The Prince of Peace
“His Name Shall Be Called … The Prince of Peace”
O how great the ____ of our God
Fill in the blank. Find something that is not on the list and share your thoughts by commenting below.
- Wisdom (verse 8)
- Mercy (verses 8, 19, 53)
- Grace (verses 8, 53)
- Goodness (verse 10)
- Greatness (verses 17, 40)
- Justice (verse 17)
- Holiness (verse 20)
- Righteousness (verse 41)
Infinite Atonement, How do you embrace it?
I have a book, Infinite Atonement, written by my former Stake President. He was a member of the Seventy or Sunday School. This chapter talks of the Savior and his provided gift, resurrection. It is very clear in this chapter and adds confidence to me.
The Cross, How do you feel about it?
I went to Tucson to see my Aunt and Cousins from my Mother’s hometown community of Binghampton in Tucson.
We had a great weekend to reflect on our family and history. In fact, as a note to San Diego residents, my Mom’s early childhood community was founded by a member of the Mormon battalion, Erastus Bingham Jr. It was eventually settled by him and his son Nephi Bingham and his wife Elizabeth Dalkin. We spent time at the Binghampton Ward, Binghampton Community, and Binghampton Cemetary.
Aunt Audrey, through marriage and other circumstances, is not regularly participating with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My faithful and faith-filled Aunt married a Catholic and has participated with several other Christain Churches and charities. Aunt Audrey remains to me a Saint and faithful daughter of God. All the things she says to me will spiritually capture my attention.
In the Binghampton cemetery, my Aunt commented to me about the negative feelings she hears or sees regarding the Cross and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Brother and Sisters, I respect the Cross and consider it a great religious symbol and of key importance to me and many of those in Christian faiths. It is part of the Infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is part of my stepdad’s and Aunt’s faith. It is a part of me, though I have never worn a cross. Somehow the cross, through my family has snuck its way into the Binghampton Cemetary. I am an advocate of my family’s traditions and am glad to see the cross on my Mother’s headstone.
The preferred symbols used in representing Jesus are His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Resurrected Lord in the Christus statue. We have a unique symbol of the Angel Moroni that adorns the top of the temples. Inside temples and churches, we have Gospel Art. This art can contain images of Christ on the Cross. Google will show art with crucifixion related to the Church.
The atonement is power over sin and death. It leads us to overcome the death, and grave and reach towards our advocate who is the Living Christ. Jesus’s atonement includes His death on the cross.
Isaiah sees The Lord
Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah all testify of Christ. Each feels bolstered by the powerful testament that Christ visited them.
2 Nephi 11:2 .. for he verily saw my Redeemer
2 Nephi 16:1 … I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne …
2 Nephi 16:5 … for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.
2 Nephi 16:5 …thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Thanks to Nephi, Isaiah’s writings
Nephi’s diligent efforts to write the words of Isaiah, as mentioned in 2 Nephi 11, have often resonated with me deeply. I’ve found profound depth in his writings, and Isaiah’s writings at times, I’ve even felt that Nephi’s revelation to do so has impacted me in unexpected ways.
March 2, 2024, as I prepared for a Sunday School lesson, I felt a sense of trepidation about discussing this subject. Yet, as I delved into Isaiah’s prophecies and contemplated the Holy One of Israel, Immanuel, Jesus Christ, and His Atonement, the Spirit overwhelmed me with inspiration.
I’m compelled to share a profound experience I had in a dream, which remains vivid in my memory to this day. In this dream, I stood on a terraced road amidst a hill, surrounded by others. From a distance, I saw the figure of the Savior walking towards us.
As He drew nearer, many affirmed His identity. While some around me fell in fear, I was filled with a profound spiritual feeling and remained standing.
The Savior acknowledged me as He passed by.
In that moment, I was overcome by a profound sense of grace, mercy, and love. It felt as though initial self-judgment had transformed into a day filled with overwhelming compassion.
Gazing upon Him, I felt a deep connection and understanding of His atoning sacrifice.
While this dream may seem surreal to some, its impact on me has been undeniably real. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith and the boundless love of our Savior.
I believe that if I can have such an experience, then surely many others should seek and obtain their own confirming experiences of Jesus and the Atonement if they have not already done so.
Mountain of the Lord, Temples
2 Nephi 12:2,3 There is a pattern that the Lord reveals in the top of mountains, or in our modern case the temple.
At one period of time, every week, for over a year I felt a bolstering of Spirit as I raced to and embraced the Lord’s covenants.
Make Speed, evil good and good evil
Contextual Contrast: The negative tone in the surrounding verses serves to emphasize the importance of seeking divine guidance and wisdom (verse 19). It highlights the contrast between those who are immersed in sin and vanity (verses 18 and 20) and those who earnestly seek the counsel of God.
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Highlighting Irony or Hypocrisy: Verse 19 may highlight the irony or hypocrisy of those who, despite their sinful ways, still call for God’s intervention or revelation. It could be interpreted as a sarcastic portrayal of individuals who disregard moral principles yet still expect divine assistance.
Verse 19 by itself.
A call to action. Urging individuals to move swiftly and diligently in their work or endeavors related to the Holy One of Israel.
Uniting one’s will with God. The mention of ‘the counsel of the Holy One of Israel’ suggests a desire for divine guidance and wisdom, implying a plea for the alignment of one’s own will with that of God’s. This interpretation views the passage as a prayerful surrender, seeking for one’s will to become aligned with the Lord’s will, and asking for His counsel to be revealed or made known.”
A request for a vision. Expressing a longing for the manifestation of God’s power and presence. The phrase “that we may see it” implies a desire for tangible evidence or revelation of God’s workings and intentions among His people.
A request for revelation. The passage might be understood as a call for clarity and understanding regarding God’s plans and purposes. The phrase “that we may know it” suggests a longing for insight and revelation into God’s will and designs for His people.
A call for action in-order-to bolster one’s faith. It could be seen as a prayerful request for both swift action and divine guidance, acknowledging the importance of human effort while also recognizing the need for God’s wisdom and intervention, as such gifts are the foundation of faith.
Wonderful Counselor - Culture
Often we think of ourselves as broken, reaching for the atonement of Jesus Christ. This yoke seems reversed, perhaps a cleansing through Christ and the ultimate broken yoke.
The Messiah became a part of my life through music almost every Christmas I was married to Tamara. I miss being cultured.
The message an love of the writing of Isaiah comes down to the Savior and his hand of justice and mercy.