Isaiah: Quoting the Lord

“When I get to the Isaiah chapters, I just skip over them.” Is that your response to the writings of Isaiah? Are you in the dark when you encounter his prophesies? If so, you may be missing the best part of the Book of Mormon.

Christ certainly didn't ignore Isaiah. His counsel: “Behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah (3 Ne. 23:1).” And our hero Nephi certainly appreciated the prophet: “I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words (2 Ne. 11:2).”

Consider Joseph Smith. Would we even have the Book of Mormon if he had said “The reformed Egyptian is to hard to understand. Why should I even try?” But of course he had the Urim and Thummin to assist him. Wouldn't it be great if we had our own personal Urim and Thummin? Then we could understand Isaiah.

But perhaps we do have our own Urim. “Because 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 Ne. 25:4).” That appears to be the key. Interpret Isaiah by means of the Spirit.

The problem seems to be that most of us attempt to understand those scriptures literally. We attempt to reason them out logically. Instead we should be trying to feel the meaning of his words. The Spirit communicates through our thoughts and feelings. Instead of trying to understand the meaning, we should try and feel Isaiah's intent.

For example, what do you feel when you read “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 the mountains.” Do you just visualize a physical temple being built by the early pioneers in Salt Lake City. Or do you feel the Lord moving in history, preparing the world for the Second Coming, including the initiation of vicarious work for the dead.

What do you understand by the poetic scripture “Can a woman forget her suckling child? They may forget, but I have not forgotten thee. I have graven thee on the palms of my hands.” Do you only think of a helpless babe being abandon by it's mother? Or of Christ's suffering during the crucifixion? Rather, can you feel the atoning anguish of Christ for the billions of His father's children who would have been lost without His intervention? Can you feel the painful nails being driven through his palms while He took upon himself the sins of us all?

Try to feel the Spirit in Isaiah. I would suggest that there is more Spirit in pondering his writings that in most other scripture. Isaiah didn't compose his writings, so much as quote God. His writings mirror the beautiful symbolic language of the Lord which was revealed to him. Celestial language seems to be characterized by symbolism. If we skip over that, it is like ignoring the symbolism in the temple ceremonies.

Some examples of Isaiah's symbolism: the cedars of Lebanon and the oaks of Bashan (referring to the mighty and proud men of the earth); the historical image of Babylon (the wicked later day nations); the historical image of Egypt (for the modern nations of Africa-Ch.19); the symbolism of Israel as a divorced and rejected wife; Christ's disciples as sheep; and of course the symbolism of Christ (as the Comforter, a root out of dry ground, the sacrificial lamb, etc.)

Elder Bruce R. McConkey wrote an essay providing us with ten keys to unravel the mysteries of Isaiah. It can be found at the following website and is definitely worth studying.