Where Can I Turn For Peace?

After pondering over 1 Nephi 19-21 for quite some time, I have come to the conclusion that these chapters and their placement are no accident. From a quick-read point of view, they may seem out of place. Nephi is giving a narrative of his life and he pauses to talk about scriptures and especially Isaiah. He then throws out two random chapters of Isaiah and then moves on with his narrative. Obviously, there is more to it than this. It is true that at this point he is able to take time to make plates of ore and is commanded to do so by the Lord. However, I think there is more to it.

Nephi has been through one of the toughest trials of his life. He has endured months on the open sea. He has borne endless hours of pain and deprivation. He spent many days in mental and physical anguish tied before his brothers as they mocked him. He endured the anguish of his soul as they disrespected the very being who led them to a new land. He endured horrific storms and winds that brought them to the very brink of death. It brought sheer terror and hopelessness to the point of humbling his brothers who were completely passed feeling.

He made it! He made it to the promised land to safety. What is the first thing he does? He turns to Isaiah for comfort and hope. He was not done with trials and afflictions as his further narrative will show, but he has shown me where I can turn for peace when life gets dark and stormy. Isaiah's words when read by the Holy Ghost can bring incredible peace and comfort.

"Hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written." (1 Nephi 19:24)

Why? I believe because Isaiah's words testify of this life and the difficulties faced here in mortality. His words are symbolic of man's eternal nature, his glorious potential and his ultimate destination. And, Isaiah's primary focus is always on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His loving mission of mercy. This is what brings the most hope to me by reading Isaiah. My mind may have a hard time wrapping around his words but my spirit instinctively feels the peace and hope that comes from his words.

Why did Nephi quote Isaiah 48 and 49 here? These two chapters are a great introduction to Isaiah especially when paired with the Book of Mormon and its divine purpose. The title page explains it by saying that the Book of Mormon was "written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile." These two chapters embody this statement completely. Chapter 48 focuses on Judah and 49 focuses on scattered Israel and the Gentiles.

In addition, I can see how Nephi is preparing me to navigate through the difficulty of Isaiah's words with some early victories and helpful commentary as he strives to keep the scriptures plain and precious.

Maintain A Holistic View

Break into manageable chunks while still maintaining a holistic view.

This is the last skill before I get into Isaiah—I promise. This is a culmination of all of the skills so far. Each of the skills are used in the following step process where I start with a broad perspective, zoom into the details, and then transition into a holistic view so I can gain greater knowledge from complex scripture:

Step #1:
	I read the complete chapter trying to get a general feel for the contents. I try to pick out overall themes or principles. This is my first pass over the chapter so I am not expecting myself to understand the concepts and symbolism behind the verses rather I am looking for the general flow of the chapter to help me keep focused as I zoom into the verses in the next several steps. It may require several passes of reading the chapter in order to keep this fresh in my mind throughout this whole process.
Step #2:
	I break the chapter into manageable sets of verses—usually verses that feel connected—but I try to keep in mind the direction and themes picked out in step #1.
Step #3:
	I read through one set of verses at a time looking for symbolism. I take notes along the way so that I can make the connections and knowledge that I gain more permanent.
Step #4:
	I ask myself the following questions while pondering and praying: ▪ What would these verses mean to the people when it was initially given? ▪ Do I understand the geographical, political, and cultural significance of the verses? ▪ Do I understand the words being used and how they were used at the time it was translated? If I answer no to any of these question, I look through my sources and commentaries and read only the pertinent background information.
Step #5:
	I ask myself the following questions while pondering and praying: ▪ How do these verses relate to the last days? ▪ Do I understand the significance of the events being talked about and the timing within the last days? If not, I skim through my sources and commentaries reading only pertinent information pertaining to the last days. In this step, the last days is just an example. I may choose any other parallel such as during Christ's time or during the time of the Nephites. This helps expand my mind to start seeing the hidden symbolism contained in these verses in preparation for the next step.
Step #6:
	I ask myself the following questions while pondering and praying: ▪ How do these verses relate to me and my everyday life? ▪ How do these significant places, events, people and principles symbolically relate to me? This is often the hardest part and most time consuming because it is deeply personal. However, through fervent prayer and purposeful pondering the answer will come and it will be well worth the effort put into it.
Step #7:
	Once I feel satisfied, I finalize my notes and move on to the next set of verses by repeating from step #3 until I have completed the chapter.
Step #8:
	I reread the chapter putting the learned concepts together searching for overall meaning. A single verse or verses can be very enlightening but by putting them all together, I can unlock the additional knowledge and the deeper meaning that the writer intended for me. In addition, I compare the chapter with previous chapters—often concepts were artificially broken up into chapters.
Step #9:
	I ask myself the following questions while pondering and praying: ▪ What are the principles, invitations, and promises associated with this chapter or set of chapters? ▪ How can I implement them in my daily life? ▪ How will they bless me and help me on the path back to my Heavenly Father?
Step #10:
	Now that I have gained my own personal revelation and direction in regards to the chapter or chapters I am studying, I will consult my sources—including other scriptural commentary—in depth to broaden and expand my personal knowledge.

