Wednesday, October 10, 2007

About This Blog

I have just finished reading the Book of Mormon and writing commentary on it. One of the many things I learned from the Book of Mormon when I read it this time was the need to study Isaiah.

In past readings of the Book of Mormon, I would often skip over or skim the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi, Mosiah and 3 Nephi. But this time through, I decided that I would try to at least read through these chapters and understand them. With a lot of help from other Book of Mormon commentators, I was able to learn a few things from the Isaiah chapters.

When I got to 3 Nephi and the Savior's minsitry among the Nephites, one verse seemed to echo over and over again in my mind. The Savior said, "And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah." (3 Nephi 23:1)

The general impression I got while reading Isaiah in the Book of Mormon was that he was writing to us in the Last Days ... the days before the Lord would come again. His teachings are not irrelavant today. In fact, they are more relevant with each passing day as the world grows more wicked and ripe for destruction.

And so I felt that once I finished reading the Book of Mormon this time through, I would begin my studies of Isaiah. I do not think I have Isaiah's writings "at my fingertips" and so I have a desire and a need to study Isaiah.

Just as I needed help understanding the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon, I will seek the help of a teacher at BYU to guide me through Isaiah. In 1980-81, Victor Ludlow was able to devote all his time to studying the writings of Isaiah. From that period came the book Isaiah: Prophet, Seer, Poet. This book, along with other resources found on the Internet, will aid me in my study of Isaiah.

So what will I be writing about on this blog? I plan to capture notes of interests, my personal thoughts about the writings of Isaiah and how I can apply (liken) them in my life (see 1 Nephi 19:23).

Feel free to leave comments about what you've learned from Isaiah.