Isaiah, and why I already feel defeated

WHY, ISAIAH, WHY?!

When I think of the book of Isaiah, I have to admit that I think of what I would call "scriptural elitists," who claim it is their favorite book of scripture.

Well, so far, I either haven't taken the time or had the intellectually energy to approach the table and see if I could sit with the scriptural Lao Tzus, Gandhis, or Dumbledores. I'm just not there yet.

That being said, before I ever get the chance to dig in to Isaiah, here are some things that I've read are helpful:

1. Study the historic and religious context. Isaiah spoke to the Jews about things they were familiar with and understood. If you are 2500+ yr-old Jew, you got this. If not, perhaps you should do some poking around and see what you can find about what was happening back then. The church has some great resources in the scriptures and on lds.org. Check it out. But only if you want to understand.

2. Have the "spirit of prophecy," as mentioned in 2 Nephi 25:4. If you are just reading to check the box, you're not gonna get it. You need to be studying and prayerfully considering what you are studying...but only if you want to understand.

3. Remember that Isaiah used a lot of dualism in his prophecies. He prophesied of then-current events that also were prophecies of future events. Kind of like a very efficient "2 birds with one stone." This can make it easy to miss the relevant prophecies of our day, because it looks like he's going on about things that already happened forever ago. See #2.

 The Bible Dictionary tells us that Isaiah teaches of the coming of the Messiah, the gathering of the house of Israel, the cleansing of the earth, and many other prophecies that both have and have not already occurred. It is up to you, the reader, to sort it all out.

But not without help.

Ecclesiastes

Dear Ecclesiastes,

I’ll be honest with you, I think I may have always confused you with your half-cousin, Ephesians. My bad.

Apparently Ecclesiastes’ got a reputation for being kind of a bummer…with an unknown author.

Anyway, the LDS Bible Dictionary says:

“The book of Ecclesiastes consists of reflections on some of the deepest problems of life, as they present themselves to the thoughtful observer.”

 “The author describes himself as “son of David, king in Jerusalem” (1:1).”

The author “…laments that as things appear from the point of view of the world…”

Ecclesiastes “…should not be construed as theological pronouncements on the condition of the soul after death; rather, they are observations by the Preacher about how things appear to men on the earth ‘under the sun.’”

In Ecclesiastes 2, the author describes several ways he sought happiness: pleasure, laughter and mirth, wine, folly, building projects, possessions and riches (v. 1-8). To no avail.

The most famous part of the book is brought to you by the band, the Byrds…”to every thing (turn, turn, turn) there is a season (turn, turn, turn)…” When we take this with the advice of King Benjamin in Mosiah, we learn that we must also do everything not just in its season, but also in its proper order.

Why? Well, I had a baby in high school. There it is. I think things have worked out pretty well for me, and my oldest daughter is happily married with a baby of her own now (in college—not high school!), but I started out my adult life behind the proverbial “eight ball.” It feels like my entire life has been an uphill battle, and I am behind. That’s okay. My life is beautiful, and I wouldn't trade it or my experiences; but I would say that I have learned that there are reasons why we are commanded to do things in their proper season, and in the proper order.

In this season of my life, it is finally time for me finish my formal education. My youngest (of five), is now in preschool, and the Church has opened this program that allows me the opportunity to accomplish this. Like all students in this program, I feel like this is a very personal answer to prayer.

The things that Ecclesiastes teaches me that make me want to be better are to remember that I am accountable to God for the things I say I’ll do, and to watch the worldliness. I don’t consider myself a materialistic ne'er-do-well, but I've got my work cut out, just like everybody else.

The end of Ecclesiastes has some reminders as to our end and the purpose of our being. When we die, we will return to dust, and our spirits back to God. While we are here, our duty lies in keeping the commandments. Our purpose then, is to serve our God who made us, throughout the duration of the days he gives us.

Thanks, Ephesians!

Just kidding, Ecclesiastes, lighten up.

Esther and friends

The following is a commentary on how three figures in the book of Esther put self-interest aside to help others and stand for what they believed.

Queen Vashti: truthfully, this was a part of the story that I didn’t even remember. After seven days of feasting and an open-bar, Xerxes summons his wife, Vashti, to be paraded in front of his guests to show-off her beauty. Vashti refused the summons. I admire her for that, as she had to have known that there would be consequences. It could be written off as foolish pride, but I choose to think that she chose to make a statement about her value being above a display to be leered-at by droves of men steeped in seven days’ worth of brine.  And, indeed, her husband was pressured to punish her for her unseemly insolence, and she was stripped as her position as queen. See Esther 1: 10-19

Mordecai: this one is easy. Mordecai raised a faithful and humble niece. He had the faith and integrity to defy a royal staffer’s request for obeisance. He knew that it would be unthinkable to disregard the first commandment, and put anything/one before God. See Esther 3:1-6.

Esther: Esther risked it all. She knew that going before the emperor unbidden could be punishable by death. She also knew that she was the only hope her people had, facing extinction via her husband’s edict. She was ready for that eventuality, if it happened. She put her trust in the Lord, and because of her courage, the Jews were saved. See Esther 4:11-16

I would love to have the faith, the integrity, and the courage of these people. I can do this, slowly, if I pray sincerely for how to go about it, and then am willing to do the work that it will take. I think the key word is “strive.” I need to be striving toward these things, and my efforts will be blessed with progress.

The Mantle of Elijah...and Elisha

In 2 Kings 2:11, we read about the translation of Elijah. Translation is a divinely wrought change in the body of a mortal, making them immune to pain and death; preserving them to be able to do the Lord’s work on earth, or wherever necessary. It is not resurrection, as this could not be possible until the Savior, himself, had first broken the bands of death, and been resurrected.

Before Elijah was taken out of “circulation,” the Lord told him that Elisha would be prophet after him. Elijah cast his mantle on Elisha, and Elisha followed him.

Elijah, knowing that he would soon be taken, asked Elisha what he would like from him. Elisha said,

“I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. (2 Kings 2:9)”

Elisha wanted to be able to serve in the same capacity as Elijah had.

When Elijah was taken, what did Elisha see?

“…And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. (2 Kings 2:11-12)”

Elisha then took up Elijah’s mantle, and smote the Jordan River with it, which parted so he could cross. Truly he had received the mantle of the prophet.

 Elisha went on to perform other miracles. Here's a video of the most famous one:

Solomon's temple, Latter-day temple...discuss!

In 1 Kings 9:1-3 we have the account of the Lord appearing to Solomon to accept the temple Solomon's people (and bondmen) had labored 7 years to build.

The Lord accepts the temple, and agrees that His "eyes and heart shall be there perpetually."

In Doctrine and Covenants 1:1-10, we have a similar account of the Lord appearing to temple-builders to accept their work. This time, it is to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery that the Lord appears, to accept the first temple built since His gospel had been restored to the earth, at Kirtland, Ohio.

In the D&C account, we have much more detail of the appearance and physical nature of the Savior,

"His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

 I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father."

We are also given more information about how the Lord will bless His temple, and the conditions for some of those blessings:

"...I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house. 

Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house."

Why do we have so much more information from the D&C account?

Well, it's an eye-witness recording of what happened, for one. It's never been translated, re-translated, or been through counsels to be voted-on to be canonized. It's a prophet's first-hand account of what he saw, right after it transpired. I would imagine Solomon's actual experience was very similar to Joseph's.