"I fear that many of us rush about from day to day taking for granted the holy scriptures. We scramble to honor appointments with physicians, lawyers and businessmen. Yet we think nothing of postponing interviews with Deity--postponing scripture study. Little wonder we develop anemic souls and lose our direction in living. How much better it would be if we planned and held sacred fifteen or twenty minutes a day for reading the scriptures. Such interviews with Deity would help us recognize His voice and enable us to receive guidance in all of our affairs. We must look to God through the scriptures."
--Carlos E. Asay, November 1978

Tools for Study

Tools to Help You Ponder:
Historical context
Overall story
Story and application to us
Meaning of an individual chapter
Individual verse
Individual words/meanings are important

Develop Your Own Marking System:
 Make it your own
Search for all the references to Christ by name
Cross-reference insight to your journal where you can elaborate


Why Is Isaiah in the Book of Mormon?
1. The Book of Mormon is correct.
2. The Book of Mormon contains commentary from Book of Mormon prophets to help us understand.
3. It's an easy way to share Isaiah with investigators, especially non-Christians.
4. Isaiah testifies of Christ--391 of 425 Isaiah verses in the Book of Mormon mention Him. (Monte S. Nyman, Great Are the Words of Isaiah, p. 7)
5. 3 Nephi 23:1--Christ tells us that the words of Isaiah are great. If He says it, it's our job to find out why. (John Bytheway, Isaiah for Airheads)
6. 3 Nephi 23:3--All things he spake have been and shall be.
7. It's in the Book of Mormon so we'll read it more often.


What to Remember When Reading Isaiah
Pray for understanding.
What is the overall message of the chapter? Read chapter synopsis.
SLOW DOWN--it's muddy in here.
What's the principle/message he's trying to teach?
Does this apply to Isaiah's time?
  • To Christ's time?
  • To our time?
  • To a mixture of all three?
Is he addressing covenant Israel? Promises or punishments?
Read aloud and with others--share insights and understanding.
Appreciate the beautiful language and effective imagery he uses--even if you don't fully understand them.
Cross-reference Book of Mormon chapters with those in the Old Testament. Pay special attention to information in the footnotes.
Consult the Bible Dictionary to explain terms--Isaiah, Babylon, Assyria, Immanuel.
Reference the map section to keep locations straight.
Remember these dates:
  • 721 BC--Assyrians take kingdom of Israel, not Judah
  • 701 BC--Assyrians take kingdom of Judah, not Jerusalem
  • 587 BC--Babylonians have overtaken the Assyrians, and they take all the Jews out of Palestine
  • 537 BC--King Cyrus allows the Jews to return
It's not supposed to be easy--first the milk, then the meat.
Remember it may take a lifetime to understand even a tenth of his teachings. And that's okay.
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