For Our Day

For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-6-overcoming-the-fall-covenant-making-by-righteous-fathers-and-mothers/

Follow the Joseph Smith Foundation:

https://www.instagram.com/josephsmithfoundation

https://www.facebook.com/JosephSmithFoundation

Both Lehi and the Reformers/Pilgrims/Early Colonists were born in a bleak world of darkness, oppression, and suffering. Like all of us, they had to plead with God to find Jesus Christ, the rod of iron, and His path back to the Tree of Life.

Lehi redeemed his family from darkness by restoring and teaching covenants of redemption to his children. (2 Nephi 1-2) Similarly, early Christian colonists were born into a world of apostasy and darkness but taught their children the understanding of covenants they obtained from the Bible. They laid the foundation for the fullness of the Gospel, including sacred ordinances that would eventually be restored through Joseph Smith.

Isaiah’s poetic language can sometimes appear overwhelming and even impossible to understand. However, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is plain—it is always the work of the adversary that is complicated or mystical and difficult to comprehend. Isaiah should not be complicated! So how do we simplify Isaiah?

Nephi provides a perfect foundation and introduction in 1 Nephi 19-22. He quotes two chapters in Isaiah and then provides a simple commentary. Using Nephi’s decoding of Isaiah, the following five-part series will walk through these chapters so simply that any member—especially beginners—will be able to approach the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon with new confidence!

This "Simplifying Isaiah" episode was designed to accompany Lesson 5 (Mighty Miracles: Lehi & the Separatist Pilgrims in America). For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-5-mighty-miracles-lehi-the-separatist-pilgrims-in-america/

Follow the Joseph Smith Foundation:

https://www.instagram.com/josephsmithfoundation

https://www.facebook.com/JosephSmithFoundation

Isaiah’s poetic language can sometimes appear overwhelming and even impossible to understand. However, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is plain—it is always the work of the adversary that is complicated or mystical and difficult to comprehend. Isaiah should not be complicated! So how do we simplify Isaiah?

Nephi provides a perfect foundation and introduction in 1 Nephi 19-22. He quotes two chapters in Isaiah and then provides a simple commentary. Using Nephi’s decoding of Isaiah, the following five-part series will walk through these chapters so simply that any member—especially beginners—will be able to approach the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon with new confidence!

This "Simplifying Isaiah" episode was designed to accompany Lesson 5 (Mighty Miracles: Lehi & the Separatist Pilgrims in America). For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-5-mighty-miracles-lehi-the-separatist-pilgrims-in-america/

Follow the Joseph Smith Foundation:

https://www.instagram.com/josephsmithfoundation

https://www.facebook.com/JosephSmithFoundation

Isaiah’s poetic language can sometimes appear overwhelming and even impossible to understand. However, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is plain—it is always the work of the adversary that is complicated or mystical and difficult to comprehend. Isaiah should not be complicated! So how do we simplify Isaiah?

Nephi provides a perfect foundation and introduction in 1 Nephi 19-22. He quotes two chapters in Isaiah and then provides a simple commentary. Using Nephi’s decoding of Isaiah, the following five-part series will walk through these chapters so simply that any member—especially beginners—will be able to approach the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon with new confidence!

This "Simplifying Isaiah" episode was designed to accompany Lesson 5 (Mighty Miracles: Lehi & the Separatist Pilgrims in America). For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-5-mighty-miracles-lehi-the-separatist-pilgrims-in-america/

Follow the Joseph Smith Foundation:

https://www.instagram.com/josephsmithfoundation

https://www.facebook.com/JosephSmithFoundation

Isaiah’s poetic language can sometimes appear overwhelming and even impossible to understand. However, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is plain—it is always the work of the adversary that is complicated or mystical and difficult to comprehend. Isaiah should not be complicated! So how do we simplify Isaiah?

Nephi provides a perfect foundation and introduction in 1 Nephi 19-22. He quotes two chapters in Isaiah and then provides a simple commentary. Using Nephi’s decoding of Isaiah, the following five-part series will walk through these chapters so simply that any member—especially beginners—will be able to approach the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon with new confidence!

This "Simplifying Isaiah" episode was designed to accompany Lesson 5 (Mighty Miracles: Lehi & the Separatist Pilgrims in America). For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-5-mighty-miracles-lehi-the-separatist-pilgrims-in-america/

Follow the Joseph Smith Foundation:

https://www.instagram.com/josephsmithfoundation

https://www.facebook.com/JosephSmithFoundation

Isaiah’s poetic language can sometimes appear overwhelming and even impossible to understand. However, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is plain—it is always the work of the adversary that is complicated or mystical and difficult to comprehend. Isaiah should not be complicated! So how do we simplify Isaiah?

