The Lord's Pep Talk | 1 Nephi 21

“Great are the words of Isaiah.” In my opinion, this is one of the greatest chapters written by Isaiah. The righteous of Israel are desperately calling out in great anguish and doubt, and the Lord responds with these beautiful words of comfort which comprises most of the chapter. These words speak directly to my soul bringing powerful peace into my life—it is like a new friend that I can turn to over and over for consolation.

It is no accident that this chapter is one of the first chapters quoted in the Book of Mormon. I believe Nephi found incredible peace through the words of Isaiah amidst his trials, but I believe that this chapter in particular brought him an enormous amount of comfort regarding his people. I really learned what the Lord was teaching me about this chapter by reading it from Nephi's point of view.

Nephi was shown a vision of the destruction of his people. It must have been discouraging. He must have had doubts and frustrations wondering why he was doing this work when it seemed to be for naught.

“Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain; surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.”

“And now, saith the Lord [...] though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.”

The Lord is telling me that although things do not seem like they are going very well whether it be a wayward child, struggling friend, or overwhelming trials, He will make more of my life and bring more strength to me than I can ever imagine. For Nephi, not only would he be a light to his own people in spite of the final results but he would be a light and savior to millions of Gentiles.

“It is a light thing that thou shouldst 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 ends of the earth.”

Listen to some of the words of comfort that the Lord speaks:

“O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.”

“That thou mayest say to the prisoners: Go forth; to them that sit in darkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.”

“They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.”

“And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.”

“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.”

“For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.”

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

“Lift up thine eyes round about and behold; all these gather themselves together, and they shall come to thee. And as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on even as a bride.”

One final thought in retrospect of these first two quotations of Isaiah. The first chapter speaks of Judah who had given into the natural man and this chapter speaks of scattered Israel who had been humbled and were trying to gather Israel. The allegory of the tame and wild olive trees (see Jacob 5) explains it best where the main olive tree (Judah) was decaying; whereas, the broken off branches (such as Lehi's descendants) which were grafted in other parts of the vineyard were giving good fruit for a season. The comparison between these two people show me the choice that I must make. Will I choose to be "called a transgressor from the womb" or that "the Lord hath called me from the womb?" Will I choose to be carnally minded or spiritually minded?