Where the River Flows — Living water streams from the house of the Lord, transforming a barren valley into a place of gathering, fruitfulness, and healing.

Come, Follow Me study notes for November 2–8, 2026
Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47

The official lesson for November 2–8 is titled “A New Spirit Will I Put within You.” It follows Ezekiel from his call as a prophet among the exiles through visions of watchmen, shepherds, renewed hearts, living bones, gathered scripture, and healing waters flowing from the temple.  

Summary

Ezekiel begins his ministry far from Jerusalem. He is living among Israelites who have been carried captive into Babylon, separated from their homeland and temple. Yet beside the river Chebar, Ezekiel sees “the glory of the Lord.” God’s presence is not limited by geography. Even in exile, the Lord knows where His people are and continues to speak to them.

The Lord calls Ezekiel to be a watchman. A watchman stands where he can see approaching danger and sounds a warning before others recognize the threat. Ezekiel is responsible for faithfully delivering God’s message, even when people resist it. His calling teaches that prophetic warnings are expressions of divine concern. The Lord warns because He wants His children to turn, live, and remain spiritually safe.

In Ezekiel 33, the exiles wonder whether their past sins have left them without hope. The Lord answers that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. His desire is that they turn from sin and live. Past righteousness does not excuse present rebellion, but neither does past wickedness prevent sincere repentance. Through Jesus Christ, change remains possible.

Ezekiel 34 shifts from the watchman to the shepherd. Israel’s leaders have cared for themselves while neglecting the flock. They have failed to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, or seek the lost. The Lord therefore promises, “I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.”

This is ultimately a prophecy of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. He does not merely count His sheep from a distance. He searches for those who have wandered, gathers those who have been scattered, feeds them, protects them, and gives them rest. The chapter also provides a pattern for parents, teachers, leaders, ministers, and disciples: Christlike leadership notices individual needs and serves rather than seeking advantage.

Ezekiel 36 describes the deeper restoration God desires. The Lord will gather His people, cleanse them, and give them “a new heart” and “a new spirit.” He will remove the “stony heart” and replace it with “an heart of flesh.” This transformation is more than improved behavior. Through the Savior’s grace, repentance, covenants, and the Holy Ghost, desires can change. A heart made hard by sin, disappointment, fear, or resentment can become responsive to God again.

The valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 expands this promise. Ezekiel sees a vast field of bones that are “very dry”—an image of complete hopelessness. When he prophesies as commanded, the bones come together, receive flesh, and finally receive breath. The vision points to the literal Resurrection and also symbolizes the restoration of scattered Israel to covenant life. What appears beyond recovery is not beyond God’s power.  

The chapter then presents two sticks: the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph. Latter-day revelation helps us recognize these as the Bible and the Book of Mormon, companion witnesses that become one in the Lord’s hand. Together they testify of Jesus Christ and assist in gathering God’s children to Him.

Finally, Ezekiel sees water flowing from the temple. The stream grows into a river and carries life into an otherwise barren landscape, even healing the lifeless waters of the Dead Sea. Fruitful trees grow along its banks, and everything lives wherever the river flows. The vision beautifully represents the healing influence of Jesus Christ and the blessings that flow through temple covenants. Elder Dale G. Renlund taught that temple blessings have a remarkable capacity to heal hearts, lives, and families.  

Across all these visions, one message remains constant: the Lord has not abandoned His people. He can warn the wandering, gather the scattered, soften hardened hearts, restore what appears dead, unite His children through scripture and covenants, and carry healing into places that once seemed barren.

