Isaiah in the Book of Mormon Mosiah 14 Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53 or Mosiah 14

By Jeffrey Bushman Aug. 2017

Chapter 14

Isaiah speaks messianically—The Messiah’s humiliation and sufferings are set forth—He makes His soul an offering for sin and makes intercession for transgressors—Compare Isaiah 53. About 148 B.C.

Ludlow divides this chapter into 4 parts: 1. His mortal life, verses 1-3,       

1A. Suffering-Despised

1 Yea, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath ^abelieved our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?  Here Abinadi is using Isaiah’s writings to prove his point.  The prophets have all borne testimony of Christ, but very few have believed their words.  The arm may represent a servant of God and most of the brethren have stated that this servant is Christ, and who he is has to be revealed from God by the spirit.

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty (HEB it is not for his appearance) that we should desire him.  .  Christ shall grow up before Heavenly Father as a gardener would care for a tender plant, even at 12 Jesus was about his father’s business having come to a knowledge of who is father really was.  A root out of dry ground may reference 1.) the arid conditions of his country, or may show that he progressed and learned his knowledge through the spirit and not from the wisdom of man, 2.) but grew in knowledge even though Judah was a dry sterile land of apostasy, but was taught from on high.  He also was not what the people were expecting as their Messiah who was some great glorious being, but he was just a normal looking person that begged no one’s attention.

3 He is ^adespised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  .  Jesus blessed the lives of many and in so doing was acquainted with grief and sorrows, but was still rejected by most of the people who didn’t consider him worthy of their time.  Or they hid their faces when he was around so others wouldn’t think he meant something to them. Most people didn’t think that he was worth their time.  Judas, an apostle love by the Lord who betrayed him and caused him much anguish, through rejecting him.

2. His atonement, verses 4-6,  

2A. Suffering-Wounded for others

4 Surely he has ^aborne (HEB from the root nasa which is generally translated as forgive)our ^bgriefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  Bearing our griefs could be what Christ did for those who came to him to be healed and had evil spirits cast out, and yet it culminated with his suffering in the garden and on the cross for all mankind.   Many of the Jews watching Christ hang on the cross thought that he was suffering because of his wickedness and was enduring God’s punishment for his evil ways.  When Christ healed people, he had the power to not only forgive sins, but he also had the power to heal their bodies having suffered all things for them.

5 But he was ^awounded for our ^btransgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are ^chealed.  .  Christ’s atonement not only meant that he paid for all sin, sorrows and many more things but in completing the atonement he also suffered death and completed the atonement through his resurrection.  Through Christ’s atonement we can receive the peace of forgiveness and be healed through repentance and the resurrection.

6 All we, like ^asheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.  Romans 3:23 says, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but then we are to understand that Christ covered or atoned all of our short comings, and made it possible through following him to come back to the Father of all.

3. His trial and crucifixion, verses    7-9

3A Suffering-by Death

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he ^aopened not his mouth; he is brought as a ^blamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.  . This prophecy seems to be best understood was we study about his trials before the Sanhedrin.  He refused to talk to some of the leaders and he allowed himself to be lead to the place of crucifixion.  This verse talks about the suffering endured after the suffering in Gethsemane at the hands of the Jews and Romans

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken.  He was denied a lawful trial and was condemned unlawfully.   Abinadi in Mosiah 15:10 talked about those who would declare his generation, as being the prophets and those who would preach his gospel.  Christ died  before the normal life span of man, for the sins of his covenant people who believed in him, even though he had to suffer the sins of all mankind.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the ^arich in his death; because he had done no ^bevil, neither was any deceit in his mouth.  He was crucified between two thieves, and he was buried in a rich man’s tomb.  When he was questioned before Pilate, who found no fault in him, Pilate then so declared Christ’s innocence to the Jews.

4. His post mortal glory, verses 10-12

4.A From Suffering-(past tense) to Future Glory

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to ^abruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his ^bseed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.  Here we learned that Christ’s atonement was a free will offering not only on his part but also that of his fathers. (See Mosiah 15:8)   He also took upon him the suffering we would have deserved for breaking God’s commandments.  When we take advantage of his sacrifice and follow him, we will declare our willingness to follow him in the waters of baptism and keeping his commandments, then we can become the children of Christ through baptism. (Being born again, see Mosiah 15:11, and D&C 76:22-23)   After Christ’s completes his atonement God will exalt him on high and he will enjoy a long (eternal) life. 

11 He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall ^abear their iniquities.  God will be pleased with his son’s sacrifice, and as people come to believe in and rely on Christ’s atonement many of his children will be forgiven and attain the Celestial Kingdom. Even those of a lesser kingdom will benefit from Christ’s atonement. 

