Isaiah: Part 1 - Judah and Joseph

          In His ministry to the Nephites, Jesus made the following statement about Isaiah’s prophecies:

“Now I tell you that you ought to carefully study these things. In fact, I give you a commandment to study these things diligently, because Isaiah’s prophecies are critical . . .” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:4, emphasis added).   

In the original Book of Mormon, the text calls Isaiah’s writings “great.” For the Gentiles, the Covenant of Christ elevates Isaiah’s writings to “critical.”

The Savior explains Isaiah’s prophesies have “happened, or will happen.”

“. . .  He [Isaiah] clearly focused his prophecy on My people who are part of the house of Israel. Therefore he necessarily prophesied about the Gentiles. And everything he prophesied has happened, or will happen, precisely as he foretold. Therefore pay careful attention to My words. Write down the things I’ve told you. At the time decided by the Father, they will be provided to the Gentiles . . .” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:4, emphasis added).

This statement has multiple interpretations. Based on past research, one conclusion appears more plausible than others. That is not to say it is the only conclusion, only an alternative. The thesis of this paper suggests events in the first half of Isaiah are repeated in the second half in reverse order. Gentiles first, followed by Israel.

          As part of the preparation for His statement, Jesus explains Isaiah’s prophecies are “clearly focused” on part of Israel and the Gentiles.

          By the time of the Savior’s Nephite ministry Isaiah had been martyred and Israel scattered. Israel’s scattering was in consequence of their rejection of Moses and the greater covenant.[1]

The dispensation of Moses continued until John the Baptist.[2] John was an Elias, sent to prepare the way for Jesus and a new dispensation. The Savior was directed to offer a remnant of Israel [Judah] the greater covenant. Jesus was rejected and crucified by the Jews. Following the Lord’s death and resurrection His Jerusalem disciples proselyted Gentiles as well as Jews.[3]

Israel and her Jewish remnant rejected Moses and then the Savior. Following His crucifixion the covenant was taken from the Jews to the Gentiles. Joseph Smith provided the following explanation of these events:

“Christ, in the days of His flesh, proposed to make a covenant with them [Judah], but they rejected Him and His proposals, and in consequence thereof, they were broken off, and no covenant was made with them at that time. But their unbelief has not rendered the promise of God of none effect: no, for there was another day limited in David, which was the day of His power; and then His people, Israel, should be a willing people;—and He would write His law in their hearts, and print it in their thoughts; their sins and their iniquities He would remember no more.

Thus after this chosen family had rejected Christ and His proposals, the heralds of salvation said to them, "Lo we turn unto the Gentiles"; and the Gentiles received the covenant, and were grafted in from whence the chosen family were broken off; but the Gentiles have not continued in the goodness of God, but have departed from the faith that was once delivered to the Saints, and have broken the covenant in which their fathers were established (see Isaiah 24:5); and have become high-minded, and have not feared; therefore, but few of them will be gathered with the chosen family. Have not the pride, high-mindedness, and unbelief of the Gentiles, provoked the Holy One of Israel to withdraw His Holy Spirit from them, and send forth His judgments to scourge them for their wickedness? This is certainly the case” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 13-14, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition).

Unlike Israel, the Gentiles succeeded in making a covenant with the Lord. They eventually broke the covenant established by their fathers and the Lord’s Spirit withdrew from them.

          This marked the completion of the first half of the over-arching prophecy of the covenant history between the Lord, Israel and the Gentiles.

“And according to the words of the Lamb they must come to Him. And the Lamb’s words will be revealed in the records of your descendants [Nephi’s] as well as in the records of the Lamb’s Twelve witnesses. So they’ll both be witnesses together, because there’s one God and one Shepherd over the whole earth. At a future time, He’ll reveal Himself to all nations, both to the Jews and to the Gentiles. And after He has revealed Himself to the Jews and to the Gentiles, He’ll then appear to the Gentiles and to the Jews. The last will be first and the first will be last” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:24, emphasis added).

