Isaiah describes a pattern of addiction, as idols fuel the fire of vain imagination. The idol maker experiences what addicts call "the God hole." He becomes hungry, thirsty, and faint. Having given all to his drug of choice, he is left with the empty feeling in the middle of his soul--that empty hole we try to fill with alcohol, drugs, sex, food . . . the list goes on and on.
Driven by vain imagination, "it shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite" (Isaiah 29:8).
Driven by vain imagination, the addict thinks he is rescued once again from whatever ails him, and the false god is strengthened in the eyes of the addicted one.
Isaiah describes it wonderfully:
"He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
"Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
"He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
"And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god" (Isaiah 44:14-17).
The addict plants the seed and the rain nourishes it. It grows into a tree. He builds a fire to warm himself and bakes bread to satisfy his hunger. He eats up the flesh and becomes consumed by it. He says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire."
How many nights I wasted away consumed in the warm glow of the alcoholic buzz, thinking, "Aha, I am warm and satisfied." I have become numb again and all seems to be well in my euphoric escape.
With the residue we make false gods, even imaginary. I fall down and worship in my own way.
Then comes the tricky part. I plead for deliverance. "Deliver me; for thou art my god." But the enemy who led me there has now abandoned me "even as a sheep having no shepherd" (Alma 25:12).
Denial sets in.
"They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand" (Isaiah 44:18).
I am deceived.
"And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?" (Isaiah 44:19).
Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? Shall I fall down again to the chemical formula of alcohol?
The fire has consumed my life.
"He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" (Isaiah 44:20).
Out of the ashes I reach out to God.
"And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy" (1 Nephi 8:12).
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Isaiah 40--"The Voice of Him that Crieth in the Wilderness"
Isaiah 40 is a transition marker in the Book of Isaiah. The message shifts from Israel's fallen state to a Messianic message of hope in Jesus and His Atonement.
And we all know whose voice cries in the wilderness, right? If you said it was John the Baptist, you are right. It is quoted in the New Testament:
"For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, (Isaiah) saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" (Matthew 3:3).
But could there be other "voices?"
A Divine Council
Often the leitwort (theme word) voice is emphasized in Hebrew to mean the voice of the divine council. The word voice appears in verses 3 and 6 of Isaiah 40.
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness . . ."
"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?"
The King James Version suffers a translation failure here. Many Bible translations have the latter part read, "And I said, What shall I cry?" Clearly there is a dialog involving members of the divine council. In fact the first verses address the divine council.
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
"Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins (vv. 1-2).
The word ye addresses the divine council in the second person.
Members of the Council
So who are the members of this divine council? John the Baptist would have to be included. And Isaiah is re-commissioned to carry the Messianic message, after receiving his first assignment in Chapter 6.
Isaiah is often dual prophecy, or multiple prophecies, and this is no exception.
John the Baptist was the forerunner preceding the coming of the Savior. His role was to make straight a highway for our God. To "make straight" would be the equivalent of removing obstacles in the highway. It's like straightening a room by tidying up a bit. Definitely John the Baptist fits this role.
Joseph Smith
Just as there is a Second Coming, there is also a second "Elias" to prepare the way of the Lord. Joseph Smith, as the prophet of the Restoration, is another voice crying in the wilderness. The Lord states in modern revelation:
"And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this church have I established and called forth out of the wilderness" (D&C 33:5; see also 86:3).
It is the voice of Joseph (and the Lord) calling the Church out of the wilderness in preparation for the Second Coming. Joseph sits (or rather stands) in the council.
Orson Hyde
The "ye" in the first two verses particularly addresses Orson Hyde. On Sunday October 24, 1841 Orson Hyde offered a dedicatory prayer on the Mount of Olives, asking the Lord to remove the "barrenness and sterility of this land," and he dedicated the land for the return of the Jews. Indeed, he spoke "comfortably (intimately in Hebrew) to Jerusalem.
However, what is less known is that Elder Hyde received his commission as a member of the divine council in an open vision over a year previous to his visit to Jerusalem. He saw Jerusalem and other European cities he would be visiting. He quotes verse 2 as part of the divine message.
I have included an excerpt from his writings found in History of the Church, Volume 4, page 375:
My labors since that period have been bestowed upon the Gentiles in various countries, and on both sides of the Atlantic, until in the early part of March, 1840, I retired to my bed one night as usual; and while meditating and contemplating the field of my future labors, the vision of the Lord, like clouds of light, burst into my view (see Joel 2:28). The cities of London, Amsterdam, Constantinople and Jerusalem, all appeared in succession before me, and the Spirit said unto me, "Here are many of the children of Abraham whom I will gather to the land that I gave to their fathers; and here also is the field of your labors. Take, therefore, proper credentials from my people, your brethren, and also from the Governor of your state, with the seal of authority thereon, and go ye forth to the cities which have been shown you, and declare these words unto Judah, and say, "blow ye the trumpet in the land; cry, gather together, and say, assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defensed cities. Set up the standard towards Zion—retire, stay not, for I will bring evil from the north and a great destruction. The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way—he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate, and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished—that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the Lord's hand doubly for all her sins. Let your warning voice be heard among the Gentiles as you pass; and call yet upon them in my name for aid and for assistance. With you it mattereth not whether it be little or much; but to me it belongeth to show favor unto them who show favor unto you." The vision continued open about six hours, that I did not close my eyes in sleep. In this time many things were shown unto me which I have never written; neither shall I write them until they are fulfilled in Jerusalem.
