Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
To bless covenant Israel to turn from our iniquities:
God’s Encouragement:
President Ezra Taft Benson: “To members, the term stake is a symbolic expression. Picture in your mind a great tent held up by cords extended to many stakes that are firmly secured in the ground. The prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion” (Come Unto Christ, pg. 101).
"These five verbs encourage us “to be optimistic …to not be shortsighted or pessimistic … She is not to hold back her imagination in dreaming just how big the tent might need to be …” (Smith, The American New Commentary, Volume 15B Isaiah 40-66, p. 478). As the size of the tent expands, there is a need for stronger cords and stakes to withstand the increased force that wind would have on a larger tent. Zion is encouraged to strengthen her stakes to keep the tent of Zion from being damaged by any external or internal force.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord:(3 Nephi 22:17)
Gerald N. Lund: The Savior quoted this verse to the Nephites (3 Nephi 22:16) in the context of a fulfilment in the last days. “Joseph was surely the smith who forged the instrument by which the Lord’s people continue to prepare individually and collectively for the Savior’s return-and that instrument is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (“A Prophet for the Fulness of Times,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 54).
TIPS on Teaching Isaiah
Tip 1: As you prepare to teach Isaiah, learn the why, how it applies, how the doctrine blesses, and the context.
Let’s look at what Christ did before he taught Isaiah to the Nephites:
Tip 2: Teach Isaiah in an order that facilitates easier learning.
•Let’s look at the order in which Christ taught the verses of Isaiah 52 in 3rd Nephi 20.
3 Nephi 20:32 – Isaiah 52:8
3 Nephi 20:33 – Isaiah 52:9
3 Nephi 20:34 – Isaiah 52:10
3 Nephi 20:35 – Isaiah 52:1
3 Nephi 20:36 – Isaiah 52:2
3 Nephi 20:37 – Isaiah 52:3
3 Nephi 20:38 – Isaiah 52:6
3 Nephi 20:39 – Isaiah 52:7
Christ does not teach the verses in order.
Tip 3: Realize that you can’t cover it all.
Tip 4: Emphasize what matters most
For Isaiah 54, a central theme is the fulling the covenants of the Lord and the Heritage that is for the servants of the Lord (54:17).
Tip 5: Sometimes, just let Isaiah speak for himself.
Tip 6: Influence your students to study Isaiah a little more…
In 3 Nephi 23:1-3:
Tip 7: Use Hymns to teach Isaiah
What words or phrases do you see in Hymn 85 “How Firm a Foundation” that are quotes from Isaiah?
Tip 8: Don’t be afraid to use pictures (or draw them) to help students understand symbols
Tip 9: Use themes to teach Isaiah
Examples
A Theme in Conclusion:
President Henry B. Eyring: “But you might well say, ‘But do I have to wait until I am perfect and the people around me are perfect before I can live in peace?’ I suppose the answer is yes if you mean to live in perfect peace. But there is a much happier answer, and a true one we are promised peace in this life before we are perfect.
“I testify to you that you can taste peace in this life. God grants us peace as we go along the road to perfection. Here is the way Elder Bruce R. McConkie described the promise:
“Eternal families have their beginning in celestial marriage here in mortality. Faithful members of them continue in the family unit in eternity, in the highest heaven of the celestial world, where they have eternal increase. . . . Perfect peace and a full endowment of all good graces attend such eternal families. By obedience to the laws of the gospel (which are celestial laws), Latter-day Saint families begin here and now to enjoy much of that peace, joy, love, and charity which will be enjoyed in eternal fulness in the exalted family unit.” [MD, p. 273]
“You can begin to know peace, the peace the gospel brings, even before you are blessed to live in such a family, sealed by eternal covenants. (“Blessed are the Peacemakers,” Henry B. Eyring, CES Fireside, 6 February 1994)
Isaiah Testifies that there is Peace in Christ.
- Listen to the voice of the ‘watchmen.’ (3 Ne 20:32, Isa 52:8).
- Be united (see eye to eye) with a ‘voice together.’ (3 Ne 20:32, Isa 52:8).
