Jeremiah 24 - 29

The Lord said to Moses -

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 18:18 - 19)

And then he addresses how we are to know if it is a Prophet of God -

And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 18:21 - 22)

And of those who claim to be prophets and are not -

"...which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 18:20)

Jeremiah had basically told Judah it was to late, that their captivity was eminent and they would -

"...serve the king of Babylon seventy years." (Old Testament Jeremiah 25:11)

Not just Judah but all nations for the Lord had -

"...given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.
7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him." (Old Testament Jeremiah 27:6 - 7)

Because of the that, Jeremiah, with a symbolic would yoke around his neck, counseled his people -

"...the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein." (Old Testament Jeremiah 27:11)

To king Zedekiah he said -

"...Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
13 Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?" (Old Testament Jeremiah 27:12 - 13)

But because Zedekiah did not want to believe him, Jeremiah warns -

"...hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you." (Old Testament Jeremiah 27:14)

Sure enough, the false prophet -

"...Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years." (Old Testament Jeremiah 28:11)

Even that -

"Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon..." (Old Testament Jeremiah 28:3)

Jeremiah sarcastically responds -

"...Amen: the LORD do so..." (Old Testament Jeremiah 28:6)

Then -

"...went his way." (Old Testament Jeremiah 28:11)

And as he went -

"...Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it." (Old Testament Jeremiah 28:10)

"...Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13 Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also." (Old Testament Jeremiah 28:12 - 14)

And then as a true prophet -

"Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD." (Old Testament Jeremiah 28:15 - 16)

Sure enough as the Lord taught Moses that the words of a true prophet "would come to pass" -

"Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month." (Old Testament Jeremiah 28:17)

Jeremiah 18 - 23

Like many prophets before, Jeremiah was also blessed with a vision of the gathering of Israel in last days. The Lord tells him -

"I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD." (Old Testament Jeremiah 23:3 - 4)

How will he do this -

"...Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks." (Old Testament Jeremiah 16:16)

The prophet Joseph Smith taught -

"We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes..." (Pearl of Great Price Articles of Faith 1:10)

The Lord said to Jeremiah -

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land." (Old Testament Jeremiah 23:5 - 8)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught -

“The gathering of Israel consists of receiving the truth, gaining again a true knowledge of the Redeemer, and coming back into the true fold of the Good Shepherd. In the language of the Book of Mormon, it consists of being ‘restored to the true church and fold of God,’ and then being ‘gathered’ and ‘established’ in various ‘lands of promise. " (2 Ne. 9:2.)” (“Come: Let Israel Build Zion,” Ensign, May 1977, p. 117.)

Of this conversion and gathering, President Spencer W. Kimball said -

“It is to be done by missionary work. It is your responsibility to attend to this missionary work.” (In Conference Report, Sao Paulo Brazil Area Conference, Feb.–Mar. 1975, p. 73.)

Jeremiah 10 - 17

The Lord told Samuel -

"...the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart..." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 16:7)

I believe that is how we will be judged. The Savior said -

"For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:13)

This is the condition of the people in Jeremiah's day. The Lord described them as -

"...they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart..." (Old Testament Jeremiah 11:8)

How many people of today do the same, that not only refuse to keep the commandments, but even use their imagination in doing evil. When the heart is so set on imagining evil, repentance because more and more difficult. Of such, the Lord asked -

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." (Old Testament Jeremiah 13:23)

Amulek taught much of the same -

"...this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world." (Book of Mormon Alma 34:32 - 34)

Amulek could have easily substituted "heart" for "spirit" in verse 34. Now is the time to repent and experience a change of heart. Alma asked the people of Zarahemla -

"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (Book of Mormon Alma 5:26)

Some of Nephi's closing words was in regards to the heart -

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 31:13)

Jeremiah 5 - 9

A contemporary to Jeremiah, Nephi writes of Judah in his day -

"...behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:35)

As you read the words of Jeremiah, you can almost sense it is to late - the people are "ripe in iniquity". Much like Mormom said of his people -

"...I saw that the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually..." (Book of Mormon Mormon 2:15)

Jeremiah gives several examples with -

"And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely." (Old Testament Jeremiah 5:2)

"...they have not grieved... they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return." (Old Testament Jeremiah 5:3)

The Lord asks -

"How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses." (Old Testament Jeremiah 5:7)

Even to the point -

"They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife." (Old Testament Jeremiah 5:8)

