I was reading in my scriptures the other day in 2 Nephi, the dreaded Isaiah chapters. I actually love reading Isaiah’s words, because they are poetic, symbolic, and really beautiful when you read the parts of the glory of the Lord. On the other hand, realizing that he is speaking to us in our day, many of his words are pretty graphic, brutal, and scary.

 

It’s clear we are in the very last days. Just take a look at all the things that happened last year with wars, government, weather, attitudes, and false prophets and prophecies. Do you recall when Spencer W. Kimball changed a single word in I Am A Child of God? –“Teach Me All That I Must Know—to Do”. Preparation time has been going on for a while now, how much longer do we have to prepare—no one knows. So, what are you doing, on a daily basis, to make yourself and your loved ones ready for the Coming of the Lord?

Back to Isaiah. Just reading his words may help us to see clearly what is happening all around us.

 

2 Ne 12:5  O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all gone astray, every one to his wicked ways.

All of us allow Satan into our homes in various degrees; it’s hard not to. But we have to be the Lioness who stands at the gate to control the flow.

2 Ne 13:8  For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because their tongues and their doings have been against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

The House of Israel was scattered because of their wickedness. We Gentiles, who are also of the House of Israel, are following this same path. Because we know Christ will win the war against Satan, there will always be a “small” group of Saints holding out for righteousness. We need to be in that group! Don’t fall and be ruined!

2 Ne 13:12  And my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they who lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy paths.

In a righteous home, children need to honor and obey their parents, and women need to honor and obey the priesthood. And men need to lead in righteousness, or else they will lead their families to destruction.

2 Ne 13:16  Moreover, the Lord saith: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet—

It is my personal opinion that very few women AND men truly honor the priesthood. Men think they use the priesthood when they rule with an iron fist—the Lord tells us men don’t have the priesthood when they act that way (D&C 121:37). And women tend to think they don’t need men, and can do all things on their own. We need to all step away from the world and really understand what it is to have priesthood power surround us. (2 Ne 14:5)

2 Ne 15:25  Therefore, is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people…but his hand is stretched out still.

It makes me almost cry to see how much wickedness there is around us, yet the hand of the Lord is still reaching out toward His children…waiting for them to turn to Him. And how many times do I manage to blow it once again, yet His hand is stretched out still toward me?

2 Ne 15:26-30  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…

With the change in the age of missionary service, our homes need to be ready to send all of these ensigns out. Our children need to be sharp, and bent to the plow, roaring—like lions—the Truth. It is our children, who are the missionaries, that will “lay hold of the prey and shall carry away safe”.

When we look across the world there is darkness all around. Sin is everywhere. War is brutal and ugly and real. We need to be aware that we are right in the middle of it, never giving up hope, but being that light on the hill.

2 Ne 18:14  And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Jesus Christ is our Cornerstone and our Rock, but to the wicked they will stumble against Him and be offended by His righteousness. Which side will we be on every day, all day, enduring to the very end?

Sometimes the world gets in the way of our worship; busyness replaces our study and prayer. The scriptures are full of warnings. Let us have eyes to see and ears to hear.