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?

Overcoming the Natural Man | 1 Nephi 20:17-22

“And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it.”

Jesus Christ “has done it.” He has overcome the natural man. If I follow where He leads then I can too, but it is a process. It will not come all at once. Just like making a profit, it is a lifelong process that takes lots of hard work and patience.

Prerequisites

The Lord has a set of prerequisites that apply to all of His principles and laws. These actions will help prepare me to take on the additional responsibilities that are required to live His higher laws and principles:

• “Come ye near unto me.” (v16) I must come unto the Savior and turn my heart towards Him, even if it is but a desire, then the Lord can bless me with the strength and power to fulfill His requirements.
• “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments.” (v18) This requirement means that I need to have an open mind and be willing to listen and obey. Obedience to His commandments will show Him that I am ready to receive more of His law and His promised blessings.

	HEARKEN, verb
	1.	To listen; to lend the ear; to attend to what is uttered, with eagerness or curiosity.
	2.	To attend; to regard; to give heed to what is uttered; to observe or obey.

Isaiah has taught me to recognize the natural man and to understand its importance and its role in the plan of salvation. Now, Isaiah gets into the specifics of the principle with a promise as he teaches me how to overcome the natural man. He then ends with a warning which comes with many of the Lord's principles.

Requirements

Isaiah lays out the specific requirements for this principle. Depending on my spiritual maturity and on the effort that I put into adhering to these requirements the promised blessings will increase in intensity. One thing I had to keep in mind while reading these requirements was that Isaiah was originally talking to the Jewish religious leadership and their responsibility to the people, so I had to tailor these through deduction to my own personal life. However, I am still under the same obligation to teach others because of the responsibilities that I have as a father, a priesthood holder, or simply from being a member of Christ's kingdom.

• Go forth from the world and flee from the natural man (v20). Two of my favorite stories that illustrates this are the Exodus and Lehi taking his family into the wilderness. It is only symbolic for me, but the concept is the same. One of the lessons that I learned from these stories is that the important point is a willingness to flee and the initial actions of going forth and fleeing. In both stories once they left, the Lord took over and led the way before them. “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light.” (Exodus 13:21) “And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.” (1 Nephi 16:16) The other thing that stood out to me was the use of the word “flee” which suggests an urgency and a need for haste.
• Have a personal witness that Jesus Christ has redeemed me (v20). This is not a one time witness but a continuous process of conversion and should be a joyful experience like a “voice of singing.” Once, I have felt this joyous redeeming light, I must declare this great gospel to all those around and teach them about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and redemption of all mankind.
• Trust God and that He will care for me (v21). I must have faith that God will provide for me when I turn away from the world and the natural man just as He did for the children of Israel. Not only did God provide the necessities for the children of Israel, but it said that the water gushed out of the rock and so will the blessings. Once I have built sufficient inner faith, I must teach others that God will care for His people and that He will provide water in the desert for His people.

Promises

The Lord pronounces four beautiful blessings upon those who seek to throw off the natural man. What a wonderful message of joy and hope Isaiah has given me.

1.	Peace as a river (v18), continually flowing through the rough waters of life. The Lord's peace comes during times of whirlpools, waterfalls, and undertows as well as during times of calmness. This river of peace flows from the fountain of living waters as it follows a course to eternal life.
2.	Righteousness as the waves of the sea (v18), continuously moving and progressing towards eternal life. I love this analogy of righteousness to the waves of the sea. Righteousness is a progression or a process of hitting highs and lows with a constant forward motion never stagnating always moving and changing for the better. Another thing that became very clear to me after spending time in the water down in San Diego last summer is the strength and firmness of the waves. The Lord is promising me that I will be given strength and power in the gospel with a resolve to do the work He has given me to do.
3.	Seed as the sand and offspring as the gravel (v19), numerous descendants and children here and numberless posterity into the eternities. This blessing goes well beyond just my own children and descendants, the promise is that I will be part of the greatest family known to man, the seed of Abraham or the posterity of God.
4.	Thy seed shall not be cut off but shall continue in righteousness (v19). I can be a great influence for good in leading my posterity and others towards God by example, teaching, family history work, and temple work. Although, it is hard to see sometimes with my mind dimmed by the veil, this is the greatest work to be engaged in—it is the work of heaven and the work of the Father (Moses 1:39). It brings the greatest and most lasting joy and happiness that one will ever know.

