It Shall Prosper

Isaiah famously wrote, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I believe that the next two verses, which are less well-known, are connected with this message. Isaiah continued, using the word for to link with the previous verses: “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:8-11). Here the Lord compared the divine word to rain and snow which comes down from heaven and waters the earth, making the plants to grow and ultimately giving bread to man. So it is with the word of the God found in the scriptures and the words of prophets: it comes down from heaven and accomplishes a great work on the earth to nourish the soul of man, helping them grow spiritually. And how are the Lord’s thoughts higher than man’s thoughts? In that to do His work the Lord does not use the ways of man but instead sends forth His word to soften hearts and teach truth and move the children of men to do His will. The Lord’s most powerful weapon is not the sword or the instruments of power that men employ; rather it is His divine word which accomplishes what He pleases and prospers wherever it is sent.

                Other scriptures confirm the power of the word and this “higher way” that the Lord uses to control the destiny of mankind. Mormon summarized this idea about the power of the words of God when he wrote this about Alma: “And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5). Alma was subsequently able to perform a great work among the Zoramites, bringing many to repentance through the preaching of the word. He didn’t take a sword to them but rather he brought his testimony of Jesus Christ and an invitation to “search the scriptures” and experiment on the word of God with “diligence” and “faith” and “patience.” This is what changed the hearts of so many—they accepted his invitation to “plant [the] word in [their] hearts” (Alma 32:42; 33:2, 23). In a modern revelation the Savior instructed Joseph, “It is expedient in me that this stake that I have set for the strength of Zion should be made strong.” How was it to be made strong? One important way was described this way a few verses later: “For behold, verily I say unto you, this is the most expedient in me, that my word should go forth unto the children of men, for the purpose of subduing the hearts of the children of men for your good” (Doctrine and Covenants 96:1, 5). Our greatest strength comes not through physical means but through the power of the word of God which subdues hearts and brings us spiritual strength. In other revelations the Lord uses language like this to give a similar message: “Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:2). His word is quick and powerful and more effective than a sword—it was through His word that the earth was created and it is His word that can direct us, protect us, and effect change like nothing else. Man will always turn to more tangible measures and with force and physical strength try to control the destiny of the earth, but the Lord’s higher ways and higher thoughts will move mountains through the power of His word