For some reason this simile has always made me smile. It's not in a particularly cheerful section of the Book of Mormon: Isaiah's warnings about excessive lifestyles and living continue to ring true and valid to this day. But the idea that there are "round tires like the moon" that will be taken away, thus removing the arrogance and pride from the daughters of Zion...
Remember, the daughters of Zion are the daughters of the covenant. They are those who are supposed to be righteous and really to know better than to adorn themselves in this way. But it appears that even the best among us are susceptible to the siren call of worldliness.
This seems to be a major concern for Isaiah. He mentions that through the skillful labors of his own hands, man has created for himself a substitute for the real God, which is the LORD (Christ). Jeremiah, speaking some 200 years later, comes to the same conclusion, pointing out that it is the worship of idols (and all that that implies) that has separated Israel from God and the attendant blessings.
It has been pointed out by modern prophets that we are much the same. Most of us do not fall down and worship the proverbial golden calf, but we do find ourselves worshiping that new car, the job, a toned and sculpted body, expensive clothing, etc, to the detriment of our family lives and our relationship with the Lord. Further, we neglect the poor - Isaiah uses the language "grind the faces of the poor" which I think is very descriptive. How can we think to justify our own excesses when there is so much need and want around us? Why do we adorn ourselves with that which has no life while forgetting our brothers and sisters around us? What can we take with us out of this life, if not the relationships we build with people and our experiences gained with/from them? Perhaps that's why gluttony is one of the proverbial seven deadly sins.
We have this assurance: the Lord will take away these things and purify and cleanse the daughters of Zion. Something to look forward to.
The other comment I would like to make is with regard to the first verses of chapter 12 of 2nd Nephi (or the 2nd chapter of Isaiah). The mountain of the Lord's house, mentioned in verse 2, is the temple of our God. It was to be established in the tops of the mountains. Fascinatingly, the word "Utah" was not of the Mormon's choosing - our ancestors wished to call the state "Deseret" meaning honeybee. "Utah" was chosen out of reference to the Ute tribe of Native Americans. the word "Ute" means "from the mountains", while "Utah" means "top of the mountains". This seems a direct fulfillment of this revelation in Isaiah, some three thousand years later. I would invite anyone and everyone to visit the 15+ operating and planned temples in Utah and see for themselves the literal fulfillment of this prophecy. I would invite everyone to visit Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City and see the nations of the earth represented, not only in the visitors to the Temple, but in the missionaries who serve there, dedicating their time to helping visitors from their own home countries understand the great fulfillment of this prophecy.
What a great day to be alive! We are so blessed.
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