Comfort Ye My People – Isaiah 40-49

Gathered in this post are resources to help you teach your family not only the stories of the people in the Old Testament but also the doctrine and principles found in the study block for the Come, Follow Me reading of Isaiah 40-49. There are resources for children, youth, and adults. Every resource linked to is free! Most links are to church websites or websites approved for further gospel study. Choose on thing a day to do with your family or a couple to do for family home evening. Enjoy!

Everyone

Music – How Firm a Foundation – Listen to the Tabernacle Choir sing this beloved hymn with words from Isaiah.

Video – Inspiring Short: Jesus Christ Perfectly Knows Our Burdens | David A. Bednar – (1:15 minutes)

Video – The Wounded Shall Be Healed – Our wounds in this life can come from any number of trials. Patiently move forward, and the Savior’s healing power will bring light, peace, and hope. (5:45 minutes)

Video – A Witness of God – Neil L. Andersen describes how all of God’s children are pieces of a large puzzle in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (2:40 minutes)

Primary Children

I can help prepare “the way of the Lord.” Isaiah 40:3-5

Article – How can I be a good example? – Elder Cook offers four ways we can be good examples.

Article – Don’t Delay – Henry B. Eyring discusses the importance of preparing every day to do the right thing.

Story – All Because a Child Knew the Articles of Faith – Thomas S. Monson tells the story of a girl who shared the Articles of Faith with another traveler on a bus. After the experience, the man looked up the Church and he and his family were all baptized.

Video – Know Your Purpose – Two sisters, a returned missionary and a prospective missionary, discuss what preparation is necessary and helpful to be effective as representatives of the Lord to those seeking the truth. (3:28 mintues)

The Lord is with me in my trials. Isaiah 41:10; 43:1–5; 48:10

Article – Question Corner – Heavenly Father sometimes helps me with small things, but why doesn’t He always help with bigger things, like healing someone who has a serious sickness?

Story – Grumbling Peter – Peter’s life has become hard since his baby twin brothers were born, but he learns in Primary that Jesus loves him.

Story – Holding onto Hope – Emma stands tall by continuing to be strong even while battling leukemia.

I can be a witness of the Lord. Isaiah 43:10

Activity – Testimony Building Blocks – An activity using building blocks to talk about elements of a testimony.

Activity – What is a Testimony? – Coloring Page

Article – How can I be a witness of Jesus Christ? – D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares some thoughts on this subject.

Story – Daddy, Tell Him the Truth – Four-year-old Ashley encourages her father to bear his testimony when they are visiting an inactive member.

Story – Gunnar’s Testimony – Gunnar learns a testimony is something you believe and feel inside.

“Beside me there is no saviour.” Isaiah 43:11

Activity – Jesus is My Savior – Color in each sun ray as you read the sentences. Color the rest of the picture.

Activity – Remembering Jesus Christ – Create a colorful mosaic around a picture of Jesus.

Article – God’s Great Gift – Russell M. Nelson shares his gratitude for the Savior and His Atonement and Resurrection.

Article – He Broke the Bands of Death – Patrick Kearon of the Seventy shares how he and his wife taught their children about the Atonement.

Poem – I Find the Savior – A poem about finding the Savior when we follow His example.

Keeping God’s commandments brings peace. Isaiah 48:18

Activity – I Obey Jesus Christ Because I Love Him – Thoughts on how we feel the Savior’s love when we are keeping his commandments. Includes four activity ideas.

Activity/Article – Decide Right Now – Thomas S. Monson teaches that it is easier to obey commandments 100 percent of the time than 98 percent of the time. Also includes two simple activities.

Story – Drive-Through Decision – Jacob sets a good example for his family when he decides to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Story – Safe Ground – A family learns about the importance of staying on safe ground while visiting Yellowstone National Park and compares it to following the commandments.

The Lord will never forget me. Isaiah 49:14-16

Activity/Article – God Is Our Father – Thomas S. Monson shares some truths about our Heavenly Father and our relationship to Him. Includes an simple matching activity using pictures and information from “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”

Article – I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me – Even though we cannot remember living with Heavenly Father, He remembers and loves each of us.

Sunday School – Youth and Adults

Video – The Baby Blessing of Christ – Book of Mormon Central (4:50 minutes)

Jesus Christ can comfort me and give me hope. Isaiah 40-49

Article – A Perfectness Brightness of Hope – Because the Restoration reaffirmed the foundational truth that God does work in this world, we can hope, we should hope, even when facing the most insurmountable odds.

Article – Worthiness is not Flawlessness – When you feel like you have failed too many times to keep trying, remember Christ’s Atonement and the grace it makes possible are real.