The last sentence of this verse provides the covenant framework for the past and future foretold in Isaiah’s prophecies. The dispensation of Moses introduced the beginning of his dispensation. The greater Priesthood covenant bringing mankind into God’s presence was rejected by Israel at Sinai. A lesser, Aaronic covenant lacking the ability to restore mankind to God’s presence continued until John the Baptist. John, as the forerunner to Christ, wrested the kingdom of God from the Jews by divine appointment. Following the baptism of Jesus, a new dispensation with the greater Priesthood covenant was offered to Israel’s “lost sheep”[4] for a final time. The Jews rejection of Jesus and His crucifixion brought to a close the period when Israel was first to be offered the higher covenant.

          With the Jews rejection of Jesus, the greater Priesthood covenant was taken to the Gentiles by His apostles. This initiated the final phase of the first half of the first shall be last and the last shall be first prophecy. As Joseph Smith explained, the Gentiles were offered the greater Priesthood covenant and accepted it following the Resurrection of Jesus. The Gentiles honored their covenant for a time but eventually altered and withdrew from their allegiance to the Lord and His covenant.

          The Gentile covenant rejection remained for a time until the Lord introduced a new dispensation and the greater covenant through Joseph Smith. Josephs dispensation began two hundred years ago. Like Moses and Jesus, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were rejected by the Gentiles and murdered. Moses and Joseph Smith provide the scriptural foundations of their respective dispensations but were withdrawn from their people at the conclusion of their ministries.

          Following the pattern set by Moses, when the Lord withdrew the dispensation head and the greater Priesthood offer of covenant, a lesser Priesthood remained. This is vehemently denied by those claiming to continue Joseph Smith’s dispensation. Contrary to their assertions, the revelations of the Lord condemned the saints of Joseph Smiths day for their covenant negligence.

“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received, which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation rests upon the children of Zion, even all, and they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom. Otherwise, there remains a scourge and a judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion, for shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Truly, truly I say unto you, Nay” (RE T&C 82:20, emphasis added).

Although many ignore or deflect the Lord’s condemnation, modern church leaders acknowledge this condemnation has not as yet been lifted by the Lord.

“Along with other General Authorities, I have a clear recollection of the General Authority temple meeting on March 5, 1987. For a year President Benson had been stressing the reading of the Book of Mormon. Repeatedly he had quoted these verses from the Doctrine and Covenants, including the Lord’s statement that the Saints’ conduct had “brought the whole church under condemnation” (D&C 84:55).

In that temple meeting, President Benson reread those statements and declared, “This condemnation has not been lifted, nor will it be until we repent” (remarks by President Ezra Taft Benson, General Authority Temple Meeting, Thursday, 5 March 1987). He also repeated his declaration of a year earlier that, in our day, the Lord has inspired his servant to reemphasize the Book of Mormon to get the Church out from under condemnation (see Ensign, May 1986, p. 78).

Along with others, I felt the impact of this declaration of condemnation. As I studied the subject, I was relieved to find that the serious consequences of this condemnation need not be permanent. The use of this term elsewhere in modern revelation suggests that it refers to a punishment or a penalty, not to a permanent banishment (e.g., D&C 82:3). In fact, the words President Benson quoted invite the Saints to repent of their deficiencies so the condemnation can be removed” (Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Dallin H. Oaks, June 6, 1993, emphasis added).

Both Ezra Taft Benson and Dallin H. Oaks acknowledge the condemnation pronounced upon the “children of Zion” by revelation affirming the Lord’s condemnation remains intact. Emphasis by both men is directed toward the Book of Mormon without addressing the “former commandments” the Lord gave them.

          Revocation of the Lord’s condemnation is contingent on the “children of Zion” actually practicing what is taught in the Book of Mormon and former commandments. Repentance and redemption from the Lord’s condemnation is not obtained by tacit reading of the stated revelations. The condemnation was pronounced by revelation and revocation can only be certain through the same process.

