Nephi quotes Isaiah in The Book of Mormon because he said he delights in the writings of Isaiah. The Bible Dictionary in my copy of the Bible says this about Isaiah:
Isaiah is the most quoted of all the prophets, being more frequently quoted by Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John (in his Revelation) than any other O.T. prophet. Likewise the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants quote from Isaiah more than from any other prophet. The Lord told the Nephites that “great are the words of Isaiah,” and that all things Isaiah spoke of the house of Israel and of the gentiles would be fulfilled (3 Ne. 23:1–3).
Here is the full text from the Bible Dictionary regarding Isaiah
As is commonly noted, Isaiah is not the easiest person to understand because of the symbols he uses and the language of the time and also, I think, the prophetic perspective he had that we sometimes lack - unless we ask for it and work for it. But even without understanding much of the symbolism, there are very plain and wonderful messages from Isaiah. I wanted to list some of them from the reading below:
2 Ne 12:3-5 (compare to Isaiah 2)
And many apeople shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the bmountain of the Lord, to the chouse of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will dwalk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
And he shall ajudge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all agone astray, every one to hisbwicked ways.
There is a general meaning here, that we should follow the Lord and walk in his paths. But there is also a finer meaning here that we should go to the temple of the Lord, where we will be taught his ways, so the we may walk in his paths, so that when judgment comes to satisfy the law we will be in the light of the Lord for protection.
In 2 Nephi chapter 15 (compare to Isaiah 5), I find one of my very favorite lines from Isaiah. He spends the beginning of the chapter reminding Israel (both then and now) how desolate they will become and awful things that will come upon them because they won't choose to love the Lord and serve Him. But then in verse 25 he says this (emphasis added):
Therefore, is the aanger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Yes, the Lord will be upset that people have turned away from Him, but the chance to turn toward Him is still there and He will still accept them.
He says this again in 2 Ne 19:12 (compare Isaiah 9)
The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shalladevour Israel with open mouth. For all this his banger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
And again in verse 21, ch 20:4
Did you get the message? You may have offended the law by either breaking it or just not keeping it or even not being aware of it - but if you turn to the Lord to help you keep the law, fix the law or learn the law - He will take you. HE WILL TAKE YOU!
Here's one of the other great messages from Isaiah: get to know the person who says he will take you despite your slip ups. Here's what Isaiah says we know about him:
2 Ne 17:14-15 (compare Isaiah 7)
Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign—Behold, aavirgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his namebImmanuel.
Butter and ahoney shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and to choose the good.
He will come to the earth - become like us for a while, so that he can know to refuse evil and choose the good - just like us! He knows how it is to have choices, to be tempted by the evil, but refuse it.
2 Nephi 19:6 (compare Isaiah 9)
For unto us a achild is born, unto us a son is given; and thebgovernment shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The cMighty God, The dEverlasting Father, The Prince of ePeace.
He is powerful, wonderful, THE counselor AND a Might God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Again in 2 Ne 21:1-5 (compare Isaiah 11)
1 aAnd there shall bcome forth a rod out of the cstem of Jesse, and a dbranch shall grow out of his roots.
2 And the aSpirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit ofbwisdom and cunderstanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord; and he shall not ajudge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.
4 But with arighteousness shall he bjudge the poor, and reprove with equity for the cmeek of the earth; and he shall dsmite the earth with the erod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
He will have the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of fear (respect) of the Lord (God). He will judge with righteousness. I think this definition of righteousness that He will judge with is beyond our comprehension. To put it in vernacular, "beyond our wildest dreams." He will judge with the knowledge of what we've been through, why we are they way we are, the way our parents raised us, or the lack thereof, who has been an influence on us, the degree of his law we've learned, chosen to learn or refused to learn. The way we judge others (though we have little authority to do so), is so limited and false compared to how He will judge. Thank goodness.
And finally 2 Ne 22 (compare Isaiah 12)
1 aAnd in that day thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedest me.
2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will atrust, and not be afraid; for the Lord bJehovah is my cstrength and my dsong; he also has become my salvation.
4 And in that day shall ye say: aPraise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
6 aCry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
Even thought we know little about the Lord, compared to what there is to know about Him, what we do know should be praised, because only he is our salvation, our comfort, our strength, our trust.
Thank you, Isaiah.
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