And -

"...among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge." (Old Testament Jeremiah 5:26 - 28)

And finally -

"...this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone." (Old Testament Jeremiah 5:23)

In many ways, they sound like many of today. Nephi warns us -

"...the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.
37 And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.
38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes.
39 He ruleth high in the heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is his footstool." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:36 - 39)

Isaiah 66 - Jeremiah 4

During the days of Josiah, Jeremiah being a young man tells us -

'...the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations..." (Old Testament Jeremiah 1:4 - 5)

A call came from the Lord for Jeremiah to be a prophet, but what is of great significance is that Jeremiah was foreordained to be a prophet to the nations during this period of time. Alma taught the Amalekites -

"...I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.
2 And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption..." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:1 - 2)

He also teaches that all priests were also foreordained or appointed to be priests after his holy order before this life. Alma continues -

"...And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:3)

What a great reinforcement to those who are called to serve to understand that, like Jeremiah, they were foreordained, annointed or selected to perform such calling because in our pre-earth existence " having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith".

Jeremiah felt inadequate as he responded to the Lord -

"...Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." (Old Testament Jeremiah 1:6)

The Lord answered Jeremiah -

"...Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD..." (Old Testament Jeremiah 1:7 - 8)

This is a great example of works and grace. First Jeremiah had to, in faith, "go to all that I shall send thee", and in doing so -

"Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." (Old Testament Jeremiah 1:9)

Moroni taught this same concept of works and grace -

"...if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:27)

A modern day prophet said -

“Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”

Isaiah 58 - 65

I would like to return to the 54th Chapter of Isaiah this morning. These words must be so important that the Savior himself spoke the same word to those he visited in the Americas. From his own mouth the Savior prophecies -

"...then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 22:1)

In regards to Israel, often the Lord is referred to as the husband and Israel as the wife. The Lord being the husband and Israel the wife, Isaiah asks -

"...who shall declare his generation?..." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:8)

Or who will be his offspring or his children? Isaiah answers -

"...when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed..." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:10)

This is his children. King Benjamin taught his people -

"...because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:7)

I believe the Lord was suggesting that Israel did not travail with "spiritually begotten" children, but now there are many "spiritually begotten" or potential children amongst the desolate or throughout the world. Therefore we are given the charge to -

"Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes..." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:2)

As we cover and strengthen His sons and daughters throughout the world -

"For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame..." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:3 - 4)

The Savior again returns to the Husband & wife analogy -

"...for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:4 - 8)

The Savior promises bbedient Israel with the restoration of the gospel -

"...my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:10)

"...all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:13 - 14)

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:17)

Isaiah 51 - 57

What I consider to be strongest testimony of the Savior in all of the old testament comes from the words of Isaiah. Isaiah asks -

"WHO hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" (Old Testament Isaiah 53:1)

And then he testifies of the Savior-

"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:2 - 3)

Judah and Israel only pictured a Messiah that would so dynamic and of probably great stature that would come and free them from political and physical oppression. Instead, Isaiah teaches how the Savior will free the people -

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:4 - 5)

For -

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:6)

Isaiah then prophecies how this will take place -

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment...for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:7 - 9)

And to those that will believe he asks -

"...who shall declare his generation?" (Old Testament Isaiah 53:8)

Then Isaiah provides the answer -

"Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:10 - 11)

Because -

"...he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Old Testament Isaiah 53:12)

Abinadi provides much the same answer to the same question -

"Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?
11 Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed?
13 Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:10 - 13)

Abinadi further comments -

"...these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!
17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever!
18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:14 - 18)

Isaiah said the same -

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Old Testament Isaiah 52:7)

For -

"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." (Old Testament Isaiah 57:21)

Isaiah writes this promise of those who publish peace -

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Old Testament Isaiah 54:17)

The promise is to all -

"HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." (Old Testament Isaiah 55:1 - 3)

Isaiah 45 - 50

Isaiah writes with great emphasis -

"LISTEN, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:1 - 3)

It seems clear to me that the Lord is speaking to his servant Israel. He is also referring to a scattered Israel as he writes "from far". It becomes apparent that the Lord wants Israel of our day to pay attention. It is obvious that the Lord's commandments have served as a double edge sword as Israel confesses -

"...I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God..." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:4)

But nonetheless -

"...the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength...." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:5)

In these days, the Lord tells a the righteous of Israel they have a great work to do -

"...It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth...." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:6)

"...That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:9 - 10)

And in reference to His Church (mountain) in the last days -

"...I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:11)

