Peace as a River
General conference begins today. This lesson is short enough to fit between sessions.
Start
Today prophets and apostles speak at general conference. Isaiah 48 describes what happens when people listen to the Lord and do what he says.
Read Together
For years Israel ignored the Lord’s messengers (Isaiah 48:4–8). In verses 17 and 18 he speaks to them as their Redeemer and their teacher.
17Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. 18O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
What It Teaches
In verse 17 the Lord calls himself the one “which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” His commandments are how he teaches and how he leads.
Verse 18 compares the peace that comes from hearkening to a river. A pond can dry up in a hot summer. A river keeps flowing because it is fed from upstream. Peace that comes from following the Lord keeps coming through hard weeks, because he is its source.
President Russell M. Nelson pointed out that the first word in the Doctrine and Covenants is hearken. “It means ‘to listen with the intent to obey.’”
President Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” General conference, April 2020
Conference weekend is a good time to practice. Listen for one thing the Lord wants your family to do, and then do it.
Talk About It
What is one question or need each of us can bring to conference, so we know what to listen for?
Take to Church
When we listen to the Lord and do what he says, our peace keeps flowing like a river.