Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026

The Lord’s vineyard (Israel) will become desolate, and His people will be scattered—Woes will come upon them in their apostate and scattered state—The Lord will lift an ensign and gather Israel—Compare 2 Nephi 15.

Zion and her daughters will be redeemed and cleansed in the millennial day—Compare 2 Nephi 14.

Judah and Jerusalem will be punished for their disobedience—The Lord pleads for and judges His people—The daughters of Zion are cursed and tormented for their worldliness—Compare 2 Nephi 13.

Isaiah sees the latter-day temple, gathering of Israel, and millennial judgment and peace—The proud and wicked will be brought low at the Second Coming—Compare 2 Nephi 12.

The people of Israel are apostate, rebellious, and corrupt; only a few remain faithful—The people’s sacrifices and feasts are rejected—They are called upon to repent and work righteousness—Zion will be redeemed in the day of restoration.

Even if this is your first time reading the book of Isaiah, you might find passages that sound familiar. That’s because, of all the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah is the one most often quoted in other books of scripture, including by the Savior Himself. Isaiah’s words also appear often in hymns and other sacred music.

Why is Isaiah quoted so often? Surely one reason is that Isaiah had a gift for expressing the word of God in vivid, memorable language. But it’s more than that. Isaiah has inspired prophets for generations because the truths he taught transcended his own generation (between 740 and 701 BC). He wrote of God’s great work of redemption, which is much bigger than one nation or one time period. From Isaiah, Nephi learned that he and his people, though separated from the rest of Israel, were still part of God’s covenant people. In Isaiah, New Testament writers found prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled right before their eyes. And in Isaiah, Joseph Smith found inspiration for the latter-day work of gathering Israel and building Zion. When you read Isaiah, what will you find?

For more about Isaiah and his writings, see “Isaiah” in the Bible Dictionary. For information about the time when Isaiah lived, see 2 Kings 15–20 and 2 Chronicles 26–32.

In the traditional Christian division of the Old Testament, the last section (Isaiah through Malachi) is called the Prophets. This section, about one-fourth of the Old Testament, contains the words of God’s authorized servants, who spoke with the Lord and then spoke for Him, sharing His message with the people between about 900 and 500 BC.

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Words set a tone. They voice our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, for good or bad.

By Elder Neil L. Andersen

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Peacemakers are not passive; they are persuasive in the Savior’s way.

By Elder Gerrit W. Gong

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Trust in God and each other brings heaven’s blessings.