Isaiah preached in Jerusalem about 700 years before Christ. Assyria was swallowing up nations. This week’s chapters jump between his day and the last days. Chapters 13–14 predict proud Babylon’s fall. Then 14:12–15 turns to Lucifer, the “son of the morning,” who said in his heart “I will” five times and was brought down. Latter-day revelation confirms this is Satan’s premortal rebellion. See Moses 4:1–4 and Doctrine and Covenants 76:25–27. In chapter 22, the Lord replaces a proud official with Eliakim. He fastens him “as a nail in a sure place” and gives him the key of the house of David. Those words are later applied to Jesus Christ in Revelation 3:7. Chapters 24–27 look to the end of the world as we know it. The Lord is a refuge from the storm in 25:4. He swallows up death in victory in 25:8. He keeps in perfect peace the mind stayed on Him in 26:3. Chapters 28–30 warn leaders who trusted Egypt instead of God. Chapter 35 ends with the desert blossoming as the rose.
The centerpiece for this class is Isaiah 29:11–14. Isaiah saw a sealed book handed to a learned man. He says, “I cannot; for it is sealed.” Then it goes to an unlearned man, who says “I am not learned.” And the Lord announces “a marvellous work and a wonder.” On September 22, 1827, 21-year-old Joseph Smith received the gold plates. That’s 199 years ago this week, in Joseph Smith—History 1:59. In February 1828, Martin Harris took characters copied from the plates to Professor Charles Anthon in New York City. By Martin’s account, Anthon praised the characters and wrote a certificate. Then he heard an angel was involved and tore it up. He asked for the plates. When told part was sealed, he said he couldn’t read a sealed book. That’s in Joseph Smith—History 1:63–65. Nephi gives a longer version of the prophecy in 2 Nephi 27:15–20. He adds that the learned man wants the book for the glory of the world and for gain. And the Lord says He is able to do His own work.
An honest heads-up for a sharp class. Anthon later wrote two letters, in 1834 and 1841, saying he had warned Harris of a hoax. The two letters don’t agree about whether he gave Harris anything in writing. Here’s what we can say with confidence. Martin Harris came home convinced. He later mortgaged his farm to pay for printing the Book of Mormon, which went on sale in March 1830. The Church teaches that Isaiah 29:4, a voice speaking “out of the dust,” also points to the Book of Mormon. See 2 Nephi 26:16. Show your youth how to take a hard question seriously without letting it run the show.
The thread tying it all together is pride versus teachability. Lucifer wanted to be above God. The Son said, “Thy will be done,” in Moses 4:1–2. The learned man trusted his own credentials. God worked through someone willing to be taught. Your 16- to 18-year-olds are about to be very learned. College, trade school and mission training are coming. Nephi teaches that being learned is good when we listen to God’s counsel, in 2 Nephi 9:28–29. Isaiah 28:10 describes learning “line upon line.” In Isaiah’s setting, people used that phrase to mock the prophet’s simple repetition. But Nephi uses the same words in 2 Nephi 28:30. He promises that God keeps giving more to those who receive. That’s how a testimony of the Book of Mormon grows too.