Memorable Verses to Mark

• Ezekiel 1:28 — The glory of the Lord in exile.
  “This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” God can reveal Himself and sustain His people even when they are far from familiar places of peace.
• Ezekiel 3:15 — Sitting with those who suffer.
  Ezekiel “sat where they sat.” Before speaking to the exiles, he shares their circumstances. Compassion often begins by listening and entering another person’s experience.
• Ezekiel 3:17 — The watchman’s responsibility.
  “I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel.” Prophetic warnings are not intended to produce fear but to provide protection and invite repentance.
• Ezekiel 33:11 — The Lord wants us to return.
  “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” God’s call to repent is an invitation to renewed life.
• Ezekiel 34:11–12 — The searching Shepherd.
  “I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.” Jesus Christ does not forget those who are scattered, wounded, or spiritually lost.
• Ezekiel 34:16 — A pattern for ministering.
  “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken.” Christlike care is personal, restorative, and patient.
• Ezekiel 36:26–27 — A new heart and spirit.
  “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” Through Christ, I am not permanently confined by my former habits, failures, or hardness of heart.
• Ezekiel 37:3 — Can these bones live?
  Ezekiel answers, “O Lord God, thou knowest.” When I cannot imagine how restoration could happen, I can entrust the outcome to God.
• Ezekiel 37:14 — The gift of spiritual life.
  “I shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live.” Lasting renewal comes not merely from personal determination but through the life-giving power of God.
• Ezekiel 37:17 — One in the Lord’s hand.
  “Join them one to another into one stick.” The Bible and the Book of Mormon work together as witnesses of Jesus Christ and instruments in the gathering of Israel.
• Ezekiel 47:9 — Everything shall live.
  “Every thing shall live whither the river cometh.” The Savior’s power and temple covenants can carry spiritual life into wounded hearts and families.
• Ezekiel 47:12 — Fruit and healing.
  The trees beside the river bear continuing fruit, and their leaves are “for medicine.” Life rooted in Christ can nourish and help heal other people.

What This Means to Me

Ezekiel reminds me that the Lord can reach me wherever I am. Exile may not always mean living in a foreign country. I can feel exiled by grief, disappointment, illness, loneliness, family difficulty, or an unwanted change in circumstances. Yet God’s glory appeared to Ezekiel in Babylon. The Lord is not confined to the places where I expected to find Him.

The watchman image encourages me to receive prophetic counsel with humility. A warning may interrupt what I want to do, but that does not make it unloving. I want to listen carefully, seek confirmation from the Holy Ghost, and act before a distant spiritual danger becomes an immediate crisis.

The Good Shepherd also changes how I think about service. It is easy to care generally about a group while overlooking an individual. The Savior seeks the lost, strengthens the weak, and binds up the broken. I can follow Him by noticing who is absent, discouraged, overlooked, or carrying more than others realize. I may not be able to solve every problem, but I can listen, invite, encourage, and remain present.

The promise of a new heart gives me hope. Sometimes I focus so heavily on correcting outward behavior that I neglect the deeper work of conversion. The Lord does not merely ask me to appear better. He offers to change what I love, desire, and seek. I can bring Him resentment, pride, fear, and spiritual numbness and ask Him to make my heart tender again.

The dry bones teach me not to declare anything irredeemable too quickly. A relationship, spiritual habit, family hope, or personal aspiration may appear lifeless. I may not know how it can be restored. But the question “Can these bones live?” is answered by the Lord’s power, not by the bones’ present condition.

Finally, the river from the temple helps me see covenant worship as a source of expanding life. Temple blessings should not end with me. As covenants change my heart, their influence can flow into my home, relationships, service, and family history. With Jesus Christ, healing can begin as a small stream and gradually reach places I once considered barren.

Reflection and Application

1. When have I discovered the Lord’s presence in an unexpected or difficult place?
2. Is there prophetic counsel I understand but have not yet acted upon?
3. Who in my circle may feel scattered, overlooked, or spiritually lost?
4. How can I minister more like the Good Shepherd this week?
5. What part of my heart has become resistant, fearful, or hardened?
6. What “dry bones” in my life do I need to place in God’s hands?
7. How have the Bible and the Book of Mormon worked together to bring me closer to Jesus Christ?
8. What healing have I experienced through temple worship and covenants?
9. How can the blessings I receive from the Lord flow outward to bless someone else?
10. What would taking one step toward new spiritual life look like today?

Listen Here

Further Reading

• Official Come, Follow Me lesson: November 2–8
• Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47
• “Ministering” — Elder Gerrit W. Gong
• “Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing” — Elder Dale G. Renlund
• “A Mighty Change of Heart” — Elder Eduardo Gavarret
• “Hope of Israel” — President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson

Labels: Ezekiel, gathering, renewal, Resurrection, shepherd, Temple

// posted by John Fisher @ November 04, 2026 0 Comments

Morning After Mourning — As first light reaches a city marked by loss, new growth among the stones symbolizes the Lord’s promise that covenant mercy can rebuild, renew, and turn sorrow toward joy. Image created by ChatGPT.

