Isaiah CHAPTER 1 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.
Who Is Isaiah?
Friend March 2024 “Who is Isaiah”
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 Engraving on metal plates is not easy, and space on Nephi’s small plates was limited. So why would Nephi go to the tedious effort of copying a large amount of Isaiah’s writings into his record? In an article in the Ensign September 1998, it explains that Nephi’s own commentary on Isaiah begins in 1 Nephi 19, where he tells us that in order to “more fully persuade them [Nephi’s people] to believe in the Lord their Redeemer” he would turn particularly to the prophet Isaiah (see 1 Ne. 19:23).
Friend December 2008 “Isaiah’s Prophecies” Prophecies from an Old Testament prophet regarding the life and second coming of the Savior.
Friend August 1994 “Isaiah and the Time Machine” Anthony was having a hard time following along during his family’s Book of Mormon study time. They were reading the words of Isaiah in 2 Nephi, and he didn’t understand them. Anthony loved playing in his pretend time machine and his father decided to help the children understand Isaiah by using the time machine. (Excellent story!)
Liahona February 2020 “Who Was Isaiah?”
Liahona March 2012 “How Can I Understand the Words of Isaiah?” Article includes the following: know Isaiah’s main topics, the reasons for studying Isaiah, the events of Isaiah’s days that he used symbolically, helpful hints to understanding his words, etc.
Friend November 1994 “Isaiah” Isaiah prophesied of many things that would happen in his day and in the future. This article includes an explanation of Isaiah’s most quoted prophecies.
Because of Jesus Christ, I can repent and be clean.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Isaiah 1–12” Isaiah lived in a time when many of his people had turned away from the Lord. But the Lord promised them that their sins could be forgiven if they repented. He makes this promise to us as well.
- Ask the children to read Isaiah 1:2–4 and talk about some of the reasons the Lord was not happy with the people of Judah. Then read Isaiah 1:16–19 together to learn what the Lord invited the people to do. As needed, help the children understand difficult words and phrases. To help them visualize verse 18, display something bright red and something pure white. What do we learn about Jesus Christ’s mercy from these verses? Invite the children to share how they feel about Jesus Christ’s gift of forgiveness, and share your feelings as well.
Friend February 1996 “Matt and Mandy”
Or you could demonstrate how stains can be removed from clothing. How is the Lord’s message in these verses different from what Satan wants us to believe?
See also: New Era February 2016 “Scarlet, Crimson, Snow, and Wool”
- Help the children memorize Isaiah 1:18. Write the verse on the board, and invite the children to recite it several times, erasing one word each time until they can recite it from memory. You could also use paper strips with words from the verse written on them. Why is it important to always remember what this verse teaches? Discuss how being baptized and partaking of the sacrament make this promise available to us.
Have a child cover the words below with paper strips after each time the class repeats the scripture.
In the temple we learn about Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Isaiah 1–12” Isaiah foresaw a time when the temple, “the mountain of the Lord’s house,” would attract people from “all nations.” You can use this prophecy to help the children look forward to the time when they can go to the temple.
- Ask the children to draw a picture of their home. Then read together Isaiah 2:2, and invite them to draw a picture of “the Lord’s house,” which is a temple. Read verse 3 together, and invite them to add to their pictures many people coming to the temple, including their families. Why do we want to go to the Lord’s house? Share your testimony of the blessings that come as we learn about the Lord in His house.
Friend September 2019 “Funstuff: Temples in Our Day” Pioneers worked very hard to build temples. In fact, the Salt Lake Temple took 40 years of hard work and sacrifice to finish. Try drawing this holy temple using the letter A!
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 11-19” Isaiah described the temple as “the mountain of the Lord’s house.” Your children might enjoy pretending to climb a mountain as you read 2 Nephi 12:2–3. Help them find phrases in these verses that describe why we have temples.
For the Strength of Youth “Ascend into the Hill of the Lord”
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the chouse of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
- To illustrate the phrase “we will walk in his paths” from 2 Nephi 12:3, you could make a path on the floor, leading to a picture of a temple. As your children walk on the path, they could name things they can do to walk in the Lord’s paths.
Friend July 2020 “Bright Idea” I can follow Jesus Christ in small and simple ways.
Friend August 2023 “I Can Follow Jesus Christ”
- “The Temple—I’m going There Someday” (August 2009 Liahona and Friend)
Draw word strips and move game pieces until everyone reaches the temple.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020
- Let a child hold a picture of a temple, and ask the children to talk about what they see in the picture. Ask them what they like about the temple. Read together Isaiah 2:2–3 and have them listen for more reasons why we can love the temple. Tell the children why you love the temple.
