union
Vs. 5- JST replaces sons with God.
Vs. 6- Prophets will continue to raise the warning voice.
Vs. 7- We should keep praying until Zion is established.
Vs. 8- God promises by his "covenant" hand that He will
give His children Eternal protection.
Vs. 9- Blessings to Israel during the gathering. Chief blessing,
"in the courts of my holiness" is a temple reference.
Vs. 10- Make a path for the gathered of Israel.
The standard, a flag or ensign, is variously given in the
scriptures as the "root of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:10; the Book of Mormon
(2 Nephi 29:2-3), the great Zion of the last days (D&C 64:41-43), & the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 115:4-5). (Parry p. 552)
Vs. 11- The Gospel will spread and Christ will come!
Vs. 12- The Holy People are the temple goers. Not forsaken-see vs.
4.
Isaiah 58, 59
Isaiah 58
Vs. 1- D&C 33:2 -For verily, verily, I say unto you that ye are
called to lift up your voices as with the sound of a trump, to declare my
gospel unto a crooked and perverse generation. 42:6-
And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by
two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring
my word like unto angels of God. Alma 29:1-2
Vs. 2- Pretend righteousness
Vs. 3- We've being going through the motions. Where are
our blessings?
Vs. 4- Just going hungry just makes one miserable.
Vs. 6- Matt. 6:16-Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad
countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to
fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou
fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto
men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Vs. 7- Hymn # 138-Bless
our Fast We Pray & 139- In Fasting We Approach Thee
Vs. 8- President Eyring- Saturday April 4, 2015-
"So the Lord
has given us a simple commandment with a marvelous promise. In the Church today
we are offered the opportunity to fast once a month and give a generous fast
offering through our bishop or branch president for the benefit of the poor and
the needy. Some of what you give will be used to help those around you, perhaps
someone in your own family. The Lord’s servants will pray
and fast for the revelation to know whom to help and what help to give. That
which is not needed to help people in your local Church unit will become
available to bless other Church members across the
world who are in need. The commandment to fast for the poor has many blessings
attached to it. President Spencer W. Kimball called failing to follow that
law a sin of omission with a heavy cost. He wrote: “Rich promises are made by
the Lord to those who fast and assist the needy. … Inspiration and spiritual
guidance will come with righteousness and closeness to our Heavenly Father. To
omit to do this righteous act of fasting would deprive us of these blessings.”3
I received one of those blessings just a few weeks
ago. Since general conference falls on a weekend that would normally include
the fast and testimony meeting, I fasted and prayed to know how I should still
obey the commandment to care for those in need. On a Saturday, still fasting, I
woke at 6:00 and prayed again. I felt impressed to look at the world news.
There I read this report: Tropical Cyclone Pam destroyed many homes as it made
a direct hit on Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. It killed at least six
people in Vanuatu, the first confirmed from one of the most powerful storms
ever to make landfall.
And then they said: “‛The strongest thing they’ve got
is cement churches,’ said Inga Mepham [from] CARE International. … ‛Some of
them don’t have that. It’s hard to find a structure that you’d think would be
able to withstand a Category 5 (storm).’”5When I read that, I remembered visiting little homes
on Vanuatu. I could picture in my mind the people huddled in homes being
destroyed by winds. And then I remembered the warm welcome to me of the people
of Vanuatu. I thought of them and their neighbors fleeing to the safety of our
cement chapel. Then I pictured the bishop and the Relief Society president
walking among them, giving comfort, blankets, food to eat, and water to drink.
I could picture the frightened children huddled together. They are so far away
from the home where I read that report, and yet I knew what the Lord would be
doing through His servants. I knew that what made it possible for them to
succor those children of Heavenly Father was fast offerings, given freely by
the Lord’s disciples who were far away from them but close to the Lord. So I
didn’t wait for Sunday. I took a fast offering to my bishop that morning. I
know that my offering may be used by the bishop and Relief Society president to
help someone in my neighborhood. My small offering may not be needed near where
my family and I live, but the local surplus could reach even as far as Vanuatu.
1000 miles north of Australia. Fiji
Mission. Book of Mormon: in Bislama 2004. 6693 members, 31 Congregations
Vs. 10-Mosiah 4:26- Hymn
# 149
Vs. 11- Drought avoidance
Vs. 13-14- Hymn # 276-Come
Away to the Sunday School
Make the Sabbath a delight
by rendering service to others, especially those who are not feeling well or
those who are lonely or in need. Lifting their spirits will lift yours as
well….Not pursuing your “own pleasure” on the Sabbath requires self-discipline.
You may have to deny yourself of something you might like. If you choose to
delight yourself in the Lord, you will not permit
yourself to treat it as any other day. Routine and recreational activities can
be done some other time. (RMNelson-CR-Apr. 2015)
high places=temples
Isaiah 59
Vs. 1- Hand=Power; Isaiah
50:2; D&C 35: 8 For I
am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and
wonders, unto all those who believe on my name.
Vs. 2-Is. 50:1; Mosiah
11:24; 21:15
Vs. 3- Alma 5:22
Vs. 4- People not seeking
for justice or truth!
Vs. 5- Plotting to do evil
vs. their neighbors. 2 Nephi
28:7-9
Vs. 6- Evil practices do not produce good results.