Warning

Isaiah ends with a final warning:

“And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.”

This warning could have been inferred from the promises particularly the first one. However, the Lord is making special emphasis to the fact that following after the world will never bring peace. One will always be left wanting, full of pain, sorrow, fear, and loneliness. True peace can only come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Understanding the Natural Man | 1 Nephi 20:8-17

Why am I like this? Why do I tend towards the things of the world? Why do I keep falling short? If Isaiah brings so much hope, why is he bringing up such a sore subject? The Lord helps me answer these questions by helping me understand the purpose of this mortal life and the role that the natural man plays. He does this by rehearsing to me the plan of salvation.

"[Thou] wast called a transgressor from the womb. Nevertheless, for my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off."

I was born into a mortal world of transgression and the Lord has given me a period of time, a probationary time, a time to prepare to meet God.

"For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted."

Mortality is not a holiday. It is a time of refinement through affliction. A test to see if I will turn to God no matter what and become the man he knows I can become. And, it is to see if I will accept the salvation and healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"I will not give my glory unto another."

A reference to the great council in heaven where Satan's plan was rejected. However, he was allowed, within limits, to test and try God's children and provide the opposition to God's will necessary to bring about free agency.

"I am the first, and I am also the last. Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens."

Christ's plan is accepted because of His submission to the will of the Father, and He promises to bring glory to the Father by creating a place that is carefully planned and prepared for the children of God. He plays the central role in this plan by bridging the gap between heaven and earth.

"I call unto them and they stand up together. All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him."

He carefully taught and prepared His noble and great ones. Those who would stand up and teach and prophesy to His people. I am not alone. He has placed noble and great men and women in my path to help me on my quest to overcome the natural man.

“Yea, and he will fulfil his word which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans.”

This is critical for me to understand that this is not a permanent situation. The natural man will not triumphant. The Lord is always in control. If I but follow the Savior, His word will be fulfil for me down to the last jot and tittle.

"And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it."

This is the most important part of the plan of salvation. Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, was sent to show me the way and to make it possible for me to overcome the natural man.

From this rehearsal, I learned that the natural man helps facilitate the opposition that allows me to use my free will to choose. It also drives a lot of the affliction and pain that I go through. However, it is not about the natural man, it is about how I react to it. This life is not like an earthly test where it tests the skill and ingenuity of the person performing the test; instead, the answers are already given, I must only turn my heart towards the source of all knowledge and He will provide the answers that I seek and the help that I need. Christ has the central role in Heavenly Father's plan, not me, so the test is not whether I through some superhuman strength can overcome the natural man, but whether I through the grace and mercy of a loving Savior will overcome the natural man.

Recognizing the Natural Man | 1 Nephi 20:1-8

Isaiah points out several worldly behaviors and attributes of the natural man that the Lord specifically wants me to recognize and overcome. I have tried to come up with a general one or two word description for each attribute to simplify the concepts, but each reader will want to tailor these attribute descriptions specifically to themselves.

Insincerity / Deceit:
This attribute is about what is written deep in the heart. The natural man tends to lock away the lusts of the flesh behind a carefully crafted facade of deceit, so the outer man may have an aura of faith and righteousness but the inner soul is cankered with darkness and filthiness.

“Swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness.”

	SWEAR, verb
	1.	To affirm or utter a solemn declaration, with an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed.
	2.	To promise upon oath.
	3.	To give evidence an oath; as, to swear to the truth of a statement. He swore that the prisoner was not present at the riot.