Come, Follow Me study notes for October 26–November 1, 2026
Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3

Jerusalem is collapsing, Jeremiah is imprisoned, a king burns the prophetic scroll, and Lamentations gives sorrow an honest voice. Yet these chapters contain some of the Old Testament’s tenderest promises: everlasting love, a covenant written in the heart, mercies renewed each morning, and mourning transformed into joy.  

Summary

In Jeremiah 31, the Lord promises to gather His scattered people and lead them home. Their captivity is real, but it will not be permanent. God’s relationship with them rests on “an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). He can replenish sorrowful souls and rebuild what has been broken.

The promised “new covenant” must become inward and transforming. God will place His law within His people and write it upon their hearts. The gospel is not meant to remain only in a book, meeting, or outward routine. Through Jesus Christ, covenants can change what we desire and who we are becoming.  

Jeremiah 32 presents a remarkable act of hope. Although Jerusalem is under siege and Jeremiah is confined, the Lord commands him to purchase a field. The deed becomes tangible evidence that homes, fields, and vineyards will someday be possessed again. Faith sometimes means doing the next covenant thing while present circumstances still look bleak.

Jeremiah 33 points to the foundation of that hope: the promised “Branch of righteousness,” Jesus Christ. Through Him come pardon, cleansing, peace, truth, and restored fellowship with God.  

Jeremiah 36 contrasts those who receive God’s word with King Jehoiakim, who cuts Jeremiah’s scroll apart and burns it. Destroying the scroll does not destroy the truth—the Lord directs Jeremiah and Baruch to write it again.

King Zedekiah recognizes Jeremiah as a prophet but lacks the courage to follow him. Ebed-melech, by contrast, risks his position to rescue Jeremiah from a muddy dungeon. Faith means more than recognizing truth; it means acting upon it.

Lamentations honestly expresses the pain of Jerusalem’s destruction. Then comes a deliberate turn toward hope: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” The writer remembers that the Lord’s compassion does not fail and that His mercies are “new every morning.” Biblical hope is not pretending that everything is fine. It is remembering God’s character while waiting for healing.  

Memorable Verses to Mark

• Jeremiah 31:3 — Everlasting love: “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” God’s love is not temporary or dependent upon a flawless record.
• Jeremiah 31:13 — Mourning into joy: “I will turn their mourning into joy.” The Lord does not deny sorrow; He promises that it can be transformed.
• Jeremiah 31:33–34 — Written in the heart: The Savior wants His teachings to shape our desires, choices, and character—not merely our outward observance.
• Jeremiah 32:15 — A field purchased in hope: Jeremiah’s purchase testifies that the Lord’s promised future can be trusted before it becomes visible.
• Jeremiah 32:27 — Nothing is too hard: “Is there any thing too hard for me?” Personal impossibilities look different when placed beside God’s unlimited power.  
• Jeremiah 33:3 — An invitation to pray: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee.” Confining circumstances cannot close heaven.
• Jeremiah 33:15 — The Branch of righteousness: Restoration ultimately centers upon Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.
• Jeremiah 36:32 — The word written again: Human rejection cannot cancel God’s word.
• Jeremiah 38:7–13 — Ebed-melech’s courage: He sees injustice, uses the influence available to him, and acts compassionately.
• Lamentations 3:21–23 — New mercies: Hope grows when we deliberately remember the Lord’s faithfulness.
• Lamentations 3:31–32 — Grief is not abandonment: Pain may be part of mortality, but it does not mean God’s compassion has ended.

What This Means to Me

These chapters teach me that hope can be faithful before it feels optimistic. Jeremiah bought a field while the city was under siege. He could not yet see vineyards replanted or families returning, but he acted upon the Lord’s promise. I may not see how a difficult situation will be resolved, but I can still pray, keep my covenants, repent, serve, and take the next faithful step.

The covenant written in the heart asks me to look deeper than appearances. I do not want the gospel to be something I merely attend or discuss. I want Christ’s teachings to shape how quickly I forgive, how honestly I speak, and how I treat people who cannot repay me.

