Isaiah 40-49

<p><em>voice .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. calling in the wilderness. </em>This passage has multiple applications: John the Baptist, during his mortal ministry (Matthew 3:3; JST John 1:6&ndash;24; Mark 1:1&ndash;8; Luke 1:76&ndash;79), and the Lord&rsquo;s Spirit, which &ldquo;is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness&mdash;in the wilderness, because you cannot see him&rdquo; (Doctrine and Covenants 88:66; see also Doctrine and Covenants 33:10 and 128:20). <em>make straight in the desert a highway for our God</em>. &ldquo;make straight&rdquo; means to make the highway undeviating and level for those who travel on it so that they can return to God safely (note that major highways, anciently, were regularly straightened and smoothed out for kings and others who traveled on them). An equivalent to Isaiah&rsquo;s phrase &ldquo;make straight in the desert a highway&rdquo; is &ldquo;make his paths straight&rdquo; (Doctrine and Covenants 33:10; 65:1; 45:2). The &ldquo;highway&rdquo; here is &ldquo;the Way of Holiness&rdquo; (19:19&ndash;25; 35:8).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Donald W. Parry<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>

<p><em>word of our God stands forever</em>. In contrast to mankind&rsquo;s transitory nature, the word of God stands forever. &ldquo;God&rsquo;s word&rdquo; refers to His decrees, prophecies, promises, ordinances, judgments, and more.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Donald W. Parry<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>

<p>Isaiah calls out to the inhabitants of Zion and Jerusalem to prepare for the coming of the Lord, when He comes in strength and judgment to rule on the earth and to reward its inhabitants according to their works. The Lord is a shepherd who will &ldquo;tend His flock&rdquo; and gather them &ldquo;in His arm.&rdquo;</p> <h3>Isaiah 40:9</h3> <p><em>good tidings</em>. Twice repeated in this verse, &ldquo;good tidings&rdquo; generally refers to the gospel. <em>high</em> <em>mountain</em>. This refers to the Lord&rsquo;s temple (see also Doctrine and Covenants 43:15&ndash;16; 110:9).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Donald W. Parry<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>

<p><em>like a shepherd</em>. The Lord Jesus Christ is the shepherd who protects, feeds, and provides water for His flock (Psalms 23; 28:9; Jeremiah 23:3). <em>flock</em>/<em>lambs</em>. Symbolizing God&rsquo;s followers. <em>gather lambs .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. carry them in His bosom</em>. The Lord gathers the lambs and carries them &ldquo;in His bosom,&rdquo; or the fold of the shepherd&rsquo;s robe, a symbol of loving care.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Donald W. Parry<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>

<p><em>drop</em> <em>from a bucket</em>. When contrasted with God and His Mightiness, the nations of the earth are as insignificant as a single drop of water in a bucket, a few particles of fine dust, or small grasshoppers (40:22). The Lord asked Joseph Smith, &ldquo;Have I not made the earth? Do I not hold the destinies of all the armies of the nations of the earth?&rdquo; (Doctrine and Covenants 117:6).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Donald W. Parry<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>

<p>The Lord is the Creator of all that the eye can see; He numbers His creations (people, constellations, and galaxies), and He knows them by name (40:26). Because of His &ldquo;abundant might and mighty power,&rdquo; and because &ldquo;His understanding is unsearchable,&rdquo; He is able to provide us, who are weak mortals, with strength and power (40:26&ndash;30). Indeed, Isaiah promises that those who wait for the Lord will be replenished by His sustaining strength.</p> <h3>Isaiah 40:26, 28</h3> <p>Isaiah poses four rhetorical questions in these verses; questioning is a significant way to teach gospel truths.</p> <h3>Isaiah 40:26</h3> <p><em>Lift up your eyes on high. </em>Isaiah invites us to look at the heavens so that we may begin to comprehend the Lord&rsquo;s might. He who created all the heavenly bodies directs all of their movements and knows each by name (Psalm 147:4).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Donald W. Parry<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>

<p><em>Jacob/Israel. </em>This revelation is directed to &ldquo;Jacob&rdquo; or &ldquo;Israel,&rdquo; names for the Lord&rsquo;s covenant people from the days of Jacob to the present.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Donald W. Parry<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>

<p><em>His understanding is unsearchable. </em>The Lord&rsquo;s understanding is perfect&mdash;it is impossible for us to comprehend His knowledge (Romans 11:33).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Author:</strong> Donald W. Parry<br /><strong>General Editor:</strong> Taylor Halverson<br /><strong>Associate Editor:</strong> Morgan Tanner<br /><strong>Senior Editor:</strong> Sarah Whitney Johnson<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Sam Lofgran<br /><strong>Assistant Editor:</strong> Verlanne Johnson</p>

<p>Taylor Halverson, &ldquo;Finding Comfort From Isaiah (Come, Follow Me: Isaiah 40-49),&rdquo; Book of Mormon Central Video, 2022.</p>