Last of lesson 122:
Isaiah
29:4 (2 Nephi 26:15–16). “Thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a
familiar spirit, out of the ground”
Nephi
wrote, “Those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground,
and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one
that hath a familiar spirit” (2 Nephi
26:16).
The term “familiar spirit” refers to the spirit of a dead person who helps give
guidance or comfort to a living person. While this term may sound odd to us
today, in the past it commonly conveyed the sense that departed spirits can have
an influence beyond the grave. In one sense, the Nephites, “who have slumbered
in the dust” (2 Nephi
27:9)
for centuries, are now whispering “out of the dust” (Isaiah
29:4)
through the Book of Mormon.
II.
Isaiah
29:18–24 Isaiah
prophesies of the positive impact of the restored gospel and the Book of Mormon
---Show
students a copy of the Book of Mormon.
---What
would you say to someone to interest him or her in reading the Book of Mormon?
---Write
the following phrase on the board:
If we study the Book
of Mormon, it can help us to …
---Read Isaiah
29:18–19
aloud and look for what the Book of Mormon can do for those who study it with a
sincere desire to understand its teachings.
---Mark
what you find.
---What
does Isaiah’s imagery in these verses teach about how the Book of Mormon can
help us?
(List students’ responses on the board to complete the principle.)
(List students’ responses on the board to complete the principle.)
---Read Isaiah
29:22–24
aloud and look for what Isaiah prophesied the Book of Mormon would do for
Jacob’s posterity.
---The phrase “house of Jacob” in verse 22 refers to the Lord’s covenant people.
---The phrase “house of Jacob” in verse 22 refers to the Lord’s covenant people.
---According to verses
23–24,
what would the Book of Mormon do for Jacob’s posterity in the latter days?
(List
students’ responses on the board.)
---Notice
the phrase “fear the God of Israel” in verse 23. It means to have
reverential awe and respect for God and His covenants.
Isaiah 29:11–12, 18–24. The Book of
Mormon
Emma
Smith, who assisted her husband Joseph Smith at times in the translation of the
Book of Mormon by acting as a scribe, bore this testimony:
“I
am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts
unless he was inspired; for, when [I acted] as his scribe, [Joseph] would
dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after
interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either
seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. … It would have
been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so … unlearned
as he was, it was simply impossible.
“Joseph
… could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter; let alone
dictating a book like the Book of Mormon. And, though I was an active
participant in the scenes that transpired, … it is marvelous to me, ‘a marvel
and a wonder,’ as much so as to any one else” (“Last Testimony of Sister Emma,”
The Saints’ Herald, Oct. 1, 1879, 290).
---Ponder the principle about the Book of Mormon on the board.
---Testify:
If we study the Book of Mormon, it can help us to have joy, revere God, and
understand true doctrine.
---Does
anyone want to share with the class how the Book of Mormon has blessed their
lives.
---Make
a commitment to read the Book of Mormon so you can receive these blessings in
your lives.
---Consider
giving a copy of the Book of Mormon to a family member or friend and to explain the
blessings Isaiah promised would come from studying this book.
VIDEO
Elder Tadd R. McCallister The Book of
Mormon—a Book from God (1:50) time code 3:52 to 5:42
Lesson 123: Isaiah 30–35
Introduction
Instead of
depending on the Lord, the people of Judah sought help from Egypt to defend
themselves against Assyria. Isaiah prophesied that the people of Judah would be
scattered because of their rebellion. He also prophesied concerning the
Apostasy, the Restoration, and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah testified that the Lord would come
to save His people.
---Think
about somebody you know who cheerfully obeys all the words of the prophet and
the standards in the For the Strength of Youth booklet.
---What are some ways we are blessed when we
obey the words of the prophets?
---What can happen to people who refuse to
follow the counsel of the Lord’s prophets?
---As we
study Isaiah 30–31 look for a principle that helps you understand
what can happen if we refuse to follow the counsel of the Lord’s prophets.
---In Isaiah 30–31 Isaiah gives a message of warning to the
people of Judah, who were considering making an alliance with Egypt to protect
themselves from the Assyrian army.
---Read Isaiah 30:1–3, 7 aloud looking for how the people
of Judah rebelled against the Lord when they were under threat of attack.
---How did the people rebel against the Lord?
---Why do you think forming an alliance with
Egypt would have been considered rebellion against the Lord?
---According to verse 7, what did Isaiah say would
happen if the people of Judah sought help from the Egyptians?
---Notice
the phrase “their strength is to sit still” in verse 7, and explain that this phrase
means that the Jews would have received the strength they needed by depending
on the Lord.
--- Isaiah 30:8 records the Lord’s commandment
to Isaiah to write in a book the Lord’s words regarding the people’s rebellion.
---In what additional ways were the people
being rebellious?
