{ "lessonDate": "2026-09-17", "lessonNumber": 116, "lessonTitle": "Isaiah 11–12 — \"An Ensign for the Nations\"", "semester": "fall-2026-ot", "source": "Seminary manual, Lesson 116 — Isaiah 11–12", "scriptureBlock": "Isaiah 1–12", "bookName": "ISAIAH 11–12", "deckType": "scripture", "lessonObjective": "Help students see the Restoration as the ensign Isaiah saw, and leave wanting to invite one real person rather than feeling guilty about everyone.", "doctrinePrinciple": "The Lord's restored Church is an ensign to gather people to the gospel of Jesus Christ.", "personalScriptureStudy": { "chapters": "Isaiah 11:1–12 and Isaiah 12:1–6", "questions": "Use the chapter heading and the footnotes — they are the tools this chapter is built for. Who is the stem? Who is the rod? An ensign is a flag an army gathers under." }, "teacherNote": "SUPPLIES: board space for the tree drawing, and a picture of Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith. THE TREE: draw it UNLABELLED first and let them label it. Stem/stump = Jesus Christ (D&C 113:1–2, via footnote 1c — make them find it, this is the footnote skill). Rod and root = Joseph Smith (D&C 113:3–6). The tree cut down is the house of David fallen and divided. TRANSLATION HELPS: stem can be rendered stump; rod as a small branch or shoot; asp and cockatrice in 11:6–9 are both venomous snakes; 'set his hand again the second time' (11:11) is the latter-day gathering. ENSIGN = a flag or banner an army gathers under and marches behind, and 11:12 points at the Restoration itself (D&C 45:9). DO NOT let this become a guilt lesson about missionary work — the manual's aim is desire, not obligation. Land it on one person, one invitation. THIS SETS UP the Missionary Preparation lessons on 09-21 and 09-23; say so at the end.", "cards": [ { "card": 0, "sectionName": "CONTEXT SETUP", "tagline": "A Flag Worth Gathering To.", "title": "ISAIAH 11–12 — CONTEXT SETUP", "subtitle": "A Stump, A Shoot, And A Banner.", "columnHead": "THE CHAPTERS AT A GLANCE", "bullets": [ "Isaiah 11 teaches with the parts of a tree — stem, rod, root.", "The Lord built a kingdom through David, and it was cut down.", "From that stump a shoot grows. The covenant was not cancelled.", "Isaiah 11:6–9 describes the peace of the Millennium.", "An ensign is a flag an army gathers under and marches behind.", "Moroni quoted this chapter to Joseph Smith more than once.", "Isaiah 12 is the song sung once the gathering has happened." ], "keyFacts": { "Author": "The prophet Isaiah, in the kingdom of Judah", "Type": "Prophecy of the Messiah, the Restoration and the Millennium", "Setting": "A divided Israel facing conquest, promised a regathering", "Key Tool": "Chapter headings and footnotes — this chapter rewards them", "Main Themes": "Gathering, restoration, peace, invitation", "Christ Connection": "He is the stem of Jesse — the trunk it all grows from (D&C 113:1–2)" }, "bandHeading": "SIX THINGS IN THESE TWO CHAPTERS", "timeline": [ { "title": "THE STEM", "ref": "Isaiah 11:1", "text": "The trunk is Jesus Christ." }, { "title": "THE ROD", "ref": "Isaiah 11:1", "text": "A shoot from the stump." }, { "title": "THE JUDGE", "ref": "Isaiah 11:4", "text": "He judges the poor rightly." }, { "title": "THE PEACE", "ref": "Isaiah 11:6", "text": "The wolf dwells with the lamb." }, { "title": "THE ENSIGN", "ref": "Isaiah 11:12", "text": "A banner raised for nations." }, { "title": "THE SONG", "ref": "Isaiah 12:2", "text": "God is my salvation." } ], "scrollQuote": { "text": "And he shall set up an ensign for the nations.", "attribution": "Isaiah 11:12" }, "artPrompt": "A warm painterly golden-hour scene of a single green shoot growing from the cut stump of a great old tree on a hillside at sunrise, distant hills beyond." }, { "card": 1, "sectionName": "DIRECT TEXT INTERACTION & AI", "tagline": "Use The Footnotes.", "title": "ISAIAH 11–12 — DIRECT TEXT INTERACTION & AI", "subtitle": "The Chapter Tells You How To Read It.", "focusHead": "OUR FOCUS TODAY", "focusText": "Label the tree, then let the footnotes tell you who each part is. Isaiah gives symbols; the Doctrine and Covenants gives the key.", "scripturesHead": "TODAY'S SCRIPTURES", "scriptureKey": "The key: Isaiah 11:12", "scriptureList": [ "Isaiah 11:1 — the stem, the rod, the root", "Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–2 — who the stem is", "Doctrine and Covenants 113:3–6 — who the rod is", "Isaiah 11:6–9 — the peace He will bring", "Isaiah 11:10–12 — the ensign, and the gathering" ], "aiUseHead": "HOW WE USE AI", "aiUse": [ "Translate: What is a stem, rod, ensign?", "Trace: Where else is this symbol used?", "Picture: What would this look like?", "Stay Spiritual: AI supports — the Spirit teaches." ], "aiPromptHead": "AI PROMPT TO TRY", "aiPrompt": "\"Isaiah 11:12 says the Lord will set up an ensign for the nations. Explain what an ensign was in the ancient world and how an army used one. Then help me understand why a flag is a good image for gathering people to the gospel of Jesus Christ.