Episode 53: A Strength to the Poor (Dana M. Pike)

Y Religion

BYU Religious Education

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4.8 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 2 April 2022

⏱️ 55 minutes

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Summary

Although it is common to cite Isaiah’s remarkable prophecies about the Savior, Isaiah’s repeated teachings related to the poor usually don’t receive as much attention. In this episode, emeritus BYU Ancient Scripture professor Dana M. Pike shares his latest publication that magnifies Isaiah’s teachings to provide “a strength to the poor” (Isa. 25:4)—a timeless message applicable today. Dr. Pike also shares about his work on the Dead Sea Scrolls and insights about studying the Old Testament from his years of training and experience over his career.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Anthony Sweat here from BYU Religious Education, welcome to another fabulous episode of the
0:04.7	Why Religion Podcast.
0:07.1	During President Thomas S. Monson's tenure as church president, he changed the longstanding
0:12.2	threefold mission of the church to instead be called the purposes of the church, and then
0:17.6	he added a fourth to care for the poor and needy.
0:21.8	More recently, the church grouped these four purposes under the heading of the work of
0:25.6	salvation and exaltation, and refined poor and needy away from an identity label to
0:32.2	a more situational one of caring for those in need.
0:37.7	While these refinements may be new, the work and divine mandate of God's covenant children
0:42.0	to care for those who are poor and in need is not new at all.
0:46.8	We quickly think of the Savior's teachings in the New Testament to the rich young ruler
0:51.4	to give to the poor, or his parables such as Lazarus and the rich man.
0:56.9	In the book of Mormon, we think of King Benjamin's classic discourse reminding us that
1:01.0	all of us are beggars and urging us to impart of our substance to the poor and to feed the
1:06.7	hungry and clothe the naked.
1:09.1	While these ancient teachings and scriptures are the ones that we often think of or turn
1:13.0	to for divine reminders for church talks or classes, not many people think of Isaiah as
1:19.2	a prophet whose teachings and writings focus on those in need, but he often did.
1:26.1	For example, Isaiah laments how princes have eaten up the spoil of the poor and that they
1:31.5	grind the faces of the poor.
1:33.9	He complains how some have turned aside the needy and the right from the poor.
1:39.2	He extolls how Zion should be a place where the poor of his people shall trust in it.
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