1 Nephi 20

Chapter 20 is an Isaiah chapter in the Book of Mormon. It can be compared to Isaiah 48 in the Old Testament. There are actually quite a bit of Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon. They like to quote him and teach from him. As the Lord said to the Nephites:

"And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. 

 "For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles. 

"And all things that he spake have been and ashall be, even according to the words which he spake" (3 Nephi 23:1-3).

But Isaiah can be hard to interpret. Thus, I'm using a few outside sources in my reading of the Isaiah chapters beyond the institute manual: Isaiah is for Airheads by John Bytheway, Visualizing Isaiah by Donald W. Perry, "Great are the Words of Isaiah" by Monte S. Nyman.


The Book of Mormon institute manual lists 3 basic guidelines to help us understand Isaiah's words:

1. Study other scripture. The scriptures themselves offer many insights into the meaning of Isaiah’s writings. The Bible Dictionary states, “The reader today has no greater written commentary and guide to understanding Isaiah than the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants” (“Isaiah,” 707). Not only do these books of scripture interpret passages of Isaiah, they contain doctrines and prophecies that shed light on Isaiah’s words. These modern scriptures fill in details that are not as evident in the Bible.
2. Seek the spirit of prophecy. As Nephi mentioned, those who were not “filled with the spirit of prophecy” (2 Nephi 25:1) in his day could not understand the meaning of Isaiah’s writings. The same is true today. Each serious student of Isaiah must seek revelation through the Holy Ghost to enlighten their mind and to help them read the words by the same Spirit in which they were written—in the testimony of Jesus Christ (see Revelation 19:10).
3. Study diligently. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged Latter-day Saints to devote themselves to serious study of Isaiah: “Read, ponder, and pray—verse by verse, thought by thought, passage by passage, chapter by chapter! As Isaiah himself asks: ‘Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?’ His answer: ‘them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.’ (Isa. 28:9–10.)” (“Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah,” Ensign, Oct. 1973, 83).

The lesson that I choose to take from 1 Nephi 20 (Isaiah 48) is that I should more fully rely on the Lord (2). Do I turn to the Lord as much as I should be? Do I rely on him as much as I could be? I know that I really do rely on him. But am I taking full advantage of what he offers?  He is very all-knowing and such.

Also, I we are once again told the blessings that comes from following God's commandments. If we obey him we'll find peace in our lives (18). I like what Donald W. Perry has to say:

"Peace of conscience and spirit are gifts God gives to those who are obedient (Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 37:37; Romans 8:6; 14:17-19; Philippians 4:7). That kind of peaces comes from the Holy Spirit and is made available through the power of Christ and his atonement (John 14:27; 16:33). God's peace is not offered for this world alone. The peace spoken of here continues into celestial glory and will be consistent, ever flowing, like a river (Isaiah 66:12).
"When people obey the Lord's commandments their righteousness is as unstoppable as the ocean waves. Also, their righteousness is truly subject to the pull of the heavens, as waves are subject to the moon" (Visualizing Isaiah, 67).

I need to rely more on the Lord and be more obedient. Those are the lessons I took.