Witnesses for the Divine Council
The Second Coming will be quite different from that humble birth scene in a manger in Bethlehem. Isaiah records, "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (verse 5). While the advent of our Savior was witnessed by a few shepherds, and perhaps a few others, the Second Coming will be the biggest media event ever. "All flesh shall see it together," on the Internet, tablets, iPhones, television, and whatever else has been invented by then. The entire population of the earth will become witnesses for the Savior.
"His Reward Is with Him"
Isaiah promises, "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him" (Isaiah 40:10). At the dedication of the Kirtland Temple the Prophet pleaded with the Lord, "That when the trump shall sound for the dead, we shall be caught up in the cloud to meet thee, that we may ever be with the Lord" (D&C 109:75). Those who are caught up in the cloud to meet Him will be rewarded indeed.
In the final verse there is another great promise.
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
This is one of my favorite scriptures. One day, while writing a book, I felt a prompting to research eagles' wings on the Internet. There were hundreds of sites, but I felt impressed to click on a particular one.
I learned that eagles suffer a midlife crisis and their feathers and talons become brittle, making flight very difficult. The eagle sits on a cliff, and in some accounts, other eagles drop down food. The eagle begins to pluck out the hardened feathers and strikes his beak against the rocks until it breaks.
He waits in his weakened state as the transformation slowly begins. Then tiny baby feathers begin to grow and his beak becomes sharp. The claws grow out to become more powerful than ever. After the transformation the eagle can fly higher and longer than ever before, as he ascends to new heights.
What beautiful Isaiah imagery this is. I have inserted a similar link. I don't believe this is the original link I found, but it serves as another witness of the masterful writing of Isaiah. Here is the link I found today:
http://www.drcm.org/monthly-reflections-archive/488-qthey-shall-mount-up-with-wings-like-eaglesqisaiah-4031
Not Merely a Waiting Game
Within the last few months I learned another special gem connected with this verse. To "wait upon the Lord" is not a mere passage of time. The original Hebrew word for wait is qavah, and it means to twist or bind together like a rope. This becomes significant in the next chapter of Isaiah when the Lord says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." You may recognize these words as the basis for the hymn, "How Firm a Foundation."
Then the Lord says, "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" (see Isaiah 41:10,13).
The Lord can bind us to Him like a rope if we will abide in His covenants. Modern revelation states, "And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me" (D&C 43:9).
Here is the link for the Hebrew word qavah:
http://www.blbclassic.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6960&t=KJV
I am grateful for the inspired writings of Isaiah, and the renewed strength that comes from the Lord's covenants and His Atonement.
And we all know whose voice cries in the wilderness, right? If you said it was John the Baptist, you are right. It is quoted in the New Testament:
"For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, (Isaiah) saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" (Matthew 3:3).
But could there be other "voices?"
A Divine Council
Often the leitwort (theme word) voice is emphasized in Hebrew to mean the voice of the divine council. The word voice appears in verses 3 and 6 of Isaiah 40.
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness . . ."
"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?"
The King James Version suffers a translation failure here. Many Bible translations have the latter part read, "And I said, What shall I cry?" Clearly there is a dialog involving members of the divine council. In fact the first verses address the divine council.
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
"Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins (vv. 1-2).
The word ye addresses the divine council in the second person.
Members of the Council
So who are the members of this divine council? John the Baptist would have to be included. And Isaiah is re-commissioned to carry the Messianic message, after receiving his first assignment in Chapter 6.
Isaiah is often dual prophecy, or multiple prophecies, and this is no exception.
John the Baptist was the forerunner preceding the coming of the Savior. His role was to make straight a highway for our God. To "make straight" would be the equivalent of removing obstacles in the highway. It's like straightening a room by tidying up a bit. Definitely John the Baptist fits this role.
Joseph Smith
Just as there is a Second Coming, there is also a second "Elias" to prepare the way of the Lord. Joseph Smith, as the prophet of the Restoration, is another voice crying in the wilderness. The Lord states in modern revelation:
"And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this church have I established and called forth out of the wilderness" (D&C 33:5; see also 86:3).
It is the voice of Joseph (and the Lord) calling the Church out of the wilderness in preparation for the Second Coming. Joseph sits (or rather stands) in the council.
Orson Hyde
The "ye" in the first two verses particularly addresses Orson Hyde. On Sunday October 24, 1841 Orson Hyde offered a dedicatory prayer on the Mount of Olives, asking the Lord to remove the "barrenness and sterility of this land," and he dedicated the land for the return of the Jews. Indeed, he spoke "comfortably (intimately in Hebrew) to Jerusalem.
