Episode 92: Studying Isaiah with Nephi and Jacob (Ryan Sharp)

Y Religion

BYU Religious Education

Whyreligion, Religiouseducation, Religion & Spirituality, Brighamyoung, Lds, Education, Mormon, Yreligion, Byu, Religion, Yreligionpodcast, Christianity, Churchofjesuschrist

4.8 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 15 November 2023

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

While Isaiah taught many precious truths about the life and Atonement of Jesus Christ, his teachings were anything but plain and simple. But what approaches can we take to engage with complex passages of scripture? In “‘Except Some Man Should Guide Me’: Studying Isaiah with Nephi and Jacob,” Ryan Sharp, professor of ancient scripture, outlines the divine role the Book of Mormon prophets play in understanding Isaiah. Nephi wrote, “For I will liken [Isaiah’s] words unto my people” (2 Nephi 11:2). In this episode, Dr. Sharp outlines Nephi and Jacob’s pedagogy, naming their three-step approach as the setup, the passages, and the follow-up. In addition, he explains how to apply the method in our own scripture study. In following this model, our souls may also delight in the words of Isaiah.

Publications:

· “Helping Students Rely on the Redeemer” (Religious Educator, 13.1, 2012)

· Meeting Christ in the Book of Mormon (Amazon.com)

· “Gentiles in the Book of Mormon” (Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, 33, 2019)

· “Alma, Ambiguity, and the Development of Doctrinal Understanding” (in Give Ear to My Words, Religious Studies Center, 2019)

Click here to learn more about professor Ryan H. Sharp

Transcript

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0:00.0	One Christmas Eve, when I was about 11 years old, I was having a very hard time falling asleep.
0:06.5	Every five minutes I looked at the clock wondering if Santa had already come.
0:11.1	I knew that the fastest way to get to Christmas morning was to fall
0:14.2	asleep but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't do it. Finally in
0:19.4	desperation I opened my Bible to the book of Isaiah and started to read.
0:24.0	Within a few minutes I was sound asleep.
0:27.0	I shared this story with apologies to Nephi, the Savior,
0:31.0	and everyone else who has endorsed Isaiah's words.
0:33.7	As a child, I just didn't understand them, and I know I'm not the only person to struggle with
0:38.5	Isaiah.
0:39.5	Regardless of your age, Isaiah's teachings can be challenging to comprehend.
0:44.9	Fortunately, there are many great resources to help us better understand Isaiah's words and
0:49.6	their relevance for us today.
0:52.0	One of those is a book chapter recently authored by Dr. Ryan Sharp
0:55.4	entitled Except Some Man Should Guide Me, Studying Isaiah with Nephi and Jacob.
1:01.6	When we're struggling with the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon,
1:06.0	either personally in my own study, as a parent,
1:10.0	as a teacher with my students, I'm going to pause and sort of let Nephi and Jacob do the heavy lifting.
1:20.3	I'm going to let them guide us through because they're the ones who chose these chapters.
1:24.0	The Savior himself has commanded us to search the words of Isaiah.
1:29.0	In this episode of Why Religion, Dr. Sharp shares insights that can help us better understand
1:34.3	Isaiah's words and as a result strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ. I'm your
	...

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