"Daniel's Answer to the King" (detail), by Briton Rivière Worldly power, no matter how impressive or intimidating, is always subordinate to God's power. That is the main theme of the book of Daniel. Through a series of miraculous experiences, Daniel and his friends demonstrate that faithfulness to God is a surer source of stability and... Continue Reading →

The name Ezekiel (יְחֶזְקֵאל) means "God strengthens." This is an appropriate name for a prophet who saw remarkable visions about future manifestations of God's power on behalf of his people. Ezekiel was a contemporary of Jeremiah and of Lehi. However, the three prophets were led to different places as the Babylonian Empire conquered the kingdom... Continue Reading →

"Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem," by Rembrandt In spite of the catastrophic context of this week's reading, there is a surprising amount of hope and resilience in the text. The kingdom of Judah has been conquered by Babylon. Jerusalem has been destroyed. Everything that Jeremiah and his contemporaries have counted on has disappeared, except for... Continue Reading →

Statue of Jeremiah by Donatello, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence, Italy Jeremiah was a contemporary of Lehi, and he is mentioned in three verses in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 5:13, 1 Nephi 7:14, Helaman 8:20). Like Lehi, he lived in Jerusalem during a tumultuous time, after the Babylonian Empire conquered Judah and established... Continue Reading →

"Christ in a Red Robe," (detail) by Minerva Teichert The book of Isaiah opens with a wake-up call and then leads us on a journey to a glorious destination. At the beginning of the book the Lord appeals to nature: "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth:... I have nourished and brought up children,... Continue Reading →

"The Mocking of Christ" (detail) by Carl Heinrich Bloch Jesus Christ endured unfathomable suffering on our behalf. An awareness of this fact can bless us in a number of ways: It can help us overcome the fear of being abandoned (Isaiah 50:1-2). It gives us courage to face our own trials and challenges (Isaiah 50:5-7).... Continue Reading →

"Balm of Gilead" (detail), by Ann Adele Henrie You are not forsaken. God is mindful of you whether you are aware of it or not. That is the message of this portion of the book of Isaiah, and the prophet gives us this message in a variety of ways. Here are some of the forms that... Continue Reading →

"He Comes Again to Rule and Reign," by Mary R. Sauer The contrast between fragile earthly kingdoms and God's eternal reign is on full display in this week's reading. We will cover about 40% of the book of Isaiah this week—chapters 13-39—although we will only read 10 of those 27 chapters. Two of those chapters (13 and... Continue Reading →

"The Prophet Isaiah Foretells Christ's Birth" (detail), by Harry Anderson "Great are the words of Isaiah," said the Savior during His ministry on the American continent (3 Nephi 23:1). "My soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah," said Nephi (2 Nephi 25:5, 2 Nephi 11:2). And Moroni urged us, "Search the prophecies of Isaiah," adding,... Continue Reading →

"Learning to Trust the Lord" (detail) by Kathleen Peterson The Hebrew word mashal (מָשָׁל) means "proverb" or "parable." It's a brief statement of truth intended to help us make wise decisions. When used as a verb, the term means "to rule" or "to govern." A mashal is a tool to help us govern ourselves wisely.... Continue Reading →