However, what is less known is that Elder Hyde received his commission as a member of the divine council in an open vision over a year previous to his visit to Jerusalem. He saw Jerusalem and other European cities he would be visiting. He quotes verse 2 as part of the divine message.
I have included an excerpt from his writings found in History of the Church, Volume 4, page 375:
My labors since that period have been bestowed upon the Gentiles in various countries, and on both sides of the Atlantic, until in the early part of March, 1840, I retired to my bed one night as usual; and while meditating and contemplating the field of my future labors, the vision of the Lord, like clouds of light, burst into my view (see Joel 2:28). The cities of London, Amsterdam, Constantinople and Jerusalem, all appeared in succession before me, and the Spirit said unto me, "Here are many of the children of Abraham whom I will gather to the land that I gave to their fathers; and here also is the field of your labors. Take, therefore, proper credentials from my people, your brethren, and also from the Governor of your state, with the seal of authority thereon, and go ye forth to the cities which have been shown you, and declare these words unto Judah, and say, "blow ye the trumpet in the land; cry, gather together, and say, assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defensed cities. Set up the standard towards Zion—retire, stay not, for I will bring evil from the north and a great destruction. The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way—he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate, and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished—that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the Lord's hand doubly for all her sins. Let your warning voice be heard among the Gentiles as you pass; and call yet upon them in my name for aid and for assistance. With you it mattereth not whether it be little or much; but to me it belongeth to show favor unto them who show favor unto you." The vision continued open about six hours, that I did not close my eyes in sleep. In this time many things were shown unto me which I have never written; neither shall I write them until they are fulfilled in Jerusalem.
Witnesses for the Divine Council
The Second Coming will be quite different from that humble birth scene in a manger in Bethlehem. Isaiah records, "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (verse 5). While the advent of our Savior was witnessed by a few shepherds, and perhaps a few others, the Second Coming will be the biggest media event ever. "All flesh shall see it together," on the Internet, tablets, iPhones, television, and whatever else has been invented by then. The entire population of the earth will become witnesses for the Savior.
"His Reward Is with Him"
Isaiah promises, "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him" (Isaiah 40:10). At the dedication of the Kirtland Temple the Prophet pleaded with the Lord, "That when the trump shall sound for the dead, we shall be caught up in the cloud to meet thee, that we may ever be with the Lord" (D&C 109:75). Those who are caught up in the cloud to meet Him will be rewarded indeed.
In the final verse there is another great promise.
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
This is one of my favorite scriptures. One day, while writing a book, I felt a prompting to research eagles' wings on the Internet. There were hundreds of sites, but I felt impressed to click on a particular one.
I learned that eagles suffer a midlife crisis and their feathers and talons become brittle, making flight very difficult. The eagle sits on a cliff, and in some accounts, other eagles drop down food. The eagle begins to pluck out the hardened feathers and strikes his beak against the rocks until it breaks.
He waits in his weakened state as the transformation slowly begins. Then tiny baby feathers begin to grow and his beak becomes sharp. The claws grow out to become more powerful than ever. After the transformation the eagle can fly higher and longer than ever before, as he ascends to new heights.
What beautiful Isaiah imagery this is. I have inserted a similar link. I don't believe this is the original link I found, but it serves as another witness of the masterful writing of Isaiah. Here is the link I found today:
http://www.drcm.org/monthly-reflections-archive/488-qthey-shall-mount-up-with-wings-like-eaglesqisaiah-4031
Not Merely a Waiting Game
Within the last few months I learned another special gem connected with this verse. To "wait upon the Lord" is not a mere passage of time. The original Hebrew word for wait is qavah, and it means to twist or bind together like a rope. This becomes significant in the next chapter of Isaiah when the Lord says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." You may recognize these words as the basis for the hymn, "How Firm a Foundation."
Then the Lord says, "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" (see Isaiah 41:10,13).
The Lord can bind us to Him like a rope if we will abide in His covenants. Modern revelation states, "And thus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me" (D&C 43:9).
Here is the link for the Hebrew word qavah:
http://www.blbclassic.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6960&t=KJV
I am grateful for the inspired writings of Isaiah, and the renewed strength that comes from the Lord's covenants and His Atonement.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Isaiah 22--"The Key of the House of David"
Isaiah 22 relates to the highest priesthood ordinances, those of the Melchizedek order. A revelation given in our dispensation delineates Aaronic and Melchizedek ordinances. The Lord has said,
"And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;
"Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments" (D&C 84:26-27).
Just a few verses earlier in this section, the Lord explained the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood by saying,
"And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
"Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
"And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
"For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live" (D&C 84:19-22).
The Power of Godliness
The power of godliness is manifest in the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood, particularly temple ordinances. Without such temple ordinances we would not be able to enjoy the eternal presence of the Father. The ultimate purpose of the temple is to allow us to come back into God's presence.
The sealing power comes through Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances as well. We often think of the sealing power as the uniting and bonding of eternal families, but it is much more than that. Sealing power binds us to God.
