READINESS

 

I was amazed to read of the state of the world that the Saviour was born into. It had never occurred to me that He was born into such intense spiritual darkness that enveloped this earth. Upon reflection, it seems fitting that it was so for Him to acclaim and reveal His ability to disperse the powers of sin and death through His godly light.  

Another aspect of His birth that I never considered before is how the omnipotent wisdom of God had organised and orchestrated everything to perfection in readiness for His Son’s birth, leaving nothing to chance. Such a crucially important event could not be a failure in any way because the hosts of heaven depended on it.

All that was connected with the Saviour’s birth and life and ministry and resurrection and ascension to eternal glory must have conformed to what the prophets have foreseen, foreknown and foretold for four thousand years prior. From the spiritual preparations, to temporal circumstances to the ‘Jewish culture at its low ebb, and the Jewish religion but a space away from the gates of hell’ to the Roman yoke that would take Christ to the hill of Calvary. (see Bruce R. McConkie, “The Mortal Messiah Book 1, p 284-5).

It has occurred to me that the Saviour’s Second Coming with be perfectly orchestrated too. For it to be a successful triumphant return there had to be a liberation of the American continent and establishment of religious freedom, the restoration of His Church, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the building of temples, the gathering of Israel and strengthening of Zion. All this was also foretold by the prophets of old and must not be left unfulfilled.

I hear friends in the Church expressing hope that the Saviour would come tomorrow because the world is so wicked but there is still so much that needs to be fulfilled, namely the three major prophecies: the return of the Lost Tribes, the building of the New Jerusalem and the building of the Jewish temple in Israel.

Yes the world is wicked and Satan reigns supreme but this time the King of Glory must come to an established Kingdom with priesthood power at its helm and saints ready to receive Him, and when He comes, Satan will be bound and the saints will come to New Jerusalem singing songs of everlasting joy (D&C 45:66-71). All this must be in readiness but most of all we must be ready for Christ cannot come if there is no kingdom and we ARE the kingdom.

The God of Glory will reveal His light upon the earth once more and there will be no need for the sun and the moon to give light to God’s covenant people for He will be an everlasting light (Isaiah 60:19-22; D&C 133:57-58; “Journal of Discourses” 14:355-56).

Thou art our everlasting God

Jehovah, our King,

Hide us under the shadow of Thy wings

That we might never stray

And cause Thee sorrow;

And help us wait for Thee

In the dawning of tomorrow. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Light Divine by Greg Collins)

THE COMPLEXITIES OF ISAIAH

Imagine being a prophet, a writer and a poet. Now imagine that your revelations and literary works are so great that Jesus Christ himself issues a command that they should be studied and understood (3 Nephi 23:1). like most people, I do not understand everything that Isaiah wrote. But I understand one thing. Isaiah wrote exclusively for the House of Israel. Hence Nephi, in his zealous attempt to keep his family in remembrance of their roots, taught Isaiah's teachings to them as they were found on the brass plates. These are the chapters of the Book of Mormon that usually get skipped. Perhaps it is the dual nature of his prophecies in which Isaiah wrote that causes us to become unstuck. Dual in nature because his prophecies for ancient Israel are equally relevant for the modern day Israel in this dispensation of time preceding the Saviour's return. If you want to understand them fully you will need 'the spirit of prophecy' which the Book of Mormon defines as: searching the scriptures, praying and fasting (Alma 17:2,3).

I am not an intellectual nor a scriptorian but the kinship I feel with the House of Israel and the love I have for its' God means I love the writings of Isaiah. Added to this is Isaiah's poetic exposition which resonates with my love of words. So eloquent and reverential was his written testament of Christ that Isaiah always referred to Him as the Holy One of Israel or the Mighty One of Jacob. These titles by themselves speak volumes of Isaiah's great understanding of the God of Israel. And this is what appeals to my sensibilities when it comes to Isaiah. The Saviour gave the Nephites an exact command to 'search' the writings of Isaiah (3 Nephi 23:1) Why did he use this word? Why didn't He say 'study'? Because when you 'search', you tend to 'find'. And in this instance, the question is not 'what to find' but 'who to find'. To me it is obvious that there is only one person to find.......In chapter 45 Isaiah reiterates that the Holy One of Israel is God and 'there is none else' 5 times.

Throughout His writings Isaiah enumerates all the sins of Israel, both ancient and modern. But in every instance he concludes "for all this his anger is not turned away BUT His hand is stretched out still" (Isaiah 1:18; 5:25;, 9:12,17,21; 10:4). He portrays the Saviour as ever beckoning, every inviting, ever wanting us to come to Him. He then attempts to convince us.....they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (40:31)....fear not, I will help thee (41:10,13; 43:5).....I will not forget thee....I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands (49:15,16)....O thou afflicted....my kindness shall not depart from thee....I will lay thy foundations with sapphires (54:10,11)....the Lord shall guide thee continually and thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not (58:11). 

Why did the Saviour want us to 'find' such references of Him in Isaiah's writing? Because of His inexhaustable mercy towards the House of Israel. More important than understanding the prophecies is how we feel about Christ when we walk away from Isaiah. And equally important is that we discover how He feels about us. Not the world, but the House of Israel; the preserved, the atoned, the redeemed, they who would have Him be their God (1 Nephi 17:40) Because He himself has said:  "I am the father to Israel; and Ephraim is my firstborn" (Jeremiah 31:9).

So search and find because "great are the words of Isaiah" (3 Nephi 23:1)

- Cathryne Allen