\"", "afterHead": "AFTER YOU GET A RESULT", "after": [ "Label your tree drawing.", "Write the names in your scriptures.", "Say what an ensign does, plainly." ], "rememberHead": "REMEMBER", "rememberText": "This chapter is where footnotes earn their keep. Footnote 1c on Isaiah 11:1 sends you to Doctrine and Covenants 113, and that is where the symbol gets its answer — the scriptures are built to be read together.", "bandHeading": "EXAMPLE QUESTIONS WE CAN EXPLORE WITH AI", "bandQuestions": [ "What is an ensign?", "Who was Jesse?", "What is a stem or stump?", "What is the Millennium?", "Why did Moroni quote this?" ], "scrollQuote": { "text": "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.", "attribution": "Isaiah 11:9" }, "artPrompt": "A warm painterly golden-hour still life of an open scripture book on a wooden table with a hand-drawn tree diagram on a sheet of paper beside it." }, { "card": 2, "sectionName": "TALK ABOUT EXPERIENCE", "tagline": "One person.", "title": "ISAIAH 11–12 — TALK ABOUT EXPERIENCE", "subtitle": "How Do You Actually Feel About Sharing It?", "goalHead": "DISCUSSION GOAL", "goalText": "Say honestly how you feel about sharing the gospel, and why you feel that way — including if the honest answer is that it makes you uncomfortable.", "howHead": "HOW TO DISCUSS", "how": [ "\"It makes me nervous\" is the most useful answer here.", "No one is being graded on their courage.", "Stories of it going badly are welcome too.", "Keep the Savior at the center." ], "aiHead": "CONTINUE TO USE AI", "aiText": "Find one natural way people share the gospel without it being awkward, and bring it back.", "questionsHead": "THINK ABOUT THESE TOGETHER", "questions": [ "What actually stops you from saying something about the gospel?", "If the Church is an ensign, what are people supposed to see when they look at it?", "Who has gathered you — who made this feel like somewhere you belonged?" ], "bandHeading": "EXAMPLE QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS", "bandQuestions": [ "Who invited you in?", "What makes sharing awkward?", "What would you want asked?", "Who is looking for this?", "What is gathering, really?" ], "scrollQuote": { "text": "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid.", "attribution": "Isaiah 12:2" }, "artPrompt": "A natural photograph of five teenagers sitting in a loose circle on classroom chairs in bright morning light, one speaking and the others listening." }, { "card": 3, "sectionName": "CHRIST-CENTERED ACTION", "tagline": "Invite one.", "title": "ISAIAH 11–12 — CHRIST-CENTERED ACTION", "subtitle": "Name Somebody. Then Ask Them.", "columns": [ { "head": "START WITH JESUS", "text": "He is the stem the whole tree grows from. Everything the Restoration gathers people to is Him — the ensign is not the flag, it is who the flag points at.", "citation": "See Isaiah 11:1; Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–2.", "art": "A warm painterly golden-hour portrait of the Savior in white robes standing outdoors with arms slightly open, warm light behind Him." }, { "head": "HE REMEMBERED THE COVENANT", "text": "The kingdom was cut down and He did not walk away from it. He set His hand a second time to recover His people, and that gathering is happening now.", "citation": "See Isaiah 11:11–12; Doctrine and Covenants 45:9.", "art": "A warm painterly golden-hour scene of a tall banner on a pole planted on a high ridge, catching the early light against a wide sky." }, { "head": "SOMEONE INVITED YOU", "text": "Almost everyone in this room is here because a person, not a program, made room for them. Be that for one person this month.", "citation": "See Isaiah 12:3–4.", "art": "A natural photograph of two teenagers walking together along a school corridor in morning light, talking." } ], "ideasHead": "IDEAS: HOW COULD I GATHER SOMEONE?", "ideas": [ "Invite one to seminary.", "Answer a question honestly.", "Sit with someone alone.", "Share why you came.", "Ask about their beliefs.", "Bring a friend Sunday." ], "planHead": "MAKE A PLAN", "planQuestion": "Who is the one person you could invite?", "plan": [ "Who came to mind first?", "What would you actually say?", "When this week will you say it?" ], "challengeHead": "CHALLENGE THIS WEEK", "challengeText": "Pick one person, decide what you will say, and say it before Thursday — an invitation, not a sermon.", "rememberHead": "REMEMBER", "rememberText": "An ensign does not chase anybody. It stands where it can be seen and lets people come to it. You are not responsible for their answer — only for being visible and kind enough to be worth walking toward.", "scrollQuote": { "text": "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.", "attribution": "Isaiah 12:3" }, "artPrompt": "" } ], "journalPrompt": "Answer the two questions from the start of class again, now that you have studied: how do you feel about sharing the gospel, and why do you feel that way? Then name one person you could invite, write what you will say, and write the day you will say it." }