(Isa. 5:26–30; D&C 115:5–6; 45:9; 2 Ne. 29:2; refer in this text to 2 Ne. 21:12)
In the last days the Lord “will lift up an ensign to the nations from far.” Those who gather to this ensign will come quickly and with power. They will do so amidst contrasting conditions of light and darkness or good and evil.
A secondary interpretation of these verses focuses on the Assyrian invasion of Israel in 722–721 b.c. Commentators who subscribe to this belief identify the speed with which the Assyrian soldiers invaded the land and the quick destruction they brought about. Nevertheless, the major focus of these verses appears to align itself more closely with events of the last days.
(Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr., Isaiah Plain and Simple [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1995], 51.)
Taken in historical context, these verses probably describe Assyrian soldiers in all their terrible power. They come with speed, need no rest, and do not even pause long enough to take off their shoes. Their weapons are ready, their roar is like that of the lion, and, when they lay hold of their prey, none can stop them. The destruction is so swift and complete that even in daylight, darkness (perhaps from the smoke of burning cities) and gloom (or defeat) hangs over the people. If these verses describe the Assyrian army and the fear and destruction it inflicted upon its enemies, this judgment was fulfilled upon Israel and Judah during Isaiah’s day. In 722–721 b.c. Assyria conquered Israel, carrying the Ten Tribes into captivity, and in 701 b.c. she destroyed most of Judah and besieged Jerusalem. (See Isa. 36–37.)
In addition, the raised signal or ensign may represent the assemblage of a future spiritual force… . The ancient American prophet Nephi placed this chapter in a latter-day context when he quoted it in 2 Nephi 15… . We see that an ensign in the last days can refer to Zion, the gospel, missionary work, the gathering, and the Book of Mormon… . In short, the term ensign encompasses the Lord’s whole work, and all aspects of his Church serve as his “standard” to the world.
(Victor L. Ludlow, Isaiah: Prophet, Seer, and Poet [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982], 122–123.)
Over 125 years ago, in the little town of Fayette, Seneca County, New York, the Lord set up an ensign to the nations… . That ensign was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was established for the last time, never again to be destroyed or given to other people (Dan. 2:44). It was the greatest event the world has seen since the day that the Redeemer was lifted upon the cross and worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. It meant more to mankind than anything else that has occurred since that day.
No event should have been heralded among the people with greater effectiveness and received with greater evidence of joy and satisfaction… .
Following the raising of this ensign, the Lord sent forth his elders clothed with the priesthood and with power and authority, among the nations of the earth, bearing witness unto all peoples of the restoration of his Church.
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation: Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, ed. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–1956], 3:254–55.)
He warned the northern kingdom of Israel that they … could expect to be overrun by a terrifying army. He described the army’s attack as one that would be so swift that none would escape and declared that it would leave darkness and sorrow in its wake (Isa. 5:26–30). This prophecy was fulfilled in 721 b.c. when the Assyrians conquered and deported many of the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel… .
Isaiah 5:26–30 is a dualistic prophecy, meaning it applies to more than one time period and may have more than one interpretation. Latter-day Saints have traditionally placed the fulfillment of this prophecy in the last days and given it another interpretation… . Most commentators, however, see this as a prophecy that was fulfilled in Isaiah’s day.
(Terry B. Ball, Voices of Old Testament Prophets: The 26th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 53–54, 58.)
May I take you back 142 years when there was, of course, no tabernacle here, nor temple, nor Temple Square. On July 24, 1847, the pioneer company of our people came into this valley. An advance group had arrived a day or two earlier. Brigham Young arrived on Saturday. The next day, Sabbath services were held both in the morning and in the afternoon… . The season was late, and they were faced with a gargantuan and immediate task if they were to grow seed for the next season. But President Young pleaded with them not to violate the Sabbath then or in the future.
The next morning they divided into groups to explore their surroundings.
Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and a handful of their associates hiked from their campground… . They climbed a dome-shaped peak, President Young having difficulty because of his recent illness.
When the Brethren stood on the summit, they looked over this valley to the south of them. It was largely barren, except for the willows and rushes that grew along the streams that carried water from the mountains to the lake. There was no building of any kind, but Brigham Young had said the previous Saturday, “This is the place.”
The summit where they stood was named Ensign Peak out of reference to these great prophetic words of Isaiah: … (Isa. 5:26)… . (Isa. 11:12).
There is some evidence to indicate that Wilford Woodruff took from his pocket a bandanna handkerchief and waved it as an ensign or a standard to the nations, that from this place should go the word of the Lord, and to this place should come the people of the earth.
I think they may also on that occasion have spoken of the building of the temple, which today stands a few feet east of here, in fulfillment of the words of Isaiah: … (Isa. 2:2–3).
How foolish, someone might have said, had he heard these men that July morning of 1847… . Here they were, almost a thousand miles from the nearest settlement to the east and almost eight hundred miles from the Pacific Coast. They were in an untried climate. The soil was different from that of the black loam of Illinois and Iowa, where they had most recently lived. They had never raised a crop here. They had never experienced a winter. They had not built a structure of any kind. These prophets, dressed in old, travel-worn clothes, standing in boots they had worn for more than a thousand miles from Nauvoo to this valley, spoke of a millennial vision… . They came down from the peak that day and went to work to bring reality to their dream.
(Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1989, 51–52.)