Isaiah : Part 2 - Judah and Joseph Unifier

In part 1 of Isaiah, (RE Isaiah 5:5), Isaiah spoke of a time in the last days when Judah and Joseph would initiate the gathering of Israel by suspending their envy and vexation of one another. It is evident these events occur in the last days because of the prophet Jacob’s explanation of Isaiah’s statement that “the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people.”

“Now, my people, since I said that I would prophesy, this is my prophecy: That the things this prophet Zenos said about the house of Israel, comparing them to a tame olive tree, will certainly happen. When He sets about a second time to recover His people, that will be the very last time the Lord’s servants will go out in His power to tend and prune His vineyard — following that, the end will happen quickly. And how blessed are those who have worked diligently in His vineyard! But how cursed are those who will be thrown out to where they belong! And the world will be burned with fire. How merciful God is to us! He remembers the house of Israel, both roots and branches, and reaches out His hands to them all day long. But they’re a stubborn, quarrelsome people. Nevertheless, all those who don’t harden their hearts will be saved in God’s kingdom” (CofC Jacob 4:1, emphasis added).

When the Lord “sets His hand again the second time to recover His people,” it the last time His servants go out “in His power” to tend and prune His vineyard. When they complete their work in the Lord’s vineyard, “the end will happen quickly.”

          In Zenos prophecy, this time is when the Lord sends His servant to gather other servants to work with them in the vineyard a final time.

“Then the lord of the vineyard sent his servant, and the servant went and did as the lord had commanded him and brought a few other servants. And the lord of the vineyard told them: Get started and work hard in the vineyard. This is the last time I’ll tend my vineyard — the end is near and the harvest is coming quickly. If you work hard with me, you’ll have joy in the fruit that I’ll harvest for myself at the end of the growing season.

Then the servants went ahead and worked hard, and the lord of the vineyard also worked with them. And they obeyed the lord of the vineyard’s direction in all things. And original fruit again grew in the vineyard, and the original branches began to grow and produce abundantly, and the wild branches began to be cut off and thrown away. And they kept the root and the top equal based on their strength.[1] This is how they worked with all diligence according to the lord of the vineyard’s commandments, until the bad had been thrown out of the vineyard and the lord had saved the good for himself, so the trees had again produced the original fruit. And they became like one body and the fruit was equally good; and the lord of the vineyard had saved the original fruit for himself, which was most valuable to him from the beginning.

When the lord of the vineyard saw his fruit was good and his vineyard was no longer corrupt, he called up his servants and told them: We’ve tended my vineyard for the last time. You see I’ve followed my plans and have saved the original fruit, so it’s good just like it was in the beginning. And you are blessed since you’ve been diligent in working with me in my vineyard and have followed my instructions — and it has produced the original fruit for me again, so that my vineyard is no longer corrupt and the bad is thrown away — and you’ll celebrate with me over my vineyard’s fruit. I’ll store my vineyard’s fruit for myself for a long time [eternally] as we prepare for the end of the growing season, which is coming quickly. I’ve tended my vineyard for the last time and pruned, tilled, and fertilized it. Therefore I’ll store the fruit for myself for a long time, as I had planned. And when the time comes that evil fruit again grows in my vineyard, then I’ll have the good and bad gathered, and I’ll store the good for myself and throw the bad away into its own place. And then the final season ends, and it will be time for my vineyard to be burned with fire” (CofC Jacob 3:26-28, emphasis added).

The Lord of the vineyard commissions a servant to gather a small number of servants for the last effort in the vineyard. The laborers are few but they precisely obey the Lord’s commands and labor diligently at His direction.

          The work of the servant and those who rise to the call, becomes a process of elimination as well as cultivation. The branches respond to the servants and bear the original righteous fruit. Branches that harden their hearts against the Lord of the vineyard and His servants are cut-off and cast into the fire.

          This is the last time the Lord and His servants labor in the vineyard before gathering the fruit and lay it in store “for a long time.”

          How is this applicable to Isaiah RE Isaiah 5? The Lord assists in answering this question by revelation to Joseph Smith. In section 129 of RE T&C, the Lord provides an explanation of Isaiah’s metaphor, near the beginning of RE Isaiah 5:4. The “Stem of Jesse” or tree stump is Christ. Israel was the top of the tree but has been cut-off and scattered. Because life remains in the stump and the roots, a “rod” or water sprout grows from the stump. The “rod is a man described by the Savior as follows:

“Question: What is the Rod spoken of in the 1st verse of the 11th chapter [Isa. 5:4] that should come of the stem of Jesse?Answer: Behold, thus says the Lord: It is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the House of Joseph, on whom there is laid much power” (RE T&C 129:2, emphasis added).