VIDEO ELDER
HOLLAND The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship (1:04) from time codes 8:08 to
9:12.
[---Quote by
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Listen for
how Elder Holland likened the people of our day to the people in Isaiah’s day.
“Unfortunately,
messengers of divinely mandated commandments are often no more popular today
than they were anciently. …
“Sadly
enough, … it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at
all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth
gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on
the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds.” ]
---According to Elder Holland, how are some
people of our day like the people of Isaiah’s day?
---A breach
is a fracture or an opening in a wall. In Isaiah’s day people often built walls
to protect themselves from their enemies.
---What happens structurally to a wall when
it has a fracture or a crack? (It is weakened.)
---Why is a crack or fracture in a wall an
appropriate metaphor for sin?
---Based on this metaphor, what happens to us
if we sin by rejecting the words of the prophets?
That if we rebel against God by rejecting the
words of the prophets, then we will be weakened.
---In what ways are we weakened when we
reject the words of the prophets?
---Think
about how you have seen people rebel against God by rejecting the words of the
prophets.
(After
students respond, add the following words to the principle on the board: … and if we
continue to reject the words of the prophets, we will suffer spiritual
destruction.)
---Sometimes
negative consequences do not immediately follow sin. In some cases, these
consequences may not come until the next life.
---Read Isaiah 30:15 aloud and look for what the Lord
promised the people if they repented and depended on Him for protection.
---What did the Lord promise the people if
they repented and depended on Him for protection?
---The rest
of Isaiah 30 says that the people of Judah
refused to repent. Isaiah prophesied that they would be defeated by the
Assyrians. He also prophesied that Israel would be gathered in the latter days
and would be blessed both temporally and spiritually. Isaiah 31 records that the Lord reproved
Israel for depending on Egypt for help instead of relying on Him for divine
protection and assistance. The chapter also contains a comforting prophecy that
in the last days the Lord will defend the righteous inhabitants of Zion.
---Write the
following questions on the board:
If I were to stand in God’s
presence, would I feel worthy to be in His presence? Why or why not?
---Think
about how you would answer these questions.
---As we
study Isaiah 32–34 look for a principle that teaches us what we
can do to be worthy to dwell in the presence of God.
---Isaiah 32 says that Isaiah prophesied of
the Restoration of the gospel and the Millennial reign of the Savior. Isaiah 33:1–9 records that Isaiah prophesied
of the wickedness of the world before the Savior’s Second Coming.
---Report what you find.
---The
phrase “shall they be burned in the fire” in verse 12 means that the wicked will be
destroyed by the brightness of the glory of the Savior when He comes again (see
D&C 5:19).
---Read the
first sentence of Isaiah 33:14 aloud. Isaiah is talking about
the “sinners in Zion,” meaning certain members of the Church.
---How will these people react to the
Savior’s Second Coming?
---What do you think those questions mean?
---Elder
Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that
these questions are asking who will be worthy to inherit the celestial kingdom.
(List
students’ responses on the board.)
---Explain what each of the responses listed
on the board might mean and how we can live those standards in our day.
---Based on verses 15–16, what principle can we learn
about being worthy to dwell in the presence of God?
If we walk righteously, speak uprightly, and
do not participate in evil, we will be worthy to dwell in the presence of God.)
---As we
walk righteously, speak uprightly, and do not participate in evil, we become
more like God. As we strive to become more like God every day, we become worthy
to return to His presence.
---Look at
the responses written on the board, and consider what you need to do to become
more like God so you will be worthy to dwell in His presence.
---Select
one of the items listed on the board and write in your class notebooks:
---A goal from yesterday
---A goal for how to improve in that area
from the board you have chosen.
---In Isaiah 33:17–24 we see that Isaiah prophesied of
the Millennial glory of Zion. Isaiah 34 contains Isaiah’s prophecies of
the Lord’s Second Coming and the destruction of the wicked.
---Imagine that
a family member or friend is tired of trying to be righteous. What would you
do to help that individual?
---Look for
a principle as we study Isaiah 35 that can help you know how to
help that family member or friend.
---What does it mean to “strengthen … the
weak hands” and “confirm the feeble knees”? (Isaiah 35:3).
(Strengthen
the faith of those who are exhausted, discouraged, or fearful.)
---What principle can we learn from these
verses about strengthening the faith of others?
As we testify that the Lord will come to save
and heal us, we can strengthen the faith of others.
---How can bearing your testimony of the Lord
help strengthen the faith of others?
---Does
anyone want to share about a time when you received strength because of someone
else’s testimony?
VIDEO ELDER
L.TOM PERRY The Lord’s Work Moves Forward with Each of Us (1:16)
---I
challenge you to strengthen the faith of the people around you by sharing your
testimonies.
---In Isaiah 35:7–10 Isaiah prophesied of the great
blessings that will come to the faithful in the latter days.
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