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the ^agreat, and ^bhe shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore (HEB from the same word as in v. 4 forgive) the sins of many, and made ^cintercession for the transgressors.  God will make Christ and heir of all that he has and Christ will share this with all those who followed his law becoming joint heirs with Christ. (See Romans 8:17-18)  Every blessing that we seem to receive from God comes from the sacrifice and atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who willingly gave his life that we might all live in eternal glory in the presence of the Father.

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 22 Isaiah 54

Isaiah 54 or 3 Nephi 22

By Jeffrey Bushman Sep. 2017

Chapter 22

In the last days, Zion and her stakes will be established, and Israel will be gathered in mercy and tenderness—They will triumph—Compare Isaiah 54. About A.D. 34.

Ludlow:   The Husband wife Relationship through this Chapter

Husband provides wife:                      Jehovah provides Israel                                  Verses

Children                                              Great numbers                                                1-3

Love                                                    Reconciliation                                                            4-8

Commitment                                       Covenant Relationship                                   9-10

Material comfort                                 Prosperity                                                        11-12

Protection                                           Peace                                                               13-17

1 And then shall that which is written come to pass: This refers back to 3 Nephi 20-21 where the Lord talks about 1) the Gentiles will receive the gospel and help gathered scattered Israel; 2) Gospel preached to Lamanites; 3) the gospel will be preached to all the dispersed of Israel including the 10 tribes. 4) Israel’s remnants will gather to Zion. 5) The remnants will return to the lands of their inheritance, also the New Jerusalem, he then says the following things will happen  Sing, O ^abarren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into ^bsinging, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; These are gentiles (or scattered Israel) who have not made any marriage covenants (baptism) with the Lord.  They will sing because they will take upon them the name of the Lord (Marriage) by baptismal covenant for more are the children of the ^cdesolate (gentiles who will have many children, but not with Christ, who will later join Christ’s church) than the children of the married wife, There will be more people join the church at this time than there were members of the church.  The married wife is the one who has made and kept her covenants (baptism) with the Lord. (husband) saith the Lord. Galatians 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate have many more children than she which hath a husband. Another view is that the barren are those outside of Jerusalem who will come to the Lord and they have many more children than covenant Israel has.

2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy ^astakes; Because of the increase of the size of the Lords family they will have to add walls and ropes to hold up the sides of the tent (or house) and strengthen the stakes.  That is why we call them stake for they are holding up part of the Lords house.  This house or tent will grow until the stakes holding up the house will cover the entire world.

3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall ^ainherit the ^bGentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.  .  The Lord’s people will increase after the wicked are burned until they will inhabit the cities of those who have been destroyed.

4 Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to ^ashame; for thou shalt forget the ^bshame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the ^creproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.  Here the Lord says, don’t worry about the past because of what you did when I first made a covenant with the house of Israel and you committed adultery and then suffered for your sins.  The wife will also not remember her reproach because after coming back to the Lord she will enjoy eternal life making this earth life just a moment in the grand scheme of things, she will have plenty of time to forget.

5 For thy maker, thy ^ahusband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer (who will purchase you for a price), the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 

6 For the Lord hath called thee ^aas a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when (HEB because thou wast despised) thou wast refused, saith thy God. .  When you sinned against me anciently and broke your covenants sand suffered for your bad choices.

7 For a small moment have I ^aforsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. . I had to honor your agency and had to let you leave me, but I still love you and will still seek for your return

8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting ^akindness will I have ^bmercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.  I have always loved you and will extend great mercy to you, even though for a while I couldn’t because of your refusal to repent.  I still love you.

9 For ^athis, the ^bwaters of Noah unto me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee.  Here the Lord is teaching his returning wife of the covenant he made to her that he would always remember her, he then compares this to the covenant he promised Noah that there would never be a flood of water again.  This is all like a big love letter the Lord is reassuring his love for Israel and he will receive them unto himself in love.  His not being wroth with her will come as she follows his counsel and direction and become like him with no need of correction.  She will become righteous since he can’t lie and be wroth with her again.

10 For the ^amountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my ^bkindness shall not ^cdepart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.  More of the same.

12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. Here he seems to be describing what he will build for her, like a heavenly city or New Jerusalem.  John seems to describing this same city in Rev. 21:18-21 NIV version “The wall was made of Jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.  The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.  The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eight beryl, the ninth topaz, the 10^th chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.  The 12 gates were 12 pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.  The street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. It is possible that they may be describing the symbolic material and spiritual wealth throughout all the stakes of Zion.

13 And ^aall thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the ^bpeace of thy children. Could show a very intimate relationship between Christ and his people during the Millennium.  Pres. Kimball said about this verse, “Surely every good parent would like this peace for his offspring. It comes from the simple life of the true Latter-day Saint as he makes his home and family supreme”   (Ensign, July 1973, p. 16)

14 In ^arighteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee.  The Lord will act as their protector and they will not have to worry about their safety.