Break into Parallels Part 2

I want to share some examples of the skill Break into Parallels to help clarify what I mean. This can be a difficult skill to master and requires practice. Drawing parallels on the chapter or on the overall level is particularly difficult, so I find it best to start out with individual verses and build up to the whole picture. One of the ways I get started is to look for deja vu moments. Those moments where I'm reading along and something sounds really familiar. Here is an example that I ran into recently:

"For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another."
1 Nephi 20:11

The last part of the verse stuck out at me, "I will not give my glory unto another." It reminded me of the grand council in heaven as talked about by Moses. And, by checking the footnotes, I found a reference to the very verses that this brought to mind. It also brought context to the next several verses or parallel of interpretation.

Most of the time, it takes work—lots of hard work—to draw parallels, but sometimes verses immediately stick out with parallels becoming obvious. Here is an example of one of those rare moments for me when I could immediately see multiple interpretations from a single set of verses. There are many parallels that can be drawn from the verses in 2 Nephi  8:3-8. However, I have listed just a few of these parallels below:

3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation; for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light for the people.

5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arm shall judge the people. The isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. But my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. But my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

Meridian of Time

Jesus Christ brought peace and comfort to all mankind through the infinite Atonement. "Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody." He brought forth a new law—a higher law. "For a law shall proceed from me." He overcame the sting of death that all men may live in the flesh again to be judged of Him. He brought forth salvation and eternal life to all those who turn to Him. He has overcome everything and so can I.

Early Latter-day Saints

The early saint must have found comfort in these words as he talked about the restoration,  "a law shall proceed" forth bringing a "light for the people." The desert blossomed like a rose as some described it when the saints were pushed out west, and "he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord." One of the first things the Lord did in this new dispensation was send out missionaries to the isles of the sea and "the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust." They must have found comfort that inspite of the revilings and persecution that God's "righteousness shall be forever, and [His] salvation from generation to generation."

Last Days

In the Millennium, Zion the place (the earth) will physically be healed, her waste places, deserts, and wildernesses will be turn into gardens and Zion the people will be comforted from pain, affliction, and weakness and will receive joy and happiness. The earth will pass away but will be renewed again just as the people who harken to the teachings of the Lord. "The earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. But my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished."

Everyday Life

I can find comfort in Isaiah's words as I turn to the Lord. The "law shall proceed" forth in my life through the gospel of Jesus Christ and He will bring light and knowledge into my life through prayer and personal scripture study. I will be comforted from my waste places, wildernesses, and deserts or pains, afflictions, and weaknesses through the Atonement. If I turn to the Lord, I will find that He is greater than any force in my life and that what man does or thinks matters little. Man's power and authority seems puny in comparison to God's power. And, I will be amazed and thankful to the Lord for who I have become.