If you were tasked with convincing someone of Jesus Christ for the first time, what scripture would you go to? That is a missionary’s call every day, and it was Nephi’s mission in 1 Nephi 19. And the book he turned to was Isaiah. We will learn this week in Isaiah 50-57 how Isaiah’s words persuade of Christ and the comfort that can bring Zion.
Books:
Let’s Talk About Temples and Ritual by Jennifer C. Lane
Segment 1
Scriptures:
1 Nephi 19:23-24 (Isaiah persuades of Christ)
Isaiah 50:1 (We separate ourselves from Christ)
2 Nephi 7:1 (Did God cast us off?)
Title Page of the Book of Mormon (Cast off forever)
2 Nephi 30:2 (The covenant takes in all)
Mosiah 5:7 (We are children of Christ)
Translations:
Mercy - hesed = Covenant love, loyalty, God’s lovingkindness (Hebrew)
Kinsman - go’el = Redeemer (Hebrew)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
Isaiah 51:1-3 (God will comfort Zion)
2 Nephi 31 (Doctrine of Christ)
Words of the General Authorities:
We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives…When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Great Commandment—Love the Lord”, April 1988 General Conference)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
Isaiah 51:9,17, 52:1 (Awake, awake)
Isaiah 52:7-8 (How beautiful upon the mountains)
Isaiah 52:3 (Don’t give up freedom and receive nothing)
D&C 113:7-10 (Q&A on Isaiah)
Words of the General Authorities:
Your repentance doesn’t burden Jesus Christ; it brightens His joy! Let’s teach that! Because repentance is our best news! We don’t stay on the covenant path by never making a mistake. We stay on the path by repenting every day. And when we’re repenting, God forgives without shaming us, comparing us to anyone else, or scolding us because this is the same thing we were repenting of last week. He’s excited every time He sees us on our knees. He delights to forgive us because to Him we are delightful! Don’t you just feel that’s true? (Tamara W. Runia, “Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy”, April 2025 General Conference)
Translations:
Sit down - yashab = To sit; also to take a throne (Hebrew)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
Isaiah 54:5-6 (God’s wrath hides His face)
Isaiah 54:7-8 (For a small moment)
Music:
My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee by Rob Gardner
Segment 5
Scriptures:
Isaiah 56:3-8 (God gathers the outcasts)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
Isaiah 57:15-21 (We seek peace)
John 3:17 (Not condemned, but saved)
Read the transcript here.