And of his saints -

"...Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:13)

And for modern Israel that has thought revelation has ceased and the Lord has abandoned them suggesting -

"...The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:14)

The Savior asks -

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?..." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:15)

It is Israel or his people that have left him, he has not left them with they Savior explaining -

"...they may forget, yet will I not forget thee...." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:15)

And with much emotion, the Savior testifies -

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:16)

It has always been man's obligation to faithfully seek out the Lord -

"...Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (New Testament Revelation 3:20)

We have a great work to do to -

"...to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." (Old Testament Isaiah 49:6)

It is a marvelous work for the Lord -

"...will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.
18 Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall judge them at the last day, for they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah, who was rejected by them; and unto the convincing of them that they need not look forward any more for a Messiah to come, for there should not any come, save it should be a false Messiah which should deceive the people; for there is save one Messiah spoken of by the prophets, and that Messiah is he who should be rejected of the Jews." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 25:17 - 18)

Isaiah 38 - 44

Many of Isaiah's prophecies were regarding the coming of the Messiah and -

"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Old Testament Isaiah 40:3)

Luke makes reference of this prophecy as he talks of John the Baptist saying -

"...he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." (New Testament Luke 3:3 - 4)

There is no question Isaiah's prophecy is in regards to John the Baptist. What is interesting is what follows both in Isaiah and in Luke writings -

"...Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain..." (Old Testament Isaiah 40:4)

I don't remember this necessarily happening in the old world. The words of Isaiah sometimes seem to be more in reference to the second coming than that in the meridian of time. As Isaiah begins this prophecy, he writes -

"COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 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." (Old Testament Isaiah 40:1 - 2)

We know for sure that at that time, Judah's warfare was not accomplished or her inquity pardoned. The Savior acknowledges this was not the case as he tells the Pharissees -

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate..." (New Testament Luke 13:34 - 35)

He follows with -

"...verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (New Testament Luke 13:35)

This verse in itself suggest that he will not come until there is one that cometh in the name of the Lord or also again as a -

"...voice of him that crieth in the wilderness..." (Old Testament Isaiah 40:3)

This again could have reference to John the Baptist in these days which the Lord said -

"...I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 27:8)

President Joseph Fielding Smith said -

“The Lord declared, through one of his prophets, that before his second coming a messenger should be sent to prepare the way and make it straight. You may apply this to John if you will, and it is true. John, the messenger who came to prepare the way before the Lord in the former dispensation, also came in this dispensation as a messenger to Joseph Smith; so it applies, if you wish to apply it so, to John who came as a messenger to prepare the way before the Lord.

But I go farther and maintain that Joseph Smith was the messenger whom the Lord sent to prepare the way before him. He came, and under direction of holy messengers laid the foundation for the kingdom of God and of this marvelous work and a wonder that the world might be prepared for the coming of the Lord.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:193–95.)

For -

"Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?" (Old Testament Isaiah 40:13 - 14)

These verses suggest more that would come is his name such as latter-day prophets. And the establishment of His Church or His Mountain saying -

"O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 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.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." (Old Testament Isaiah 40:9 - 11)

Isaiah 36 - 37

Isaiah relates the same story told in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. It is that -

"NOW it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them." (Old Testament Isaiah 36:1)

And then -

"...the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field." (Old Testament Isaiah 36:2)

Being just outside of Jerusalem, Rabshakeh sends insulting and demeaning messages to Hezekiah mocking the God of Israel saying -

"...What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?" (Old Testament Isaiah 36:4)

"But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?" (Old Testament Isaiah 36:7)

You quickly tell that Rabshakeh didn't know what he was talking about. It was the alters and high places of false gods that Hezekiah had taken away. Rabshakeh continues his mockery -

"And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it." (Old Testament Isaiah 36:10)

He even cried with a loud voice to the people of Jerusalem saying -

"Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.
15 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
16 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;
17 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards." (Old Testament Isaiah 36:14 - 17)

He tries to convince the people of their worthless beliefs as he hollers -

"Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
20 Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?" (Old Testament Isaiah 36:18 - 20)

The people did not pay attention to his threats as -

"...they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not." (Old Testament Isaiah 36:21)

Hezekiah rents his clothes and reverently goes to the temple. He sends messengers to Isaiah and pleads for his people that are left. Isaiah responds -

"Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land." (Old Testament Isaiah 37:6 - 7)

