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? He did it "that whoso ... shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice (2 Nephi 11:8)."
Nephi's tedious efforts to include the writings of Isaiah have proven to be of great worth to his posterity, the Lamanites, and to all who read and seek to understand them. "..for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them." 2 Nephi 25:8
Nephi felt that what would cause his children and others to "lift up their hearts and rejoice" is described in these verses:
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. (2 Nephi 25:23)
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Nephi 25:26)
As we compare our ability to write in this day and age to the tedious task Nephi had before him, we can be so grateful that today it is easier than ever to follow his example and write for our posterity! Elder Holland explains the importance of sharing our testimonies with our children:
"How did it [inquiring after the knowledge of God] start in the first place? With human testimony. How does it start in our first place? With human testimony. How does it start in the life of your child? Nowhere more clearly, more emphatically, more importantly than with your human testimony. The will, indeed, along the way, have experiences of their own. They must. But in the beginning it was human testimony—yours and mine and the ancients'—which excited the inquiry and brought the diligent search that ends "in glorious discoveries and eternal certainty ..." Read the full address here.
Record Your Testimony In Writing
Ancient prophets continued the tradition of writing on metal plates because they knew that "whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away" (Jacob 4:2). Elder Christofferson states, "And we write according to our prophecies' suggests the wisdom of making a permanent record of our testimony of Christ. We understand that the testimonies we bear are 'recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over [us]' (D&C 62:3). Our own descendants and others may look upon and rejoice over our witness of Christ written or recorded for their benefit." (Becoming a Witness of Christ, Ensign, Mar. 2008) Learn more about sharing testimonies in the Week #1 lesson.
Write your testimony down. You may want to help young children write what they feel. Consider scanning or taking a photo of hand-written testimonies to preserve in Memories on FamilySearch. You can also type directly into a document in memories. See instructions in The Family History Guide here.
Audio-Record Your Testimony
You may want to audio record your testimony. See ideas in Week #4 and Week #6, including this suggestion:
Read your testimony as an audio message on FamilySearch using the FamilySearch Memories Audio App, or the "Record My Story" feature on FamilySearch Discovery, or from FamilySearch memories on your computer (see this link). You could also record it without writing it first. Sharing in many ways and circumstances will leave no question about what you know and love. What a blessing for generations to come to hear your voice sharing the message you want them to remember!
Involve family members in the experience. As children and grandchildren record your words, they are hearing you share what means the most to you. Read more here.
The Sharing Basket
Write questions (see examples below) to encourage the sharing of faith-building feelings and experiences on slips of paper and place in a basket. Each member could write one question (or a parent or group leader could have the questions prepared ahead of time). Simplify for younger children:
What is a favorite scripture that helped develop your testimony?
When has the atonement been especially meaningful to you?
What counsel from the prophets did you follow to strengthen your testimony?
Share a time when someone's testimony strengthened yours.
What was a time when you especially felt the love of the Savior in your life?
Share a story of an ancestor's faith that has helped you in your life?
How have your parents or others taught you gospel truths?
In what ways can you show your gratitude for the life, teachings, and atonement of Jesus Christ?
As a family or group, take turns drawing one slip from the basket and sharing your feelings and gratitude for the Lord's hand in your lives (see also: O Remember, Remember, Henry B. Eyring, General Conference October 2007 watch a video clip here). If the group would like, this experience could be audio or video recorded. Audio recordings can be uploaded to FamilySearch (see links above). The following activity from this Come, Follow Me lesson might also be one you could record for personal and family histories:
How can you help your family members "rejoice in Christ"? Maybe you could invite them to write on slips of paper things about the Savior that bring them joy. Then, during future family home evenings or family scripture study, someone could read a slip. Family members could add slips throughout the year.
"Liken his words unto" yourself...Many of Isaiah's teachings have multiple possible meanings and applications. For example, his writings about the scattering and gathering of Israel might prompt you to think about your need to be "gathered" back to the Savior.
You might find it helpful to visualize yourself in the place of Nephi and his people. Imagine you fled from Jerusalem just before it was destroyed (see 2 Nephi 25:10), and now you are part of the scattering of Israel. How might it have felt to read Isaiah's teachings about the future gathering of Israel and a peaceful Millennium? As Latter-day Saints, we have been called to help gather God's people in the latter days in preparation for Christ's millennial reign. As you read these verses, ponder how you are helping fulfill the prophecies they describe. What do you feel inspired to do to help gather God's people?
Gathering Scattered Israel
You may want to watch the following video and discuss your part in the gathering of scattered Israel.
At the 2013 seminar for new mission presidents, David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught of the divine relationship between missionary work and the Spirit of Elijah. He called attention to teachings from Joseph Smith that the "greatest and most important duty" is to preach the gospel and that "the greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead." Some, said Elder Bednar, may wonder how both preaching the gospel and seeking after one's dead can simultaneously be the greatest duties and responsibilities God has placed upon His children. Elder Bednar explained: "My purpose is to suggest that these teachings highlight the unity and oneness of the latter-day work of salvation. Missionary work and family history and temple work are complementary and interrelated aspects of one great work, 'that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him'" (Ephesians 1:10) "... The artificial boundary line we so often place between missionary work and temple and family history work is being erased; this is one great work of salvation."
Talk about times when you or your ancestors felt the Spirit prompting action in your temple and family history efforts to help others. You might want to role-play missionary scenarios in which family history can be a tool for introducing someone to the gospel.
Divide into companionships and practice door approaches with this guidance from Preach My Gospel: "Talk to people about their families. Help them see how the restored gospel can be a blessing to their families. Offer to help them find the names of grandparents, great-grandparents, or other ancestors. Enlist the help of ward temple and family history consultants."
Practice using The Family History Guide as a resource to explain how to find and record information about ancestors. Practice what you might say to new converts about the temple blessings available to them, their families, and their ancestors. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel. Find more ideas here.
Preparing for April 2020 General Conference
President Russell M. Nelson closed the October 2019 general conference with an invitation for Latter-day Saints to prepare for the subsequent April 2020 general conference, 200 years since Joseph Smith's First Vision. The year 2020 will be designated as a bicentennial year. "General conference next April will be different from any previous conference. ... I hope that every member and every family will prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel."
The issue also provides a timeline that shows the events leading up to the Restoration and the Second Coming. One idea is to review the birthdates of your ancestors born during the early restoration and see where they fit in this timeline. Share their stories. You can also add custom events (such as those found in the above article) to FamilySearch timelines using instructions found here. Check out the Twile Timeline for more fun options.
Your Personal History
Write one brief story about your life as you study each Come, Follow Me lesson. By the end of the year, you will have compiled 50 stories to add to your personal history. Save as a story (also consider audio-recording it) and add it to your FamilySearch memories to preserve it. Use your own questions or those from (or inspired by) the #52 Stories Project below. For example:
When and how did the Lord prepare your ancestors to receive the gospel?
Write about any opportunities you have taken to share the gospel with others.
How has knowing the plan of salvation influenced you and your family?
How have the words of Isaiah brought you new knowledge?
Why are you looking forward to April Conference 2020?