- Awake, awake (3 Ne 20:36, Isa 52:1).
- Put on thy strength (3 Ne 20:36, Isa 52:1).
- Put on thy beautiful garments (3 Ne 20:36, Isa 52:1).
- Shake off the dust (3 Ne 20:36, Isa 52:1).
- Arise (3 Ne 20:36, Isa 52:1).
- Sit down (3 Ne 20:36, Isa 52:1).
- Loose captive bands (3 Ne 20:36, Isa 52:1).
- Publish peace (3 Ne 20:6, Isa 52:7).
- Listen to the ‘tidings of goodness’ (3 Ne 20:6, Isa 52:7).
- Remember the promise of deliverance (3 Ne 20:6, Isa 52:7).
- God is in charge (3 Ne 20:6, Isa 52:7).
God’s Encouragement:
- Act in anticipation of receiving future promises (3 Nephi 22:2).
- In the tent of Zion there is hope for those who feel ‘ashamed,’ ‘confounded,’ ‘shame,’ and ‘reproach.’ (3 Nephi 22:4).
- We will see God’s great mercies (3 Nephi 22:7).
- We will know God’s kindness (3 Nephi 22:8).
- There is peace in covenants with God (3 Nephi 22:10).
- Our children will know ‘great peace’ (3 Nephi 22:13).
President Ezra Taft Benson: “To members, the term stake is a symbolic expression. Picture in your mind a great tent held up by cords extended to many stakes that are firmly secured in the ground. The prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion” (Come Unto Christ, pg. 101).
"These five verbs encourage us “to be optimistic …to not be shortsighted or pessimistic … She is not to hold back her imagination in dreaming just how big the tent might need to be …” (Smith, The American New Commentary, Volume 15B Isaiah 40-66, p. 478). As the size of the tent expands, there is a need for stronger cords and stakes to withstand the increased force that wind would have on a larger tent. Zion is encouraged to strengthen her stakes to keep the tent of Zion from being damaged by any external or internal force.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord:(3 Nephi 22:17)
- You will recieve future promises (3 Nephi 22:2).
- In the tent of Zion there is hope for you when you feel ‘ashamed,’ ‘confounded,’ ‘shame,’ and ‘reproach.’ (3 Nephi 22:4).
- We will see God’s great mercies (3 Nephi 22:7).
- We will know God’s kindness (3 Nephi 22:8).
- Your covenants with God will bring you peace (3 Nephi 22:10).
- Your children will know ‘great peace’ (3 Nephi 22:13).
- In righteous, you are established (‘make firm, or stable, to grow or multiply’) (3 Nephi 22:14).
Gerald N. Lund: The Savior quoted this verse to the Nephites (3 Nephi 22:16) in the context of a fulfilment in the last days. “Joseph was surely the smith who forged the instrument by which the Lord’s people continue to prepare individually and collectively for the Savior’s return-and that instrument is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (“A Prophet for the Fulness of Times,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 54).
TIPS on Teaching Isaiah
Tip 1: As you prepare to teach Isaiah, learn the why, how it applies, how the doctrine blesses, and the context.
Let’s look at what Christ did before he taught Isaiah to the Nephites:
- Explained why he was teaching Isaiah in 3 Nephi 20:10-12.
- Taught how Isaiah applies in 3 Nephi 20:13-18.
- Testified of blessings and doctrine that come from hearkening to the prophet’s teachings in 3 Nephi 20:19-27.
- Set up the context for Isaiah 52 in 3 Nephi 20:29-31.
Tip 2: Teach Isaiah in an order that facilitates easier learning.
•Let’s look at the order in which Christ taught the verses of Isaiah 52 in 3rd Nephi 20.
3 Nephi 20:32 – Isaiah 52:8
3 Nephi 20:33 – Isaiah 52:9
3 Nephi 20:34 – Isaiah 52:10
3 Nephi 20:35 – Isaiah 52:1
3 Nephi 20:36 – Isaiah 52:2
3 Nephi 20:37 – Isaiah 52:3
3 Nephi 20:38 – Isaiah 52:6
3 Nephi 20:39 – Isaiah 52:7
Christ does not teach the verses in order.