No name other than the “rod” is assigned to the Lord’s servant but the metaphor reveals who the servant is. When a tree is felled and the stump and roots remain intact, the strength of both are concentrated in an effort to restore the upper portion of the tree. The characteristics of a rod are that it grows upward rapidly but remains barren until it receives a graft. The Gileadi translation of Isaiah 11 alludes to a future graft.

“A shoot [rod] will spring up from the stock [stump] of Jesse [Christ] and a branch [root of Jesse] from its graft [branch into the “rod”] bear fruit” (Gileadi Translation Isaiah 11:1, emphasis added).

Chronologically the “rod” follows the felling of the tree which leaves a stump. As the “rod” grows rapidly it remains unfruitful until a branch [posterity] from a fruitful tree can be grafted in. Following the graft into the rod, Israel is restored and the tree bears fruit.

          This metaphor is directed toward the last days explaining why Isaiah 11 was among the Old Testament prophecies quoted to Joseph Smith by Nephi. Following Nephi’s quote he explained to Joseph Smith, “that it was about to be fulfilled.”[2]

          The metaphor in Isaiah 5 is the second half of a chiasm explained by Denver Snuffer Jr.

“There is the Spirit of Elias, there is the Spirit of Elijah and there is the Spirit of Messiah. These three great spirits unfolded in the work of God in the generations of man in a steady descent. They will be likewise inverted like a chiasm and return in an ascent so that at the end it will be as it was in the beginning. “Now this same Priesthood, which was in the beginning, shall in the end of the [earth] also,” was the prophecy that Father Adam gave, Enoch quoting Adam, and Moses quoting Enoch, the prophecy being contained in the Book of Moses or soon, in the Book of Genesis . . .

In the end, before the Lord’s return, these same three spirits need to have been brought into the world, in order for the completion of the plan that Adam prophesied about and that was in the heart of the Lord from before the foundation of the world. The Spirit of Elias declaring the gospel has to come again into the world, and it did in the person of Joseph Smith, and in the message that he brought, and in the scriptures that he restored, and in the message and the practices that he was able to bring about, however short-lived that success may have been. Elias and the Spirit of Elias came through Joseph Smith into the world. We have yet to take the Spirit of Elias seriously enough to move on to receive something further. But we are now facing a crossroads in which it may be possible to restore again and continue the work and move forward. Moving forward successfully however, will require the Spirit of Elijah. This time the Spirit of Elijah is not to prepare a people so that they might ascend into heaven but instead to prepare a people so that those who come will not utterly destroy them. There must be a people prepared to endure the burning that is to come. Just as Enoch’s people were prepared, shielded and brought worthy to ascend so as not to be destroyed by the flood, the Spirit of Elijah must prepare people in order for them to endure the day that is coming that shall burn the wicked as stubble. That will be people living in a place of peace and they will be the only people who are not at war one with another. They will be people who accept a body of teachings and allow them to govern their daily walk; both with each other and with God, so that they receive “commandments, not a few” and “revelations in their day” because that is what the people of Zion must necessarily be willing to do . . . We are promised that one will come who will be part of Jesse and part of Ephraim who will set in order, whose identity will be established by the work accomplished and not by the foolishness and prideful claims made by someone who has done nothing. If the work is done, once it’s completed, you might be able to guess. But any fool can run around claiming themselves to be whatever their peculiar schizophrenia allows them to claim. The third spirit that is to return is that spirit which was in the beginning. It is the Spirit of Messiah, this time the Messiah Himself. This time He will come to His house. He will dwell there. Everything must be prepared in order for Messiah to return. And so in the end, as it was in the beginning. Adam being a type who represents dwelling in the presence of God, or the Spirit of Messiah. In the end it will be Messiah Himself who returns to dwell among a people who are prepared. This is a chiasm. It is returning to the beginning as the work of the last days walks backward in time to the point where it all began” (Things to Keep us Awake at Night, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.14-15, emphasis added).

Combining the second half chiasm of Spirits of Elias, Elijah and Messiah, the second half of “the first shall be last prophecy” and the metaphor from RE Isaiah 5, an outline of events for the last days emerges.