King Jehoiakim’s burned scroll warns me against dismissing counsel that challenges me. The better response is to let God’s word read me—to notice where I resist and invite the Holy Ghost to help me change.

Ebed-melech reminds me that belief must become courage. I cannot solve every problem, but I can stand for something right and help someone who is being mistreated.

Most importantly, Lamentations gives me permission to grieve without surrendering hope. Faith does not require denying loss or disappointment. It invites me to bring those experiences to Jesus Christ and remember that His mercies are renewed every morning.

Reflection and Application

1. What promise from Jeremiah 31–33 do I most need this week?
2. Where is the Lord asking me to act before I can see the outcome?
3. What gospel principle needs to be written more deeply in my heart?
4. Is there scriptural or prophetic counsel I am tempted to ignore?
5. Who needs me to demonstrate Ebed-melech-like courage?
6. What evidence of the Lord’s renewed mercy can I notice each morning?
7. How can I acknowledge grief while continuing to hope in Christ?
8. What can I build, plant, repair, or begin again with the Lord’s help?

Listen here

Further Reading

• Official Come, Follow Me lesson
• Jeremiah 31–33
• Jeremiah 36–39
• Lamentations 1 and 3
• “A Peculiar Treasure”—Elder Alan R. Walker
• “Abide in Me, and I in You; Therefore Walk with Me”—Elder David A. Bednar
• “The Joy of Hope Fulfilled”—President M. Russell Ballard

Labels: courage, covenant, hope, Jeremiah, Restoration, scripture

// posted by John Fisher @ October 27, 2026 0 Comments

In the Potter’s Hands — Jeremiah watches as a potter reshapes a marred vessel, a reminder that the Lord can guide and renew hearts willing to return to Him.

Come, Follow Me study notes for October 19–25, 2026

Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20

"Listen to this article using Speechify"

Before Jeremiah felt ready to serve, the Lord called him. And when the people of Judah had become spiritually marred, the Lord showed Jeremiah a potter reshaping clay. This week’s reading testifies that God knows His children, invites them to return, and can shape willing hearts anew. The official lesson is for October 19–25 and covers Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; and 20.  

Summary

Jeremiah’s call begins with hesitation. “I cannot speak,” he tells the Lord; “for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). The Lord answers with assurance: “I am with thee” and “I have put my words in thy mouth” (verses 8–9). Jeremiah’s mission will be difficult, but the Lord promises to make him “a defenced city, and an iron pillar” (verse 18). His calling reminds me that God’s work does not depend on my feeling perfectly capable. He asks for willingness and offers His presence.

Jeremiah also exposes a painful contradiction: Judah comes to the temple saying, “The temple of the Lord,” while continuing to oppress others and worship false gods (Jeremiah 7:4–11). Sacred places and religious language cannot substitute for repentance, justice, and obedience. The Lord wants worship that changes how we live.

In Jeremiah 2:13, the Lord calls Himself “the fountain of living waters.” The people have forsaken that fountain and dug “broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” A spring offers continual, fresh water; a cracked cistern cannot satisfy. The image asks me to consider where I seek spiritual nourishment. The Lord is the living source of truth, hope, and life.

Even while warning Judah about the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, the Lord pleads with His people to return. Jeremiah sees a future gathering in which the Lord brings His people back to Zion—not merely to a place, but into covenant relationship with Him.

At the potter’s house, Jeremiah watches a marred vessel become another vessel in the potter’s hands (Jeremiah 18:1–6). The Lord applies this image to Israel, teaching that repentance leaves room for change. Choices still have consequences, but failure need not be the final shape of a willing heart.

Jeremiah’s ministry is emotionally demanding. At times he wants to stop speaking, but God’s word becomes “a burning fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9). His honesty shows that faithful disciples can feel discouraged; courage is continuing with the Lord even when the work is heavy.

