Teachings from Isaiah.

Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 8: 1-4

 1 Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness. Look unto the rock from whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit from whence ye are digged.

     What the Lord is asking here is look to where you came from, or look back to Adam and Eve or Abraham and Sarah.  I love reading about Abraham because he was promised so many things: his children would number like the stars in the sky, his children would be kings and queens, and inherit promised lands.
     Well we are his children.  We will receive these promises made to Abraham as we "follow after righteousness".

2 Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, she that bare you; for I called him alone, and blessed him.
     
     Here He is again, repeating His instruction but this time in a more obvious way.  I have found that is how the Lord works when I am given personal instruction through blessings.  He will often tell me something, giving me time to think about it myself.  The funny thing is, I usually miss the mark completely and then I am told exactly what He meant through another priesthood blessing given later.  

 3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

     Think about the garden of Eden, how wonderful it was described.  Everything was perfect and peaceful.  Now it doesn't say he will change our circumstances, but instead "he will make her wilderness like Eden", or in other words while we are in the middle of trials, we will feel like we are in the wonderful peaceful garden.  He will lift our burdens but not take them away.  That is of course if we look unto our Father Abraham who was a model of obedience and live righteously.  

 4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation; for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light for the people.

   Heavenly Father gives us commandments, not to bind us or keep us from living, but instead to be light for us.  So we can see our way back to Him.  So we can see how to live a full life full of joy and rest.  But of course only if we keep His law will we have the light to guide us.

Love,
    Becky joy