Opposite Goals

Today I was reading in 2 Nephi 24 (where Nephi quotes Isaiah 14), and a couple of things stood out to me: Obviously Satan seeks to gain followers. But we know from the scriptures that Satan will not support those who support (or obey) him (see Alma 30:60). So what is his goal? He is out to drag as many people as possible down to as low a point as he is at (sorry to end a sentence with a preposition). He wants to make everybody as miserable as he is (see 2 Nephi 2:27).
On the other hand, we know fully well what the Lord's work is (see Moses 1:39). He wants to bring as many people as possible to be where He is. He wants us to be with Him. He wants us to share in His joy and His blessings. He wants us to be like Him, to be with Him, and to have what He has. It shouldn't surprise me, I guess, but God and the devil have completely opposite goals. I guess it's just never hit me quite so hard.

Scripture of the Week: "Great are the Words of Isaiah."

As I've gone along in my Book of Mormon study this time around, I've made it to the portion of 2 Nephi in which Nephi quotes a large chunk of Isaiah chapters. This has always been a tough part of the scriptures to get through (let alone learn from), but this time around I approached it with a different goal. Instead of trying to get through it, I've tried to understand it. It's not an easy task, and I'm sure it takes much more than one go around. But as I've read it (side-by-side with a commentary from a favorite teacher of mine) I've been blessed to be able to see a little bit of the big picture of Isaiah's message.

There aren't too many authors that come so highly recommended by the Savior Himself. He told the Nephites:

...ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles. And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake. (3 Nephi 23:1-3)

That's quite the endorsement. Must be pretty important!