Hypocrisy:
This attribute is very similar to the last attribute and may find its beginnings in the heart of the natural man, but it always blossoms into flowers that are readily apparent to all those around by their vivid colors of rebellion and their acrid smells of corruption. For example, Judah of the time who professed to be righteous, did not follow after the true and living God but instead, had turned their hearts to idolatry which lead to all out rebellion towards God, corruption of all of their sacred places of worship, and ultimately brought destruction and captivity upon the people.

“Call themselves of the holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel.”

Pride:
The natural man is particularly prone to pride, he does what he can to increase his ego and to lift himself above those around him. Pride contains a vast group of characteristics which are the main motivators behind all of the attributes of the natural man. The Lord mentions several characteristics such as stubbornness, being opinionated, stiffnecked, haughty, and contemptuous.

“Thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass.”

	OBSTINATE, adjective
	1.	Stubborn; pertinaciously adhering to an opinion or purpose; fixed firmly in resolution; not yielding to reason, arguments or other means.
	2.	Not yielding or not easily subdued or removed; as an obstinate fever; obstinate obstructions; an obstinate cough.

Ingratitude:
The carnal man is drawn to the worship of self and the creations of his own hands taking credit for the acts and will of a loving Heavenly Father. This is a very dangerous sin to be involved with as Brigham Young stated, “I do not know of any, excepting the unpardonable sin, that is greater than the sin of ingratitude.”

“I have even from the beginning declared to thee; before it came to pass I showed them thee; and I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say—Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them.”

Unrighteous Dominion:
The mortal man can be obsessed with seeking after power and authority over others. He does this by coercion, subjection, or simply by holding back the truth.

“Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye not declare them?”

Know-it-all:
The worldly man trusts in the arm of flesh more than in God. He thinks that all knowledge is created from within the mind through observation of the physical world around him. He cannot comprehend that real knowledge and wisdom is gained by looking upward towards heaven.

“They were declared unto thee, lest thou shouldst say—Behold I knew them.”

Deaf / Blind:
The natural man does not want to be told what to do. He wants to turn to his own desires rather than listen to the desires of a perfect, all-knowing God. He stubbornly refuses to look and listen with his spiritual eyes and ears.

“Thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time thine ear was not opened.”

Faithless / Untrustworthy:
The earthbound man is naturally neglectful and cannot be trusted because he only looks out for himself and his own desires.

“I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously.”

	TREACHEROUSLY, adverb
	By violating allegiance or faith pledged; by betraying a trust; faithlessly; perfidiously; as, to surrender a fort to an enemy treacherously; to disclose a secret treacherously.

	FAITHLESS, adjective
	1.	Without belief in the revealed truths of religion; unbelieving.
	2.	Not believing; not giving credit to.
	3.	Not adhering to allegiance or duty; disloyal; perfidious; treacherous; as a faithless subject.
	4.	Not true to a master or employer; neglectful; as a faithless servant.
	5.	Not true to the marriage covenant; false; as a faithless husband or wife.
	6.	Not observant of promises.
	7.	Deceptive.

Sinful:
The natural born man is susceptible to all manner of sin. He follows not after the laws of God but seeks after pleasure for himself. This attribute is the catch all or the et cetera.

“[Thou] wast called a transgressor from the womb.”

The Natural Man | 1 Nephi 20

It has taken me quite some time to break this chapter down so that I can really learn what Isaiah is trying to teach me and then to put it into a nice organized logical concept. There is so much packed into this chapter, so I only want to focus on what impressed me the most and the overall principle that I learned from it. This will most likely be different for each reader because every one comes with different needs and experiences.

Looking at the chapter from a historical point of view, the Lord is talking to Judah who had turned away from Him and had become carnally minded and corrupted as predicted by Zenos in the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees. However, if I take this same concept and symbolically overlay it over my own life then I can see that the Lord is also talking about the natural man in me just as in the next chapter He is talking about the spiritual-minded man in me.

