3 Ne 22:1 then shall that which is written come to pass
The events at the end of the
last chapter are Millenial. So, then, are the events described in this chapter.
Isaiah is a Millenialist. If he is not speaking of the Messiah or the
destruction of the wicked, the glory of the Millenium is his next most likely
topic.
Accordingly, the theme of
Isaiah 54 is that the House of Israel, or the people of the Lord, will be
redeemed from every pain, problem, fear, terror, disgrace, oppression,
hardship, or reproach. In the Millenium, the Lord will more than make up for
any previous suffering.
Jeffrey R. Holland
“By
chapter's end, the relationship between the Lord and his children of covenant
is seen fully and poetically. Consider this summary of God's promises and
Israel's millennial hope:
Verses |
Husband Provides Wife |
Jehovah Provides Israel |
1-3 |
Children |
Gathering and Great Growth |
4-8 |
Love |
Mercy and Redemption |
9-10 |
Commitment |
Unbreakable Covenant |
11-12 |
Material Comfort |
Splendor in a New
Jerusalem |
13-17 |
Protection for the Family |
Peace, Freedom from Fear
and Oppression for Zion |
(Adapted
from Christ And The New Covenant, p. 291)
3 Ne 22:1 More are the children of the desolate than the children of
the married wife
“Scattered
Israel, those who for generations have lived without the light of the gospel
who have not been fruitful in the faith of their fathers. These are also identified in this passage as
‘the children of the desolate.’
“The
children of the married wife [are] the members of the Church.” (McConkie,
Millet, and Top, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, p.
155)
Jeffrey R. Holland
“Sometimes
by choice and sometimes by circumstance, Israel has been a barren, childless
woman who had not borne fruit or lived up to her promises, potential, and
covenants. Nevertheless, desolate Israel can—and will—be fruitful, even in the
times and places of her scattering and dispersion.” (Christ And The New
Covenant, p. 289 – 290)
3 Ne 22:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent…strengthen thy stakes
Jeffrey R. Holland
“The
large movement of Israel's conversion, gathering, and return to the lands of
her inheritance will require strong, enlarged stakes in Zion. Growth will be ‘on the right hand and on the left,’ with Gentile
cities (probably left desolate by the wrath ‘poured
out without mixture upon the whole earth’ DC 115:6) inhabited by the
children of the covenant. It is from this imagery of Israel's wilderness
tent/tabernacle with its cords, curtains, borders, and stakes that The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints draws its use of the word stake for the
name of its basic ecclesiastical unit.” (Christ And The New Covenant, p.
289 – 290)
Ezra Taft Benson
“To
members, the term stake is a symbolic expression. Picture in your mind a great
tent held up by cords extended to many stakes that are firmly secured in the
ground. The prophet Isaiah likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing
the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. (See 3 Nephi
22:2; Isaiah 54:2.) Those stakes, of course, are various geographical
organizations spread out over the earth. Presently Israel is being gathered to
the various stakes of Zion. (Come unto Christ, p. 101.)
”In
revelation the Lord states: ‘For Zion must increase
in beauty and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be
strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her
beautiful garments’ (D&C 82:14). Here the Lord declares a great
purpose of a stake: to be a beautiful emblem for all the world to see. The
phrase ‘put on her beautiful garments’ refers,
of course, to the inner sanctity that must be attained by every member who
calls himself or herself a Saint. Zion is ‘the pure
in heart’ (D&C 97:21). (El Paso Texas Regional Conference, 25
January 1986.)” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.149-150)
3 Ne 22:4 thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth
Early in her history, Israel
had played the harlot with the idolatrous gods of the heathen. Certainly, this
is part of the shame of her youth. At the time the Lord said, under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou
turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? For though thou
wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is
marked before me, saith the Lord God (Jer 2:20-22). Nevertheless, in
spite of her marked iniquity, the Lord has promised both individually and as a
nation that he will forget the shame of her youth, though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red
like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isa 1:18).
“Scriptures
are written in general to give guidance and information regarding our
relationship to Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.
Scriptures also offer specific guidance and information when we pray for personal
comfort and support.
“I
recall a particular time when 3 Nephi 22:4 brought me to my knees in tears over
an answer to a prayer that I had previously been diligently seeking.
“I
had only recently become baptized, when I was beset by distress over thinking
about my sinful past. Truly I had been rejoicing over the promise of
forgiveness following repentance and baptism, yet, now I agonized for nearly
two weeks over past sins.
“I
found that my despair had taken hold of me, so I decided to spend a day fasting
and reading the Book of Mormon.
“I
was enjoying reading the attendant lamentations and explanations that were so
offered by the verses. When I came to verse 4 of 3 Nephi, chapter 22, the
general quality of the reading became very personal regarding my obsession over
past sins.