Another modern revelation discusses the more sure word of prophecy by stating, "The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood" (D&C 131:5). Godlike attributes and powers are sealed upon those receiving exaltation.
King Benjamin discusses the process of becoming spiritually begotten sons and daughters of Christ through the making and keeping of covenants. He then said,
"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen" (Mosiah 5:15).
Notice that when we become sealed to Christ we obtain those godlike attributes of wisdom, power, justice, and mercy.
Well of Souls
The "well of souls," sometimes referred to in scripture as the "pit," is a cave located under the Dome of the Rock in the Foundation Stone on the Temple Mount (Moriah) in Jerusalem. The Foundation Stone is the symbolic navel of the world. Israel would be the at the center of the world, Jerusalem at the center of Israel, the Temple Mount in the center of Jerusalem, and the Holy of Holies at the center of the temple.
The Foundation Stone represents the point where heaven meets earth, and some believe it was the first place where the waters of creation receded, exposing dry land.
This location also represents the gate to the underworld of spirits, or the "gates of hell." The New Testament speaks of "hell," or the Greek equivalent of "Hades," as the abode of the dead.
I have inserted a Wikipedia link to the "Well of Souls."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_of_Souls
Keys of the Kingdom
Jesus promises Peter, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). But in the previous verse Jesus says, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (verse 18).
The keys of the kingdom contain the sealing powers of the temple. The keys also prevail against the "gates of hell." Jacob declares, "O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit" (2 Nephi 9:10). He goes on to say that the "keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel" (2 Nephi 9:41).
Key of the House of David
Isaiah 22 mentions a man by the name of Eliakim, whose name means, "God raises." He becomes a type of Christ, who was raised up by the Father (see 3 Nephi 27:14). The scripture in Isaiah records:
"And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
"And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
"And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house" (Isaiah 22:21-23).
Clothed in glorious kingly robes, He will open and none shall shut. The keys are laid upon His shoulders as the Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) foreshadowed by ancient priests of Aaron wearing an ephod with onyx stones on their shoulders, as He bears our names before the Father (see Exodus 28:12).
Truly He hath borne our burdens and seized the keys of death and hell (see Hymns, #182).
"And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;
"Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments" (D&C 84:26-27).
Just a few verses earlier in this section, the Lord explained the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood by saying,
"And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
"Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
"And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
"For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live" (D&C 84:19-22).
The Power of Godliness
The power of godliness is manifest in the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood, particularly temple ordinances. Without such temple ordinances we would not be able to enjoy the eternal presence of the Father. The ultimate purpose of the temple is to allow us to come back into God's presence.
The sealing power comes through Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances as well. We often think of the sealing power as the uniting and bonding of eternal families, but it is much more than that. Sealing power binds us to God.
Another modern revelation discusses the more sure word of prophecy by stating, "The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood" (D&C 131:5). Godlike attributes and powers are sealed upon those receiving exaltation.
King Benjamin discusses the process of becoming spiritually begotten sons and daughters of Christ through the making and keeping of covenants. He then said,
"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen" (Mosiah 5:15).
Notice that when we become sealed to Christ we obtain those godlike attributes of wisdom, power, justice, and mercy.
Well of Souls
The "well of souls," sometimes referred to in scripture as the "pit," is a cave located under the Dome of the Rock in the Foundation Stone on the Temple Mount (Moriah) in Jerusalem. The Foundation Stone is the symbolic navel of the world. Israel would be the at the center of the world, Jerusalem at the center of Israel, the Temple Mount in the center of Jerusalem, and the Holy of Holies at the center of the temple.
The Foundation Stone represents the point where heaven meets earth, and some believe it was the first place where the waters of creation receded, exposing dry land.
This location also represents the gate to the underworld of spirits, or the "gates of hell." The New Testament speaks of "hell," or the Greek equivalent of "Hades," as the abode of the dead.
I have inserted a Wikipedia link to the "Well of Souls."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_of_Souls
Keys of the Kingdom
Jesus promises Peter, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). But in the previous verse Jesus says, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (verse 18).
The keys of the kingdom contain the sealing powers of the temple. The keys also prevail against the "gates of hell." Jacob declares, "O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit" (2 Nephi 9:10). He goes on to say that the "keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel" (2 Nephi 9:41).
Key of the House of David
Isaiah 22 mentions a man by the name of Eliakim, whose name means, "God raises." He becomes a type of Christ, who was raised up by the Father (see 3 Nephi 27:14). The scripture in Isaiah records:
"And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
"And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
"And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house" (Isaiah 22:21-23).
Clothed in glorious kingly robes, He will open and none shall shut. The keys are laid upon His shoulders as the Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) foreshadowed by ancient priests of Aaron wearing an ephod with onyx stones on their shoulders, as He bears our names before the Father (see Exodus 28:12).
Truly He hath borne our burdens and seized the keys of death and hell (see Hymns, #182).
