We all want peace. (Isaiah 40-49)

40:6-8

It is important that we view ourselves in correct context. Yes, we have divine potential. But, compared to the glory of God, our mortal bodies and lives are like grass. "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

My great-great grandparents. Their names are Robert & Margaret Adams. I didn’t know who they were until I looked them up on FamilySearch just now…

All of our striving and accomplishment are meaningless. I asked our youth class, 'what is the name of your great-great grandfather.' No one knew. My point was that he was a man who struggled and faced disappointment. He loved and lost over and over throughout his life. He worked hard and accomplished a lot. He led a full, productive life and we have no idea who he is. Our earthly work is mostly temporary. We must keep that in mind and we strive to keep our lives in perspective compared with eternal things.

40:10

"Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." This is an interesting phrase. How is his reward with him? Is it that he's carrying a bundle of gold and treasure? Is he carrying keys to mansions?

It's not that. HE is the reward. In him, we can be redeemed. We can be forgiven of our many sins. Through him, our weaknesses will be made strengths. He will help us add glory to the Father. Truly, the righteous receive a reward through Christ.

40:17

It is important we attempt to comprehend how little the worldly possessions, power, positions are to the Lord. To the world's inhabitants, there is nothing more powerful than a nation. A nation can conquer and enslave and destroy. But, to the Lord, a nation is nothing. "All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity."

It's hard to keep this perspective when we are governed by nations. If we can have this perspective, we are much less likely to get our priorities confused.

40:29-31; 41:10

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." What does this mean exactly? I think God can give us a little push.

Almost all of us are enduring something. We are in the midst of a struggle. For some, it's physical. Others have mental or emotional problems. Some struggle financially. Almost everyone has family issues of some kind.

Part of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to endure to the end. God will give us the strength to do that. No matter what happens to us, we can maintain our faith and willingness to repent. We can always keep our covenants and follow promptings of the Holy Ghost. God will always give us the strength to live the gospel of Jesus Christ - no matter what is happening around us.

When we feel like we are at the end of our rope, we should ask for strength. I believe that we will receive it. What parent would deny a child who is asking for help. God usually won't remove the trial but will always offer strength to those who ask.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

41:23-24

"Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together." Isaiah is suggesting that we ask manmade idols to good or evil - just do something to show us their existence. Of course, an idol can not act. An idol can not prophecy or guide or correct. An idol can simply be acted upon.

"Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you." Our idols are truly nothing in the eternal timeline. "Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion."

42:19-20 (JST)

"For I will send my servant unto you who are blind; yea, a messenger to open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf; And they shall be made perfect notwithstanding their blindness, if they will hearken unto the messenger, the Lord’s servant." If we will simply hearken to the the Lord and repent, we can (eventually) be made perfect in spite of our weaknesses. It is about being teachable. If we are teachable, the Lord will continue to strengthen and elevate us until we are made perfect.

I am trying to 'drill out' some metal from a tube. This metal is very hard. I've used several types of drill bits. None of those bits seem to be able to get ahold of this metal. It's just too hard. If it would simply give me a millimeter, I could successfully get it unstuck. So far, it won't even give me a chance. It seems unpenetrable.

I think we can be the same way. If we are so hardened that the Lord can not have any effect, that is the time that we are damned. That's the point that our progress stops.

43:1

I love this verse. It is one of my favorite lines in The Chosen. "But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." We need not fear. God created us to succeed. He knows us. We are his. Why should we be afraid?!

43:4

"Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life." This gives us insight into how God feels about us. We are precious, honored and loved. So much so that God will allow others (prophets and even Jesus Christ himself) to give their lives for our eternal life.

This is one principle that has been made clear again and again in the Old Testament. I've gotten a clearer sense for how much God loves us. I've often heard that God is harsh in the Old Testament stories. I haven't seen it that way. He appears to be a very forgiving and merciful being. He is willing to forgive and forgive and forgive. Seeing his relationship with his children over the course of thousands of years really helps us to feel the overwhelming love and care that he has for us.

43:7

"Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." If we are called by his name, we have made and are keeping covenants. We are open to direction from God. We are committed to him. We are spiritually reborn. All we must be willing to do is follow him.

Notice that God does the work. He does the creating. He does the forming. He does the making. I love the word formed. We are like a lump of clay that is formed by someone who is an artist. God and Christ are very good at this. If we succeed, it will be for their glory.

43:10

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour." I have heard this scripture used as proof that there are no other Gods.

Instead, considering the audience (who has been forming idols), I think that God is clarifying that they cannot do this. They cannot form their own idols and worship them alongside God. In this way, God is a jealous God.

43:24-25

"Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities." Instead of simply receiving praise and adoration from us, God is instead burdened with our sin and iniquity. Instead of simply watching us progress and learn from this beautiful experience on earth, he is working hard to redeem us.

This is not to say that it wasn't the plan from the beginning. It illustrates the choice God made to have a spiritual posterity. He could have chosen a life of simplicity and joy. Instead, he chose a path filled with the burden of saving a people who are sinful and distracted.

God wants us to succeed. He has said, "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) His goal is to redeem us and forgive us. "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." If we will repent, it adds to god's glory.

Joseph Smith said, “God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. … He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith)

44:9-10

"They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed." The things of this world that we desire offer no benefit for our eternal life. There is no salvation in a precious possession. "Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?"

44:16-17

Isaiah is very good at making logical arguments. In these verses, he is illustrating how silly it is to use wood for our day to day needs and then use that same wood to create an idol that we fall down and worship. "He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god."

It is ridiculous that we would think that wood, which we burn to cook food, can also be a God.

45:7

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." God can't control us since we choose (act) for ourselves. However, there are elements that are simply acted upon. God controls light and dark, the weather, earthquakes and hurricanes. He can alter the environment to bless or torment men.

