Eight of the 39 books in the Old Testament were definitely in the brass plates, and another 16 may have been included. For Book of Mormon prophets, the brass plates were an essential part of their identity: connecting them to intergenerational covenants, testifying of the Savior, and bringing them closer to God.
Waiting for Clarity
Our brains crave certainty. When coupled with impatience, this urge can be harmful. It can cause us to settle for easy answers. Isaiah said, "I will wait upon the Lord." Faith in God includes trusting that He will eventually resolve all ambiguities.
God With Us
Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would bear a son and call him "Immanuel," which means "God with us." As Abinadi testified, God Himself came to earth. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. We are not only walking toward God and Christ. We are walking with Them.
Emmanuel
The author of Psalm 46 wants us to know that God is not a distant and detached monarch. He is very much involved in our lives, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." We may be surrounded by turmoil. "The waters" may "roar and be troubled," and "the mountains" may "shake," but the author... Continue Reading →
“They Shall Not Be Ashamed That Wait for Me”
Waiting doesn't come easy for human beings. We aren't naturally patient. But multiple times, the prophet Isaiah identifies waiting as a key component of discipleship. Here are some examples: "I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him" (Isaiah 8:17, 2 Nephi 18:17).... Continue Reading →
Words of Comfort and Encouragement from Isaiah
This morning, as I studied 2 Nephi 16-20 (Isaiah 6-10), a number of phrases caught my attention. Here they are and why they are meaningful to me: "Here am I; send me" (2 Nephi 16:8). When Isaiah heard that help was needed, he volunteered immediately and enthusiastically. I would like to be that quick to... Continue Reading →
Which of Isaiah’s Writings Are Quoted in the Book of Mormon?
About a third of the book of Isaiah (21 out of 66 chapters) is quoted in the Book of Mormon. Here is a list of those chapters with a brief description of each: Isaiah 2 (2 Nephi 12) - There will be a great division in the last days: Many people will ascend to God's... Continue Reading →
What Is the Historical Context for the Book of Isaiah?
The principles taught by Isaiah have universal applicability, but many of them are expressed in terms of the cultural environment in which he lived. An understanding of that environment can make it easier to understand the core principles and to apply them to the situations we face in our lives.
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Fear?
Fear is an unpleasant feeling caused by the anticipation of a negative event (Oxford English Dictionary). We feel sadness when something bad has already happened; we feel fear when we think something bad is going to happen . Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi and his brothers find themselves in a treacherous... Continue Reading →
I Will Wait upon the Lord – 2 Nephi 18:17
17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. (2 Nephi 18:17, Isaiah 8:17) Sometimes it's hard to see God's hand in our lives. We may feel abandoned and forgotten when things aren't going well, and especially when there are dark... Continue Reading →