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Isaiah 18--"The Land Shadowing with Wings"
This Isaiah chapter starts out with a small mistranslation. "Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia" (Isaiah 18:1). It sounds like a message of doom, but a closer examination of the Hebrew word hoy reveals its true meaning. Hoy is a greeting, and should be translated as hail.
So where is this land shadowing with wings? There have been statements by Church leaders stemming as far back as Hyrum Smith, who said the wings represent North and South America. This notion seems to be supported by other Church leaders, including Brigham Young, Joseph Fielding Smith, and Spencer W. Kimball. America would certainly fit the description as being beyond the rivers of Ethiopia.
It is rather easy to visualize the wings of the Americas, and it's not a stretch to say the continents are shaped like wings.
I have attached a link to a site, and others can easily be found:
http://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=29823
"Go Ye Swift Messengers"
Verse 2 is graphic Isaiah imagery: "That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!"
Of course "swift messengers" as missionaries is not a new topic for Isaiah. He sees the future missionary force traveling in jet airliners. (I'm waiting for President Uchtdorf to elaborate on this.) Isaiah is left to describe the planes as sharp arrows (fuselage with the tail wings), bent bows (wings of the plane), and wheels like whirlwinds. He sees the missionaries sent out as "ambassadors," as they depart and arrive the same day without unbuckling their belts or untying their shoes (see Isaiah 5:27-29).
The missionaries are sent to gather the house of Israel--a nation "scattered and peeled." Isaiah extends a warning call:
"All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye" (Isaiah 18:3).
The word ensign in Isaiah always translates to "restored gospel." The message to the world is: when you see the ensign of the restored gospel and hear the sound of the trumpet, you need to perk up and pay attention to the ambassadors sent abroad.
In case you missed it, the trumpet sounded on September 22, 1827. There is an ancient feast in Israel called Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah. It is the Jewish New Year (or "head of the year") and occurs on the first day of the seventh month of Tishrei (see Leviticus 23:24). There is a memorial blowing of the trumpets. In the year 1827 this feast day fell on September 22--the day Moroni delivered the plates to Joseph Smith.
I have attached a link for verification of this date:
http://www.hebcal.com/hebcal/?year=1827&month=9&yt=G&v=1&nh=on&nx=on&mf=on&ss=on&i=off&lg=s&vis=on&D=on&d=on&c=off&geo=zip&zip=&b=18&m=50&.cgifields=nx&.cgifields=nh&.cgifields=mf&.cgifields=ss&.s=Create+Calendar
The final verse in Isaiah 18 describes a present given to the Lord upon completion of the ambassadors' mission. It will be the gathering on Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem, of the inhabitants of the house of Israel (see D&C 84:2-3). The city will be built on the north wing of the great eagle in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri.
So where is this land shadowing with wings? There have been statements by Church leaders stemming as far back as Hyrum Smith, who said the wings represent North and South America. This notion seems to be supported by other Church leaders, including Brigham Young, Joseph Fielding Smith, and Spencer W. Kimball. America would certainly fit the description as being beyond the rivers of Ethiopia.
It is rather easy to visualize the wings of the Americas, and it's not a stretch to say the continents are shaped like wings.
I have attached a link to a site, and others can easily be found:
http://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=29823
"Go Ye Swift Messengers"
Verse 2 is graphic Isaiah imagery: "That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!"
Of course "swift messengers" as missionaries is not a new topic for Isaiah. He sees the future missionary force traveling in jet airliners. (I'm waiting for President Uchtdorf to elaborate on this.) Isaiah is left to describe the planes as sharp arrows (fuselage with the tail wings), bent bows (wings of the plane), and wheels like whirlwinds. He sees the missionaries sent out as "ambassadors," as they depart and arrive the same day without unbuckling their belts or untying their shoes (see Isaiah 5:27-29).
The missionaries are sent to gather the house of Israel--a nation "scattered and peeled." Isaiah extends a warning call:
"All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye" (Isaiah 18:3).
The word ensign in Isaiah always translates to "restored gospel." The message to the world is: when you see the ensign of the restored gospel and hear the sound of the trumpet, you need to perk up and pay attention to the ambassadors sent abroad.
In case you missed it, the trumpet sounded on September 22, 1827. There is an ancient feast in Israel called Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah. It is the Jewish New Year (or "head of the year") and occurs on the first day of the seventh month of Tishrei (see Leviticus 23:24). There is a memorial blowing of the trumpets. In the year 1827 this feast day fell on September 22--the day Moroni delivered the plates to Joseph Smith.
I have attached a link for verification of this date:
http://www.hebcal.com/hebcal/?year=1827&month=9&yt=G&v=1&nh=on&nx=on&mf=on&ss=on&i=off&lg=s&vis=on&D=on&d=on&c=off&geo=zip&zip=&b=18&m=50&.cgifields=nx&.cgifields=nh&.cgifields=mf&.cgifields=ss&.s=Create+Calendar
The final verse in Isaiah 18 describes a present given to the Lord upon completion of the ambassadors' mission. It will be the gathering on Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem, of the inhabitants of the house of Israel (see D&C 84:2-3). The city will be built on the north wing of the great eagle in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Isaiah 12--The Poetry of Enallage
Isaiah is written in beautiful flowing poetry. A Hebrew poetic style commonly employed in the Psalms is enallage. It involves the interchange of person--interweaving second (you, thee, thou) and third person (the Lord, He, she, or it) in the text.
