SUNDAY SCHOOL & SEMINARY Interactive Activities – SEPTEMBER (week 3) Come Follow Me – Old Testament Lesson 38 “A Marvellous Work and a Wonder” (Isaiah 13-14; 24-30; 35)

Like Nephi, members of your class may have delighted in Isaiah’s witness of Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 11:2 “for my soul delighteth in his words”). 2 Nephi 4:15 “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures … (see activity below). You might ask them to share any verses they found in their reading this week that taught them about the Savior. Or you could invite class members to share what they learn about Jesus Christ from Isaiah 24:21–23; 25:6–8; (see “wipe tears” activity below) 26:19; 28:16 or other verses that you found in your study. Why are these truths valuable to us?

This week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families suggests pondering some of the metaphors Isaiah used to describe the consequences of turning away from the Lord and rejecting His prophets. Invite class members to share what they learned. Or you could invite them to each review one of the following passages: Isaiah 24:1–5; 28:7–8; 29:7–10; 30:8–14. Based on what they read, they could complete this sentence: “If we turn away from the Lord, we are like …” What can we do to stay faithful to the Lord and avoid apostasy? (See “Additional Resources” for some suggestions.) How does the Lord bless those who stay faithful to Him?

To begin a discussion about the attitudes and behaviors that can lead us to apostasy, you could invite class members to search Isaiah 24:1–5; 28:1–8; 29:7–10; 30:8–14. Ask them to search for things that people in Isaiah’s time were thinking and doing. Make a warning label on the board that says Warning: The following attitudes and behaviors can lead to apostasy (see activity below CYCLE OF HISTORY). Class members could list on the board what they find in the verses. Give them an opportunity to share how they safeguard themselves or their families from apostasy.

Here’s a question you could write on the board that might help class members ponder Isaiah 29: How do Isaiah’s writings relate to the Restoration of the gospel in our day? Encourage them to think about this question as they silently read Isaiah 29:13–24. If they need help, they could also review passages like these: 2 Nephi 27:6–26; Joseph Smith—History 1:17–19, 63–65. After they talk about the question on the board, they could discuss why “marvellous” and “wonder” (Isaiah 29:14) are good words to describe the Restoration of the gospel. What do we learn about the Restoration from “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World”? (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). (details of the Bicentennial count-down 2000 Years General Conference First Vision Celebration HERE ⇓) 

Chapters 30 and 35 of Isaiah contain several passages that could inspire greater faith in the Lord’s power to bless those who turn to Him. To help class members discover these passages, you could invite them to study either Isaiah 30:18–26 or Isaiah 35. Ask them to share words or phrases they find that could help someone turn to the Lord for redemption.