Like many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Isaiah was a challenge for me. I generally understood the narrative of the rest of the Book of Mormon fairly well, but I struggled each time I tried to read chapters 12-24 of Second Nephi.
After returning home from my mission, I had a goal of improving my understanding of these passages. Early in the process, I came across Bruce R. McConckie’s ‘10 Keys to Understanding Isaiah,’ published in the Ensign in the 1970’s. Though it provided some insight, I still was unable to grasp the majority of the passages penned by ‘the prophet.’
In 2014, I took an ‘understanding Isaiah’ institute course with my fiancée. The teacher had a degree in Hebrew and had a reputation of being able to uncover the mysteries of the Old Testament. On the first day of class, she told the story of an exchange she had with her husband. She owns two full bookshelves devoted to biblical studies, one for the Old Testament and the other for the New Testament. One of the shelves is devoted to commentary on Isaiah by individuals within and outside of the church. Her husband came to her one day, having decided it was time for him to understand Isaiah. Which book, he asked, of her many books about Isaiah, did she recommend to him to understand the text? Her answer shocked me: none of them, she replied. Incredulously, he asked why she had all of those books, to which she dramatically threw up her arms and said ‘I don’t know!’
What she said next opened my eyes to passages of scripture that, for years, were sealed to me. She told her husband that if he read each of the footnotes in the LDS scriptures, he would gain more understanding than from any commentator in the books she owned. As I was taking the institute course, I also turned to the student manual of the Old Testament LDS institute course.
Suddenly, the key was turned. With her guidance and a lot of study on my part, the messages of Isaiah became clear. I was able to understand his desperate pleading to an unrepentant Israel. I finally could bask in the promises of a time when God’s chosen people would accept Him once more and be gathered home to His presence. I could celebrate, with Isaiah, looking toward the first and second coming of the Savior to redeem His chosen people.
This site contains a summary of the work I have done to compile the authorized resources regarding Isaiah. Among these are quotes by Book of Mormon prophets on the importance of understanding the words of Isaiah. The ever-so-helpful article by Elder McConkie can be accessed below as well. Finally, the last two links are the result of four years of a detailed study of the chapters of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon. For each chapter, the text of the Old Testament and Book of Mormon verses are compared. Messianic verses, as noted by Elder McConkie,are italicized. Direct commentary from Book of Mormon prophets on the content is indicated. After, important references from both the Book of Mormon and Old Testament text are included. Finally, helpful commentary from both the Book of Mormon and Old Testament institute manuals are included.
I hope that this work can help unlock the key of understanding as you diligently study the words of Isaiah.
10 Keys to Understanding Isaiah: Bruce R McConkie
A Lesson on Understanding Isaiah