The title that I have chosen for this principle is overcoming the natural man. However, I have decided to split this concept into three blog posts in order to stick with one of my primary objectives of keeping my blog posts readable in a few minutes. Fortunately, the chapter naturally flows into three sections:

1. Recognizing the natural man (verses 1-8).
2. Understanding the purpose of the natural man (verses 8-17).
3. Overcoming the natural man, the principle with a promise (verses 17-22).

Navigating Isaiah

It may seem from a high-level view that Nephi is throwing the reader into the deep end. However, with careful study, I have found that Nephi is rigorously preparing me to handle and understand Isaiah by helping me navigate through the language of symbolism. And, through this preparation, I have gained a newfound respect for symbolic imagery and its incredible power upon the mind.

I have prepared a few examples to illustrate these early victories over this language barrier.

"Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels." (1 Nephi 19:7)

Nephi uses symbolic language while he is explaining the importance of scriptures, and it is not too difficult for those of western civilization to understand. However, he still gives the direct interpretation of what he is talking about. He is teaching me that A = B and I can hear him say, "you can do this!"

"And are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism." (1 Nephi 20:1)

This is another example where the interpretation is expressly given. Again, I think of Nephi's preparation for me as I found that the equivalent Isaiah verse in the Old Testament did not have the qualifier “or out of the waters of baptism.” It was no accident that this phrase was contained in the first verse of the first quoted chapter of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon. Although, this was originally addressed to the Jews, the Lord is teaching me that it applies to all baptized members of His church and has direct application to the everyday saint. Furthermore, it makes a great introduction for Isaiah's main audience for all of his writings. He is not speaking to the world but to the house of Israel or the members of Christ's church.

"I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass." (1 Nephi 20:4)

Here is a great example of symbolism where I have to step it up a level because there is no express interpretation given. However, Isaiah gives me a one word hint—obstinate. Between this hint and basic logic, it is not too difficult for me to see that the Lord is not talking to someone that literally has an iron sinew in his neck or a brow made of physical brass. Instinctively, I was able to begin to see what the Lord was telling me and with a little more word study, I was able to refine these concepts.  The phrase "thy neck is an iron sinew" brought to mind a stiff neck and the image of a horse trying be led on a halter. The neck representing my will and the halter representing God leading me. The phrase "thy brow brass" brings an image of sternness or arrogance. Brass brings to mind flashy as in haughty or prideful. Why not just say, "you are stubbornly holding to your own faulty will and opinions in the pride and haughtiness of your heart." Besides the beauty of Isaiah's language, the imagery used has a far more lasting effect than just the written word. These images become seared into my mind and I can begin to see the power of Isaiah's words.

"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." (1 Nephi 20:10)
"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." (1 Nephi 21:16)

No explanation is given for these two phrases. However, they are intuitive. Besides learning them in Sunday school, they just make sense to me because I live with affliction every day of my life and I get that He will never forget me that I am always before Him even though I may not fully understand the Atonement.

"Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Thy seed also had been as the sand; the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof." (1 Nephi 20:18-19)

These phrases may not come by intellectual enlightenment, but they can come through physical experience. Anyone who has sat or rested beside a slow moving river can feel the peace and calmness that it brings from its continuous flow. Anyone who has been on a beach can feel the strength of the waves and the constant movement and progression. Being on a single beach gives one an idea of the overwhelming number of grains of sand associated with the promise of offspring even though the mind cannot fully comprehend it.

"And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out."
 (1 Nephi 20:21)

This is an example where Nephi knew I would have the necessary tools in my day to unlock the scriptural interpretation on my own. I have to step it up even more, but I can unlock the meaning of this phrase by turning to the Old Testament or the exodus of God's people from Egypt.

“And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.

“And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” (1 Nephi 22:8-9)

In this last example, Nephi is giving me the much needed help through personal commentary on the words of Isaiah. He gives some of his temporal and spiritual interpretations by focusing mostly on his people and the Gentiles in the last days. Nephi's commentary is a real blessing to me as I practice finding symbolism in the scriptures and as I look to the future to see God's word being fulfilled.

