The Gathering of Israel

The gathering of Israel

In Isaiah 49:1-3 The Lord testifies of the Restoration of his gospel and of Joseph Smith. The Lord talks about a shaft that he has polished that has been prepared for the world and that shaft is the prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph will spread the word of the Lord to all those that he comes in contact with. He will not deny the Lord's teachings. 

When reading Isaiah 49:18-26 we read about how Israel will be gathered. The student manual says that the gathering of Israel will be so great that people will say that the way is "too strait for me," as said by Isaiah in the previous scriptures. For the past 100 years the church has grown exponentially and this is the cause for the crowding. Our number is growing and we need to prepare. 

Isaiah 49, 51, 54, 62 all focus on the gathering of Israel to prepare for the second coming of the Lord. We have ample knowledge to see that we will need to be gathered together for Jesus Christ's coming. 

The Second Coming

As I think about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ I'm both nervous and excited. I hope that I will be one that is about to survive the everlasting burnings and that I've been able to apply the atoning blood of Christ to my life. I'm never going to be perfect but I hope that I live in such a way that I'm able to please the Lord. In my mind the Lord will come to earth and cleanse it of those who have hardened their hearts. It's hard to imagine. But, Isaiah 33: 14-16 gives us hope. These verses teach us what it takes to survive the everlasting burnings. We need to be disciples of Christ, becoming more like him. We need to "walk righteously and speak uprightly." If we are following the commandments of the Lord we will be able to survive the Second Coming and enjoy exaltation after the resurrection. In these verses Isaiah tells us the steps to take. He says, “Walketh righteously,” which means we need to be following the commandments of the Lord. To “Speaketh uprightly" we should speak the truth and be honest in our dealings. Isaiah tells us “Despiseth the gain of oppressions." We need to be a just people toward our fellow man. We also must “Shaketh his hands from holding of bribes” which means to deal fairly with those around us. We should fall prey to those who want to persuade us to do otherwise. As a righteous people we need to shut out the evil in the wolrd around us and not dwell on it. In Isaiah's words, “Stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood.” Finally, he tells us to “Shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.” This goes along with the previous line. Our job is to be optimistic and not focus on the negatives of the world. 

The Book of Isaiah

As I study Isaiah I find things that I don't understand all of the time. Sometimes I'm confused and what the prophet said goes way over my head. While reading in the institute manual about the Book of Isaiah I've found a few helpful things to keep in mind while I read. First, I need to remember this, "Those who desire to understand Isaiah should learn of Christ and seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost." Sometimes when I read I forget to say a prayer to invite the spirit to teach to me and reveal some knowledge. If I want to understand what it is that Isaiah prophesied by the spirit I need to have the spirit with me as I study his words. Next, having the spirit with us in studying is a circular thing. If I want the spirit as I study, I need to study more. The more I know of the Lord's words and his life, the more I can have the spirit with me at all times. Studying takes the spirit to understand and the spirit comes through study! Lastly, In 3 Nephi 25:1 it says that Isaiah is hard to understand because Isaiah prophesies in the manner of the Jews. The institute manual gave great insight into what this meant. Isaiah preaches to his people using the Law of Moses as a reference. His goal is to get them to remember the covenants they made with the Lord according to that law. At the beginning of the Book of Isaiah he quotes the song of Moses. This so was instantly recognized by the people he was teaching at that time. We have to study the Law of Moses in order to better comprehend what it is that Isaiah is trying to teach us. It is so hard to put everything together when studying but if we ask for the spirit to guide us we can be led in the right directions and knowledge will flow through our minds. I know that the Lord allows us the spirit so that He can reveal His truths unto us. We have to be ready and willing to learn of our Heavenly Father and his teaching. 

The Book of Isaiah goes through several different important themes. These themes are highlighted in the Book of Mormon as well as the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah stesses the importance of being righteous. The Lord can accept no unclean thing. We need to be perfected through our Savior. Because of Israel wickedness, they were scatted but Isaiah emphasizes that Israel will be reunited. Isaiah also focuses on the importance of having faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Christ is going to be the one who leads us to eternal life. When we know more of Him we are able to believe in His words and His ministry. The power of the Lord is astounding. We are able to see that His coming was prophesied and that He is just and merciful. The Lord lived and still lives. Isaiah also emphasizes that prophesies are made to be fulfilled. Every word spoken by the Lord will come to pass just as the prophets have said. Isaiah can be difficult but if we diligently study we can find the themes and central ideas of the book and apply them to our lives. I'm so grateful to know that I can be taught by the spirit when I invite the spirit into my heart. 

Seeing Life Clearly

Jerusalem, the Holy City. (Picture from LDS.org)

• The book of Ecclesiastes consists of reflections on the deepest problems of life.
• The author describes himself as son of David, king of Jerusalem.
• Ecclesiastes is written from the point of view of the world.
• Ecclesiastes should not be construed as theological pronouncements on life after death.

     In Ecclesiastes 1–2 the author seeks happiness but couldn’t find it. The author sought wisdom but in the wisdom only gained sorrow. (1:16-18)

He sought wine and no joy filled him. (2:3) He made himself a large comfortable home and yet, happiness was nowhere to be found. (2: 4)
He sought wealth and found the joy fleeting. (2:8-10)
He sought to work with his own hands and the happiness escaped him. (2:11) We need to seek the Lord first and He will give meaning to our daily lives.

     Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 talks about why the timing and order of our activities are so important. When it comes to order in our lives we have been given instruction as to when and in what order things should happen. We're baptized at eight, receive the priesthood at 12, teacher at 14, priest at 16, elder (usually) around 18. We are told to go on missions at 18, to serve the Lord and His children. We are commanded to marry and then have children. The first thing I thought of when reading about having order in our lives was parenthood. It is so important to be married before having children. Being married eliminates so many stressors and inconsistencies for children and yourself. At this time in my life, my early twenties, I feel that I am doing what the Lord would have me do. I'm finishing up my schooling, raising my young family, and holding fast to the gospel, trying to better comprehend the Lord's sacrifice for me. I'm trying to be a better companion to my spouse and to counsel with him and the Lord. Everything is a work in progress and I am nowhere near perfect. I need to always strive to be better and remember that we learn line upon line. 

     Ecclesiastes talks about how man shouldn't be alone because with the help of others we can be lifted up and warmed. I am lucky to have an amazing husband with whom I can face the trials of this life. We are able to lift up one another when either of us has fallen. I need to continually lift him up as he does me. 
     Chapter five goes on to talk about the riches we gain in this world. We are going to be blessed by the Lord when we live righteously but we need to remember that all that we have comes from the Lord. Without His hand in our lives we would not be granted what we have. It's easy to say that I have worked hard for what I've earned but it still belongs to the Lord. We need to thank Him daily for those blessings. 

     Ecclesiastes chapter twelve verse seven and thirteen through fourteen emphasizes what happens to us when we die, we are able to return to the Lord who created us. We are sent here on earth to keep the Lord's commandments and exercise our agency in doing so. We've been sent here to learn all that we can and continually praise the Lord through our decisions. When we keep our eyes on the glory of the Lord we can live full, righteous lives.