Isaiah 50–57

Consider beginning by discussing the following statement by President Dallin H. Oaks:

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In a Saturday evening meeting at a stake conference many years ago, I met a woman who said her friends had asked her to come back to church after many years of inactivity, but she could not think of any reason why she should. To encourage her, I said, “When you consider all of the things the Savior has done for you, you have many reasons to come back to worship and serve Him.” I was astonished when she replied, “What’s He done for me?” (“What Has Our Savior Done for Us?,” Liahona, May 2021, 75)

• How might you respond if you were asked a similar question?

Encourage students to reflect on their own feelings about what Jesus Christ has done for them. Encourage them as they study today to pay attention to promptings from the Holy Ghost that can help them to recognize what the Savior has done for them and to feel greater appreciation for Him.

Explain that Isaiah 53 contains a powerful prophecy about the life and Atonement of Jesus Christ. To prepare students to study this chapter, you could have them create the following table:

Invite students to study Isaiah 53:1–12 and record in their table any insights they gain. To help students to practice the skill “Finding the Meaning of Words and Phrases” in Scripture Study Skills, you could encourage them to use resources such as footnotes, dictionaries, or Scripture Helps: Old Testament to find the meaning of various words and phrases in Isaiah 53. If desired, you could also invite them to study Alma 7:11–13 and cross-reference these verses with Isaiah 53.

After sufficient time, invite students to share insights from their study with a partner or small group. You could also discuss questions like the following together as a class:

• What did these verses help you understand or feel about the Savior?

• How could you summarize what you studied as a statement of truth? (Using their own words, students could identify a truth like this one: Jesus Christ suffered for the transgressions, pains, and iniquities of all so that we can be forgiven and healed.)

• What difference can it make in your life to remember these things about the Savior?

You might also consider showing the video “The Wounded Shall Be Healed” (5:46).

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Remind students of the question asked of President Oaks at the beginning of the activity: “What’s [Jesus Christ] done for me?” You might encourage students to write a response to that question based on what they have learned today. After sufficient time, you could ask a few willing students to share their response with the class.

To conclude, consider sharing this invitation from President Russell M. Nelson:

I urge you to devote time each week—for the rest of your life—to increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. (“The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Liahona, Nov. 2024, 122)

Give students time to set goals and create a study plan to learn more about Jesus Christ and His Atonement. You could follow up on their progress in a future lesson.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

You could begin by discussing the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson:

The great gathering of Israel … is the most important work taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude. Nothing else compares in importance. The Lord’s missionaries—His disciples—are engaged in the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, the greatest work on earth today.

… There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing.

This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth. (“The Gathering of Israel,” in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson [2024], Gospel Library)

• How would you define the gathering of Israel? (If students need help, you could share President Nelson’s statement that “anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel” [“The Gathering of Israel,” Gospel Library].)

• Why do you think the gathering of Israel “is the most important work taking place on earth today?”

• What evidence do you see that the gathering of Israel is taking place today?

Invite students to ponder how important it is for them to participate in the gathering of Israel. Encourage them as they study today to look for truths that can help them better understand their role in this work.

To help students understand context related to Isaiah’s teachings they will study today, consider displaying the following image as you share the explanation in the next paragraph.

Isaiah witnessed the scattering of the Northern Kingdom of Israel because of its wickedness (see 2 Kings 17:6–23) and prophesied that because of the wickedness of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, it too would be conquered (see Isaiah 39:5–7). He also prophesied of the latter-day gathering of Israel.

To help students study Isaiah’s prophecies about the gathering of Israel, consider distributing the handout “Isaiah’s Teachings about the Gathering of Israel in Isaiah 52; 54.” Invite students to complete one study activity on the handout individually, with a partner, or in small groups.

After sufficient time to complete the handout, invite students to share insights they gained. As part of this discussion, they could identify truths like the following: We can feel great joy as we share the Savior’s gospel and The gathering of Israel is a demonstration of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love and mercy.

You might also discuss some of the students’ answers to questions from the handout or questions like the following:

• What recent experiences have you had with participating in the gathering of Israel?

• What have you learned about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ today that you want to remember?

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

You could begin by singing or reading the words of the hymn “Come unto Jesus” (Hymns, no. 117). Invite students to notice the different groups of people invited to “come unto Jesus” in the hymn. Students could also ponder which of these groups they most closely identify with and how coming to Christ could make a difference for them.

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You could then discuss the following statement by President Henry B. Eyring:

The words “come unto Christ” are an invitation. … It is the most important invitation anyone could accept. (“Come Unto Christ,” Ensign, Mar. 2008, 49)

• How would you describe what it means to come unto Christ?

• Why do you think this is the most important invitation anyone could accept?

Explain that Isaiah 55 contains a prophecy of Israel’s future redemption. He described blessings the Israelites could receive by choosing to come unto the Lord as His covenant people.

Invite students to read Isaiah 55:1–9, looking for what Isaiah taught about the Lord. Consider asking questions like the following to help students share their insights:

• What do you think Isaiah was teaching through his symbolic language in verses 1–2?

• Based on what you studied in verses 1–9, why would you say it is important to come unto Christ? (Students could identify multiple truths as part of this discussion, including ones like the following: Jesus Christ can bring lasting satisfaction to our souls. If we come unto Jesus Christ, we can receive His mercy and obtain eternal life. Jesus Christ is all-knowing, and His ways are higher than ours.)

• How can remembering these truths about the Savior impact our desire to come unto Him?

To help students deepen their understanding, consider inviting them to find cross-references that relate to one or more of the teachings they studied in Isaiah 55. They could use footnotes, Guide to the Scriptures, or other resources to help them find related scriptures. This can give students an opportunity to practice the skill “Linking Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.

After sufficient time, invite students to share a scripture they found with a partner or small group. Have students explain how that scripture relates to one of the teachings from Isaiah 55. You might also discuss questions like the following together as a class:

• What has helped you see the value of following Jesus Christ?

• When have you recognized that His ways are higher than ours?

Encourage students to reflect on what the Lord would have them do to better live the truths they have studied today. Invite them to write their plans or other impressions they have received from the Holy Ghost in their personal notes.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”