Isaiah 1–12

You could begin class by inviting students to do one of the following.

1. Find a favorite image of the Savior. Ask them to share what they feel the image portrays about Jesus Christ.

2. Find a favorite scripture about the Savior. Ask them to share what they learn about the Savior from that passage.

Invite students to ponder how often they look for the Savior as they study the gospel. Encourage them to seek the Holy Ghost’s guidance as they study Isaiah to find truths about the Savior that are relevant to their lives.

Explain that the prophet Isaiah ministered in Jerusalem for about 40 years. He died approximately 100 years before Lehi and his family departed from Jerusalem. (For more context related to the book of Isaiah, see “What is the book of Isaiah?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.)

Invite students to read 1 Nephi 19:23, looking for why Nephi read Isaiah’s words to his brothers. As students share what they found, consider helping them identify the following truth: Studying the words of Isaiah can help us believe more fully in Jesus Christ.

Explain that Isaiah testified of Jesus Christ in many ways, including (1) teaching about His names and titles, (2) using symbols that testify of Him, and (3) describing His divine character and attributes.

To help students find examples of these concepts from Isaiah, consider distributing the handout titled “Focusing on Jesus Christ in the Scriptures” from Scripture Study Skills.

Invite students to study some or all of the following verses, looking for what Isaiah taught about Jesus Christ. They could use the handout to guide their study.

• Isaiah 1:16–18

• Isaiah 6:1–8

• Isaiah 7:14

• Isaiah 9:6–7

• Isaiah 11:1–5

• Isaiah 12:1–5

Consider listing the following phrases as three headings on the board:

• Names and Titles

• Symbols

• Character and Attributes

You could invite students to come to the board and list one or two things they learned from their study below the appropriate heading. You could also invite students to expound on what they learned by asking questions like the following:

• What was something you learned about the Savior that was especially meaningful to you?

• How can it be helpful to remember this about the Savior?

To conclude, consider sharing President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation from the video “Prophets, Leadership, and Divine Law” (watch from time code 23:00 to 26:19). Alternatively, you could share the following statement by President Nelson:

29:25

The more we know about the Savior’s ministry and mission—the more we understand His doctrine and what He did for us—the more we know that He can provide the power that we need for our lives. (“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 39)

Encourage students to consider how they can focus on Jesus Christ as they study Isaiah and other scriptures. In a future lesson, you might follow up with students about what additional insights they have learned about Him.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

Consider discussing the following statement by President Dallin H. Oaks and the accompanying questions:

Repentance is a joy. It is an important part of God’s plan. We all need to repent. (“Repentance Is Joyful!,” Friend, Sept. 2024, 2)

• What are some of the negative emotions people sometimes associate with repentance? Why do you think it can be easy to feel this way?

• In what ways is repentance a joy?

Invite students to consider their own feelings about repentance and their willingness to repent when they sin. Encourage them as they study today to look for truths that can help them better understand the Lord’s perspective about repentance.

Explain that the prophet Isaiah lived during a time of widespread wickedness. Many of his teachings were intended to warn his people of the consequences of their sins and encourage them to repent. (For more context related to Isaiah, see “What is the book of Isaiah?” and “Isaiah 1. What is significant about Isaiah 1? ” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.)

Invite students to search Isaiah 1:2–4, looking for symbols Isaiah used to describe the spiritual condition of the Israelites. Invite students to share what they discovered.

Then invite students to read Isaiah 1:16–18, looking for the Lord’s invitations and promises.

You could display the following images and ask the following question to help students better understand the symbolism of Isaiah’s teachings. (For more ideas, see “Understanding Symbolism in the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.)

• What can the symbols of scarlet and crimson teach us about sin? (As part of your discussion, you could share the following statement by Sister Sharon Eubank, formerly of the Relief Society General Presidency.)

The scarlet dye of the Old Testament was not only colorful but also colorfast, meaning that its vivid color stuck to the wool and would not fade no matter how many times it was washed. Satan wields this reasoning like a club: white wool stained scarlet can never go back to being white. But Jesus Christ declares, “My ways [are] higher than your ways” [Isaiah 55:9], and the miracle of His grace is that when we repent of our sins, His scarlet blood returns us to purity. It isn’t logical, but it is nevertheless true. (“Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 75)

• What can the symbols of snow and wool teach us about the Lord’s promise to us when we repent? (Students could identify a truth like this one: If we sincerely repent, Jesus Christ will cleanse us from our sins.)

To help students deepen their understanding of this truth, consider inviting them to take a few minutes to find scriptures or statements from Church leaders that provide additional insights on repentance and forgiveness.

After sufficient time, invite them to share their insights with a partner or small group. You could then invite a few students to share their insights with the entire class.

To help students feel the power of Jesus Christ to forgive, you could show the video “There Is No Limit to God’s Love | His Grace” (5:38).

5:37

You could also share the following statement by Sister Tamara W. Runia of the Young Women General Presidency:

Heaven isn’t for people who’ve been perfect; it’s for people who’ve been forgiven, who choose Christ again and again. …

I testify that while God cares about our mistakes, He cares more about what happens after we make a mistake. Are we going to turn to Him again and again? Are we going to stay in this covenant relationship?