15 Behold, they shall surely gather together ^aagainst thee, not by me; whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.  The Lord promises that no power will prevail against his people. (D&C 71:9-10, 109:25)

16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster (IE God controls all) to destroy. See 2 Nephi 26:24  I am in control, nothing happens without my permission and you need not  fear anything.

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the ^aservants of the Lord, and their righteousness  is of me, saith the Lord.  Righteousness we have gained is all made possible because of the perfect righteousness of Christ through his provided atonement thus providing a way to become like him.       Great Love Story. 

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:15 - 27:35 Isaiah 29

Isaiah 29 or 2 Nephi 26:15-2 Nephi 27:35

By Jeffrey Bushman Aug. 2017

Chapter 27

Darkness and apostasy will cover the earth in the last days—The Book of Mormon will come forth—Three witnesses will testify of the book—The learned man will say he cannot read the sealed book—The Lord will do a marvelous work and a wonder—Compare Isaiah 29. About 559–545 B.C.

Isaiah will present 5 major themes in the Bible version.

warning to Ariel (Zion) v 1-4

Judgments upon wicked  v 5-10

words of a sealed book v 11-14

A MARVELOUS WORK TO COME V 13-21

BLESSINGS TO ISRAEL V 22-24

Ariel refers to Jerusalem or altar of God, but more precisely means altar hearth

The total verses in Isaiah 29 consist of 24, but Nephi’s commentary and quotes of Isaiah make up 54 verses covering 2 Nephi 26:15 through 2 Nephi 27:35 and if we use the prophets Joseph Smith’s commentary it will be even longer.  Nephi states in 2 Nephi 11:8 And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men.  Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men.

Isaiah 29:1 ^aWoe to ^bAriel, to Ariel, the city ^cwhere David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.

2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and ^asorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.   These two verses are not in the Book of Mormon account, which starts with verse 3 below in verse 15.

2 Nephi 26:15-33

15 After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have ^adwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the Lord God shall have ^bcamped against them round about, and shall have laid siege against them with a mount, and raised forts against them; and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the ^cprayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have ^ddwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten.  JST Isaiah 29:3 That I the Lord will camp against her round about, and will lay siege against her with a mount, and I will raise forts against her. Isaiah V3

16 For those who shall be destroyed shall ^aspeak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust   JST Isaiah 29:4 And she shall be brought  down, and shall speak out of the ground, and her speech shall be low out of the dust; and her voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and her speech shall whisper out of the dust. V4

Verses that are shaded in are Nephi’s additions to Isaiah’s writtings

17 For thus saith the Lord God: They shall ^awrite the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and ^bsealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in ^cunbelief shall not have them, for they ^dseek to destroy the things of God.

18 Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed have been destroyed speedily; and the multitude of their ^aterrible ones shall be as ^bchaff that passeth away—yea, thus saith the Lord God: It shall be at an instant, suddenly—  JST Isaiah 29:5 Moreover the multitude of her strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away; yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. Terrible ones are the wicked V5

19 And it shall come to pass, that those who have dwindled in unbelief shall be ^asmitten by the hand of the Gentiles.

20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the ^apride of their eyes, and have ^bstumbled, because of the greatness of their ^cstumbling block, that they have built up many ^dchurches; nevertheless, they ^eput down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own ^flearning, that they may get gain and ^ggrind upon the face of the poor.

21 And there are many churches built up which cause ^aenvyings, and ^bstrifes, and ^cmalice.

22 And there are also secret ^acombinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the ^bdevil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and ^cworks of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.

23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in ^adarkness.

24 He doeth not ^aanything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he ^bloveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw ^call men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: ^aCome unto me all ye ^bends of the earth, ^cbuy milk and honey, without money and without price.

26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should ^adepart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his ^asalvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath ^bgiven it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to ^crepentance.

28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but ^aall men are privileged the one ^blike unto the other, and none are forbidden.

29 He commandeth that there shall be no ^apriestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set ^bthemselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get ^cgain and ^dpraise of the world; but they seek not the ^ewelfare of Zion.

30 Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have ^acharity, which ^bcharity is ^clove. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.

31 But the ^alaborer in ^bZion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for ^cmoney they shall perish.

32 And again, the Lord God hath ^acommanded that men should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not ^bsteal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in ^cvain; that they should not ^denvy; that they should not have ^emalice; that they should not contend one with another; that they should not commit ^fwhoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish.