Video – Finding Comfort From Isaiah – Book of Mormon Central (4:36 minutes)

Video – I Have Graven Thee Upon the Palms of My Hands – Book of Mormon Central (14:53 minutes)

God’s power is greater than worldly power. Isaiah 40:3–8, 15–23; 42:15–16; 47:7–11

Article – Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light – The emblems of the Savior’s Atonement remind us that we need not stumble in darkness. We can have His light with us always.

Article – The Power of Spiritual Momentum – I would like to suggest five specific actions we can take to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum.

Video – What Isaiah Says About Overcoming Fierce Challenges  – Book of Mormon Central (4:21 minutes)

Video – Spiritual Whirlwinds – Don’t let the whirlwinds drag you down. These are your days—to stand strong as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2:24 minutes)

“Thou art my servant.” Isaiah 41:8–13; 42:1–7; 43:9–12; 44:21–28; 45:1–4; 48:10; 49:1–9

Article – Eyes to See – Through the power of the Holy Ghost, Christ will enable us to see ourselves and see others as He does.

Article – Just as He Did – As we seek to minister just as He did, we will be provided opportunities to forget self and lift others.

Article – A Noble Responsibility for Good – We each have a noble responsibility for good, and we should not underestimate the amount of influence we can have if we are intentional.

“Ye are my witnesses.” Isaiah 40:1–3, 9–11; 43:8–13; 48:20–21; 49:1–9

Article – Stand as a Witness – You have all you need to stand strong and firm and true because you have the Lord on your side.

Article – Of This Cause I Testify – In a world where gospel standards and worldly standards are growing farther apart, it is up to us to testify of Christ in word and deed.

Video – Inviting All to Come Unto Christ: Sharing the gospel – When Junior, a young man in a small Florida branch, decided he didn’t want to be alone in his belief in Christ, he invited a friend. One friend joined, then another, and another…. (4:26 minutes)

Video – Seeking the One True God – Book of Mormon Central (10:11 minutes)

Video – Isaiah 48 and Nephi’s Journey to the Promised Land – Isaiah 48 and 49 are quoted in their entirety at the end of 1 Nephi. It may seem odd to conclude a gripping story about crossing the ocean by copying and pasting in two chapters of prophecies from Isaiah. But these chapters likely held special meaning for Nephi as he likened them to himself. These chapters can give us hope in the redemption of Jesus Christ, and they can strengthen our faith in the power of prophecy. (5:04 minutes)

The Lord can refine us through our afflictions. Isaiah 48:10; 49:13–16

Article – Hard Sayings and Safe Spaces: Making Room for Struggle as Well as Faith – Eric D. Huntsman explains how “hard sayings,” which can undeniably be a source of struggle in our lives, can also serve to deepen and strengthen our faith.

Article – Infuriating Unfairness – Jesus Christ both understands unfairness and has the power to provide a remedy.

Video – The Refiner’s Fire – The refiner’s fire is not a comfortable place to be. It involves intense heat and repeated hammering. But it is in the refiner’s fire we are purified and prepared to meet God. (5:02 minutes)

Youth Doctrinal Topics

What Are Our Responsibilities in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation?

Article – I Have a Work for Thee – Every one of us has a meaningful role to play in furthering God’s work.

Article – Simply Beautiful – Beautifully Simple – May we keep the gospel simple as we take upon us our divinely appointed responsibilities.

Video – President Nelson Challenges Youth to Participate in ‘Greatest Cause’ on Earth – “I am inviting every young woman and every young man between the ages of 12 and 18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel,” said President Nelson, who challenged youth to participate in what he called “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today.” (3:12 minutes)

Adults

Article – The God of Israel and the Nations (Isaiah 36–47) – Old Testament Institute Manual

Article – Isaiah and the Messiah– BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – Isaiah’s “Other” Servant Songs – BYU Religious Studies Center

Video – Discussions on the Old Testament – Great are the Words of Isaiah, part 5 Isaiah 36-44 – Examine Isaiah’s poetry and prophecies as they correspond with the history in 2 Kings. BYUtv (27:59 minutes)

Video – Discussions on the Old Testament – Great are the Words of Isaiah, part 6 Isaiah 45-52 – Continue studying the words of Isaiah with BYU scholars. BYUtv (28:14 minutes)

Video – Insights into Isaiah – Find the episodes that discuss this week’s chapters. Come study the words of Isaiah with religious scholars. BYUtv

Video – Come, Follow Me Insights: Isaiah 40-49 – Listen to and study the words of the Savior as He comforts His people. Joshua Sears joins Taylor and Tyler to continue the discussion of the words of Isaiah. Book of Mormon Central (1:17:19 mintues)