All of these hints that Nephi is giving me will help me on my journey to unlocking the personal revelation contained in Isaiah that I will need for everyday survival in this mortal life. I am so grateful to Nephi for his help in preparing me to navigate through the words of Isaiah.

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.

Break into Parallels

I love the words of Isaiah and one of the things that really fascinates me about his writings is the complexity of the language that he uses. The Hebrew language facilitated such complexity with multiple interpretation, see Cultural Differences, but these writings go well beyond the norm of the day. There is no doubt in my mind that his writings were inspired of God—no mere man could produce such works as he did.

Find focus in your study by breaking scripture into parallels of interpretation.

Many different parallels or interpretations can be drawn because of the greatness of Isaiah's writings. There are no correct or incorrect ways to break his words into parallels—one must choose what works for them. I have found that by having different parallels in mind while studying the scriptures that it helps me see the word of God in different ways. However, it can become quite overwhelming to take in too much all at once so I generally choose a primary parallel of focus for each study session.

For my purposes and for this blog, I have combined parallels into sets of events or timelines centered around the coming of Christ.

1. My first timeline starts in Isaiah's time and includes the warning and destruction of the wicked in preparation for the coming of Christ. He lived around 700 years before Christ and things were ripening for destruction which happens shortly after his time. The names, places and events mentioned by Isaiah were literally fulfilled during that time. It includes the coming of Christ as the Savior of the world and His ministry here on the earth and His overcoming of both physical and spiritual death. The Millennial reign in this case is a figurative spiritual peace and safety brought about by Christ and the higher law of the ever lasting gospel that he taught. This timeline wraps up with a final destruction as Satan takes control of things leading into the apostasy. The saints of Christ's time were concerned about Isaiah's words for them and how they would be fulfilled in their time. Christ also prophesied of the final destruction of the Jews in His time and what the saints should look for to see those events unfold. No matter what parallels are drawn, knowledge of Isaiah's time and Jewish history and tradition are critical to understanding Isaiah's writings.

2. My next parallel or timeline occurs here in this land with the Nephites and Lamanites. It starts with the prevailing wickedness, destruction and darkness leading up to the coming of Christ. It includes the coming and ministering of Christ and the time of peace following. It wraps up with the Nephites ultimate demise. This is probably why Nephi and Jacob found Isaiah's words so important because it prophesied of these events and put them before the eyes of their people. I find this parallel very useful for understanding the Isaiah chapters placed in the Book of Mormon.
3. The last days are another obvious parallel to me. These same prophecies will be fulfilled in these days as things ramp up for Christ's second coming. It includes the prophetic warnings, wickedness and destruction as Christ comes a final time. It includes the Millennial peace and wraps up with a final loosening of Satan. One of the focuses of this timeline for me is to understand the signs of the times and to recognize the fulfillment of prophecy. Most sources, such as the institute manuals, focus on this parallel.

4. My last parallel is the life of the everyday saint and the timeline is this life and beyond. As I personally heed the warnings of the Lord, I can avoid the pain and destruction that sin leaves in its path. When I do fall short, all is not lost—I can turn to Christ for comfort and resolution. Christ will symbolically visit me as I turn my heart towards Him so that His light and love will enter my life. Peace and hope will reign in my heart as I exercise faith in Christ. This last parallel has to do with the welfare of the souls of God's people and their ultimate destiny, eternal peace or eternal destruction. Isaiah is speaking specifically to the house of Israel or Christ's church; thus, his teachings apply directly to each individual and their spiritual struggle to hold onto Christ and avoid personal destruction and desolation. It also applies to families, communities, and nations and how they can avoid both physical and spiritual destruction. It can be applied in every day and age—Isaiah's time, the saints of Christ's time, to Lehi's descendants, and to latter-day saints. This parallel will be my primary focus for this blog. However, to fully comprehend this, I find that I need to at least have a basic understanding of the other parallels.