Isaiah and Nephi Saw the Redeemer

2 Nephi 11:2 - "And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him."

Joseph Smith - "Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject." History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844], p. 1750, The Joseph Smith Papers

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Transcript

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Welcome to Speak This Jesus, a daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truths found in the Book of Mormon. Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps.

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There are many voices in the world that claim to explain truth, predict the future, or teach us about God. But there is a difference between speaking about Jesus Christ and truly knowing him. The scriptures matter because they are filled with the testimonies of men and women who knew the Savior, saw his hand, and understood his mission. When we listen to those witnesses, our faith becomes stronger, and our understanding becomes clearer. Nephi had limited space on the small plates, engraving on metal was difficult and time consuming. Every word mattered. Yet Nephi chose to include many chapters from Isaiah. That tells us something important. Nephi believed Isaiah's words were worth the effort, because Isaiah was not simply a prophet who taught good principles. Isaiah had seen the Redeemer. Nephi wanted future generations to learn from Isaiah, because Isaiah could testify of Jesus Christ with power and certainty. Second Nephi eleven, verse two. And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words, for I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my redeemer, even as I have seen him. As we study this verse today, along with teachings from Joseph Smith, we will consider what it means to trust the witness of prophets who have seen the Savior. Nephi did not include Isaiah's writings because he needed to fill space. He included them because he knew Isaiah had a powerful witness of Jesus Christ. Nephi specifically said that Isaiah saw the Redeemer. That matters because Nephi was not talking only about Isaiah's intelligence, education, or writing ability. He was talking about Isaiah's personal witness. Nephi himself had seen the Savior, Jacob had seen the Savior, Isaiah had seen the Savior. These men were not relying on secondhand stories or traditions passed down through others. They spoke with confidence, because they had received revelation. That is one reason Nephi delighted in Isaiah's words. Isaiah's prophecies were not empty predictions. They came from a prophet who knew Jesus Christ. Isaiah saw the birth of Christ, the suffering of Christ, the reign of Christ, and the eventual triumph of Christ. He saw both the first coming and the second coming. He saw the scattering and gathering of Israel. He saw the promises God made to his covenant people. When Nephi says that he will liken Isaiah's words unto his people, he is teaching us how to study Scripture. We're not meant to read Isaiah as though his writings are only about ancient nations and forgotten events. We are meant to see ourselves in his teachings. We are meant to recognize our own need for repentance, our own need for hope, and our own need for Jesus Christ. That is still true today. We may sometimes avoid Isaiah because his writings can feel difficult or unfamiliar. But Nephi did not see Isaiah as confusing. He saw him as valuable. Nephi wanted his people to search Isaiah because Isaiah helps us understand the Savior more clearly. The Savior himself later commanded people to search Isaiah. That shows us how important these writings are. If Jesus Christ wanted us to study Isaiah, then Isaiah must contain truths that can bless our lives and strengthen our faith. There is also an important lesson in the way Nephi describes Isaiah's witness. He says that Isaiah saw the Redeemer, even as I have seen him. Nephi was placed in Isaiah's testimony alongside his own. He trusted Isaiah because they had both received the same witness of Jesus Christ. That reminds us that God has always given witnesses. Throughout Scriptures, He has raised up prophets to testify of His Son. Those witnesses strengthen faith because they show that Jesus Christ is real, that His gospel is true, and that His promises can always be trusted. Joseph Smith taught, quote, Could you gaze into heaven five minutes? You would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject. Joseph Smith understood that personal revelation changes everything. A single moment of heavenly understanding can teach us more than years of speculation. That is what Isaiah had experienced. That is what Nephi had experienced. They had seen beyond the worlds around them and had received truth directly from God. We may not receive the same kind of vision Isaiah received, but we can still receive our own witness of Jesus Christ. We can know through the Holy Ghost that He lives. We can know that He is our redeemer, we can know that the Scriptures are true. We can know that the prophets speak for Him. That witness often comes gradually. It may come as we study the Scriptures consistently, it may come as we pray with sincerity. It may come as we obey commandments, it may come as we worship in the temple. It may come during moments of hardship when we feel the Lord strengthening us. But the more we seek Jesus Christ, the more we begin to know Him for ourselves. Today we live in a world filled with opinions, arguments, podcasts, videos, and endless information. There are more voices than ever competing for our attention. Because of that it is easy to spend more time listening to the world than listening to prophets and scripture. Nephi's example reminds us that we should fill our minds with voices that testify of Jesus Christ. If Nephi was willing to use precious space on metal plates to preserve Isaiah's words, then we should be willing to give time and attention to the scriptures in our daily lives. We can apply this by spending more time in the words of the prophets. We can read Isaiah more carefully instead of skipping over him. We can study the words of Nephi, Jacob, and modern prophets with the understanding that they are witnesses of Jesus Christ. We can look for what they teach us about the Savior rather than only searching for historical facts or details. We can also ask ourselves an important question. Whose voice is shaping our understanding of life the most? Is it the world, social media? Entertainment, fear, politics, or popular culture? Or is it the voice of prophets who testify of Jesus Christ? The more we choose to delight in the words of the prophets, the easier it becomes to recognize truth. We begin to see Jesus Christ more clearly in the scriptures. We begin to feel more peace in a confused world. We begin to understand that God has always provided witnesses so that we can know where to turn. So here is today's challenge. Spend a few extra minutes today reading from Isaiah or another prophet who testifies of Jesus Christ. As we read, look specifically for what those verses teach us about the Savior, his character, his promises, or his mission. Write down one truth that helps us know him better, and think about how that truth can guide our choices this week. Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus. I hope this message helped you draw a little closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. Please, don't let this podcast be your only scripture time today. As we open the scriptures for ourselves, the Spirit will teach us things no podcast ever could. If you are exploring the truths of the Book of Mormon for the first time, you can receive a free copy using the link in the description found in every episode of Seek This Jesus. I invite you to come back tomorrow for another verse and message to help you stay focused on Jesus Christ. Until next time, keep seeking this Jesus.