The September 2021 publication of the Friend magazine included the song “Peace in Christ” by Nik Day. The first verse reads: “There is peace in Christ / When we learn of Him. / Feel the love He felt for us / When He bore our sins. / Listen to His words. / Let them come alive. / If we know Him as He is, / There is peace in Christ.” Keep this song in mind while studying 2 Nephi 20–25 because the words of Isaiah about Christ can bring us peace in a world of division, captivity, sorrow, and destruction. And if there’s one thing we could all use a little bit more of now in the world, it’s peace.
Links:
Abe Mills and his family’s YouTube channel Sunshine Mafia
Segment 1
Scriptures:
2 Nephi 25:1 (Isaiah can be hard to understand)
2 Nephi 25:4 (My soul delights in plainness)
Segment 2
Delighting in the Scriptures Scripture Chain:
2 Nephi 11:8
2 Nephi 4:15-16
2 Nephi 9:49
2 Nephi 11:2-6
2 Nephi 25:4-5,13
2 Nephi 31:3
Segment 3
Scriptures:
2 Nephi 22:1-2 (God is my salvation)
2 Nephi 21:15-16 (God’s power manifest)
2 Nephi 22:3 (Draw water from the well)
Words of the General Authorities:
But, my dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,” He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful. (Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest”, October 2022 General Conference)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
2 Nephi 20:20-27 (The gathering of Israel)
Joseph Smith-History 1:40 (Isaiah’s words about to be fulfilled)
2 Nephi 21:5-10 (Millenium)
2 Nephi 21:16 (A highway for his people)
Words of the General Authorities:
For the more than 36 years I’ve been an Apostle, the doctrine of the gathering of Israel has captured my attention. Everything about it has intrigued me, including the ministries and names of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; their lives and their wives; the covenant God made with them and extended through their lineage; the dispersion of the twelve tribes; and the numerous prophecies about the gathering in our day. I have studied the gathering, prayed about it, feasted upon every related scripture, and asked the Lord to increase my understanding.
Footnote: I have spoken of Israel in at least 378 of the more than 800 messages I have delivered during my 36 years as an Apostle. (Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail”, October 2020 General Conference)
The outcasts of Judah and Israel will see the ensign, recognize it as a divine signal from God, and then gather to Zion. The gathering is centered on temples and temple work, as Joseph Smith instructed the early saints. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 5:423-24)
The Lord is hastening His work to gather Israel. That gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. (Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel”, Worldwide Youth Devotional, June 3, 2018)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
2 Nephi 23:1-9 (Defeating Babylon)
2 Nephi 24:10-19 (Warning against Babylon)
Study Helps:
Duties of Ephraim
Quotes:
Beginning with Joseph Smith and continuing through the administration of all the latter-day prophets, the Lord has been preparing his Saints to become a Zion people, a righteous army to battle against modern-day Babylon and its evil forces (13:1-5). (Don Parry, “Understanding Isaiah”)
Words of the General Authorities:
Elder Holland [said] “Choices have to be made. Not making a choice is a choice. Learn to choose now.”
Elder Holland’s statement about increasing polarization has been proven prophetic by the societal trends and events of the 22 years since he answered my question. Foretelling the widening divergence between the ways of the Lord and of the world, Elder Holland warned that the days of comfortably having one foot in the restored Church and one foot in the world were vanishing quickly. This servant of the Lord was encouraging the young people to choose, prepare, and become devoted disciples of the Savior. He was helping them to prepare and press forward to and through the proving, examining, and trying experiences of their lives. (David A. Bednar, “We Will Prove Them Herewith”, October 2020 General Conference)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
D&C 131:1-4 (New and everlasting covenant of marriage)
2 Nephi 25:26,29 (Talk and rejoice in Christ)
2 Nephi 25:17 (A marvelous work and a wonder)
View transcript here.