Sunday School 9 - 2 Nephi 11-19

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Brothers and sisters,

I learned a few things this week reading and studying Isaiah. I'll going to bring up a few scriptures. Now I am not a prophet and these thoughts are that if a father and husband.

Carnal minded vs. Spiritual minded.

The scriptures say in Romans, 8:6-8 "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Isaiah, Paul, Nephi and Jacob saw our day as did all the prophets. we should daily be engaged in prayer, studying the scriptures and walking upright before God and man. We should daily repent and really strive to be the best we can be. We are children of a Father in Heaven and he loves us. We should strive to return that love through charity and faith.

Will we be naked or clothed before God (2 Nephi 9:13)? In other podcasts I have learned how the Lord wants to shield us of our shame and sin though our repentance. When we repent we are trying to turn turn to that being that is a teacher and father to us. He heals our wound and shelters us and even when we push against him he loves and will be there no matter what. In there is so many words where God uses to tell us that he wants to cover our shame, now that is not because we are great but because Jesus is perfect and knows shame does not us to know the same experience before God so he covers us, he endows us, atones us, and showers us with symbols that reflect it. Brothers and sisters, Christ, the Redeemer, will cover us before the father. His mercy will shelter us, covering us with robes of righteousness and priesthood, allowing us to pass through a Vail. A vail so thin because we have caught Him daily. 

I also was reminded this week, the Lord wants us to be educated and in seeing what we know discover what we do not know. All too often the educated mistake their learning as wisdom. The best explanation is the tomato. This fruit is fantastic for a thousand dishes but wisdom keeps it out of a fruit salad. The Lord will drive us to be educated but also know when we need to turn to the Lord for wisdom and knowledge. 

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20). We live in a world where there is gaslighting and backstabbing. Where lying and cheating is a acceptable thing. We tend to want to worry and rely on our own knowledge and strength for support in these hard times. Might I remind you the saying work with full purpose like everything is on you relying that the Lord will make up the difference. The Lord is in charge but he asks us to work. That means strengthening others, voting for good laws, counciling with our leaders though petition and letters. Satan would have us accept the deteriorating countries, societies, and moral fabric as a progression but is not. Stand up for yourself, your family and neighbors, city, county and country. Do what is right, let the consequence follow, as the children's song says.

A little piece of the Atonement (hot coal touching the lips of the prophet) can change us to race quickly and do good, not just be good, but do good. Isaiah teaches the word of God till no one would listen or see (Heavy ears and eyes). We as missionaries are encouraged to preach until people will not listen, will push us away. Isaiah's people understood all the references he was referring as he spoke plainly to Israel. Now, to us we struggle because of a lack of  political, linguistic, and social things. That said the Spirit is the same and will teach us the things we lack if we pay attention to the Spirit as he teaches us.

Matt 13:13 Jesus quoted Isaiah this very thing only in reverse. Said he,

"This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand."

Confederacy is not friendship or brotherhood. A Confederacy is a union of convenience. There is limited trust but there is no faith in it. When Isaiah asked that there would be an avoidance because God was offering faith and Assyria offered questionable trust. Are we also guilty? Do we need trust our eyes and ears over our heart and spirit? Our Confederacy with the world will betray us even if it's alluring. 

Teach your children the honey of the gospel and they will avoid bitter moments because they know the sweet. They dont need to be fed the bitter. They will be great when you show them the good.

I learned that there is two forms of Simplicity. Simplicity 1 & 2 for music harmony and melody (think of Fur Elise example). People can tell the difference between an experienced master player of the piano and a novice. Isaiah, being a poet, can look at the scriptures at face value and get some out of it but when we really study it, something in us,  through the Spirit, gain a deeper understanding of the prophecy. 

Isaiah saw the day where weapons of destruction would be reforged into tools of poduction, plow hooks beaten from swords. He watched weapons for killing changed to tools for living. Was it us that was changed, carnal becoming spiritual? On my mission I watched as men and women wished to bury their weapons of war to become a vessel of peace. We are watching an age of change. People who once embraced darkness, abhor it. Its a wonderful thing.

Stay and staff take away. Stay and staff means supply and support. The stay of water and staff of bread. The stay (or rod (testimony of us and the prophets past and present; a constant inspiration of the Spirit)) of law and the staff (the shepherd crook that guides and corrects) of the chastisement. Said Jesus in reference, "Thy rod and staff, they comfort me." (Isaiah 3:1, 2 Nephi 13:1)

Could bread and clothing reference also pointed to revelation and priesthood (Isaiah 4:1; 2 Nephi 13:6)? We encourage our young women to find men who can support uplift and supply sustenance of spiritual and physical things. We encourage our young men to prepare physically and spiritually to be a provider. When a sister becomes a helpmeet, she becomes a rescuer (that's what the word means). She will rescue you as you lead with the Spirit. That's why we are encouraged to council one with another.

We can be in this life one of two things, religious nuts vs. spiritual fruit; pretenders or honest with God and his Christ. This week I admonish you to look at yourselves. Really try to reconnect if you haven't. You have the makings of greatness. Go out and do good.