The Stem of Jesse; Righteousness; Wisdom; Understanding; Faithfulness; the Rod of His Mouth

Ed J. Pinegar, Richard J. Allen

Modern-day revelation has unfolded the meaning of these verses: “WHO is the Stem of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah? Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ” (D&C 113:1–2). Elder Bruce R. McConkie elaborates as follows: “Christ is the Stem of Jesse (Isa. 11:1–5; D&C 113:1–2), by which is meant that our Lord came as a descendant of that noble Israelite who sired David the King (Ruth 4:17)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], 766). When the angel Moroni appeared to the young Joseph Smith on the night of September 21, 1823, he quoted, among many other scriptures, the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, “saying that it was about to be fulfilled” (JS—H 1:40). This event underscores the importance of Isaiah chapter 11 in the process of the Restoration.

Commentaries and Insights on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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