The Lord Has Lifted an Ensign to the Nations

2 Nephi 15:26 - "And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble among them."

Elder Marion G. Romney - “[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] is the standard which Isaiah said the Lord would set up for the people in the latter days. This Church was given to be a light to the world and to be a standard for God's people and for the Gentiles to seek to."

President Joseph Fielding Smith - “Over 125 years ago, in the little town of Fayette, Seneca County, New York, the Lord set up an ensign to the nations. It was in fulfillment of the prediction made by the Prophet Isaiah...That ensign was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was established for the last time, never again to be destroyed or given to other people. It was the greatest event the world has seen since the day that the Redeemer was lifted upon the cross and worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. It meant more to mankind than anything else that has occurred since that day”

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Transcript

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Welcome to Seek 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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God has always gathered his people. From the days of Abraham to the ministry of Jesus Christ to the restoration in the latter days, the Lord has never left his children scattered and without direction. He gives truth, covenants, prophets, and a place where his people can find safety and purpose. Isaiah saw a future day when the Lord would raise up something for the whole world to see, a standard, a signal, an enzyme that would point people toward Jesus Christ. Isaiah lived in a time when nations were rising and falling, and the covenant people were often turning away from God. Yet he also saw beyond his own day, he saw the latter days, when the gospel would once again be restored on the earth and spread rapidly across the world. He described people coming with speed swiftly, which may have seemed impossible in his day, but we live in a time when the message of Jesus Christ can move across the earth in moments. Isaiah was trying to describe our day, a day of worldwide communication, transportation, missionary work, temples, and gathering. Second Nephi fifteen twenty-six And he will lift up an enzyme to the nations from far, and will hissen to them from the end of the earth, and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly, none shall be weary nor stumble among them. As we study this verse today, along with teachings from Elder Marion G. Romney and President Joseph Fielding Smith, we will consider what it means to recognize the Lord's ensign in our day, so that we can focus on Jesus Christ. An ensign is a banner, a standard, or something lifted up so that people can see it from afar away. In ancient times an ensign would gather together people, direct armies, or show where safety could be found. Isaiah saw that in the latter days. The Lord would raise up an ensign for the nations. Elder Mary G. Romney taught The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the standard which Isaiah said the Lord would set up for the people in the latter days. This church was given to be a light to the world and to be a standard for God's people and for the Gentiles to seek to. This verse is not only about an organization, it is about what the Lord established through the restoration. The church points us to Jesus Christ, it teaches his doctrine, offers his ordinances, and helps people gather to his covenant path. The Lord knew there would be confusion in the latter days. He knew there would be competing voices, changing values, and many people searching for truth. Because of that, he raised up an enzyme that would not move or shift with the world. When we look at the world today, we can see why this matters. There are countless messages telling us what to believe, how to live, and what should matter most. Many of those messages change from year to year or even day to day. The gospel of Jesus Christ does not change. The Lord's standard remains steady. That means we do not need to guess where truth can be found. We do not need to wonder if God has spoken. He has. He restored his church, his priesthood, his ordinances, and his gospel. The enzyme Isaiah saw is still standing today, inviting all people to come unto Christ. Isaiah also said that people would come with speed swiftly. That part of the prophecy is remarkable because Isaiah lived in a world without cars, airplanes, trains, phones, or the internet. Yet he saw a day when the message of the gospel moved quickly throughout the earth. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught Over one hundred and twenty five years ago in the little town of Fayette, Seneca County, New York, the Lord set up an enzyme to the nations. It was in fulfillment of the prediction made by the prophet Isaiah. That enzyme was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, which was established for the last time, never again to be destroyed or given to other people. It was the greatest event the world had seen since the day that the Redeemer was lifted upon the cross and worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. It meant more to mankind than anything else that has occurred since that day. The restoration began in a small and humble place, but it did not stay there. The gospel is now spread across the earth. Missionaries serve in nations throughout the world. Temples continue to be announced and built. Scriptures are translated into many languages. Messages from prophets can reach millions of people instantly. Isaiah saw that the gathering would not be slow or limited. The Lord would make it possible to for people from the end of the earth to hear his voice. That is exactly what we are watching happen in our day. This should remind us that the Lord is directing his work. He is aware of every nation, every family, and every individual. He knows how to gather his children, he knows how to place the gospel within reach of those who are searching for him. This verse is not only about the growth of the church around the world, it is also about our willingness to respond to the enzyme the Lord has raised. We live in a busy world filled with noise, distractions, and constant demands for our attention. It can be easy to spend more time following the standards of the world than following the Lord's standard. We may allow social media, entertainment, politics, work, or personal opinions to shape our priorities more than the gospel does. If the church is the enzyme the Lord has lifted up, then we should ask ourselves whether we are looking toward it. Are we building our lives around Jesus Christ and his restored gospel? Are we listening to prophets? Are we making temple worship, scripture study, prayer, and covenant keeping central in our lives? The Lord's enzyme is not hidden, it is visible, it is available, it invites us to come closer to Jesus Christ. The question is whether we are paying attention to it. We can also help others see that enzyme. We do not need to stand on a street corner or do something dramatic. We can invite someone to church, share a scripture, talk about a conference message, post something uplifting or simply live in a way that points others toward Christ. The Lord is gathering his people and we can be part of that work. We can choose to stand with the Lord's standard instead of the world's standard. So here is today's challenge. Take a few moments today to think about what standard is guiding your life right now. Identify one area where the world may be influencing your priorities more than the gospel is. Then make one simple change that helps you look more directly to the Lord's enzyme, and maybe spending more time in the scriptures, listening more carefully to the words of living prophets, preparing for the temple, or having a gospel conversation with someone else. As we do that, we will become more firmly rooted in Jesus Christ and more able to help gather others to him. Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus. I hope this message helps 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.