Understanding Isaiah – Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, Tina M. Peterson – 4 Stars

Understanding Isaiah – Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, Tina M. Peterson – 4 Stars

Title: Understanding Isaiah

Author: Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, Tina M. Peterson

Publisher: Deseret Book    

Year: 1998 Hardcover, 2002 Softcover

Rating:  4 Stars

Price and Purchasing Options: This book had some good distribution so you might be able to find it at Deseret Industries some times (pick it up if you do), and eBay should be pretty regular.  Yet, this has become a staple in the scripture section of Deseret Book and you should be able to pick it up there for about $25, without any issue.

 

Review: This is a great book, and if you are not familiar with Parry & Parry work, or these “Understanding” books – this is the place to start.

This was their first major work in the LDS Community, even though they had (and have) been contributors to our scriptural understanding for years. 

A few thoughts on Isaiah.  “Great are the words of Isaiah” were the words of Christ as he commanded the Nephites, and us to, read and seek to understand his words.  Isaiah is also the only prophet that is referenced to in each of the standard works with some focus on us seeking him out and understanding his message.  For those in the LDS Community, seeking to learn, appreciate and understand Isaiah should be something we respect and seek after.

With that said, Isaiah is a big task – but this book is THE PLACE TO START!  This is the best foundational scripture study book on Isaiah.  When you address Isaiah, there is a lot to cover with metaphors, symbolism, underlying meanings and messaging, and most importantly understanding from the Spirit.  Yet, in order to start down any of those paths you need to have read Isaiah, and read it in a way with a foundation of what is written – before being able to seek what is meant.

This book is the best place to start.  In this book Parry, Parry, and Peterson, will take Isaiah chapter by chapter, verse by verse, and phrase by phrase – and take the time and outline what each term and phrase means – or highlights the “in other words” he is saying this.  They also do that in a way that is not overly interpretive, but in a way that you read it and say to yourself “ahh… I see what he is saying now” or  “ohhh… that makes sense – I see that now.”  This is the text that not only tells you, but helps you to start seeing the cadence and patterns of Isaiah’s words.  It literally gives you a foundation to start to read and understand Isaiah.

I love it – and it is a perfect addition to any LDS library.  It is also perfect for all levels of scholarship.  If you want to learn Isaiah, this is the book… if you just want to better understand the Book of Mormon and what Nephi is trying to tell you in the Isaiah chapters – this is the book.  If you just want something on your shelf to reference when you come up with an Isaiah question – go here.  This should be on every LDS shelf.  I genuinely believe that.

I would personally recommend reading through the book from cover to cover – I loved it!  However, I am an outlier in my reading enjoyment.  With that said, this book is actually possible cover to cover.  They include the chapter text they are covering, so that you could read the book independent of carrying your scriptures around with you.  The book is entirely comprehensive in itself.  You can pick up this book and in the book itself you will have the scriptures, the interpretation, and the commentary.  So this also makes it a reasonable bathroom book as well!  You can pick it up and read it for a few minutes at a time.

I know a number of people who just get this book to cover the Isaiah chapters as they go through the Book of Mormon and they love it.  Another reason why I would love to see this on every LDS book shelf is for our children.  I feel like when they are young and they read through the Book of Mormon, Isaiah (and our response to it) can bias them against it.  When the children get to these chapters having resources when they ask questions to show them they can find answers is critical – and this is a clear enough book at anyone over 12 or 14 could understand the dialogue Parry, Parry, and Peterson are having.

I could probably go on – but that should suffice.

  

Suggestions:  Go get this book!

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Review #43

Tags: 4 Stars, History, Understanding Isaiah, Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, Tina M. Peterson, Scripture Commentary, Isaiah, LDS Book Review, Ryan Daley