          Joseph Smith and Denver Snuffer both apply the Spirit of Elias to Joseph Smith.[3] The “rod” growing from the “Stem of Jesse” is Joseph Smith introducing the Spirit of Elias to the Gentiles. According to Joseph of Egypt’s prophecy about Joseph Smith, his ministry begins in weakness but ends in strength when Israel is gathered.

“Therefore your offspring [Joseph of Egypt] will write, and Judah’s offspring will write. The Lord says: The things your offspring write, and the things Judah’s offspring write, will grow together in order to expose false doctrines, settle disputes, and establish peace among your offspring and bring them, in the last days, to understanding their ancestors and comprehending My covenants. The Lord said: His [Joseph Smith’s] weakness will be made strong. My work will then begin among all My people. I’ll restore you, O house of Israel” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:4, emphasis added).

When the records of Joseph and Judah “grow together” it has a material effect on both tribes and lays the foundation for their reunification. Along with establishing a foundation for their reunion, it also strengthens the legacy of Joseph Smith. He goes from “weakness” to “strength” when the Lord’s work begins among all of Israel.

          Israel’s gathering occurs in the end, long after the passing of Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith translates the record but a spokesman for Joseph Smith declares it.

“The Lord also told me : I’ll give your [Joseph of Egypt’s] descendants also a prophet and make a spokesman for him. I’ll inspire the one [Joseph Smith, prophet, Spirit of Elias] to write the record of your descendants to bless your offspring. And that spokesman [“root of Jesse,” Spirit of Elijah] will declare that record. The words he’ll [Joseph Smith] write will be the words that, in My wisdom, I consider important for your offspring to read. It will be as if your descendants called out to them from the dust, because I know their faith. They’ll call out the need for repentance from the dust for their brothers and sisters many generations after they’ve died. Their words will go forth in a way that is a direct, clear message. Because of their faith, their words will go from Me to their brothers and sisters who are your offspring. I’ll make the simplicity of their words result in strong faith as they learn about the covenant I made with your fathers” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:6, emphasis added).

Joseph Smith never lived to witness Israel’s gathering. His role was to write the record of the seed of Joseph of Egypt and his spokesman, prior to Israel’s gathering, declares the words written by Joseph Smith.

          A description of the “spokesman” for Joseph Smith is given by Lehi to his son, Joseph.

“Now, my [Lehi’s] son Joseph, this is how my forefather [Joseph of Egypt] prophesied. Therefore you are blessed because of this covenant, since your descendants won’t be destroyed, because they’ll listen to the words of the book. And one powerful among them[4] will rise up and do much good in what he says and does, acting as an instrument in God’s hands with great faith to accomplish wonderful results in God’s sight, to bring a significant restoration for the house of Israel including your brothers’ descendants. You are blessed, Joseph. And because you are young, listen to the words of your brother Nephi, and your life will unfold according to what I’ve spoken. Never forget the words of your dying father. Amen” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:7, emphasis added).

The “spokesman” and the “one powerful” among Joseph, the son of Lehi’s descendants are linked to Israel’s gathering. The gathering of Israel and the time Joseph Smith is to be made strong coincide. It is evident the “spokesman” and “one powerful” are the same.

          The “much good” done by the “one powerful” makes him “an instrument in the hands of God” that brings about “much restoration” among Israel, including the descendants of Joseph’s brothers, Nephi, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Jacob.

          The “one powerful” among the seed of Lehi is not a descendant of Lehi, he is among them when by faith he accomplishes “wonderful results” in restoring Israel. This brings us back to Isaiah 5 and the “root of Jesse” and the Lord’s explanation of his role as it relates to gathering Israel.

“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 “root of Jesse” descends from Jesse [Judah] and Joseph [Ephraim and Manasseh]. These lineages are important as they relate to Israel because they fill important roles historically. Jesse is king David’s father and the lineage through which the Savior would come. This lineage holds the right to the throne of Israel. The only surviving heir to the throne from Mulek, the son of Zedekiah. The Lord led Mulek and his people out of Jerusalem near the time Lehi migrated to the America’s. Mulek and his people established Zarahemla, the city Mosiah would find after fleeing the city of Nephi.

          The history and condition of the people of Zarahemla is important because it is a type for Israel’s gathering in Isaiah 5 and other Old Testament prophecies. When Mosiah and his people arrived in Zarahemla, they found them in a condition mirroring many of Israel’s scattered tribes.