Memorable Verses to Mark

• Jeremiah 1:5 — Known before birth. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.” God knew Jeremiah before his mortal life. This truth can steady me when I feel overlooked, uncertain, or unready.
• Jeremiah 1:6–9 — The Lord answers inadequacy with presence. Jeremiah says, “I cannot speak.” The Lord promises, “I am with thee.” The reassurance is not that Jeremiah will never feel inadequate, but that he will not be alone.
• Jeremiah 1:10 — Root out, build, and plant. The Lord appoints Jeremiah to “root out, and to pull down,” but also “to build, and to plant.” The Lord removes what prevents covenant life so that He can establish something righteous and lasting.
• Jeremiah 2:13 — The fountain and the broken cisterns. This verse helps me examine what I turn to for comfort, identity, and direction—and whether it brings me nearer to Christ.
• Jeremiah 7:3–7 — Let worship change how we live. Genuine worship should make me more honest, merciful, and faithful in ordinary life.
• Jeremiah 3:14 — Gathered one by one. “I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” The Lord’s gathering is personal; each soul matters.
• Jeremiah 18:4–6 — The Potter can reshape the clay. “When the vessel … was marred … he made it again another vessel.” Repentance allows the Master to reshape our choices and character.
• Jeremiah 20:9 — A fire in the heart. God’s word becomes “a burning fire shut up in my bones.” The Lord can give us strength to speak and serve through discouragement.

What This Means to Me

Jeremiah’s story helps me separate being called from feeling qualified. I may see my limitations before I see what God can do through me. The Lord’s promise was not a guarantee of ease; it was the assurance of His presence. When I am asked to serve, speak, repair a relationship, or do something unfamiliar, I can take the next faithful step without waiting until every fear disappears.

The broken-cistern image invites honest self-examination. Many things promise quick relief or security, but not all can nourish the soul. I want to keep returning to the Savior as my source of living water through prayer, scripture, covenants, repentance, and the Holy Ghost.

Jeremiah’s temple sermon challenges me to make my worship visible in my conduct. It is possible to participate in religious routines while neglecting the people God asks me to love. True devotion should shape how I treat family, neighbors, strangers, and those who need help.

The potter’s house gives me hope when I recognize flaws in myself. The Lord’s correction is not proof that He has discarded me. In His hands, repentance can become a process of being remade. I can admit where I have gone wrong, accept needed correction, and trust that Christ can shape a better path from the clay I bring Him.

Finally, the Lord gathers His people one by one. A conversation, a prayer, forgiveness, or a simple welcome can help someone feel that Zion has room for them. I can participate in the gathering by helping others—and myself—come closer to Jesus Christ.

Questions for Reflection and Application

1. Where do I feel inadequate, and how might “I am with thee” help me take a next step?
2. What “broken cistern” do I sometimes rely on instead of the Savior’s living water?
3. Does my worship influence how I treat people when I leave church?
4. What part of my life might the Lord be inviting me to let Him reshape?
5. Who might need an invitation, encouragement, or reminder that the Lord wants to gather them?
6. When have I felt the Lord’s word or prompting become difficult to ignore?
7. What can I do this week to build or plant something faithful?

Image Caption

In the Potter’s Hands — Jeremiah watches as a potter reshapes a marred vessel, a reminder that the Lord can guide and renew hearts willing to return to Him.

Keywords

Jeremiah, calling, living water, repentance, gathering

Further Reading

• Official Come, Follow Me lesson: October 19–25
• Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20
• Ahmad S. Corbitt, “You Can Gather Israel!”
• Russell M. Nelson, “Decisions for Eternity”
• Hugh W. Pinnock, “Beginning Again”
• “Jeremiah” — Scripture Helps

Labels: calling, gathering, Jeremiah, living water, repentance

// posted by John Fisher @ October 19, 2026 0 Comments

The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion — Jesus Christ brings liberty, healing, and morning light to a weary people as the earth blossoms and Zion rises in the distance.

Come, Follow Me study notes for October 12–18, 2026
Isaiah 58–66 — “The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion”

Download the complete study blog

The official lesson emphasizes covenant worship through fasting and the Sabbath, Christ’s mission to heal and liberate, the gathering of Israel into His light, and the peace of His future reign.  

Summary

Isaiah 58 begins by correcting worship that is outwardly impressive but inwardly unchanged. The Lord’s chosen fast is not merely going without food. It should soften our hearts, break oppressive yokes, feed the hungry, shelter those in need, and help us recognize others as part of our human family. When worship becomes service, the Lord promises light, healing, guidance, strength, and answered prayer.