33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he ^ainviteth them ^ball to ^ccome unto him and partake of his goodness; and he ^ddenieth none that come unto him, black and white, ^ebond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the ^fheathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

2 Nephi 27

1 But, behold, in the ^alast days, or in the days of the Gentiles—yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be ^bdrunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations—

2 And when that day shall come they shall be ^avisited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the ^bflame of devouring fire Isaiah V6

3 And all the ^anations that ^bfight against Zion, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.  Here Nephi is referring to Ariel as Zion    JST Isaiah 29:7-8 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. 8 Yea, it shall be unto them even as unto a hungry man who dreameth, and behold, he eateth, but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man who dreameth, and behold, he drinketh, but he awaketh, and behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite. Yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against mount Zion. Their expectations of power over Zion will be frustrated, it will be like a dream but they will awaken to reality. V7-8

4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be ^adrunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink. This starts Isa. 29:9 The wicked will see that their plans will come to naught for they will not have the power to carry out their plans.

5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep (Spiritual blindness). For behold, ye have closed your ^aeyes, and ye have ^brejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity. Because they have rejected their prophets and seers and their rulers they will live in a time of spiritual darkness and apostasy. V10

6 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto ^ayou the words of a ^bbook, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered. Coming forth of the Book of Mormon and maybe the dead sea scrolls and other ancient records may still come forth, especially from other of the lost 10 tribes.

7 And behold the book shall be ^asealed; and in the book shall be a ^brevelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ^cending thereof.

8 Wherefore, because of the things which are ^asealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.

9 But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto ^aanother;

10 But the words which are ^asealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they ^breveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof.

11 And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be ^arevealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth.

12 Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that ^athree ^bwitnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.

13 And there is ^anone other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were ^bfrom the dead.

14 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that ^arejecteth the word of God!

15 But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: ^aRead this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will read them. V11

16 And now, because of the glory of the world and to get ^again will they say this, and not for the glory of God.

17 And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed. V 11 also

18 Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.  V 11 also

19 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will ^adeliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say: I am not learned. V.12   four verses added here

20 Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am ^aable to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee.

21 ^aTouch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work.

22 Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee, and obtained the ^awitnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own ^bwisdom to ^creveal all things unto the children of men.

23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of ^amiracles; and I will show unto the ^bworld that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I ^cwork not among the children of men save it be ^daccording to their faith.

24 And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him: V. 12

25 ^aForasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do ^bhonor me, but have removed their ^chearts far from me, and their fear (or regard, reverence for me) towards me is taught by the ^dprecepts of men—  V. 13

26 Therefore, I will proceed to do a ^amarvelous work among this people, yea, a ^bmarvelous work and a wonder, for the ^cwisdom of their wise and ^dlearned shall perish, and the ^eunderstanding of their ^fprudent shall be hid. V. 14  Where LeGrande Richards got the name for his book. D&C 4,6,11,12,14 in each chapter verse 1 Starts: a Great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

27 And ^awo unto them that seek deep to hide their ^bcounsel from the Lord! And their works are in the ^cdark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us? And they also say: Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the ^dpotter’s clay. But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I ^eknow all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding? V.15-16  This verse the Lord warns the earth’s inhabitants against ignoring the omniscience of the creator. Also may have reference to those who stole the 116 pages of manuscript.

28 But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the ^afruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest. V. 17  Verses 17-19 (29-30) These verse promise the spiritual and physical blessings to those who seek and accept the gospel truths.  Footnote a says TG Earth, Renewal of.Lebabon is part of the land of Canaan given to the house of Israel.

29 ^aAnd in that day shall the ^bdeaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. V.18 Those who before could not see or hear what the Lord was doing.

30 And the ^ameek also shall increase, and their ^bjoy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. V. 19 b. D&C 101:36  Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.

31 For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the ^aterrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off; V. 20  talking about the persecuters of those bringing about this marvelous work, or those who are wicked.  The terrible one may refer to Lucifer who will be brought to naught.  Scorners are those who deliberately lie about others.

32 And they that make a man an ^aoffender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the ^bgate (IE the place of public transactions), and ^cturn aside the just for a thing of naught. V. 21 Those wicked who listen to the righteous say and try to make their words say something different than what the person is saying. These who seek to persecute the righteous will be cut off from the Lord.

33 Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall ^anot now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. V. 22 (33-35)  Isaiah’s prophecy concludes with a warm positive note from the Lord, promising an intimate relationship between the Lord and his people.  We can receive these blessings individually as we repent and turn to the Lord.  Jacob shall no longer be ashamed of his descendants nor will his face pale any longer as it did earlier when he observed their offenses.

34 But when he ^aseeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear (or stand in awe of ) the God of Israel.  V. 23  The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to bring Jacob’s children back to the Lord.   Jacob will see his posterity repenting and coming to the Lord and following him in righteousness and becoming like the Lord. What does Jacob think of you as his descendant?

35 They also that ^aerred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall ^blearn doctrine.  V. 24 Many of Jacob’s posterity who rejected the Holy Ghost will repent and learn of God and Christ and come to an understanding of the deeper doctrine through the spirit.