- Sing with the children a song about the temple, such as “I Love to See the Temple” (Children’s Songbook, 95). Help them find words and phrases in the song that teach what the temple is and what we do there.
- Draw a path on the board, and place a picture of the temple or the Savior at one end (see Personal Development: Children’s Guidebook, 2–3). Let the children take turns drawing themselves walking on the path. As they do, invite them to repeat this phrase from Isaiah 2:3: “We will walk in his paths.” What can we do to walk in the Lord’s paths?
Friend October 2021 “Our Strong Foundation”
Friend November 2019 “Being an Example” Activity Included: Draw a line to match the pictures of Jesus with ways you can be kind too.
Friend July 2020 “Bright Idea” I can follow Jesus Christ in small and simple ways.
Friend March 2018 “Family Night Fun” Each person makes a pair of sandals and then writes on their shoes one way they want to follow Jesus.
Family members could pick one of these verses and draw what it describes. What does the temple teach us about the Lord’s ways? How are we blessed as we “walk in the light of the Lord”? (Isaiah 2:5). (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Isaiah 1-12”)
In the temple we learn about Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Isaiah 1–12” Isaiah’s prophecy about “the mountain of the Lord’s house” reveals some of the blessings that come from worshipping in the temple, along with other blessings to come in the last days. Ponder how you will inspire the children to seek these blessings.
- Ask the children to read about what Isaiah saw in Isaiah 2:2–3 and draw a picture of what they think it might have looked like. Explain that Isaiah called the temple “the mountain of the Lord’s house.” Why is a mountain a good symbol for the temple?
In ancient times, it was common for a prophet to go to the top of a mountain to commune with the Lord God. Thus, the term “mountain of the Lord” symbolically denotes any location where the Lord makes His divine will known to His holy prophets. Church News
- Invite the children to read Isaiah 2:2–3, 5 and identify in each of these verses something that inspires them to go to the temple someday. Then read verse 4 together, and discuss how the temple helps bring about the peace described in this verse. Help them think of ways they can prepare now to go to the temple someday.
Liahona October 2010 “Your Path to the Temple” What happens inside the temple, the temple recommend, preparing now to enter the temple.
Friend September 2019 “What’s on Your Mind? The questions the Bishop or Branch President will ask during the temple recommend interview.
For the Strength of Youth “Ascend into the Hill of the Lord”
Isaiah prophesied of Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Isaiah 1–12” All prophets testify of Jesus Christ, including those who lived long before He was born, like Isaiah. Consider what the children can learn about Jesus from Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9:6.
- Share with the children “Isaiah the Prophet” (in Old Testament Stories). Pause periodically so the children can talk about what Isaiah knew about Jesus Christ many years before He was born. Read to the children Isaiah 9:6, and invite them to repeat with you each “name” that Isaiah said Jesus Christ “shall be called.”
Old Testament Scripture Stories “Isaiah the Prophet”
Friend September 2022 “Isaiah Teaches about Jesus Christ”
Write on slips of paper a few of the titles of Jesus Christ found in Isaiah 9:6 (see this week’s activity page). Invite each child to pick one, and help the child read the title to the class. Talk to the children about what each title means to you. Give a picture of Christ to one of the children, and ask him or her to share something about Jesus and then pass the picture to another child. Repeat this activity until all the children have had a chance to share.
- Ask the children to give examples of titles a person might have, such as titles associated with a job, a calling, a team, or a family. What do these titles say about the person who has them? Help the children find titles of Jesus Christ in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6–7. What does each of these titles teach us about Him? What else do we learn about Jesus Christ from these verses?
“How can Jesus Christ be both the Father and the Son? It really isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Though He is the Son of God, He is the head of the Church, which is the family of believers. When we are spiritually born again, we are adopted into His family. He becomes our Father or leader. …(M. Russell Ballard, “Building Bridges of Understanding,” Ensign, June 1998, 66–67).
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
- Read together Matthew 1:21–23 and Luke 1:31–33, and discuss how Isaiah’s prophecies in Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7 were fulfilled when Jesus Christ was born.
Additional Resources
Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Learning from Isaiah” Introduction to Isaiah. Lesson ideas
Pingback: Old Testament: Come Follow Me - Teaching Children the Gospel