The same covenant spirit shapes the Sabbath. Isaiah calls the Lord’s day “a delight.” It becomes joyful when we turn from self toward Christ—worshipping, renewing covenants, strengthening families, serving others, and receiving spiritual rest.

Isaiah 59 confronts humanity’s inability to overcome sin alone. Because no mortal deliverer is sufficient, the Lord comes as Intercessor and Redeemer.

Isaiah 60–62 pictures Zion rising from darkness. The Lord becomes an everlasting light, scattered people gather, and righteousness shines before the nations. At the center stands the Messiah of Isaiah 61—the One anointed to heal broken hearts, liberate captives, comfort mourners, and exchange ashes for beauty. Jesus applied this prophecy directly to Himself in Nazareth.

The concluding chapters look toward Christ’s return and millennial peace. God, our Father and Potter, shapes His covenant people and promises a renewed creation where former troubles no longer dominate remembrance.

Memorable Verses to Mark

Isaiah 58:6–7 — Worship that releases burdens

“Loose the bands of wickedness” and “deal thy bread to the hungry.” A true fast turns devotion outward through generosity, compassion, and relief of suffering.

Isaiah 58:8–9 — Light and healing

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning.” As I worship sincerely and care for others, the Lord promises guidance and answers, “Here I am.”

Isaiah 58:11 — A watered garden

The Lord promises to guide His people continually and make them “like a watered garden.” Christlike service opens the heart to sustaining spiritual nourishment.

Isaiah 58:13–14 — A delightful Sabbath

Calling the Sabbath “a delight” means more than avoiding ordinary activities. It means deliberately turning my time, attention, and affection toward Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 59:16, 20 — The divine Intercessor

“The Redeemer shall come to Zion.” Jesus Christ can intervene where human strength, wisdom, and goodness fall short.

Isaiah 60:1–3, 19–20 — Arise and shine

Zion does not manufacture its own light; it reflects God’s glory. Darkness is real, but it is not final because the Lord is our everlasting light.

Isaiah 61:1–3 — Beauty for ashes

The Messiah heals, liberates, and comforts. “Beauty for ashes” does not deny grief; it promises that Christ can redeem suffering and create something holy from what appeared ruined.

Isaiah 63:7–9 — Remember His kindness

Isaiah chooses to “mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.” Remembering specific experiences of divine mercy strengthens faith during uncertainty.

Isaiah 64:8 — The Potter and the clay

“We are the clay, and thou our potter.” Discipleship requires humility and patience while God shapes a life whose completed form I cannot yet see.

Isaiah 65:17–19, 25 — A peaceful new creation

The promised “new heavens and a new earth” provide an eternal horizon: sorrow, disorder, and violence will not have the final word when Christ reigns.

What This Means to Me

These chapters remind me that sincere worship should change how I treat people. If fasting leaves me no more attentive to hunger, loneliness, injustice, or suffering, I may have practiced its outward form without receiving its intended spiritual transformation.

I also want to receive the Sabbath as a gift. It is easy to judge the day by what I cannot do, but Isaiah invites me to notice what the Lord offers: rest from the world’s noise, renewal through the sacrament, time for family and service, and space to hear the Spirit.

Isaiah’s description of the Redeemer matters because some burdens cannot be overcome through greater effort. Sin requires an Intercessor. Broken hearts need more than explanations. Captivity requires deliverance. Jesus Christ accomplishes what I cannot do for myself.

The promise of beauty for ashes offers hope without requiring me to pretend that painful experiences were not painful. Christ can consecrate loss, heal wounds, and develop compassion. The ashes may remain part of my story, but through Him they do not have to be its ending.

Finally, Isaiah encourages me to face the future with faith. I help prepare Zion by worshipping honestly, caring for those in need, honoring the Sabbath, repenting readily, and reflecting the Savior’s light.

Questions for Reflection and Application

1. What burden or “yoke” could I help loosen this week?
2. How can my next fast become more purposeful and connected with someone in need?
3. What change would help me experience the Sabbath as a delight?
4. Where am I relying only upon my own strength instead of turning to Christ?
5. What ashes or disappointment do I need to place in the Savior’s hands?
6. Which “lovingkindnesses of the Lord” should I record and remember?
7. How might God be shaping me through experiences I would not have chosen?
8. What can I do now to help build Zion and prepare for Christ’s return?