“Mosiah discovered Zarahemla’s people left Jerusalem at the time Zedekiah, king of Judah, was taken away as a prisoner to Babylon. They traveled across the wilderness and were brought by the Lord’s hand across the sea to the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had lived there since their arrival. When Mosiah discovered them, they had become very numerous. Nevertheless, they had many wars and serious conflicts and had been killed by the sword from time to time. Their language had become corrupted, and they hadn’t brought any records with them. In addition, they denied their Creator’s existence, and Mosiah and his people couldn’t understand them. But Mosiah had them taught to understand his language. After they were taught Mosiah’s language, Zarahemla gave his ancestors’ genealogy from memory; and it’s written down, but not in these plates” (CofC Omni 1:7, emphasis added)

Mulek’s language was corrupted after fleeing Jerusalem. Mosiah and his people couldn’t understand them until they were taught to communicate in Mosiah’s language. The Mulekites traveled to the new world without scriptures and their knowledge of God was lost. Many in Israel in the last days reflect the same challenges.

          To appreciate the importance these events as a type for Isaiah 5, one must understand the lineage and condition of Mosiah and his people. Mosiah was a descendant of Lehi.

“. . . And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, the son of Lehi, who came from the land of Jerusalem and was a descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by his brothers . . .” (CofC Alma 8:1, emphasis added).

Lehi was a descendant of Joseph of Egypt through his son, Manasseh. Mosiah was a descendant of Lehi. The birthright lineage passed from Joseph of Egypt to Ephraim, the youngest of the two sons.

          The description of Mosiah and his people explains why they are well prepared to reclaim the Mulekites of Zarahemla.

“I’m Amaleki, Abinadom’s son. I’ll tell you something about Mosiah, who was made king over Zarahemla. He was warned by the Lord to flee from the land of Nephi — and all those who were willing to respond to the Lord’s voice were also warned to go with him into the wilderness. And he did what the Lord commanded him, and all those who were willing to respond to the Lord’s voice went into the wilderness. They were led by continual preaching and prophesying and were constantly admonished by God’s word. They were led through the wilderness by His power, until they came down to the land called Zarahemla. There they discovered a people who were called Zarahemla’s people. Now Zarahemla’s people rejoiced greatly and so did Zarahemla, because the Lord had sent Mosiah’s people with the brass plates containing the record of the Jews” (CofC Omni 1:6, emphasis added).            

Mosiah and his people were led by the Lord’s voice down to Zarahemla. They were constantly admonished by the word of God and carried the brass plates with the record of the Jews to the people of Zarahemla, restoring them to the knowledge of their God. In addition to this, the Lord endowed Mosiah with greater gifts beneficial to both his people and the people of Zarahemla.

“Ammon then replied: I can confidently inform you, king, about a man who’s able to translate the records. He possesses the means that allow him to see and translate ancient records, and this ability is a gift from God. These things are known as Interpreters, and no man can look into them unless God commands him to do so, in order to prevent him from seeing something he shouldn’t see and perishing. Whoever is commanded to look in them is called a seer. The king in Zarahemla is the one who’s been commanded to perform these tasks; he’s been given this special gift from God. The king declared that a seer is greater than a prophet. Ammon explained that a seer is both a revelator and a prophet. No one can have a greater gift unless they possess God’s power, which is impossible, but a man can receive great power from God. A seer can know about the past and the future; the Interpreters can reveal everything — hidden secrets can be revealed, and unknown things can be uncovered. A seer can discover the unknown and reveal things that would otherwise remain unknown to us. This is how God has established a way for mankind to perform great miracles through faith; therefore seers are a benefit to their fellow men” (CofC Mosiah 5:13, emphasis added).        

King Mosiah was given the gift of seership from the Lord. It included a physical device referred to as “Interpreters” used in translating records. They also enabled the servant of God to know the past and future, reveal hidden secrets and uncover previously unknown things. Through faith the seer could receive great power from God and become a blessing to their fellow men.

          When Alma delivered the interpreters to his son, Helaman, he explained more of their benefits.

“The Lord said: I’ll prepare a stone for My servant Gazelem that will bring their dark acts into the light, so I can expose for the people who serve Me the errors, depravity, and abominations of the earlier believers who fell into secret wickedness and dark works. And now, my son, these Directors were prepared to accomplish the prophecies of God, which He committed to have happen, saying: I’ll expose to public view, out of darkness into light, all their secret offenses and their abominations. And unless they repent, I’ll destroy them and annihilate them from the earth. And I’ll bring to light all their secrets and abominations to every nation who will inhabit the land after this. And now, my son, we see they didn’t repent; therefore they’ve been removed. And so far God’s word has been fulfilled; indeed, their secret abominations have been brought out of darkness and revealed to us” (CofC Alma 17:12, emphasis added).