An example of enallage would be Psalm 23:
The Lord (third person) is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He (third person) maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he (third person) leadeth me beside the still waters.
He (third person) restoreth my soul: he (third person) leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his (third person) name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou (second person) art with me; thy (second person) rod and thy (second person) staff they comfort me.
Thou (second person) preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou (second person) anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord (third person) for ever.
Enallage in Isaiah
Isaiah 12 begins:
And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:1-2)
Notice the perspective changes from second person to third person.
Water Libation
Verse 3 has a connect with the granddaddy feast of Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, a holiday celebrated by dwelling in booths for seven days (see Leviticus 23:42-43). This festival is also called "Z’man Simchateinu," meaning "season of our rejoicing." It is to celebrate the "ingathering" of the harvest. There were two joyous events--the illumination of the temple courts by candelabra, and the drawing of water from the Pool of Siloam and its libation on the altar, creating a symbolic river of water flowing down the temple steps.
Jesus used both events as a backdrop in the Gospel of John. It records:
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38).
This becomes more significant since the Greek word for belly is koilia--the same word translated as womb in John 3:4 where Jesus is teaching Nicodemus about spiritual rebirth. Thus, the river of water coming from Christ is symbolic of spiritual rebirth and renewal.
In John, chapter 8 Jesus states,
"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (verse 12).
The Isaiah verse reads,
"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3).
Jesus Christ is the source of "living water" (see John 4:10). The greatest joy we can experience is to come unto Christ.
Enallage in the Book of Mormon
Nephi praises God in a song (or psalm). He exclaims,
My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them. (2 Nephi 4:20-25)
Thus far, the text is written with the Lord as third person. But later, Nephi changes to second person:
Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. (2 Nephi 4:30-34)
Nephi chose not to teach his people "the things of the Jews" (2 Nephi 25:5). But when he wants to pour out his soul to God he speaks in the language of the Jews.
And it serves as an added testimony of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The words came off the plates just as Nephi said them.
An example of enallage would be Psalm 23:
The Lord (third person) is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He (third person) maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he (third person) leadeth me beside the still waters.
He (third person) restoreth my soul: he (third person) leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his (third person) name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou (second person) art with me; thy (second person) rod and thy (second person) staff they comfort me.
Thou (second person) preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou (second person) anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord (third person) for ever.
Enallage in Isaiah
Isaiah 12 begins:
And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:1-2)
Notice the perspective changes from second person to third person.
Water Libation
Verse 3 has a connect with the granddaddy feast of Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, a holiday celebrated by dwelling in booths for seven days (see Leviticus 23:42-43). This festival is also called "Z’man Simchateinu," meaning "season of our rejoicing." It is to celebrate the "ingathering" of the harvest. There were two joyous events--the illumination of the temple courts by candelabra, and the drawing of water from the Pool of Siloam and its libation on the altar, creating a symbolic river of water flowing down the temple steps.
Jesus used both events as a backdrop in the Gospel of John. It records:
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38).
This becomes more significant since the Greek word for belly is koilia--the same word translated as womb in John 3:4 where Jesus is teaching Nicodemus about spiritual rebirth. Thus, the river of water coming from Christ is symbolic of spiritual rebirth and renewal.
In John, chapter 8 Jesus states,
"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (verse 12).
The Isaiah verse reads,
"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3).
Jesus Christ is the source of "living water" (see John 4:10). The greatest joy we can experience is to come unto Christ.
Enallage in the Book of Mormon
Nephi praises God in a song (or psalm). He exclaims,
My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them. (2 Nephi 4:20-25)
Thus far, the text is written with the Lord as third person. But later, Nephi changes to second person:
Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. (2 Nephi 4:30-34)
Nephi chose not to teach his people "the things of the Jews" (2 Nephi 25:5). But when he wants to pour out his soul to God he speaks in the language of the Jews.
And it serves as an added testimony of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The words came off the plates just as Nephi said them.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Isaiah 9--"The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder"
What a marvelous prophecy in this chapter of Isaiah! The entire eternal plan centers on this great Messianic prophecy.
The Shadow of Death
The setting for this prophecy takes us to "Galilee of the nations." The region was "grievously afflicted." Galilee lies in the northern part of Israel, making it the first target of attack for the Assyrian armies, who had to cross over Galilee to invade Jerusalem and other key targets. Many Galileans were killed or taken captive at the hand of the Assyrians who often burned their villages.
And the landscape of the battle scenes was rocky in some places, casting a dark gray background, particularly in the shadows. Thus, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined" (Isaiah 9:1-2).
But the bleak fate of Galilee would change with the birth of Jesus Christ. He grew up in Nazareth of Galilee, and thus, the Light of the World would grace this dark landscape.