Further Reading

• Official Come, Follow Me lesson: October 12–18
• Isaiah 58–66
• “A Higher and Holier Fast” — Elder Ulisses Soares — teaches that joyful fasting, prayer, and generosity deepen our connection with the Lord.  
• “The Sabbath Is a Delight” — President Russell M. Nelson  
• “Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness” — Sister Kristin M. Yee  
• “The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming” — President Russell M. Nelson

Listen Here

Labels: fasting, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, redemption, Sabbath, Zion

// posted by John Fisher @ October 12, 2026 0 Comments

Labels: Adversaries, charity, forgiveness, Peacemakers, Resurrection

// posted by John Fisher @ October 11, 2026 0 Comments

He Hath Carried Our Sorrows. (Image created by ChatGPT)

Come, Follow Me study notes for October 5–11, 2026
Isaiah 50–57

Isaiah’s promised Deliverer does not conquer in the way the world expects. He comes as a servant—despised, wounded, and acquainted with grief. He saves His people by entering their suffering, bearing their burdens, and opening the way home. This is the central message of the official lesson for October 5–11.  

Summary

Isaiah 50–57 offers one of the Old Testament’s clearest testimonies of Jesus Christ. These chapters begin with people in darkness and captivity, yet the Lord repeatedly calls them to awaken, rise from the dust, put on strength, and trust Him. Their suffering is real, but it is not the end of their story.

Isaiah 52–53 reveals the unexpected nature of the Messiah. Instead of an admired earthly conqueror, Isaiah sees a suffering Servant who is rejected, oppressed, and brought like a lamb to the slaughter. Although innocent, He bears the sins, griefs, and sorrows of others. His wounds become the means by which we can be healed.  

The chapters that follow explain what Christ’s sacrifice makes possible:

• Isaiah 54 promises gathering, mercy, and a covenant of peace that will not be removed.
• Isaiah 55 invites everyone who thirsts to come freely to the waters of life, seek the Lord, and trust His higher ways.
• Isaiah 56 teaches that all who love the Lord and take hold of His covenant are welcomed into His house.
• Isaiah 57 promises that the high and holy God also dwells with the humble and contrite. He sees, leads, comforts, and heals those who return to Him.  

Together, these chapters teach that Jesus Christ does more than remove punishment. He understands suffering personally, carries what overwhelms us, restores what appears ruined, and gathers people who fear they do not belong. His invitation is not merely to admire His sacrifice but to come, trust, repent, receive His covenant, and help publish His peace.

Memorable Verses to Mark

Isaiah 50:4 — Speak hope to the weary

The promised Servant knows how to speak “a word in season to him that is weary.” Christ understands exhausted hearts. This verse also challenges me to make my words timely, compassionate, and strengthening.

Isaiah 50:10 — Trust when light is absent

Isaiah describes a faithful person who may still walk in darkness and have no visible light. Faith does not always mean seeing the outcome; sometimes it means continuing to trust God while the path remains unclear.  

Isaiah 51:3, 11 — God can transform desolation

The Lord can make Zion’s wilderness “like Eden.” The redeemed return with joy, while sorrow and mourning flee. God does not merely help His people survive devastation; He can create new life in places that looked permanently barren.  

Isaiah 52:2 — Rise from the dust

“Shake thyself from the dust” is both a command and a promise. Through Christ, captivity does not have to become identity. Repentance includes accepting the dignity, freedom, and new beginning the Redeemer offers.

Isaiah 52:7 — Publish peace

Those who bring good tidings and proclaim salvation are described as beautiful. Sharing the gospel can include formal missionary work, but it also includes offering hope, reconciliation, testimony, and peace in ordinary relationships.  

Isaiah 53:3–5 — Christ knows grief personally

The Savior is “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” He has borne our griefs, and through His wounds we can be healed. He understands sin, loss, loneliness, fear, illness, rejection, and pain—not as a distant observer, but as the One who carried them.

Isaiah 53:6 — He came for wanderers

“All we like sheep have gone astray.” The verse removes any basis for pride while also giving hope. Every person needs the Shepherd, and the Lord placed the burden of our iniquity upon Christ.  