45:13

"I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts." It's interesting that God uses those who aren't a part of the covenant. Cyrus lived his life without any meaningful instruction about the gospel. But he was 'raised in righteousness' and was 'directed in all his ways.' It's important that we don't think that Latter Day Saints have exclusive rights to guidance from the Lord. Or righteousness.

46:4

"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." This is a beautiful reminder of how this life is for us. It is not that we get plopped down on earth and God let's us loose...and whatever happens, happens. It's not about how strong we are or talented or smart or naturally spiritual.

It is mainly about us humbling ourselves and allowing Christ to strengthen and guide us throughout this life. Obviously, for our progression in the eternities, we must remain humble. We can count on help from the Lord from the day we are born to the day we die. He carries us.

Even more, he delivers us. He doesn't just carry us from A to B. He redeems us from all of the bad choices we made along the way. We are in good hands.

47:7-11

These verses are speaking about the arrogance of Babylon. Of course, we can apply these to our own lives. "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it." Sometimes, when we look around and see good things, we set ourselves at ease. If life is good and we aren't experiencing trials, we let warnings slide by. We don't take warnings to heart. Why would we need to change our lives if our lives seem good? We don't think about the ultimate consequences of our behavior if the immediate consequences seem nice.

"Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments." Humans love to 'give into pleasures.' We like what feels good in that moment. We allow ourselves to 'dwell carelessly.' We have false comfort in present ease. When things are good, we cannot imagine that they could change. But, how our lives can change in a moment. One day, we are living the life and thoroughly enjoying the ride without a care. Then, a single doctor's visit and cancer diagnosis later, we can be fighting for our lives.

Sixteen years ago, I was training for an Ironman triathlon. It was a few days before when I went to the doctor and he told me that my aorta was about to break and I needed immediate open-heart surger. Things can change in a moment.

"For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know." When we see positive results from wickedness, we can start to trust it. That's foolishness.

Wisdom and knowledge perverts? Sometimes. I think that it can lead to pride. We can attempt to outthink our church leaders and God himself. I think Satan had a lot of wisdom and knowledge. It was those gifts that led to his pride, which twisted him until he became an enemy to God. One of my friends posted a question on Facebook about the Word of Wisdom. The responses were an amazing collection of wisdom and knowledge that had perverted people into apostates. We must beware of pride and a common road to pride is wisdom and knowledge.

48:10

"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." It's an interesting concept. How or why does God do this? It is through trials that we are strengthened. We cannot be a chosen people in ease. The only way we can know our true selves is through trials.

When I am interviewing for a new photographer, I intentionally put applicants in a stressful situation. I have to see how they react. It's amazing how quickly people forget themselves and that they are in an interview. Their true selves show up.

If I relied simply on questions and answers, I'd never get to see that. They could fake their way through with clever answers and verbal assurances that they are a good fit. Sometimes, they have fooled themselves into thinking they are right for the job. It's not until they are stressed-tested that I, and they, see what they actually are.

48:17

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." Jesus did three main things for our benefit:

1. He taught.

2. He lived by example.

3. He completed his mission through his atonement.

I am grateful that his entire life was a lesson for us. Both by what he taught and how he lived. He was a living example of what he taught. Not many can say that.

It's easier to teach than to live by the principles you teach. Christ's life and example was the greatest lesson he ever taught.

48:18, 22

"O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." Through obedience, we can feel peace. It is the only path to peace. Everything else comes up short. If we are obedient, peace will flow through us. Our obedience becomes a constant source of peace that doesn't dry up. We can feel peace regardless of the turmoil happening around us. It is peaceful knowing that you're doing the right things - no one can take that peace away from you.

Waves are constant. They happen again and again. When you hear a wave crash on the shore, you can be 100% certain that you will hear another. You can count on waves showing up. We want our righteousness to be like waves. We know it's coming over and over again.

I also think waves go up and down on the sea. I think our righteousness can do the same thing. Most of us experience a rise and fall to our righteousness. We see peaks and valleys and that's okay.

One thing to be certain is that the wicked experience no peace. "There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked."

49:4

"Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God." Sometimes our work doesn't bear fruit. Whether it's a mission with no converts or a parent with rebellious children, it sometimes doesn't work out like we want or expect. We should feel comfort that we are doing God's work - regardless of whether or not we see results.

49:14-16

This is a very popular verse that we've all heard before. The first verse really resonates with me. "But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." We have all felt like we are alone and forgotten. We may feel the world is a big place and there are so many people. How can God possibly remember or even be aware of me?

The Lord answers this question in the strongest terms. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." The strongest human relationship is possibly between a mother and her newborn. The Lord states that she might forget but he will not. It puts it in perspective how much the Lord loves us and is aware of us. Each of us.

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." We are all familiar with the palms of our own hands. Of course, this references the crucifixion of the Lord. Jesus didn't sacrifice for a horde of nameless, faceless people. He was driving to fulfill the atonement because of his love for each ONE of us.

I like that he says his walls are continually before him. I think the isolated among us spend time alone in a room staring at the walls. The idea that our walls are continually before Christ is comforting. He knows the very walls we are staring at because he is beside us.

I also like the thought that Christ is aware of the obstacles (walls) we are all facing. He is continually aware of the struggles in front of us. He sees and appreciates and is ready to strengthen.

49:21-22

"Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?" Israel has certainly gone through periods of desolation. Over and over again. They have been conquered several times. Many of children of Israel have a apostasized.

But there is still that promise to Abraham that his descendants would bless all nations and be as numerous as the sand. In the last days, children (we) will be adopted into the house of Israel. His numerous descendants are still showing up.

"Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders." This is referencing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are being held up as a standard to gather all. We are fulfilling this prophecy given by Isaiah almost three millennia ago.