Great are Isaiah’s words,
Said the Savior in verse one,
Of third Nephi, twenty-three,
And searching them is fun!
Is this true? Are Isaiah’s words great and are they fun to search? According to author, Debbi Rollo, of Book of Mormon Rhymes: ISAIAH CHAPTERS, yes on both accounts! She has created a new way to not only get through the Isaiah Chapters in the Book of Mormon, but actually understand and enjoy them – through rhymes. Her engaging book of 285 short and catchy rhymes takes you through each of the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon.
Do you have a love-hate relationship with Isaiah? Many do. On one hand, Isaiah is one of the most quoted and beloved Prophets in all scripture. On the other hand, Isaiah is one of the most challenging to understand. Nephi, in the Book of Mormon claims that he delighted in the words of Isaiah and that “they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days…” (2 Nephi 25:8). We are the “them” in the last days, so it’s not surprising that today people of all faiths are being drawn to the words of Isaiah. The resurrected Savior commanded the Nephites “Search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.” (3 Nephi 23:1). We can trust the Savior when He says that they are great and we should search them. The question is, how can we delight in something that we can’t understand? One solution is through short and catchy rhymes.
Isaiah’s Writings to Bring You Closer to Christ
Isaiah’s writings are intended to bring you closer to Christ. His prophetic words are powerful and will be fulfilled, just as the Savior promised. The Lord wants His people to understand the words of Isaiah to help prepare for His return. Reading Isaiah’s words through rhymes is one way to become more familiar with his great messages.
Who was Isaiah? Isaiah was an Old Testament Prophet called of God who prophesied in Jerusalem from approximately 740-701 BC. His name comes from the Hebrew phrase, “yesha’yahu”, meaning “God saves.” Isaiah lived during the reigns of five kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh. He prophesied many things of the latter-days, using symbolism, allegories, and metaphors in his teachings. Isaiah died by being sawn in half by orders of the evil King Manasseh.
Why is Isaiah quoted in the Book of Mormon? Author, Debbi Rollo gives the following list of some of the reasons:
- Isaiah’s words will be of great worth in the last days, as Nephi states.
- There are commentaries that the Bible does not have (by Nephi, Jacob, and others who quote Isaiah)
- Isaiah’s words will be read MORE because they are in the Book of Mormon
- To correct translation errors (some of Isaiah’s writings have been changed through translation).
- To believe in Christ (Nephi tells his brothers he is quoting Isaiah to persuade them to believe in Christ)
- To know of things to come (the Lord wants us to be prepared).
Why Isaiah Rhymes?
Feeling unsettled for having skipped most of the Isaiah Chapters in her first book, Book of Mormon Rhymes, Debbi felt prompted to go back and write rhymes specifically for the Isaiah Chapters. By studying and comparing Isaiah commentaries, church resources, and other Isaiah sources, Debbi was able to create rhymes for all of the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon in hopes that Isaiah’s teachings will be better understood and enjoyed by all ages and all levels of understanding. Rhymes are also fun and easy to remember, such as Humpty Dumpty or Jack and Jill. Studies show that rhymes and poetry stimulate different parts of the brain that can help improve verbal skills, memory, encourages verbal analysis, and improves vocabulary. Where just reading scriptures focuses on primarily the left (logical) side of the brain, reading rhymes about the scriptures stimulates the right (creative) side, appealing to a different learning style that not only adds to creative thinking but also touches the heart.
SAMPLE ISAIAH RHYMES FROM AUTHOR’S BOOK:
Rhyme #5
STIFF NECK, 1 Nephi 20:4 (Compare Isaiah 48)
If your neck is still like iron,
You cannot turn to see,
Or bow down to pray to God,
And serve Him faithfully.
If your eyebrow is like brass,
You will not choose to be,
Thoughtful of the word of God,
Or serve Him faithfully.
1 Nephi 20:4 – “And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;”
Rhyme #82
NATIONS WILL FLOW, 2 Nephi 12:2 (Compare Isaiah 2)
The mountain of the Lord’s house,
(Covenant church of the Lord),
In the top of the mountains,
Where His gospel’s restored,
Covenant Israel will gather,
To the temple they’ll go,
Exalted – above the hills,
All nations will flow.
2 Nephi 12:2 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.”
The Author’s first book, Book of Mormon Rhymes: A Companion for Family Scripture Study, is a book of over 300 rhymes that take you through the entire Book of Mormon in short and catchy rhymes. This books was written as a companion for family scripture study, but as the Isaiah Rhymes book, it can also be read on its own to reinforce the wonderful stories and teachings found in the Book of Mormon in a fun and unique way.
About the Author
Debbi Rollo loves to create fun and engaging ways to make the scriptures more understandable and enjoyable. She is a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, baptized at age 21 by her husband, Craig, who introduced her to the gospel. Since joining the Church, she has fallen in love with reading the scriptures. Debbi is the mother of three biological children, six step-children, a grandmother, and has been a foster parent to dozens of individuals over the years. She and her husband care for adults with intellectual disabilities in their home and are raising two adopted grandchildren. Debbi has an entrepreneurial spirit and stays busy with new projects and ideas. She feels that one of her main missions in life is to inspire others to read, learn and love the Book of Mormon. Debbi lives in Orem, Utah.
Visit Debbi’s website and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://www.bookofmormonrhymes.com/
Her books are available at Amazon. To get your copy click the links below:
BOM Rhymes: Isaiah Chapters: CLICK HERE
BOM Rhymes: CLICK HERE
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