          The only way to obtain the revelation is by “bringing forth fruit meet for the Father’s kingdom.” What might that fruit be? If the “children of Zion” are all under condemnation, the establishment of Zion is the only fruit acceptable to God. An accomplishment scarcely mentioned by modern leadership.

          Dallin Oaks gave this talk in 1993. Ezra Taft Benson addressed this subject in a General Authority Temple meeting in 1987. Since the subject was raised on these occasions there have been no revelations withdrawing the Lord’s condemnation of the “children of Zion.” Neither is there proof Zion is closer to being established.

The First Shall be Last Prophecy Supports a Repetitive Pattern Thesis

          When the Lord withdrew Moses and the greater Priesthood from Israel, no covenant returning mankind to the presence of God was offered. When Moses was taken, the greater Priesthood was removed with him.

          Similar conditions existed when Joseph Smith was taken. The Lord commanded the church to support Joseph and Hyrum Smith in their efforts to construct the Nauvoo Temple.[5] The primary objective for constructing the Temple was to reacquire the “fullness” of the Priesthood removed from the church.

“And again, truly I say unto you, let all my saints come from afar, and send swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto them, Come all of you, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities, and with all who have knowledge of antiquities that will come, may come. And bring the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth, and with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth, and build a house unto my name for the Most High to dwell therein. For there is not place found on the earth that he may come and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he has taken away, even the fullness of the Priesthood” (RE T&C 141:10, emphasis added).

This revelation was given October 27, 1838. In the same revelation the Lord reaffirms the greater Priesthood was taken from the church but not Joseph and Hyrum Smith:

“Truly I say unto you, I now give unto you the offices belonging to my Priesthood, that you may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the Order of Melchizedek, which is after the Order of my Only Begotten Son. First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith to be a patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the Holy Spirit of Promise whereby you are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that you may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you.

I give unto you my servant Joseph to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet. I give unto him for counselors my servant Sidney Rigdon and my servant William Law, that these may constitute a quorum and first presidency to receive the oracles for the whole church” (RE T&C 141:41-42, emphasis added).

If the Lord affirms these men as holders of the “keys” and offices associated with the Melchizedek Priesthood or the “Order of my Only Begotten Son,” who, if not the church, were those for whom the Priesthood was taken away? It appears the same scenario of Moses and Israel was repeated with Joseph and Hyrum Smith and the Restoration Gentiles. The Jews and Judaism continued organizationally under a lesser law but was summarily rejected by God when John the Baptist “wrested” the kingdom from the Jews in preparation for a new dispensation. The church or rather many churches claiming Priesthood succession from Joseph Smith have continued for two hundred years after a similar pattern.

          Joseph Smith, like Moses, began a work that was never completed. Applying the “first shall be last” template, three quarters of the prophecy was complete. Only a final appeal to a remnant of Gentiles and the passing of the greater covenant to a remnant of Israel was unfilled. In summary, Israel was first to receive the offer of covenant from the Lord. Israel rejected the offer at Sinai and a remnant of Israel, Judah, rejected the offer when Jesus was crucified by them. This set the stage for a repetition of the pattern in the second half of the prophecy’s fulfillment, beginning with Joseph Smith and the Gentiles.

          Nauvoo was Joseph Smith’s and the saints Sinai. He led his people there and began construction on a Temple in compliance with the Lord’s command. The Gentiles failed to accomplish the task in the time allotted by the Lord and Joseph and Hyrum were taken and the fullness of the Priesthood withheld from the church. The greatest evidence this was the outcome is the fact the Lord never appeared and accepted the Nauvoo Temple as He did the Temple in Kirtland. Thereafter, the fate of the Nauvoo Temple was doomed, contrary to the dedicatory prayer pronounced by Orson Hyde.[6]