- In Summary, in teaching Isaiah 52, Christ:
- Taught the verses how the prophecies have, or will occur.
- Skipped some verses that might not apply.
- Concluded the chapter with a testimony (3 Nephi 20:46).
Tip 3: Realize that you can’t cover it all.
- Christ teaches Isaiah 52 and 54. But not chapter 53. Why skip 53?
- In not teaching Isaiah 53, Christ:
- May have recognized that it was quoted and already taught very well by Abinadi in Mosiah 14
- May have wanted to teach two doctrinally similar chapters together (52 and 54).
- Even though it may be our favorite, it might not be what we should teach today. You can’t teach it all…
Tip 4: Emphasize what matters most
For Isaiah 54, a central theme is the fulling the covenants of the Lord and the Heritage that is for the servants of the Lord (54:17).
Tip 5: Sometimes, just let Isaiah speak for himself.
- Christ gives no commentary on Isaiah 54.
- Abinadi focuses on a phrase like “shall see his seed” and explains it (see Mosiah 15).
Tip 6: Influence your students to study Isaiah a little more…
In 3 Nephi 23:1-3:
- Encouragement to “search” Isaiah for themselves.
- Concludes again with a testimony (3 Nephi 23:2-3).
Tip 7: Use Hymns to teach Isaiah
What words or phrases do you see in Hymn 85 “How Firm a Foundation” that are quotes from Isaiah?
- Third verse—Isaiah 41:10
- Fourth verse—Isaiah 43:2
- Fifth verse—Isaiah 43:2
- Sixth verse—Isaiah 46:4; Isaiah 40:11
- Seventh Verse—Isaiah 49:15-16
Tip 8: Don’t be afraid to use pictures (or draw them) to help students understand symbols
Tip 9: Use themes to teach Isaiah
Examples
- Chapters 1-5 one theme is ‘Israel being on trial’
- “…Over fifty-five of the sixty-six chapters in the book of Isaiah predict the restored gospel in the last days, including the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (chapter 29); Joseph Smith as the prophet of the latter-day gathering and the Restoration … establishment of the Church (2:2-3; 54:2) …" (Isaiah and the Prophets, Monte S. Nyman, pp. 4-9)
A Theme in Conclusion:
President Henry B. Eyring: “But you might well say, ‘But do I have to wait until I am perfect and the people around me are perfect before I can live in peace?’ I suppose the answer is yes if you mean to live in perfect peace. But there is a much happier answer, and a true one we are promised peace in this life before we are perfect.
“I testify to you that you can taste peace in this life. God grants us peace as we go along the road to perfection. Here is the way Elder Bruce R. McConkie described the promise:
“Eternal families have their beginning in celestial marriage here in mortality. Faithful members of them continue in the family unit in eternity, in the highest heaven of the celestial world, where they have eternal increase. . . . Perfect peace and a full endowment of all good graces attend such eternal families. By obedience to the laws of the gospel (which are celestial laws), Latter-day Saint families begin here and now to enjoy much of that peace, joy, love, and charity which will be enjoyed in eternal fulness in the exalted family unit.” [MD, p. 273]
“You can begin to know peace, the peace the gospel brings, even before you are blessed to live in such a family, sealed by eternal covenants. (“Blessed are the Peacemakers,” Henry B. Eyring, CES Fireside, 6 February 1994)
Isaiah Testifies that there is Peace in Christ.
- 9:6 Christ is the “Prince of Peace”
- 9:7 …the increase of his … peace there shall be no end.”
- 26:3 “perfect peace”
- 26:12 He will “ordain peace for us”
- 32:17 …the work of righteousness shall be peace…”
- 48:18 The peace of the righteous is compared to a river.
- 48:22 No peace for the wicked. See also 57:21, 59:8
- 52:7 “Publish peace”
- 54:10 “The covenant of my peace”
- 54:13 “…and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
- 55:12 “For ye shall go out with joy and led forth with peace…”
- 57:2 When the righteous die, they “enter into peace…”