There was another valley of death to the east of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley. There were many tombs in this area, over which Jesus would have to pass en route to Gethsemane, where He overcame spiritual death for those who would embrace His gospel. His atoning sacrifice in Gethsemane and Golgotha overcame both spiritual and physical death. His light can shine upon us all!
Shoulders of the Ephod
Part of the dress of the high priest (of the Aaronic order) was the ephod. It was made of "gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work" (Exodus 28:6). It is significant that this garment was very similar to the veil of the tabernacle, which was made of "blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work" (Exodus 26:31).
The ephod had two shoulder pieces to carry two onyx stones, which had engraved upon them the names of the tribes of Israel (see Exodus 28:9-10). One of the high priest's duties is described as follows:
"And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial" (Exodus 28:12).
In a symbolic sense, the high priest became a mediator carrying the burdens of the house of Israel upon his shoulders.
The Isaiah prophecy says the "government shall be upon his (Christ's) shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6). In Gethsemane and Golgotha, Jesus carried the burden of sin, pain, and suffering upon His shoulders, becoming our Mediator with the Father.
The Shadow of Death
The setting for this prophecy takes us to "Galilee of the nations." The region was "grievously afflicted." Galilee lies in the northern part of Israel, making it the first target of attack for the Assyrian armies, who had to cross over Galilee to invade Jerusalem and other key targets. Many Galileans were killed or taken captive at the hand of the Assyrians who often burned their villages.
And the landscape of the battle scenes was rocky in some places, casting a dark gray background, particularly in the shadows. Thus, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined" (Isaiah 9:1-2).
But the bleak fate of Galilee would change with the birth of Jesus Christ. He grew up in Nazareth of Galilee, and thus, the Light of the World would grace this dark landscape.
There was another valley of death to the east of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley. There were many tombs in this area, over which Jesus would have to pass en route to Gethsemane, where He overcame spiritual death for those who would embrace His gospel. His atoning sacrifice in Gethsemane and Golgotha overcame both spiritual and physical death. His light can shine upon us all!
Shoulders of the Ephod
Part of the dress of the high priest (of the Aaronic order) was the ephod. It was made of "gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work" (Exodus 28:6). It is significant that this garment was very similar to the veil of the tabernacle, which was made of "blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work" (Exodus 26:31).
The ephod had two shoulder pieces to carry two onyx stones, which had engraved upon them the names of the tribes of Israel (see Exodus 28:9-10). One of the high priest's duties is described as follows:
"And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial" (Exodus 28:12).
In a symbolic sense, the high priest became a mediator carrying the burdens of the house of Israel upon his shoulders.
The Isaiah prophecy says the "government shall be upon his (Christ's) shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6). In Gethsemane and Golgotha, Jesus carried the burden of sin, pain, and suffering upon His shoulders, becoming our Mediator with the Father.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Isaiah 8--Sanctuary or Rock of Offence?
I usually approach General Conference prayerfully with questions. I have issues in my life right now requiring personal revelation. I'm certainly not alone in this predicament. And I recognize in this conference my dependence on the Lord is a good thing, not a bad thing. Some questions have been answered, but new questions have been raised.
And yet, I find it interesting that despite the billions in the world, and the millions in the Church, the first four talks in this morning's General Conference centered around personal revelation--exactly what I've been praying for.
President Eyring began the series of questions of what to pray for. Is my family in danger? And, if so, do I flee to safety or stay where I'm at? And a prophet is praying for the words to enlighten, inspire, and succor his audience. Then we realize in the next talk, as Elder Nelson addresses us, that there are certainly fifteen such men praying for the same guidance. But wait a minute. Haven't the Brethren been preparing these talks for months, or even years, and the words are now established in typeset?
So what are those words the prophets are praying about? Could it be the same thing Nephi prayed about so long ago? In a sense of minor frustration, Nephi laments, "And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men" (2 Nephi 33:1).
I always thought Nephi's writings were pretty good. If the talks are any better, I can't wait to hear one! Are the living apostles and prophets praying for something similar? Maybe their prayer would be that the Holy Ghost will carry the right words and the right feelings into your heart and mine. Maybe they are praying that those tailor-made messages will be heard and felt by us.
But sometimes it's so hard. Lack of patience is one of my character defects and I want to see everything clearly right now. But I hear in the messages of this conference that such personal revelation comes "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" (2 Nephi 28:30).
The first message I heard is that I must "be up and doing" (Alma 60:24) rather than just sit back and wait for the Lord to lay out a clear-cut, detailed plan void of any errors or omissions. That prompting came yesterday.
Then today another question was raised. Do I trust the Lord enough to follow personal revelation I don't like? If the answer seems hard, will I be obedient anyway?
Isaiah said, "And he (the Lord) shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem" (Isaiah 8:14).
It's a hard question. Will I get offended at the word of the Lord? Will I stumble at the difficulty or fear of the answer? Or will I turn to the safety of the Lord and His tender mercies, who knows my real needs far better than I?