          For two hundred years the church institution has grown rich and prospered. If the remaining quarter of the “first shall be last” prophecy remains true to form, the (Aaronic) authority is or was wrested from the institution in the same manner John the Baptist wrested it from the Jews. A latter-day Elias[7] is sent and directed by God to reclaim the lesser Priesthood in preparation for a new dispensation and dispensation head. As John the Baptist removed authority from the Jews anciently, the Lord reclaims the authority from the modern Gentile [church] equivalent of the ancient Jews, imperceptibly to all but spiritually discerning eyes. A spiritual coup d’e’-tat so complete those who experience the loss remain blind, unaware of its absence.[8]

The Union Between Two Tribes From Israel Becomes the Latter-day Focus For Isaiah’s Prophecies

          Judah was the last tribe of Israel to receive an offer of covenant from Jesus in the “first shall be last” prophecy. In the last days, the Gentile offer of covenant concludes when a Gentile remnant is adopted into the tribe of Ephraim, becoming the means to assist Lehi’s descendants in gathering Israel.[9]

When Nephi[10] appeared to Joseph Smith, he quoted many prophecies from the Old Testament. Among those quoted was a passage from the 11^th chapter of Isaiah.[11] The 11^th chapter is currently the 5^th chapter of Isaiah in the Restoration Edition.

The first verse in the 5^th chapter is recorded as follows:

“And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again rely upon him that smote them, but shall rely upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, yea, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return. The consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness; for the Lord God of Hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in all the land” (RE Isaiah 5:1, emphasis added).

The beginning of this chapter foretells when a remnant of Israel gathers in the last days. The Lord punishes Israel with a “consumption” but the outcome when it concludes will “overflow with righteousness.”

          To this point, the Lord has dealt with the Gentile remnant by teaching precepts through a new dispensation head. In the most recent conference he informed the body of a change in the Lord’s method of instruction.

“We are obligated to heed the Lord. We have two choices: We either learn by precept OR by sad experience. If we learn by precept, then we listen, and we follow the Lord. But when we reject the Lord’s counsel and ignore His warning, then we learn through sad experience. Based on the recent communication with the Lord, it appears we will need—and are going to learn—from sad experiences” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.11, emphasis added)

Isaiah warns Israel, and the Gentiles their reliance on someone who afflicts them rather than the Lord is the cause of the consumption befalling them. His use of the word “consumption” is not random or insignificant. The Lord warned latter-day Gentiles through Joseph Smith of coming wars and judgments that decimate “all nations.”

“And thus with the sword and by bloodshed, the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn. And with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed has made a full end of all nations, that the cry of the saints, and of the blood of the saints, shall cease to come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth from the earth, to be avenged of their enemies” (RE T&C 85:3, emphasis added).

The “cry of the saints” and the “blood of the saints” rises to the Lord’s ears for vengeance against those whom they trust and ironically are the source of their afflictions. The cautionary tale for Israel and the Gentiles in this prophecy is to turn to the Lord now and refrain from relying on the “arm of flesh,”[12] which in turn is the source of our abuse.

          Judah and Ephraim are the remnants of Israel who emerge from the “consumption decreed to overflow in righteousness.”

“ . . . And he [root of Jesse][13] shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts [remnant] of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the four corners of the earth.[14] The envy also of Ephraim [right of primogeniture, Firstborn] shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off. Ephraim shall not envy Judah [right to Israel’s throne, Davidic] and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they [both] shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines [Israel’s enemy] toward the west, they shall spoil them of the east together, they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon shall obey them. And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue [spokesman, head] of the Egyptian [Israel’s captors] sea [military, Noah’s flood], and with his mighty wind[15] he shall shake his hand over the river [important distinction rather than a “sea”, refers to Elijah rather than Moses][16], and shall smite it in the seven [complete or perfection] streams, and make men go over with dry feet. [reference to Elijah] And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria, like it was to Israel in the day that he [Israel] came up out of the land of Egypt [out of bondage]”[17] (RE Isaiah 5:5, emphasis added).

          The unifying factor between Judah and Ephraim is the “root of Jesse” who descends from both Jesse [David’s father, Judah] and Joseph [father of Ephraim and Manasseh], both of whom are descendants of Joseph and Egypt [Gentiles]. Part 2 examines these events further.  

