Out of the Dust
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 39, “A Marvellous Work and a Wonder,” on Gospel Library
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Isaiah describes a voice that speaks “out of the ground” and a book that a learned man cannot read.
Read Together
Nephi saw his own people in verse 4. Their record would be buried, and in the last days their words would speak out of the dust (2 Nephi 26:15–16). Moroni buried the gold plates in a hill, and Joseph Smith received them there on September 22, 1827.
11And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
18And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
What It Teaches
In 1828, Martin Harris showed a scholar in New York City some writing copied off the plates. The scholar, Charles Anthon, asked him to bring the plates. Martin said part of them were sealed, and Anthon said he could not read a sealed book (Joseph Smith’s account). The learned man in verse 11 says almost the same thing.
Verse 12 gives the book to someone who says, “I am not learned.” Joseph Smith had little schooling. He translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.
Then verse 18 says “the deaf” will “hear the words of the book.” People who had never heard the Savior’s voice would find it in the Book of Mormon. It was written to show the whole world that Jesus is the Christ.
Verse 24 ends the chapter with a promise for anyone who has wandered. “They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding.”
Talk About It
The Lord gave the book to someone who said, “I am not learned.” What does that tell you about what the Lord can do through you?
Take to Church
Isaiah saw the Book of Mormon speak “out of the ground” more than a thousand years before Moroni buried the plates.