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Isaiah 40-66Messages of ComfortNext weeks assignment:

2 Kings 21-23; Nahum; Zephaniah; Habakkuk2Isaiah 40An 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 SmithPresident(Lectures on Faith, 3:19)Text

Isaiah 40:12Text

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Isaiah 40:15Text

Isaiah 40:21-22Text

Isaiah 40:25-26Text

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.

Isaiah 41I am Thy God. Ye are MY people.Isaiah 41:8-14AbrahamIsaacJacob (Israel)ManassehEphraimJosephJudahDavidJesus ChristRSLBZIGADN19Abrahamic Covenant SummaryThe Overarching CovenantCovenant ElementMortal PromiseEternal Promise1. A land of inheritance to gather to and to worship God freelyInherit the Earth in its Celestial state2. A vast posterity A noble posterity who will bless all the families of the earth with the blessings of the GospelInnumerable posterity; eternal procreation; endless lives3. Descendants have a right to all gospel blessings, through the priesthood ordinances, which lead to Eternal Life20Abrahamic Covenant SummaryThe Overarching CovenantI WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLECovenant ElementMortal PromiseEternal Promise1. A land of inheritance to gather to and to worship God freelyInherit the Earth in its Celestial state2. A vast posterity A noble posterity who will bless all the families of the earth with the blessings of the GospelInnumerable posterity; eternal procreation; endless lives3. Descendants have a right to all gospel blessings, through the priesthood ordinances, which lead to Eternal Life21

Our Omnipotent GodTheir Impotent Idols

vs.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.5 Examples of the Lord Seeing the End from the BeginningThe Foreordination of the House of IsraelKing Cyrus Release of the JewsThe Fall of BabylonThe Redemption of Israel The Atonement of ChristIsaiah 44:1-2, 24; 49:5

Foreordained to do what? Isaiah 43:10-13; 44:8 Isaiah 49:6

1. The Foreordination of IsraelWe 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 heretoday and always.

David A. BednarQuorum of the Twelve(Ensign, Nov. 2005)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 heretoday and always.

David A. BednarQuorum of the Twelve(Ensign, Nov. 2005)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 includesmissionary 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)

Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5, 132. King Cyrus Release of the Jews

Click on the Cyrus picture for teachings on Gods use of good people not of the Church throughout history.29Isaiah 473. The Fall of BabylonIsaiah 48-52, 54, 56, 60-664. The Final Redemption of Israel2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C.1 A.D.1,000 A.D.2,000 A.D.God makes the Covenant with Abraham3??? A.D.The History/Future of Covenant Israel3 Nephi 23:1-332Abrahamic Covenant SummaryThe Overarching CovenantI 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 Promise1. Promised LandA land of inheritance to gather to and to worship God freelyInherit the Earth in its Celestial state2. PosterityA vast posterity A noble posterity who will bless all the families of the earth with the blessings of the GospelInnumerable posterity; eternal procreation; endless lives3. Priesthood/Gospel RightsDescendants have a right to all gospel blessings, through the priesthood ordinances, which lead to Eternal LifeInherit Eternal Lifethe end result of gospel covenants

Israel(10 Tribes)

Northern KingdomJudah

Southern Kingdom342,000 B.C.1,000 B.C.1 A.D.1,000 A.D.2,000 A.D.God makes the Covenant with Abraham3??? A.D.Israel gains the promised land10 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 AgesThe History/Future of Covenant Israel35

The House of Israel is like

A lonely, wandering slave woman whose children have been taken from her (Isaiah 49:21; 52:2).

A wife who has separated herself from her husband and is deeply in debt to creditors and cannot pay (Isaiah 50:1).

A barren woman yearning for children (Isaiah 54:1). The House of Israel = the Daughter of Zion2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C.1 A.D.1,000 A.D.2,000 A.D.God makes the Covenant with Abraham3??? A.D.Israel gains the promised land10 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 AgesThe History/Future of Covenant Israel

Isa. 48:18-19, 22372,000 B.C.1,000 B.C.1 A.D.1,000 A.D.2,000 A.D.God makes the Covenant with Abraham3??? A.D.Israel gains the promised land10 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 AgesThe History/Future of Covenant Israel

Isa. 50:1-638Isaiah 49Isaiah 49:1-3

Isaiah 49:11 Nephi 21:1Isaiah 49:1-3The 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 SmithQuorum of the Twelve(The Restoration of All Things, p.129-137)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 SmithQuorum of the Twelve(The Restoration of All Things, p.129-137)Isaiah 49:1-3

Cr. D&C 86:8-11In their scattered state, how does Zion (the Israelites) feel?

Isaiah 49:14How does the Lord respond?

Isaiah 49:15-23How will this happen?

Isaiah 49:6-8Isaiah 49:8-9

1 Nephi 21:8-92 Nephi 3:7, 112,000 B.C.1,000 B.C.1 A.D.1,000 A.D.2,000 A.D.God makes the Covenant with Abraham3??? A.D.Israel gains the promised land10 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 AgesThe History/Future of Covenant Israel

492,000 B.C.1,000 B.C.1 A.D.1,000 A.D.2,000 A.D.God makes the Covenant with Abraham3??? A.D.The Covenant is restored through Joseph Smith. Israel gains the promised land10 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 GentilesIsa. 49:6-8

Isaiah 49:8

The History/Future of Covenant Israel2 Ne. 3:7, 1150Isaiah 52:1

Isaiah 52:1-2

D&C 113:7-11

Isaiah 52:1-2

2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C.1 A.D.1,000 A.D.2,000 A.D.God makes the Covenant with Abraham3??? A.D.The Covenant is restored through Joseph Smith. Israel gains the promised land10 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

Israels enemies are destroyedIsa. 49:24-26; 51:22-23Time of the GentilesIsa. 49:6-8

Isaiah 49:8

The History/Future of Covenant Israel2 Ne. 3:7, 1155Isaiah 49:24-25

Try to take my wart hog. I dare you.2,000 B.C.1,000 B.C.1 A.D.1,000 A.D.2,000 A.D.God makes the Covenant with Abraham3??? A.D.The Covenant is restored through Joseph Smith. Israel gains the promised land10 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; 54:1-3Israels enemies are destroyedIsa. 49:24-26; 51:22-23MillenniumTime of the GentilesThe Covenant is Fulfilled!!!Isa. 49:6-8

Isaiah 49:8

The History/Future of Covenant IsraelIsaiah 602 Ne. 3:7, 1158This is the time of the promised gathering of Israel. And we get to participate! Isnt that exciting? The Lord is counting on us and our sonsand He is profoundly grateful for our daughterswho 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)

If you cant get excited about that kind of assignment in the drama of history, you cant get excited!

Jeffrey R. HollandQuorum of the Twelve(CES Fireside for Young Adults, September 12, 2004)Isaiah 52:9-10; 54:1

Isaiah 54:4-10

Isaiah 535. The Atonement of ChristStay tuned for this topic next week (sorry we didnt make it there this class).EndBlues19278.34