Ye may liken them unto you

2 Nephi 11-12

I want to believe that I will blog faithfully and thoughtfully through the Isaiah chapters, but it's kind of intimidating. When I finish reading one, I'm kind of stumped and think 'Yeah. What he said.'

However, I am keeping my original question in mind: Why did Nephi include these particular chapters on his small "these are only for the most important sacred things" plates? It's a valuable question to answer and I will think about it and try.

I think what he says in chapter 11 helps us to put the Isaiah quotation in perspective. He gives us several very clear reasons why he quotes these scriptures (and Jacob's long sermon in the previous chapters). He points out that Isaiah saw Jesus Christ and that both he, Nephi, and his brother, Jacob, have also seen Christ and can teach and witness of his existence and the truth of his coming.

3 ...wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.
4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.
5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.
6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.

So. Isaiah is part of the three (and more) witnesses Nephi is using to:

1. Testify of the true blue existence of our Savior Jesus Christ.
2. Interpret the Law of Moses as preparation for the coming of Christ. Proving that He, in fact, WILL come.
3. Outline the covenants the Lord has made to his people, the House of Israel. Point out that God has prepared a way for us to not only be gathered physically, but spiritually.
4. Prove that Christ is the only way to eternal life. Otherwise, all men must perish.

I love those verses, especially verse 5. Nephi wants to show how much SENSE the Gospel makes. The Lord has a plan and it is just and will deliver us back to Him in the end. Christ will come. Imagine how difficult that must have been for some people to believe. I know they may have believed the Messiah would come to Jerusalem, but how many of them could believe that He would come visit them in their 'far away' state? This is why Jacob stresses in chapter 10 "Ye are not cast off." I love it.

So. When I look at the Isaiah chapters (for the next 13 chapters. Gulp.) I should try to view them through this framework that Nephi set up for me.

Let's look at chapter 12 then. Why does Nephi quote it?  I'll have to go with point 3 above. Covenants. Isaiah talks about the latter-day temple and Zion as a gathering place. He discusses how Israel will be gathered and those who have persecuted the Lord's people will be brought low. God's power will show forth and he will abolish idols and the wicked. And his people will be brought together to meet him.

I can't help but feel like Nephi (and Jacob) were feeling a vibe of isolation and despair among their people sometimes. They keep reminding them, over and over and over again, that the Lord hasn't forgotten them. That they will be blessed. Gathered. Remembered. Saved. And it's a reminder that applies to all of us, no matter where we are temporally or spiritually.