Nephi provides a perfect foundation and introduction in 1 Nephi 19-22. He quotes two chapters in Isaiah and then provides a simple commentary. Using Nephi’s decoding of Isaiah, the following five-part series will walk through these chapters so simply that any member—especially beginners—will be able to approach the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon with new confidence!

This "Simplifying Isaiah" episode was designed to accompany Lesson 5 (Mighty Miracles: Lehi & the Separatist Pilgrims in America). For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-5-mighty-miracles-lehi-the-separatist-pilgrims-in-america/

Follow the Joseph Smith Foundation:

https://www.instagram.com/josephsmithfoundation

https://www.facebook.com/JosephSmithFoundation

For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-4-breaking-chains-pilgrims-patriots-power-nephis-vision/

While Nephi revered the Reformers in Europe, the 17th century Puritan, Pilgrim, Covenanter, Huguenot and Quaker colonists, and the founding fathers of the United States, our textbooks and media presents an entirely contrary narrative. The faith and values of the early colonists are mocked and condemned. What is the truth? How do we approach the battle in our day to erase our covenant heritage and history?

For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-4-breaking-chains-pilgrims-patriots-power-nephis-vision/

The vision of the Tree of Life is a message of hope and healing for the House of Israel. In the entire Book of Mormon, there are only a few latter-day individuals and groups specifically mentioned. These include Joseph Smith, who is mentioned in many passages because of his primary importance in the great latter-day work of God. Note, however, that those seeking religious and political freedom prior to the Revolutionary War, (the Pilgrims, Puritans, Covenanters, Huguenots, etc.) are also included in the record.  

Nephi records some of his vision of the Gentile nations of Northern Europe and their persecution of these faithful pilgrim saints. He records that these Gentiles were led out of captivity by the Spirit and power of God and given an inheritance in America. The Book of Mormon proves that God intervenes in history according to the faith and righteousness of the people.

The central theme of Lehi's vision of the tree of life is holding to the Word of God and rejecting peer pressure to the contrary. For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website here: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/for-our-day-lesson-3-navigating-broken-world-iron-rod/

In Lehi’s vision, he sees a path leading to life, hope, and indescribable joy. The only way to arrive safely at the tree, to taste the fruit, was to cling to a rod of iron representing the word of God and scripture.

After Lehi’s vision, scripture became the foundation of his family, and eventually the Nephite civilization. Whether it was Alma the Younger using scripture to encourage his son Helaman or help his son Corianton overcome struggles with immorality—or whether it was King Mosiah founding the Nephite republican government on the brass plates—the Nephite fathers used scripture to save their children.

Likewise, the righteous forefathers and colonists of the United States of America—those praised by Nephi as “humble”—relied upon the Bible as the foundation of their government and education. The entire Pilgrim and Puritan culture was centered on scripture, much like in the founding era of the Book of Mormon. In each, we have persecuted Israel fleeing the Old World, coming to America, and founding a mighty nation based on the principles found in the word of God.

In Lehi’s vision, he sees multitudes pressing forward to the Tree of Life, but they are assaulted by an “exceedingly great mist of darkness” which attempts to make them lose their grasp of the iron rod/scriptures and become lost (1 Nephi 8:23). An excellent example of this in our day can be seen in President David O. McKay’s inspired and prophetic warnings concerning the removal of prayer from government schools in 1962. Learn more in this week's podcast!

For additional resources, lesson activity ideas, and more, see the lesson plan on the For Our Day website.

The Book of Mormon begins with the prophet Lehi being commissioned by the Lord to preach repentance to the Jews in Jerusalem. The populace of Jerusalem believed itself to be the chosen people of the Lord, but they failed to keep the Lord’s commandments. They rejected and sought the lives of Lehi and the prophets, many being tortured and put to death. The Lord warned Lehi to flee into the wilderness and eventually covenanted to him a promised land (eventually known as America). The Lehites were guided there by the Lord—founding one of the greatest nations in the world’s history on the teachings in a book of scripture known as the Brass Plates.

The history of our modern civilization is a perfect parallel. Our history begins in the blackness of the Dark Ages with great men and women of character standing for ancient truths found in scripture. They stood alone, sustained by the Lord, against an apostate religious darkness that had covered the earth for centuries and claimed to speak for God.

These Reformers were hunted, driven, and martyred for the testimony of Christ and His Scripture. Groups were led by God to the New World and given direction to keep the covenant of this land, which is, that all those who possess it will serve the Lord Jesus Christ or they will be swept off. These pilgrims, refugees, and covenanters founded one of the greatest nations in the world’s history upon the teachings found in the Bible.

Learning the true stories of men and women who laid down their lives so we could have the scriptures today gives us a deeper appreciation for the records we have!