The Vision of All Quotes

“Shall we tackle the most difficult bit of advice? let's do. Here it is, put far too strongly at first: Stop looking for Jesus in Isaiah. ... All too often, we read Isaiah, talking to ourselves in something like this way: "This doesn't make sense. Nor does this. Oh, that sounds like Jesus! Okay, this doesn't make sense again. Nor that. Oh, Jesus again! Now this doesn't make sense. . . ." ...”
― Joseph M. Spencer, The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi’s Record

“beware of reading strange mystical insights into obscure imagery. Don't start asking weird questions about butter and honey, wondering whether there's some kind of deep mystery contained in the image. And don't assume that the "young cow" refers to some future prophet, while the "two sheep" are his counselors, or some such nonsense. Isaiah doesn't speak in mystical allegories, as is sometimes assumed. Keep it simple. I think you'll find, as you read other translations, that Isaiah's far simpler than you've imagined. Seriously.”
― Joseph M. Spencer, The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi’s Record