“As
I continued reading to the end of the chapter, my sobbing increased, and for a
few brief moments my mind comprehended the Savior’s personal forgiveness of me.
A great peace came over me and the descriptions of the Savior’s relationship to
the past, present and future of Zion took on their literal and prophetic
value.” (Catherine Cinelli, Church News, 01/20/96)
3 Ne 22:5 For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name
In the language of the
scriptures, the Lord of Hosts is the bridegroom and his bride is the House of
Israel. In spite one of the rockiest engagements imaginable, the bridegroom
never gave up on his unworthy bride. It is a marriage which could have been
realized long ago but will only be consummated in the Millenium when the bride
will finally be ready. Then will the bridegroom be the husband who will show
her everlasting kindness, wiping away all
tears from her eyes (See Rev 21:2-4).
Jeffrey R. Holland
“Even
though there has been barrenness and sometimes unfaithfulness, yet will the
husband (Christ) reclaim and redeem his bride (Israel). The imagery of Jehovah
as bridegroom and Israel as bride is among the most commonly used metaphors in
scripture, being used by the Lord and his prophets to describe the relationship
between Deity and the children of the covenant.” (Christ And The New
Covenant, p. 290)
3 Ne 22:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great
mercies will I gather thee
Jeffrey R. Holland
“Compassion
and mercy always return and prevail in a most reassuring way. The mountains and
the hills may disappear. The water of the great seas may dry up. The least
likely things in the world may happen, but the Lord's kindness and peace will
never be taken from his covenant people. He has sworn with a heavenly oath that
he will not be wroth with them forever.” (Christ And The New Covenant,
p. 290)
3 Ne 22:11 I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy
foundations with sapphires
“In
the midst of a troubling world, the foundations I rely on come by my covenants
with the Lord. They are indeed like sapphires and are treasures beyond
price….They are the restored principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus
Christ which are available to righteous women and men alike through the power
of the holy priesthood of God. They include baptism, the gift of the Holy
Ghost, the sacrament, and temple covenants.” (Aileen H. Clyde, Ensign,
May 1995, p. 28 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon
compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 448)
3 Ne 22:13 all thy children shall be taught of the Lord
Gordon B. Hinckley
“’All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great
shall be the peace of thy children’ (Isaiah 54:13). You mothers, read to
your children. Read the scriptures to your children. You may not think they
understand. They won't understand everything you read. But they will develop
within themselves a feeling, an attitude, a spirit that will be wonderful. And
I don't hesitate to promise you that the day will come, if you nurture your
children and love and teach in righteousness, you will get on your knees with
tears in your eyes and thank the Lord for His blessing to you.” (Teachings
of Gordon B. Hinckley, “Motherhood”)
Anne G. Wirthlin
“[Sister
Wirthlin quoted 3 Ne. 22:7,10,13 and then said] These words of the Savior are
the theme for Primary…to teach children the gospel of Jesus Christ and help
them learn to live it. As we witness the unfolding events of the last days, we
cannot doubt that in this scripture the Lord is speaking directly to us. We are
Israel of the latter days…Peace that endures is not dependent upon outside
forces that are beyond our control…The Lord’s words…give comfort to righteous
parents who teach their children of Him. They speak to us at a time when peace
in the hearts of children can seem but an elusive dream. But the Savior has
assured us that it can be a reality if we teach our children. Primary supports
parents in this important responsibility.” (Ensign, May 1998, p. 9 as taken from
Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas
Bassett, p. 447-8)
3 Ne 22:15 they shall surely gather together against thee
See commentary for 3 Ne
20:18.
3 Ne 22:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper
Joseph Smith
“No
unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs
may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will
go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every clime,
swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall
be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (History
of the Church, 4:540 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon
compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 449)
Ezra Taft Benson
“We
live in a time when the devil is on the loose and is working among the Saints
to thwart and tear down the work of God. But he will not succeed. Individuals
may fall and there may be those who betray sacred covenants, but the kingdom of
God will roll forward until it reaches its decreed destiny to fill the entire
earth.
“I
carry in my calendar book a passage of scripture that I sometimes use to remind
myself and others about the eventual outcome of efforts to destroy the Church: ‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and
every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of
me, saith the Lord.’ (3 Nephi 22:17.)
“The
Lord has prospered this work and will continue to do so. He is close to His
servants, even within whispering distance of heaven.” (Come Unto Christ,
p. 22-3)
Boyd K. Packer
“On
one occasion when I, along with President Benson, was the subject of a great
deal of criticism by the local and national media, he sent me a card which
read: No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall
revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the
servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
(3 Nephi 22:17.)
“I
was greatly strengthened by the message.” (That All May Be Edified, p.
250)