2. Text Isaiah 40-66 Messages of Comfort

3. Next week’s assignment: 2 Kings 21-23; Nahum; Zephaniah; Habakkuk

4. Isaiah 40

5. “An acquaintance with [the] attributes in the divine character, is essentially necessary, in order that the faith of any rational being can center in him for life and salvation.” Joseph Smith President (Lectures on Faith, 3:19)

6. Text Isaiah 40:12

7. Text

8. Text

11. Text Isaiah 40:15

12. Text Isaiah 40:21-22

13. Text Isaiah 40:25-26

14. Text

16. This is a close-up of a small portion of the Milky Way Galaxy. Astronomers estimate there are more than one thousand billion stars in the Milky Way alone.

18. Isaiah 41

19. “ I am Thy God. Ye are MY people.” Isaiah 41:8-14

20. Abraham Isaac Israel Jacob (Israel) Manasseh Ephraim Joseph Judah David Jesus Christ RS L BZIGADN

21. Abrahamic Covenant Summary The Overarching Covenant Covenant ElementMortal PromiseEternal Promise 1.A land of inheritance to gather to and to worship God freely Inherit the Earth in its Celestial state 2.a)A vast posterity b)A noble posterity who will bless all the families of the earth with the blessings of the Gospel Innumerable posterity; eternal procreation; “endless lives” 3.Descendants have a right to all gospel blessings, through the priesthood ordinances, which lead to Eternal Life

22. Abrahamic Covenant Summary The Overarching Covenant “I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE” Covenant ElementMortal PromiseEternal Promise 1.A land of inheritance to gather to and to worship God freely Inherit the Earth in its Celestial state 2.a)A vast posterity b)A noble posterity who will bless all the families of the earth with the blessings of the Gospel Innumerable posterity; eternal procreation; “endless lives” 3.Descendants have a right to all gospel blessings, through the priesthood ordinances, which lead to Eternal Life

23. Our Omnipotent God Their Impotent Idols vs.

24. Isaiah 44:9-10, 14-17, 21, 24 You can worship the gods you have created, or you can worship the God who created you. Isaiah 46:1-7 You can worship gods that you carry around, or you can worship the God who carries you. Isaiah 46:9-10 You can worship gods who cannot “see” or “know” (Isa. 44:9) or you can worship the God who knows “the end from the beginning.”

25. 5 Examples of the Lord Seeing “the End from the Beginning” 5 Examples of the Lord Seeing “the End from the Beginning” 1.The Foreordination of the House of Israel 2.King Cyrus’ Release of the Jews 3.The Fall of Babylon 4.The Redemption of Israel 5.The Atonement of Christ

26. Isaiah 44:1-2, 24; 49:5 Foreordained to do what? Isaiah 43:10-13; 44:8 Isaiah 49:6 1. The Foreordination of Israel

27. “We were foreordained in the premortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the covenant and promise God made to Abraham.… That is who we are, and that is why we are here—today and always.” David A. Bednar Quorum of the Twelve (Ensign, Nov. 2005)

28. “We were foreordained in the premortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the covenant and promise God made to Abraham.… That is who we are, and that is why we are here—today and always.” David A. Bednar Quorum of the Twelve (Ensign, Nov. 2005)

29. “Ours is the responsibility to help fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. Ours is the seed foreordained and prepared to bless all people of the world. That is why priesthood duty includes missionary work. After some 4,000 years of anticipation and preparation, this is the appointed day when the gospel is to be taken to the kindreds of the earth. Russell M. Nelson Quorum of the Twelve (“Covenants,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 88)

30. Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5, 13 2. King Cyrus’ Release of the Jews

31. Isaiah 47 3. The Fall of Babylon

32. Isaiah 48-52, 54, 56, 60-66 4. The Final Redemption of Israel

33. 2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C. 1 A.D.1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. God makes the Covenant with Abraham 3??? A.D. The History/Future of Covenant Israel 3 Nephi 23:1-3

34. Abrahamic Covenant Summary The Overarching Covenant “I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE” (Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50) Covenant ElementMortal PromiseEternal Promise 1. Promised LandA land of inheritance to gather to and to worship God freely Inherit the Earth in its Celestial state 2. Posteritya)A vast posterity b)A noble posterity who will bless all the families of the earth with the blessings of the Gospel Innumerable posterity; eternal procreation; “endless lives” 3. Priesthood/Gospel Rights Descendants have a right to all gospel blessings, through the priesthood ordinances, which lead to Eternal Life Inherit Eternal Life—the end result of gospel covenants

35. Israel (10 Tribes) Northern Kingdom Judah Southern Kingdom

36. 2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C. 1 A.D.1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. God makes the Covenant with Abraham 3??? A.D. Israel gains the promised land 10 tribes lose the promised land and are scattered (722 B.C.) Judah loses the promised land (587 B.C.) Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land (537 B.C.) Jesus is rejected by the Jews and crucified (34 A.D.) Jews are scattered (70 A.D.) The Dark Ages The History/Future of Covenant Israel

37. The House of Israel is like… Isaiah 49:2152:2 A lonely, wandering slave woman whose children have been taken from her (Isaiah 49:21; 52:2). Isaiah 50:1 A wife who has separated herself from her husband and is deeply in debt to creditors and cannot pay (Isaiah 50:1). Isaiah 54:1 A barren woman yearning for children (Isaiah 54:1). The House of Israel = the Daughter of Zion

