Isaiah wrote about what he saw looking into the future and revealed things of future generations. In Come, Follow Me we learn so much about how his revelations pertain to our own time—the last days—and the great Millennium that will follow.
Our modern day prophets have done the same. One of these can be found in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” where we receive warning and wisdom for our day. In paragraph eight we read, “We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.”
Like Isaiah, our modern prophets have provided warnings for us collectively, as a people, but they are filled with individual, personal caution and counsel as well. Our individual behavior contributes to the whole; our impact can build or degrade.
That is such hopeful news. When we feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the world around us, we can be comforted knowing the choices and sacrifices for good that we make in our individual lives and homes make a difference.
“Through self-discipline and devotion we must demonstrate to the Lord that we are willing to serve him under all circumstances. When we have done this, we shall receive an assurance that we shall have eternal life in the world to come. Then we shall have peace in this world.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1949, pp. 39, 43–44.)
From this week’s lesson we are reminded that the Lord is “more powerful than Babylon, than sin, than whatever is holding us captive. ‘Return unto me,’ He pleads, ‘for I have redeemed thee’ (Isaiah 44:22). He can heal, restore, strengthen, forgive, and comfort—whatever is needed” for us to be redeemed and contribute with our efforts, to Zion.
“Peace … as a river” (Isaiah 48:18) within our personal lives and homes is a future we can all have as we listen and follow ancient and modern warnings for our day.