[1] “Now, this, Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God, but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence. Therefore, the Lord, in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against them) swore that they should not enter into his rest — which rest is the fullness of his glory — while in the wilderness.

Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also . . .” (RE T&C 82:13-14, emphasis added). 

[2] “And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holds the key of the ministering of angels, and the preparatory gospel, which gospel is the gospel of repentance, and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron, among the children of Israel, until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the holy ghost from his mother’s womb. For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power: to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power” (RE T&C 82:14, emphasis added).

“Jesus answered and said to him, In the name of Father Ahman I testify there is a new dispensation begun. You must accept the ordinances of this new Light or you cannot hope to progress to know God” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of St. John 2:1, emphasis added).

[3] “And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, You went in to uncircumcised men and did eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain vessel descend as a great sheet, let down from Heaven by four corners. And it came even to me, upon which, when I had fastened my eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter, slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from Heaven, What God has cleansed, that call not common. And this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into Heaven. And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the spirit bid me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me and we entered into the man’s house, and he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who shall tell you words whereby you and all your house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the holy ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the holy ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (RE Acts 6:9, emphasis added).

[4] “Then Jesus went from there and departed into the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same region and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, you son of David! My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and implored him, saying, Send her away, for she cries after us. He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is your faith; be it unto you even as you desire. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour” (RE Matthew 8:11, emphasis added).

[5] “And truly I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name that I may reveal my ordinances therein unto my people, for I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fullness of times. And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house and the Priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built. And you shall build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to build it. If you labor with all your mights, I will consecrate that spot that it shall be made holy. And if my people will hearken unto my voice and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, truly I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.

But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blessed, because they pollute my holy grounds, and my holy ordinances and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them. And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfill the promises which you expect at my hands, says the Lord. For instead of blessings, you, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies and by all your abominations which you practice before me, says the Lord” (RE T&C 141:13-14, emphasis added).

A simple “litmus test” as to which outcome occurred is examining one question. “Were the saints moved out of their place or not?” A second question should also be considered. “Following the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple  by Brigham Young did the saints receive blessings or cursing?”  Historical accounts of the aftermath support “cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments” for their “abominations” practiced before the Lord, likely referring to polygamy.

[6] “Holy and Everlasting Father, before Thee this morning we present ourselves and acknowledge Thy mercy that has been extended to us since we have been on Thy footstool, and for this opportunity of dedicating this house. We thank Thee that Thou hast given us strength to accomplish the charges delivered by Thee. Forgive us our sins and the sins of thy people. Thou hast seen our labors and exertions to accomplish this purpose.By the authority of the Holy Priesthood now we offer this building as a sanctuary to Thy Worthy Name. We ask Thee to take the guardianship into Thy hands and grant that Thy Spirit shall dwell here and may all feel a sacred influence on their hearts that His Hand has helped this work. Accept of our offering this morning [was never accepted like the Kirtland Temple by the Lord], and that soul that blesses this temple let blessings rest on his posterity to the latest generation, and that soul that shall practice evil against this temple and Thy House, set Thy face against him and let evil take the portion of his inheritance. Administer to Thy people and let Thy honor and glory fall on our heads, not in the eyes of men but in the day when the world shall become Thy dominion.May we have the honor to tune the lyre that Thou hast redeemed us from every nation and made us holy and pure and that we have washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. It must needs be that offenses come, we offer it as the fruit of our labors and may the oppression under which they groaned be to our good. We ask that the angel of mercy may be round about this temple and that light may descend upon us and let us pass to the courts of the heavenly. Let Thy Spirit rest upon those who have contributed to the building of this temple, the laborers on it that they may come forth to receive kingdoms and dominions and glory and immortal power.Accept of us we pray Thee, inspire every bosom to do Thy will, cause that truth may lead them for the glorious coming of the Son of God when you come in the name of the King, the Lord of Hosts shall be the King. Gather us in Thy Kingdom through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen” (Nauvoo Temple Dedicatory Prayer, Orson Hyde, May 1-3, 1846, emphasis added). The Lord never exercised “guardianship” over the Nauvoo Temple following the dedication. Fire, arson, and a Tornado led to the eventual destruction and demolition of the Temple.

