The "Isaiah Barrier" - Key 2

As I finished my last post, I started to wonder what I got myself into. I can’t rightly just wander off onto other tangents now that I have started. When you start a 5-part series, people will most likely expect all five parts. And, unless you’re George Lucas, people will expect those parts to be in sequential order (maybe I could run a prequel series after this is done).

So why am I doing this? I’d like to say that my motives are purely altruistic and I have nothing but your best interest in mind. Honestly, this is more of an enforced personal study program for me. I had to cover in about 35-40 minutes of class time what could easily spill into hours of study. I guess this is my way of covering all the ground I couldn’t do in class…

So, now that we’re all practiced up on likening the scriptures to ourselves, we can venture out into the second key to unlocking Isaiah.

Key 2: 2 Nephi 25:1
“Know … concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews”.

Wait a minute, Elder Eyring said that Nephi selected these chapters from Isaiah because he knew we could get through them without having to be proficient in Hebrew. Now you’re telling me that I need to know how the Jews prophesied? I’m confused.

Yes, Isaiah’s prophecies are written in a style that the Jews were accustomed to reading and hearing. He used imagery and symbolism that would have been familiar to Jewish people in his time, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re out of luck either. Nephi wouldn’t have included those passages if he didn’t think we would catch the important parts. I have to keep reminding myself during the tough parts that Nephi saw our day and picked things he thought would be relevant to us.

So let’s look at a few passages to see if we can make sense out of the imagery.

Let’s start with an easy one, 2 Nephi 12:2–3.
2. And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.

I picked this one to start because most of us already know that Isaiah is talking about temples (especially if we read the chapter heading). This is a good exercise in “reverse engineering” the symbolism. Why would Isaiah choose a mountain to represent the temple? Think of the physical effort it takes to get to the top of a mountain compared to the spiritual effort required to reach the House of the Lord. From the mountain, you can see as far as the physical limitation of your vision will allow. From the temple, you can see as much of eternity as your mortal, finite mind can grasp. How much of the daily distraction do you hear from the top of a mountain?

If the temple is compared to a mountain, then what would be symbolic of the hills, above which the mountain is exalted?

Another example: 2 Nephi 14:5-6.
5. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defence.

Huh? So all the houses will be on fire? That doesn’t sound good, but those who read the story of Moses should see something a little familiar here. The footnote in verse 5 refers to Exodus 13:21:

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night;

During Israel’s camping trip in the desert, the presence of the Lord was a literal protection for them in the day and guidance and light for them in the night. So when Isaiah uses the same imagery to describe the millennial conditions, what does it really mean? If it was the Lord’s presence for Moses, then it’ll be the Lord’s presence again in the Millennium. That defense is sounding a whole lot better now.

As an interesting side note, early manuscripts of Joseph Smith's account of his First Vision experience show that he often crossed out the word 'fire' and used 'light' or 'glory' to describe the appearance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Orson Pratt wrote in his book 'Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Vision' that Joseph expected to see "the leaves and boughs of the trees consumed" (pg 5).

We can use Key #1 to liken this to ourselves now that we have a better understanding of the imagery. To what extent do we allow the Lord to be our cloud by day and fire by night? Do we walk in darkness when the Lord offers noon-day illumination to our souls and lives? Is our “dwelling-place of mount Zion” entrusted to the Lord’s protective care?

Sometimes other scriptures can help us understand the symbolism used. Compare 2 Nephi 15:1-7 with Zenos’ allegory of the olive trees in Jacob 5. Imagine, using Isaiah to help another scripture passage make sense. Never thought you'd be doing that, did you?

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “I make this broad declaration, that whenever God gives a vision of an image, or beast, or figure of any kind, He always holds Himself responsible to give a revelation or interpretation of the meaning thereof, otherwise we are not responsible or accountable for our belief in it. Don’t be afraid of being damned for not knowing the meaning of a vision or figure, if God has not given a revelation or interpretation of the subject.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., p. 291.)

If you run into symbolism you don't understand, check the footnotes to see if/how other scriptures refer to the passage. I've found it helpful to compare the Isaiah footnotes from the Book of Mormon chapters with those in the Old Testament.

The second key boils down to understanding the symbolism and imagery used by Isaiah. Keep an open mind and heart as you read and you'll find that you understand more than you think you do. Just remember that the Lord wants you to understand what you're reading and will help if you put the effort in.