Maybe you hear the Lord’s words “If [you] love me, keep my commandments” [John 14:15] and feel deflated because you haven’t kept all the commandments. Let me remind you that it is also a commandment to repent! In fact, it might be the most repeated commandment in the scriptures. (“Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy,” Liahona, May 2025, 90)

Invite students to ponder any impressions they felt from the Holy Ghost today. Encourage them to make a plan for how they will more fully implement the doctrine of repentance in their life.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

Consider beginning by discussing the following statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith:

Prophets, priests and kings … have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have sung and written and prophesied of this our day; but they died without the sight; we are the favored people that God has made choice of to bring about the Latter-day glory. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 513)

• Why do you think people of the past looked forward to our day?

Invite students to consider their own feelings about living in the last days. Encourage them as they study today to look for truths that help them better recognize the significance of living in our time.

Remind students that the prophet Isaiah frequently prophesied of events that would occur in the last days. Explain that students will have an opportunity to study some of these prophecies in this learning activity. (For more context about the book of Isaiah, see “What is the book of Isaiah?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.)

Invite students to read one or more of the following sets of verses, along with the corresponding entries in Scripture Helps: Old Testament. Have students ponder how the prophecies they study are being fulfilled in our day.

After sufficient time, give students the opportunity to share what they learned with a partner or small group. You could also discuss questions like the following together as a class:

• Which prophecies stood out to you the most? Why?

• What are some truths you learned from the verses you studied?

Consider writing students’ responses to the second question on the board. They could identify multiple truths, including truths like the following:

• As we attend the temple and obey the Lord, He will teach us of His ways (see Isaiah 2:2–4).

• The Lord restored His gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith (see Isaiah 11:1–2).

• The Lord’s restored Church is an ensign to gather people to the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Isaiah 11:10–12).

Invite students to select one of the truths on the board that they would like to know more about. Using the scriptures or other resources in Gospel Library, have them look for additional information that could deepen their understanding of that truth. After sufficient time, invite them to find a partner and take turns teaching each other what they learned.

Invite students to select one or more of the following questions to write about in their notes or study journal:

• What have you learned or felt today that can help you feel excitement about living in the last days?

• What did you learn about your role in the last days? What are some ways you can fulfill your role?

You could invite a few students to share what they wrote. Testify of the blessings of living in the last days.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

Consider beginning the lesson by showing the video “Watchful unto Prayer Continually” (watch from time code 1:28 to 6:07).

15:59

Alternatively, you could share the following statement by Elder David A. Bednar:

To me, cheetahs are sleek, alluring, and captivating creatures. A cheetah’s yellowish-tan to greyish-white coat with black spots acts as a beautiful disguise that makes these animals almost invisible as they stalk their prey in the African grasslands.

In a similar way, spiritually dangerous ideas and actions frequently can appear to be attractive, desirable, or pleasurable. Thus, in our contemporary world, each of us needs to be aware of beguiling bad that pretends to be good. (“Watchful unto Prayer Continually,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 33)

After showing the video or reading the statement, you could discuss questions like the these:

• What are some examples of “spiritually dangerous ideas and actions” that “can appear to be attractive, desirable, or pleasurable”? (Write students’ answers on the board so you can refer to them later in the learning activity.)

• Why is it important for you to recognize “beguiling bad that pretends to be good”?

Invite students to ponder how well they feel they are doing at recognizing spiritually dangerous ideas and actions. Encourage them as they study today to look for truths that can help them discern truth from error.

Explain that Isaiah illustrated the Lord’s love for Israel using the allegory of a vineyard. After the Lord lovingly blessed Israel, their sinful choices to disobey the commandments and break the covenant caused them to become like “wild grapes.” As a result, God removed His protection and help (see Isaiah 5:4–7).

Invite students to read the Lord’s warning to Israel in Isaiah 5:11–23, looking for behaviors the Lord condemned. (As needed, you could explain that “woe” means intense sorrow or suffering. The Lord tried to teach the Israelites that their sinful choices were turning them away from Him and leading to sorrow and suffering.) Invite students to share what they found.

Consider reading verse 20 again, and then write the following truth on the board: The Lord warns us against calling evil good and good evil. You might also ask:

• What examples can you think of in the scriptures where people call “evil good, and good evil?” (If students need help, they could search some of the following scriptures: 1 Nephi 8:26–28, 31–34; Jacob 7:1–13; Alma 30:12–18, 22–28.)

Consider drawing students’ attention to the list of spiritually dangerous actions and ideas on the board. You could then invite them to discuss questions like the following with a partner or small group:

• What is the danger of calling evil good and good evil?

• Why is it sometimes difficult to discern between what is good and what is evil?

Invite students to study some or all of the following scriptures, looking for what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have blessed us with to help us discern between good and evil. You could also invite students to link these verses to Isaiah 5:20 as cross-references in their scriptures.

• 1 Nephi 15:23–24

• 2 Nephi 32:3–5

• Moroni 7:16–19

• Doctrine and Covenants 11:12–13

• Doctrine and Covenants 21:1, 4–6

Invite students to share their insights with the class. You might also ask:

• What can these verses help you understand about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• How have these resources helped you discern truth from error?

Consider giving students time to reflect on how the truths they have studied today could influence their actions. Encourage them to record ideas or spiritual impressions they received from the Holy Ghost.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”