Vs. 7- 1 Nephi 17:45
Vs. 8- D&C
6:23. “Did I Not Speak Peace to Your Mind?”Revelation
can come in many ways and in various degrees of directness. In some cases God
Himself may appear to a person; in other cases He may send an angel, show a
vision, or speak through the whisperings of the still, small voice. Here the
Lord bore witness to Oliver Cowdery of one way of giving revelation—a feeling
of peace. When one is torn with despair or confusion, the sweet feeling of
peace conveyed by the Comforter can instantly dispel the turmoil that reigned
in the soul previously. Such a feeling is a real, definable experience, and as
much a revelation as a vision, though more subtle and less direct in the way it
is given.
Vs. 9- Getting all the
wrong answers in all the wrong places.
Vs. 10- Spiritually blind
and dead
Vs. 11-Lot5s of noise
without righteousness.
Vs. 12- We are not
talking about blind disobedience.
Vs. 13- People can lie so
much they start to believe it.
Vs. 14- No fairness in
the judgment of the wicked.
Vs. 15- It is hard to
repent when society is corrupt.
Vs. 16-17 Jesus is the
Only one who can bale us out!
Vs. 18- Remember: Nobody
gets ripped off and nobody walks away saying, "I didn't get caught."
Vs. 19- In the long
run-evil doesn't have a chance.
Vs. 20- D&C 116 and
27
Vs. 21- D&C 1:37-38
Isaiah 55, 56, 57
Isaiah 55
Vs. 1-2- Jacob uses these 2 verses in his sermon to the Nephites in 2
Nephi 9:50-51. Note the changes: 50 Come, my brethren, every
one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy
and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. 51 Wherefore, do not spend
money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot
satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have
spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which
perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
"This does not mean, however,
that there is no cost involved, there is a cost to be paid in becoming a
disciple of Jesus Christ, a very real cost. But the cost is a performance cost,
not a money price. (MGRomney,
Ensign, Nov. 1978) "What
is your most precious blessing? Note how many blessings you would give your
life for. Note how far down the list you go before you come to any you buy for
money. The most precious blessings are without price, they are priceless. (JJChristensen, Ensign, May 1999)
Vs. 3- Hymn # 244. - The "sure mercies of David" refer to the resurrection.
"34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this
wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David."
(Acts 13:34)
Vs. 4 - refers
to Jesus.
Vs. 5- That
nation, where the gospel could be restored, is surely America.
Vs. 6-7- A
promise to those who repent. See D&C 58:42-43.
Vs. 8-9-
"There will come a time when you will have to choose between the
revelations of God and the reasoning of men, between prophet or politician or
professor: ie. blind healed with clay in the eyes, Naaman the Leper healed by
dipping self 7 times in the Jordan River" (ETBenson, Teachings, p. 134)
Vs. 10-11 -
Hymn #149-"As the Dew From Heaven Distilling."
Vs. 13- A
reversal of the curse told to Adam. See Article of Faith #10.
Isaiah 56
Vs. 1-2 Life
isn't fair-RESOLVED!- If we keep commandments
Vs. 3-8-
Those who seem disadvantaged in mortaliy such as gentiles and the childless are
promised the blessings of Israel.
Vs. 9-12- Note footnote 9a. "I want to warn you to be careful of how you measure
success. One need only read the daily newspapers to know of case after case of
the "Yuppie Generation" whose driving greedy impulses have led to
trouble, and serious and abysmal failure. During the past few years, our local
papers have carried story after story of able men who began working with
integrity and honesty. They lived in reasonable comfort, but they were not
satisfied. In their greed to enlarge their own kingdom, they enticed others to
invest with them. And the investors, in many cases, were not without the same
affliction of greed. They listened to stories of large returns with little
effort. Like a dog chasing its own tail, the momentum of the scheme increased
until one day there was a collapse. . . .In one of his great letters to
Timothy, Paul wrote: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which
while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. 6:10.) You need not look
far to see the veritable truth of that great warning. (Teachings of Gordon
B. Hinckley p. 251)
Isaiah 57
Vs. 1- Dying is good for the good!
Vs. 2- Bodies rest in grave and spirits go to Paradise.
Alma
40:12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who
are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise,
a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their
troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
Vs. 3 - The Bad Better Look Out!
Vs. 4- Be careful who you make fun of.
Vs. 5- Immoral ceremonies and child
sacrifice.
Vs. 6- Smooth stones refers to rocks made
into altars to idols. If you are going to offer sacrifices to idols, you had
better be prepared to rely on them for help.
Vs. 7- The Israelites had gone to the mountains
to participate in their immoral practices rather than the mountain of the Lord.
Vs. 8- Hiding behind closed doors doesn't
work when dealing with God.
Vs. 9 - See footnote 9a.
Vs. 10- Even though idol worship had not
reaped rewards, Israel continued in those practices.
Vs. 11- Why would one fear (respect) false
gods?
Vs. 12- Accountability will come!
Vs. 13- Idols will be blown away but you can
always trust in God.
Vs. 14- God will help those who follow Him.
Vs. 15- If we live righteously, we will live
with God.
Vs. 16- D&C 1:33 and Moroni 9:4.
Vs. 17- Israel continues to sin.
Vs. 18- But, when we repent, God will restore covenants.
Vs. 19-21- God wants to bless us, but there is no peace to
the wicked. See Isaiah 48:22. "When the Lord repeats Himself, it is not
because He forgot He already said that." (Gary Poll- He says it all the
time!)