38. 2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C. 1 A.D.1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. God makes the Covenant with Abraham 3??? A.D. Israel gains the promised land 10 tribes lose the promised land and are scattered (722 B.C.) Judah loses the promised land (587 B.C.) Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land (537 B.C.) Jesus is rejected by the Jews and crucified (34 A.D.) Jews are scattered (70 A.D.) The Dark Ages The History/Future of Covenant Israel Isa. 48:18-19, 22

39. 2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C. 1 A.D.1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. God makes the Covenant with Abraham 3??? A.D. Israel gains the promised land 10 tribes lose the promised land and are scattered (722 B.C.) Judah loses the promised land (587 B.C.) Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land (537 B.C.) Jesus is rejected by the Jews and crucified (34 A.D.) Jews are scattered (70 A.D.) The Dark Ages The History/Future of Covenant Israel Isa. 50:1-6

40. Isaiah 49

41. Isaiah 49:1-3

42. Isaiah 49:1 1 Nephi 21:1

43. Isaiah 49:1-3

44. “The Lord always turns punishments to the accomplishment of his purposes. The scattering of the Israelites among all nations was a punishment inflicted upon them, but a great blessing extended to the nations among whom they were scattered.... Joseph Fielding Smith Quorum of the Twelve (The Restoration of All Things, p.129-137)

45. “We see, then, how through the scattering of Israel, especially the descendants of the ten tribes who mingled with the Gentile nations, the blood of Abraham had been mixed with the blood of the Gentiles, and in this way the Gentiles have been brought into the seed of Abraham, and are therefore entitled to receive, on conditions of their repentance, all the blessings promised to the seed of Abraham.” Joseph Fielding Smith Quorum of the Twelve (The Restoration of All Things, p.129-137)

46. Isaiah 49:1-3 D&C 86:8-11 Cr. D&C 86:8-11

47. In their scattered state, how does Zion (the Israelites) feel? Isaiah 49:14 How does the Lord respond? Isaiah 49:15-23

48. How will this happen? Isaiah 49:6-8

49. Isaiah 49:8-9 1 Nephi 21:8-9 2 Nephi 3:7, 11

50. 2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C. 1 A.D.1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. God makes the Covenant with Abraham 3??? A.D. Israel gains the promised land 10 tribes lose the promised land and are scattered (722 B.C.) Judah loses the promised land (587 B.C.) Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land (537 B.C.) Jesus is rejected by the Jews and crucified (34 A.D.) Jews are scattered (70 A.D.) The Dark Ages The History/Future of Covenant Israel

51. 2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C. 1 A.D.1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. God makes the Covenant with Abraham 3??? A.D. The Covenant is restored through Joseph Smith. Israel gains the promised land 10 tribes lose the promised land and are scattered (722 B.C.) Judah loses the promised land (587 B.C.) Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land (537 B.C.) Jesus is rejected by the Jews and crucified (34 A.D.) Jews are scattered (70 A.D.) Our Time! Isaiah 49:22-23; 52:1-2; 54:1-3 Time of the Gentiles Isa. 49:6-8 Isaiah 49:8 The History/Future of Covenant Israel 2 Ne. 3:7, 11

52. Isaiah 52:1

53. Isaiah 52:1-2

54. D&C 113:7-11

55. Isaiah 52:1-2

56. 2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C. 1 A.D.1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. God makes the Covenant with Abraham 3??? A.D. The Covenant is restored through Joseph Smith. Israel gains the promised land 10 tribes lose the promised land and are scattered (722 B.C.) Judah loses the promised land (587 B.C.) Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land (537 B.C.) Jesus is rejected by the Jews and crucified (34 A.D.) Jews are scattered (70 A.D.) Our Time! Isaiah 49:22-23; 52:1-2; 54:1-3 Israel’s enemies are destroyed Isa. 49:24-26; 51:22-23 Time of the Gentiles Isa. 49:6-8 Isaiah 49:8 The History/Future of Covenant Israel 2 Ne. 3:7, 11

57. Isaiah 49:24-25

58. Try to take my wart hog. I dare you.

59. 2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C. 1 A.D.1,000 A.D. 2,000 A.D. God makes the Covenant with Abraham 3??? A.D. The Covenant is restored through Joseph Smith. Israel gains the promised land 10 tribes lose the promised land and are scattered (722 B.C.) Judah loses the promised land (587 B.C.) Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land (537 B.C.) Jesus is rejected by the Jews and crucified (34 A.D.) Jews are scattered (70 A.D.) Our Time! Isaiah 49:22-23; 52:1-2; 54:1-3 Israel’s enemies are destroyed Isa. 49:24-26; 51:22-23 Millennium Time of the Gentiles The Covenant is Fulfilled!!! Isa. 49:6-8 Isaiah 49:8 The History/Future of Covenant Israel Isaiah 60 2 Ne. 3:7, 11

60. “This is the time of the promised gathering of Israel. And we get to participate! Isn’t that exciting? The Lord is counting on us and our sons—and He is profoundly grateful for our daughters—who worthily serve as missionaries in this great time of the gathering of Israel.” Russell M. Nelson Quorum of the Twelve (“Covenants,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 88)

61. “If you can’t get excited about that kind of assignment in the drama of history, you can’t get excited!” Jeffrey R. Holland Quorum of the Twelve (CES Fireside for Young Adults, September 12, 2004)

62. Isaiah 52:9-10; 54:1

63. Isaiah 54:4-10

64. Isaiah 53 5. The Atonement of Christ Stay tuned for this topic next week (sorry we didn’t make it there this class).

65. End