Isaiah 54:2—Strengthen thy stakes

Isaiah 54:7–10 — Everlasting kindness

Even when the Lord seems distant, His gathering mercy is greater than the moment of separation. His kindness will not depart, and His covenant of peace will not be removed. Temporary feelings of abandonment do not cancel eternal promises.  

Isaiah 55:1–3 — Come to the waters

The Lord offers what the soul needs “without money and without price.” Grace cannot be purchased, but it must be received. I come to the water by listening, repenting, worshipping, making covenants, and allowing Christ to nourish my soul.

Isaiah 55:6–9 — Seek and trust

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.” His ways are higher than mine. This does not mean His purposes are indifferent or unknowable; it means His wisdom and mercy extend beyond my limited view.  

Isaiah 56:6–8 — A covenant for all people

The Lord calls His temple “an house of prayer for all people.” No sincere seeker needs to believe that he or she is permanently outside God’s concern. The gathering of Israel is an expanding invitation to belong to Christ.  

Isaiah 57:15, 18–19 — The Holy One heals the contrite

Although God inhabits eternity, He also dwells with those of a contrite and humble spirit. He promises to heal, lead, and restore comfort. Divine majesty and intimate compassion are perfectly united in Him.  

What This Means to Me

These chapters help me understand that Jesus Christ is not simply aware of my burdens. He has entered the full reality of mortal suffering and carried it. When I feel grief, regret, exhaustion, rejection, or fear, I do not have to persuade Him to understand. He already does.

Isaiah 53 also reminds me that Christ’s healing came at an immeasurable cost. I should not treat repentance casually, but neither should I believe that I am beyond repair. The Savior did not suffer so that I would remain trapped in shame. He suffered so that I could turn, be forgiven, become clean, and move forward with greater humility and compassion.

The invitation to rise from the dust is especially meaningful to me. Difficult experiences and past mistakes can influence my life, but they do not have the authority to define my eternal identity. Through Christ, I can loosen spiritual chains, recover hope, and accept a future that looks different from the past.

I am also struck by the wideness of the Lord’s invitation. Everyone who thirsts may come. The stranger is not to say, “The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people.” God’s covenant creates belonging while also asking for commitment. If I take hold of that covenant, I should help other people feel that there is a place for them too.

Finally, Isaiah invites me to become a publisher of peace. Because Christ has carried me, I can help carry others. I can speak a timely word to someone who is weary, remove stumbling blocks rather than create them, and help people see that the road back to God remains open.

Questions for Reflection and Application

1. What grief, fear, regret, or burden do I need to place more fully in the Savior’s care?
2. When have I felt the Lord sustain me even though I was still walking through darkness?
3. Is shame keeping me in the dust after Christ has invited me to rise?
4. What am I spending time or effort on that does not truly satisfy my soul?
5. Where might the Lord’s higher way require me to trust beyond what I presently understand?
6. Who around me may feel separated or uncertain that there is a place for them?
7. What “word in season” could I offer someone who is weary this week?
8. How can I publish peace through my speech, teaching, service, or relationships?

Image Caption

He Hath Carried Our Sorrows — Jesus Christ lifts a weary traveler’s burden beside living water, showing that the Savior enters our suffering, heals the contrite, and leads all who will come toward peace and home.

Keywords

Jesus Christ, Atonement, healing, covenant, homecoming

Further Reading

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (2026). “October 5–11: ‘He Hath Borne Our Griefs, and Carried Our Sorrows’. Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026.
• Isaiah 50–57, beginning with Isaiah 50 in the online scriptures.
• Soares, U. (2021, April). “Jesus Christ: The Caregiver of Our Soul”. General conference. Elder Soares teaches that Christ offers relief, comfort, and strength because He personally experienced mortal pain and weakness.  
• Uchtdorf, D. F. (2016, April). “He Will Place You on His Shoulders and Carry You Home”. General conference.  
• Kearon, P. (2024, April). “God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home”. General conference.  

What is the origin of the LDS organizational units called wards and stakes?

Labels: atonement, covenant, healing, homecoming, Jesus Christ, stakes, wards

// posted by John Fisher @ October 11, 2026 0 Comments