Upon hearing this Rabshakeh again began to mock the Lord saying to messengers -

"...Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?
12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?" (Old Testament Isaiah 37:10 - 13)

You can sense the grave concern but also the faithfulness of Hezekiah as he again goes to the temple and prays -

"O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
17 Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.
18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
19 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
20 Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only." (Old Testament Isaiah 37:16 - 20)

Because of this sincere prayer, Isaiah tells the king -

"...Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria..." (Old Testament Isaiah 37:21)

"Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.
34 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
35 For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake..." (Old Testament Isaiah 37:33 - 35)

And -

"...the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
37 ¶ So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh." (Old Testament Isaiah 37:36 - 37)

And because of the mockery of the king of Assyria -

"...it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword..." (Old Testament Isaiah 37:38)

Isaiah 30 - 35

Amidst the prophecies and warnings of Isaiah to his people and those of the latter days, he teaches some great truths and responsibilities of the righteous. First he asks -

"Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little..." (Old Testament Isaiah 28:9 - 10)

This is done as -

"...the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little..." (Old Testament Isaiah 28:13)

Isaiah then takes this concept and talks of the people in our day -

"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid..." (Old Testament Isaiah 29:13 - 14)

Part of that marvelous work is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon as a second testament of Jesus Christ -

"And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Old Testament Isaiah 29:18 - 19)

Isaiah's prophecies fulfilled as -

"...as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned." (Old Testament Isaiah 29:11 - 12)

Joseph Smith records that in 1828 -

"Sometime in this month of February, the aforementioned Mr. Martin Harris came to our place, got the characters which I had drawn off the plates, and started with them to the city of New York. For what took place relative to him and the characters, I refer to his own account of the circumstances, as he related them to me after his return, which was as follows:
64 "I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.
65 "He then said to me, 'Let me see that certificate.' I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, 'I cannot read a sealed book.' I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation."
(Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:63 - 65)

I began this blog, I mentioned Isaiah gave instructions of the responsibilities of the righteous being -

"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not..." (Old Testament Isaiah 35:3 - 4)

As was also reiterated in modern day -

"Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 81:5)

Isaiah 24 - 29

When Isaiah speaks of the mountain or the mountain of the Lord, I believe he is referring to the Savior's restored Church in the latter days. I sense Isaiah is speaking as if in the latter days as he writes -

"O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." (Old Testament Isaiah 25:1)

As I have studied the Old Testament, I also feel the Lord counsels to those of old have been exactly that, faithfulness and truth -

"For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." (Old Testament Isaiah 25:4)

And in our day the his Church has been restored to bless the lives of all people, for -

"...in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." (Old Testament Isaiah 25:6)

And with his army of missionaries -

"...he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations." (Old Testament Isaiah 25:7)

For the Savior himself said in our day -

"NOW behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 4:1 - 2)

"And again, this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations..." (Pearl of Great Price JS-Matthew 1:31)

For the Lord -

"...will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it." (Old Testament Isaiah 25:8)

"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
10 For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest..." (Old Testament Isaiah 25:9 - 10)

Isaiah 16 - 23

It is apparent that Isaiah's prophecies extend from Isaiah's day to the last days. It seems that when his vision extend down the road, he prefaces with "in that day". Isaiah wrote -

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah..." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:20)

Eliakim the son of Hilkiah was a contemporary with Isaiah, so to say "in that day" would seem to suggest a symbolic Eliakim the son of Hilkiah at some future date. It becomes apparent of whom Isaiah is referring toa as continues -

"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." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:21)

This is not a king of Judah but a "father" of Jerusalem and Judah. Compare this to Isaiah's prophecy -

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." (Old Testament Isaiah 9:6 - 7)

There is no question, Isaiah is referring to the Savior. Even more of significance is Isaiah's prophecy of priesthood keys -

"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." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:22)

Priesthood keys is the power, authority, and right to rule, administer, to seal and unseal. John said the same -

"...These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth..." (New Testament Revelation 3:7)

In his restored Church, the Savior said -

"...I now give unto you the officers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchizedek, which is after the order of mine Only Begotten Son." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 124:123)

Two of the keys the Savior possesses with power to open and shut is that of the atonement and resurrection where Isaiah writes -

"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." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:23)

Even -

"And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.
25 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it." (Old Testament Isaiah 22:24 - 25)

