Come Follow Me | 2 Nephi 11-19 | Lesson 9 - Prophecies of Deseret in Isaiah 

Hannah: Seriously, right?!

Welcome! We love hearing from our foreign brothers and sisters! God bless

Hannah: Thank you, guys! Appreciate all the support. Love to you all!

Hannah: The spirit of gathering is real! Glad to have you!

Hannah: Thank you!

Hannah: Thank you!

Hannah: Welcome! Glad to have you!

Both political and denominational opponents of Brigham sought ways to influence Utah children away from Mormonism. In many ways, then, the fight for public schools became part of the fight for the Church’s very survival.

You can find it in Journal of Discourses volume 16. Here is a link to it online. journalofdiscourses.com/16/37

Yes! The slides for all of our podcasts are available on their lesson plan page. Here is Lesson 9: josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-9-isaiahs-warning-for-latter-day-saints-hard-truth-answers/

@@JosephSmithFoundation 🙂 many thanks!

You know your lineage trought your patriarch blessing that every member of the church receives.

Oh, you mean the essay that states very clearly that the Book of Mormon cannot be true because it conflicts with modern scholarship? The essay in which a BYU professor warns that church members may be “shocked” by his views? The essay that bends the knee to the “consensus of non-LDS biblical scholars?” As soon as you list credentials of “BYU professor” as validation for your view, I immediately know to disregard all that follows. These words from Jeffrey Chadwick, just like the words of Leonard Arrington, are anti-Mormon. These progressive “New Mormon History” academics are directly responsible for the faith crisis of so many members today. Any and all “scholarship” that goes against revelation and the teachings of Joseph Smith should be recognized for what it is: poison in your ear, anathema to a testimony by Spirit and revelation. If you prefer scholarship to the Holy Ghost, it’s your testimony that is being hijacked.

@joshuaoram7439 Thank you for sharing this!

Hannah: Hi Mark, I understand where you are coming from and there are certainly multiple layers for Isaiah 2. For this lesson, we are using quotes and prophetic interpretations given by inspired Latter-day prophets (as quoted throughout the video). Joseph Smith taught all of America is Zion. Yes, the New Jerusalem city will be built in Independence, Missouri (original location of the Garden of Eden), and Far West has been called "most holy" by the Lord in the revelations-but Joseph Smith also stated that "the whole of America is Zion itself from north to south." I have gained a personal witness that the teachings of Wilford Woodruff and other prophets regarding the critical importance and destiny of Deseret, both past and future, are true-although this part of our history has largely been forgotten and even undermined. Eliza R. Snow spoke of Nephite temples being built throughout the Rocky Mountains, there are prophecies of gathering here for safety, there is critical counsel for using this location for preserving liberty and the Constitution, etc. We could do a several hour series just going through all of the prophecies about the Rocky Mountains! There is so much. I have a personal testimony these prophets were inspired of God in their teachings and that there is even far more they could not say. Deseret is not the only part, but it is a critical part of Zion-especially moving forward in the future.

@JosephSmithFoundation I believe Utah could be likened to wandering in the wilderness. The early church was supposed to establish Zion in 1836 in Missouri but failed to do it. We as a people have never become a zion people. We are not saints or the sanctified people who we are supposed to be. This is why Isaiah calls us a rebellious nation. It's because we won't even live the preparatory gospel and become saints until the very end when all the calamities and destruction come and like you said there will only be a remnant that will return or repent.

Hannah: Indeed. Isaiah is very clear about our modern wickedness. But that does not mean that God will not keep the prophecies and promises for Deseret. We will need to obey every command, even if it takes some severe scourging and chastening to get there. I personally understand the struggle many feel with recognizing Deseret's place. I personally had to be humbled by the Lord and prayerfully study the words of the prophets to have my mind opened to things I had not considered before. I'm very grateful for that journey as it has given me hope, answers, and direction.

@JosephSmithFoundationYes, I agree God will keep his promises. The desert places will blossom as a rose in a future exodus from Babylon to the New Jerusalem or Mt Zion. Isaiah tells us there will be an exodus out of Babylon both spiritually and physically, and the final destinations are Mt Zion and Jerusalem, not Utah. I believe Utah can be thought of as a temporary safe place or a stronghold on the way to Mt. Zion, but it's not Mt Zion.