In addition to revealing great knowledge from the past and present, a seer learns of evil works and abominations of the wicked in prior generations.

          The interpreters were of great benefit for the people of Mosiah and the people of Zarahemla, or Mulekites. The interpreters assist in bridging the linguistic gap between them and direct Mosiah and his people in their ability to consolidate both groups into one. In addition to these benefits, new records were repeatedly found by different groups and valuable knowledge obtained through their translation.

          The interpreters were passed from father to son in the lineage of kings until the governing paradigm shifted to judges and the king surrendered the interpreters to the chief judge.

          The combination of Joseph [Mosiah] and Judah [Mulek] is a type for how the prophecy of RE Isaiah 5 is fulfilled. Ephraim and Judah unite to overthrow their enemies and lay the foundation for gathering Israel.

          Just as the union of people between Joseph and Judah began with the presence of a righteous and empowered king like Mosiah, the union of Ephraim and Judah occurs because of the “root of Jesse.”

“And in that day [last days], there shall be a root of Jesse [descendant of Jesse and Joseph] who shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious” (RE Isaiah 5:4, emphasis added).

The “root of Jesse,” consistent with the Lord’s description, is a person unto whom both tribes of Jesse and Ephraim could coalesce around because his lineage consolidates the right of the firstborn with the right to Israel’s throne held by David. The “root of Jesse” also has keys to the “kingdom” for accomplishing two tasks. Raising an ensign and gathering Israel in the last days. This overlaps with the description of “the one powerful” among the descendants of Joseph, the son of Lehi in the last days. He acts as an instrument in God’s hands to “accomplish wonderful results in God’s sight, to bring a significant restoration for the house of Israel.” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:7). One should conclude the “root of Jesse” and “the one powerful” are the same person. To Judah he is the “root of Jesse” and to Ephraim he is “the one powerful.” His message appeals to both tribes because he is kindred of both.

[1] “One of the greatest sins is our failure to be equal: “Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld. Now, this commandment I give unto my servants for their benefit while they remain, for a manifestation of my blessings upon their heads, and for a reward of their diligence and for their security; For food and for raiment; for an inheritance; for houses and for lands, in whatsoever circumstances I, the Lord, shall send them.” [This commandment, being equal in our temporal things, has never been followed. We suffer because of violating it. The abundant manifestations of the Spirit are gone and will not return without repentance” (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration p.253, emphasis added. Mill Creek Press. Kindle Edition).

“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. The land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word . . .” (RE Isaiah 7:1, emphasis added). Failure to obey the Lord’s command to have all things equal by our own volition causes the Lord to impose it through His judgments.

[2] “. . . in addition to these he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah [Isaiah 5:3-5], saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses [Acts 2:3], precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that that prophet was Christ, but the day had not yet come when they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people, but soon would come . . .” (RE T&C 1, Joseph Smith History 1:4, emphasis added). 

[3] “In the first place, suffice it to say, I went into the woods to inquire of the Lord, by prayer, His will concerning me, and I saw an angel, and he laid his hands upon my head, and ordained me to a Priest after the order of Aaron, and to hold the keys of this Priesthood, which office was to preach repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and also to baptize. But I was informed that this office did not extend to the laying on of hands for the giving of the Holy Ghost; that that office was a greater work, and was to be given afterward; but that my ordination was a preparatory work, or a going before, which was the spirit of Elias; for the spirit of Elias was a going before to prepare the way for the greater, which was the case with John the Baptist. He came crying through the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." And they were informed, if they could receive it, it was the spirit of Elias; and John was very particular to tell the people, he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 383-384). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition.

[4] “Lehi continued in verse 2 Nephi 3:23: “Wherefore, because of this covenant” [the one with Joseph of Egypt], “he” [the son of Lehi] “is blessed, for his” [Lehi’s son] “seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book. And there shall rise up one mighty among them” [The “words of the book” is the book recovered by Joseph Smith’s hand; the Book of Mormon. Another called “mighty” will be “among” them. The word “among” does not require him to be a descendant of Lehi. It only requires the “mighty” one to be among or sent to them. A minister who understands the Book of Mormon and preaches it with strong conviction could fulfill this promise. But someone will someday accomplish this mission, other than Joseph Smith. (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration, p. 112, emphasis added. Mill Creek Press. Kindle Edition.

Scott Roderick

8/2/2025

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