Isaiah 10 - 15

It becomes apparent that Isaiah is a prophet of God as his attention focuses on Babylon its great destruction. Babylon at Isaiah's time had not yet developed to it's ancient greatness. Assyria was the nation that yet would come and conquer the northern nation of Israel. Isaiah saw Babylon in it's greatness and writes -

"That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!" (Old Testament Isaiah 14:4)

He begins to compare Babylon to the wickedness of the world including that in latter-days saying -

"The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.
6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth." (Old Testament Isaiah 14:5 - 6)

You can understand his comparision of Babylon and the world today of it's eventual destruction as he follows -

"The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us." (Old Testament Isaiah 14:7 - 8)

Isaiah understood that righteousness brings strength as he wrote -

"...in the LORD have I righteousness and strength..." (Old Testament Isaiah 45:24)

And wickedness brings weakness -

"All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee." (Old Testament Isaiah 14:10 - 11)

Isaiah writes of the great weakness of Satan -

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Old Testament Isaiah 14:12 - 14)

As Satan tries to convince men of his great power, all men will come to recognize otherwise -

"Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?" (Old Testament Isaiah 14:15 - 17)

Even though it is difficult to understand Isaiah, I can testify that the Spirit testifies his words are true.

Isaiah 4 - 9

Isaiah not only saw in vision his day but also saw our day and delivered inspired warning to all that will hear. He saw the immodesty of women of our day and -

"...the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
21 The rings, and nose jewels,
22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails...." (Old Testament Isaiah 3:18 - 23)

Therefore -

"...Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion..." (Old Testament Isaiah 3:16 - 17)

"And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty." (Old Testament Isaiah 3:24)

"Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope..." (Old Testament Isaiah 5:18)

The footnote of "a cart rope" suggests "They are tied to their sins like beasts to their burdens."

The Lord also condemns -

"...them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands." (Old Testament Isaiah 5:11 - 12)

And because of disobedience and wickedness-

"....my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge..." (Old Testament Isaiah 5:13)

Solomon taught -

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Old Testament Proverbs 9:10)

Suggesting -

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Old Testament Proverbs 4:7)

The Prophet Joseph Smith said -

"...A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of God.” (Teachings, p. 217.)

Isaiah wrote the same of absence of knowledge -

"Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it." (Old Testament Isaiah 5:14)

It is the wicked that desires knowledge by seeking after signs. Isaiah wrote of them -

"That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!" (Old Testament Isaiah 5:19)

The Savior during his ministry said that an -

"...adulterous generation seeketh after a sign..." (New Testament Matthew 16:4)

Moroni warned -

"they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:19)

In a day when the trend is to be politically correct, the Lord warns -

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" (Old Testament Isaiah 5:20 - 21)

"Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!" (Old Testament Isaiah 5:23)

The promise is to those that do this and do not repent -

"Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." (Old Testament Isaiah 5:24)

Ecclesiastes 9 - Isaiah 3

Samuel said to Saul -

"...Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 15:22)

Even as we have been commanded to sacrifice, the Lord greatest desire is our obedience and our hearkening to his words. The Lord said to all those that pervert the ways of the Lord -

"Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah." (Old Testament Isaiah 1:10)

Then the Lord asks -

"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?..." (Old Testament Isaiah 1:11)

He answers these wicked rulers and people -

"I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood." (Old Testament Isaiah 1:11 - 15)

The Lord explains this as -

"...this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men" (Old Testament Isaiah 29:13)

To the wicked as was amongst Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord pleads -

"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." (Old Testament Isaiah 1:16 - 17)

The promise is to those that repent, whose"heart" is near to the Savior -

"Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine." (Old Testament Isaiah 29:22 - 24)

The understanding and doctrine is this -

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Old Testament Isaiah 1:18)

Ecclesiastes 1 - 8

Most people are familiar with chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes in that it is written in popular song -

'TO every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." (Old Testament Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 8)

We used to joke in the mission field that this was our "time to refrain from embracing". Though we joked, it was very true. There seems to be an order of things, if followed, will provide great blessings and wisdom in our lives. In a talk on marraige, President Kimball said -

"...One can have all the blessings if he is in control and takes the experiences in proper turn: first some limited social get-acquainted contacts, then his mission, then his courting, then his temple marriage and his schooling and his family, then his life’s work. In any other sequence he could run into difficulty." (Spencer W. Kimball, “The Marriage Decision,” Ensign, Feb. 1975, 2)

Isn't that interesting that the prophet sugggest these experience take place in proper turn.

Turn, turn, turn. Without such, a young man can "run into difficulty".