[7] “Question: What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation [Rev. 3:13]?Answer: We are to understand that it was a mission and an ordinance for him [John the Beloved] to gather the tribes of Israel. Behold, this is Elias who, as it is written, must come and restore all things” (RE T&C 74:14, emphasis added).

[8] “I also looked around and saw on the other side of the river an impressive and large building. It stood like it was in the air, high above the earth [without foundation, divine authority], and it was filled with people — old and young, male and female — and they wore expensive clothing. They appeared to mock and point their fingers at those who had come up and were eating the fruit. Those who had tasted the fruit were ashamed because of people scoffing at them, and they left, following forbidden paths and were lost. Now I don’t write all my father’s words. But to summarize, he saw other crowds coming forward. People came, grasped the end of the iron railing, and moved forward, continually holding firmly to the iron railing until they arrived, sat down, and ate some of the fruit from the tree. He also saw other crowds of people moving toward that impressive and large building. And many drowned in the deep river, and many disappeared from his view, wandering on unfamiliar roads. A large number of people entered the large building. After they entered the building, they pointed at and made fun of me, and those who were also eating the fruit, but we didn’t pay attention to them. My father said the following: All those who paid attention to the insults fell away. And my father said that Laman and Lemuel didn’t eat any of the fruit” (CofC 1 Nephi 2:11-12, emphasis added).

“Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him [equality in poverty]. The land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word. The earth mourns and fades away; the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted do sigh. The mirth of tambourines ceases, the noise of them that rejoice ends, the joy of the harp ceases. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. The city of confusion is broken down; every house is shut up, that no man may come in. There is a crying for wine in the streets, all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction. When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning-grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore, glorify the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea” (RE Isaiah 7:1, emphasis added).

[9] “If the Gentiles then obey the Lamb of God, He’ll reveal Himself to them in word and power and in person, in order to remove barriers to their belief, and if they don’t harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, they’ll be included with your father’s descendants — indeed, they’ll be included as part of the house of Israel. And they’ll become a blessed family in the promised land forever. They won’t be enslaved anymore, and the house of Israel won’t be embarrassed anymore. And the great pit dug for them by that utterly wicked church, which the accuser and his followers founded so that he could take people’s souls down to hell — that great pit dug for people’s destruction will be filled with those who dug it, to their complete destruction, says the Lamb of God — not the destruction of the soul, but throwing it into that endless hell. This is according to the accuser’s imprisonment, and according to God’s justice as well, upon all those who insist on doing wicked and corrupt things in God’s sight” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:25, emphasis added).

“But if the Gentiles repent and hearken to My words and don’t harden their hearts, I’ll establish My congregation among them. And they will enter the covenant and be included with the remnant of Jacob, to whom I’ve given this land as their inheritance. They will join with My people, the remnant of Jacob, and all those of the house of Israel who come, so they can build a city that will be called the New Jerusalem. Then they will join with My people who are scattered throughout the land so they can be brought in together to the New Jerusalem. Then the Powers of heaven will come down among them, and I will be with them as well. Then the Father’s work will be underway, when this gospel is preached among the remnant of this people. Truly I say to you: At that time, the Father’s work will be taught among the scattered portion of My people, even the tribes that have been lost, whom the Father led away out of Jerusalem. The Father will work with My scattered people, to enable them to come to Me, so they can call on the Father in My name. Truly the work of the Father will be underway in all nations, clearing the way to let His people be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. They will go out from all nations. And they won’t go hastily or at a run, because I will go in front of them, says the Father, and I will guard them from behind” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:1, emphasis added).

[10] “He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me and that his name was Nephi, that God had a work for me to do, and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people. He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent and the source from where they sprang. He also said that the fullness of the everlasting gospel was contained in it as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants; also, that there were two stones in silver bows — and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim — deposited with the plates, and the possession and use of these stones was what constituted seers in ancient or former times, and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book” (RE T&C 1, Joseph Smith History Part 3:3, emphasis added).

