I am really enjoying my read through the Book of Mormon student manual. It has so many great snippets of conference talks both current and old, and through those talks and the scripture references themselves I feel a whole new level of understanding washing over me. This week it has been especially helpful as we are getting into 2 Nephi where Nephi quotes Isaiah.
When I started reading the Book of Mormon as a young adult, I was determined to get through the whole book. I began and found myself strolling along nicely for quite a while until one day I had an out of body experience where I knew I was reading the same book (and that it was in English), but I could NOT understand any of it. What was going on?! It was Isaiah.
I wish to understand all his words one day. As for this week, I will settle for bits and pieces of understanding. One of my favorites I learned about was how we cannot hide our sins or our good deeds. 2 Nephi 13:9 He says:
"The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it. Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves!"
I look at people and a lot of times I can tell just through pictures that they don't look happy. I call it happy, but it really just looks like something is off. I've noticed it in people who are trying so desperately to take happiness in sin. The Lord has been very clear on the subject of wickedness and in the Book of Mormon his prophet Alma says, "wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10)
I love the student manual commentary that accompanies the Isaiah verse in regards to our countenances when we sin. It says:
Righteousness and wickedness affect both attitude and appearance. Brigham Young said, “Those who have got the forgiveness of their sins have countenances that look bright, and they will shine with the intelligence of heaven” (“Speech,” Times and Seasons, July 1, 1845, 956).
David O. McKay taught: “No man can disobey the word of God and not suffer for so doing. No sin, however secret, can escape retribution. True, you may lie and not be detected; you may violate virtue without it being known by
any who would scandalize you; yet you cannot escape the judgment that follows such transgression. The lie is lodged in the recesses of your mind, an impairment of your character that will reflect sometime, somehow in your countenance or bearing” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1951, 8).
How's that for trying to lie, cheat or steal from here on out? Any form of wickedness and it'll show up all over your face. Isaiah saw it, and sometimes the rest of us can see it too.
When I started reading the Book of Mormon as a young adult, I was determined to get through the whole book. I began and found myself strolling along nicely for quite a while until one day I had an out of body experience where I knew I was reading the same book (and that it was in English), but I could NOT understand any of it. What was going on?! It was Isaiah.
I wish to understand all his words one day. As for this week, I will settle for bits and pieces of understanding. One of my favorites I learned about was how we cannot hide our sins or our good deeds. 2 Nephi 13:9 He says:
"The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it. Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves!"
I look at people and a lot of times I can tell just through pictures that they don't look happy. I call it happy, but it really just looks like something is off. I've noticed it in people who are trying so desperately to take happiness in sin. The Lord has been very clear on the subject of wickedness and in the Book of Mormon his prophet Alma says, "wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10)
I love the student manual commentary that accompanies the Isaiah verse in regards to our countenances when we sin. It says:
Righteousness and wickedness affect both attitude and appearance. Brigham Young said, “Those who have got the forgiveness of their sins have countenances that look bright, and they will shine with the intelligence of heaven” (“Speech,” Times and Seasons, July 1, 1845, 956).
David O. McKay taught: “No man can disobey the word of God and not suffer for so doing. No sin, however secret, can escape retribution. True, you may lie and not be detected; you may violate virtue without it being known by
any who would scandalize you; yet you cannot escape the judgment that follows such transgression. The lie is lodged in the recesses of your mind, an impairment of your character that will reflect sometime, somehow in your countenance or bearing” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1951, 8).
How's that for trying to lie, cheat or steal from here on out? Any form of wickedness and it'll show up all over your face. Isaiah saw it, and sometimes the rest of us can see it too.
