Chapter 23
Jesus approves the
words of Isaiah—He commands the people to search the prophets—The words of
Samuel the Lamanite concerning the Resurrection are added to their records.
About A.D. 34.
After Christ finished quoting Isaiah, He told the multitude
they should search the words of Isaiah. The scriptures are full of references telling
us the importance of searching them.
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures
daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). The scriptures teach us the
importance of searching them. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).
Nephi gives us a strong testimony of the scriptures. “And
upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are
engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures,
and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit
of my children” (2 Nephi 4:15).
After the death of Sherem, Jacob wrote, “And it came to pass
that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they
searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man.”
(Jacob 7:23).
King Benjamin taught his sons, “I would that ye should
remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would
that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land
according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers” (Mosiah 1:7).
Christ told them to not just search Isaiah, but to search
them diligently, “for great are the words of Isaiah” (3 Nephi 23:1).
Earlier, Christ told them, “Ye remember that I spake unto
you, and said that when the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are
written, ye have them before you, therefore search them” (3 Nephi 20:11).
Again, we turn to the words of Nephi. “Yea, and my soul
delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes
hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the
things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the
things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the
things of the Jews” (2 Nephi 25:5).
Finishing his father’s record, Moroni wrote, “Search the
prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot write them. Yea, behold I say unto you,
that those saints who have gone before me, who have possessed this land, shall
cry, yea, even from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and as the Lord
liveth he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them” (Mormon
8:23).
Isaiah is important as it touches on things concerning the
house of Israel. He must also speak to the Gentiles.
Isaiah, Christ said, spoke of things that have been and will
be. They will be fulfilled according to
his words. Earlier, He told the
Nephites, “Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been
fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled” (3 Nephi 15:6).
“Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the
words of Isaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them
before you, therefore search them—
“And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be
fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made unto
his people, O house of Israel” (3 Nephi 20:11-12).
“What would that verse mean? What does he mean by ‘all
things that Isaiah spake, have been, and shall be even according to the words
he spake’? Does it mean he spoke the truth in saying that these things are
going to come to pass? I guess there is another possibility too. This verse may
imply, and I don't know if it does, but it may imply a pattern prophecy—that is
to say, what he said here will be fulfilled there, but perhaps it will be
fulfilled again. We have an illustration of that in the New Testament on the
Day of Pentecost. As the people were speaking in tongues, other people who were
in the area who didn't understand what was going on concluded that these men
were all drunk. Peter said, “They're not drunk. This is the fulfillment of the
prophecy of Joel, who said that in the last days, people would enjoy spiritual
gifts.”’[1]
[1] The
Doctrine of the Risen Christ: Part 2, Robert L. Millet, Maxwell Institute
website.
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