I now resume writing. Conference is now over. I had hoped to finish this post two hours ago and watch the final session in peace and comfort. But I'm glad I didn't, because I wanted to share about the "waters of Shiloah," also contained within this chapter. Isaiah stated:
"Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in . . ." (Isaiah 8:6). Wow, it's not even a complete sentence, just like this post wasn't completed, and just like all my questions are not completely answered. But the ending doesn't matter, because if you read the first four verses of this chapter, you will see Isaiah and Mrs. Isaiah are going to have a son, and before this kid is old enough to talk, this prophecy will be fulfilled. And the ending still doesn't matter, because after the prophecy is fulfilled, people will find something else to distract them from the apostolic messages.
Shiloah is the Hebrew form of Siloam in the New Testament, which is interpreted in John to mean sent. And the Greek word for Sent (and in this context it means Christ) is apostello, where we get the English word apostle (see John 9:7; Strong's #G649). King Hezekiah had a tunnel built to divert the Gihon Spring to run inside the city walls into the Pool of Siloam. So these "waters that go softly" represent apostolic keys and messengers that soothe and heal.
But instead of having the waters that go softly, the people looked to other sources, "Therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many" (Isaiah 8:7).
In the afternoon session of conference, Elder Ballard talked about an expedition through 14 miles of whitewater rapids, and Elder Larry S Kacher spoke of getting caught in a riptide of dangerous currents.
The messages of the prophets and apostles deliver us to safe waters. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to watch conference. It was absolutely wonderful. The Spirit was so strong. I feel like I'm on a spiritual high that could possibly last for six months! And as the days, weeks, and months go by, increased personal revelation will come.
And yet, I find it interesting that despite the billions in the world, and the millions in the Church, the first four talks in this morning's General Conference centered around personal revelation--exactly what I've been praying for.
President Eyring began the series of questions of what to pray for. Is my family in danger? And, if so, do I flee to safety or stay where I'm at? And a prophet is praying for the words to enlighten, inspire, and succor his audience. Then we realize in the next talk, as Elder Nelson addresses us, that there are certainly fifteen such men praying for the same guidance. But wait a minute. Haven't the Brethren been preparing these talks for months, or even years, and the words are now established in typeset?
So what are those words the prophets are praying about? Could it be the same thing Nephi prayed about so long ago? In a sense of minor frustration, Nephi laments, "And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men" (2 Nephi 33:1).
I always thought Nephi's writings were pretty good. If the talks are any better, I can't wait to hear one! Are the living apostles and prophets praying for something similar? Maybe their prayer would be that the Holy Ghost will carry the right words and the right feelings into your heart and mine. Maybe they are praying that those tailor-made messages will be heard and felt by us.
But sometimes it's so hard. Lack of patience is one of my character defects and I want to see everything clearly right now. But I hear in the messages of this conference that such personal revelation comes "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" (2 Nephi 28:30).
The first message I heard is that I must "be up and doing" (Alma 60:24) rather than just sit back and wait for the Lord to lay out a clear-cut, detailed plan void of any errors or omissions. That prompting came yesterday.
Then today another question was raised. Do I trust the Lord enough to follow personal revelation I don't like? If the answer seems hard, will I be obedient anyway?
Isaiah said, "And he (the Lord) shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem" (Isaiah 8:14).
It's a hard question. Will I get offended at the word of the Lord? Will I stumble at the difficulty or fear of the answer? Or will I turn to the safety of the Lord and His tender mercies, who knows my real needs far better than I?
I now resume writing. Conference is now over. I had hoped to finish this post two hours ago and watch the final session in peace and comfort. But I'm glad I didn't, because I wanted to share about the "waters of Shiloah," also contained within this chapter. Isaiah stated:
"Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in . . ." (Isaiah 8:6). Wow, it's not even a complete sentence, just like this post wasn't completed, and just like all my questions are not completely answered. But the ending doesn't matter, because if you read the first four verses of this chapter, you will see Isaiah and Mrs. Isaiah are going to have a son, and before this kid is old enough to talk, this prophecy will be fulfilled. And the ending still doesn't matter, because after the prophecy is fulfilled, people will find something else to distract them from the apostolic messages.
Shiloah is the Hebrew form of Siloam in the New Testament, which is interpreted in John to mean sent. And the Greek word for Sent (and in this context it means Christ) is apostello, where we get the English word apostle (see John 9:7; Strong's #G649). King Hezekiah had a tunnel built to divert the Gihon Spring to run inside the city walls into the Pool of Siloam. So these "waters that go softly" represent apostolic keys and messengers that soothe and heal.
But instead of having the waters that go softly, the people looked to other sources, "Therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many" (Isaiah 8:7).
In the afternoon session of conference, Elder Ballard talked about an expedition through 14 miles of whitewater rapids, and Elder Larry S Kacher spoke of getting caught in a riptide of dangerous currents.
The messages of the prophets and apostles deliver us to safe waters. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to watch conference. It was absolutely wonderful. The Spirit was so strong. I feel like I'm on a spiritual high that could possibly last for six months! And as the days, weeks, and months go by, increased personal revelation will come.
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