Krystal Potter—Isaiah Workshop Participant
As we near the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the world more closely resembles prophetic descriptions of the end-time, God’s people still exhibit spiritual blindness.
“Jehovah has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep: he has shut your eyes, the prophets; he has covered your heads, the seers” (Isaiah 29:10).
How could this happen? Would the Lord allow our leadership to deprive us of what we are entitled to? Don’t we deserve to be told everything as we go along?
“Their watchmen are altogether blind and unaware; all of them are but dumb watchdogs unable to bark, lolling seers fond of slumber” (Isaiah 56:10).
Isaiah is telling us that we will face a time when we cannot remain spiritually dependent on others. This idea of our watchdogs being blind should send shock waves through Latter-day Saints who may have grown accustomed to delegating spiritual responsibility to the leaders rather than to themselves. Isaiah explains that we cannot sit and wait for warnings from others. He’s telling us we need to take responsibility individually.
In this collective state of spiritual blindness, the Saints may become no longer be deserving of God’s word through prophets and seers, but also no longer capable of comprehending spiritual things.
“They have become unaware and insensible; their eyes are glazed so they cannot see, their minds are incapable of discernment” (Isaiah 46:18).
Though it is easy and comfortable to deny our own spiritual blindness, if we heed Isaiah’s warning there is much the Lord is waiting to make known to us. But we have to exercise our agency and do the work of searching diligently that he holds us responsible for.
“It is the will of Jehovah that, because of his righteousness, they magnify the law and become illustrious. Instead, they are a people plundered and sacked, all of them trapped in holes, hidden away in dungeons. They have become a prey, yet no one rescues them, a spoil, yet none demands restitution. Who among you hearing this will take heed of it hereafter, and be mindful and obey?” (Isaiah 42:21–23).
What will we choose? To continue in our spiritual blindness, which will lead us to be plundered and sacked, trapped in holes, and hidden in dungeons? Or will we choose to be with his righteousness, to magnify the law and become illustrious?