[11] “ . . . In addition to these he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah [Isaiah 5:3-5], saying that it was about to be fulfilled . . .” (RE T&C 1:3, Joseph Smith History, emphasis added)

[12] “Wherefore, I, the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph and spoke unto him from Heaven, and gave him commandment, and also gave commandments to others that they should proclaim these things unto the world. And all this that it might be fulfilled which was written by the prophets: the weak things of the world should come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh, but that every man might speak in the name of God, the Lord, even the Savior of the world, that faith also might increase in the earth, that my everlasting covenant might be established, that the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world and before kings and rulers. Behold, I am God and have spoken it” (RE T&C 54:4, emphasis added).

[13] “Question: What is the Root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter [Isa. 5:4]?Answer: Behold, thus says the Lord: It is a descendant of Jesse as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the Priesthood and the keys of the Kingdom, for an ensign and for the gathering of my people in the last day” (RE T&C 129:3, emphasis added).

“The ensign Isaiah prophesied refers to a zodiacal map, or to the constellations overhead. This is a depiction of the heavens themselves. The ensign to be reared will tell those in Zion how to walk in the paths of God, through the heavens, back into God’s presence. Zion will be a connection between heaven and earth, where those living will learn the ways of the God of Jacob. They will walk in His paths. Heaven and earth will be connected. The stairway connecting the two will be opened. The heavens and the earth will be reunited. This will happen in the top of the mountains” (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration, p.277, emphasis added. Mill Creek Press. Kindle Edition.

[14] “Question: What are we to understand by the four angels spoken of by John, 7th chapter and 1st verse of Revelation [Rev. 2:13]?Answer: We are to understand that they are four angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy. These are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness” (RE T&C 74:8, emphasis added).

[15] “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the middle of the sea upon the dry ground, and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the middle of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass that in the morning watch, the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, and took off their chariot wheels that they drove them heavily, so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared, and the Egyptians fled against it, and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. And the waters returned and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and his servant Moses” (RE Exodus 9:3, emphasis added).

[16] “Now Melchizedek was a man of faith who wrought righteousness. And when a child, he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire. And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained a high priest after the Order of the covenant which God made with Enoch, it being after the Order of the Son of God, which Order came not by man, nor the will of men, neither by father nor mother, neither by beginning of days nor end of years, but of God. And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.

For God, having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself that everyone being ordained after this Order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course, to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to his will, according to his command subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. And men having this faith, coming up unto this Order of God, were translated and taken up into Heaven” (RE Genesis 7:18-19, emphasis added).

“And Elijah said unto him, Wait, I pray you, here, for the Lord has sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood to view afar off, and they two stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided here and there so that they two went over on dry ground” (RE 2 Kings 1:9, emphasis added).

[17] “Hearken and hear, O you inhabitants of the earth, and listen you elders of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord, for he calls upon all men and he commands all men everywhere to repent. For behold, the Lord God has sent forth the angel crying through the midst of Heaven, saying, Prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight, for the hour of his coming is near [Elias], when the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. Wherefore, prepare yourselves for the coming of the Bridegroom. Go all you, go out to meet him, for behold, he shall stand upon the mount of Olivet and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the islands of the sea, and upon the land of Zion. And he shall utter his voice out of Zion and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people and it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder which shall break down the mountains, and the valleys shall not be found. He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries and the islands shall become one land, and the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided. And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people and shall reign over all flesh [right of dominion, Adam-Ondi-Ahman]. And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord, and their prophets shall hear his voice and shall no longer stay themselves, and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence, and a highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants, and the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence, and there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim, and they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the heads of the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows. And they also of the tribe of Judah, after their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, for ever and ever” (RE T&C 58:3, emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

7/30/2025

Isaiah Part 1.pdf

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