As has been explained previously in the commentary on 2 Nephi 21:1, when Moroni visited Joseph Smith on the night of September 21, 1823, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah and told Joseph that “it was about to be fulfilled.” (JS-H 1:40). The chapter seems to be divided into three parts: divides into three logical parts:
(1) vss. 1-5, Isaiah prophesies of Christ--the growth of His power in the last days through the Millennium
(2) vss. 6-9, Isaiah describes conditions during the Millennial reign of Christ.
(3) vss. 10-16. Israel will be gathered the second time.
According to Sidney Sperry, starting in verse 10, having prophesied concerning the millennial peace that shall come to the earth, Isaiah now speaks of a subject that chronologically should have preceded it, namely, the Lord’s setting his hand to recover the remnant of Israel in the latter days. As was shown earlier (see the commentary on 2 Nephi 21:1) I equate the “rod” of verse 1 and the “root of Jesse” of verse 10 as referring to the same individual, that is to say, Joseph Smith the Prophet. Many authorities do give the same meaning to “rod” and the “root of Jesse,” but some others, following, as they suppose, the lead of the Apostle Paul in Romans 15:12, believe that the “root of Jesse” refers to Christ. But for Latter-day Saints to believe that it is Christ, the same individual as the “stem of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1), would be inconsistent and contrary to the information given to us in the Doctrine and Covenants (113:1-6).
If the Apostle Paul, when he quoted Isaiah 11:10, really believed that the “root of Jesse” was Christ, he was in error, an error quite easily explained. Examination of Romans 15:12 demonstrates that Paul was closely following the Septuagint (LXX--Greek translation) text of Isaiah 11:10 rather than the Hebrew. As a matter of fact, the Septuagint version is only a paraphrase of the original Hebrew. We notice that the Greek version of Isaiah 11:1 translates the Hebrew text, “stem of Jesse,” as the “root of Jesse” and uses the same phrase in Isaiah 11:10. Of interest is the fact that the Greek word riza (root) is used in both verses to translate different Hebrew words. Paul would be quick to discern that the “root of Jesse” of the Septuagint text of Isaiah 11:1-5 was the Christ. And when he observed that the phrase “root of Jesse” was used again in verse 10, he would naturally assume that it too, had reference to the Christ. Hence the reason for his quotation in Romans 15:12. [Sidney B. Sperry, Book of Mormon Compendium, pp. 226-227] [See the commentary on 2 Nephi 21:1]
Note* While Sperry’s explanation of why the Apostle Paul was in error is logical, one must contemplate whether we have the right to make such a definitive judgment. Paul, the great debator, might take exception or qualify what he said, but he is not here to defend himself. In the meantime I feel that we should leave ourselves open to clues that might explain Paul’s interpretation. For example, the reader is referred to Richard Anthony’s commentary on 2 Nephi 7 and the commentary of Bruce Sutton on Omni 1:18. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See the commentary on 2 Nephi 7--JST of Isaiah 50 . . (Joseph & Moses)]
“There Shall Be a Root of Jesse”
As has been explained previously in the commentary on 2 Nephi 21:1, when Moroni visited Joseph Smith on the night of September 21, 1823, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah and told Joseph that “it was about to be fulfilled.” (JS-H 1:40). The chapter seems to be divided into three logical parts:
(1) vss. 1-5, Isaiah prophesies of Christ--the growth of His power in the last days through the Millennium.
(2) vss. 6-9, Isaiah describes conditions during the Millennial reign of Christ.
(3) vss. 10-16. Israel will be gathered the second time.
In 1838, Joseph asked the Lord about the meaning of three key terms in this chapter. The revealed answers are recorded in D&C 113:
1. Who is the Stem of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah?
2. Verily thus saith the Lord: it is Christ.
3. What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th chapter of Isaiah, that should come of the Stem of Jesse?
4. Behold, thus saith 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.
5. What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter?
6. Behold, thus saith 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 days.
According to Victor Ludlow, the servant of Isaiah 11:1 appears to be David, the great Jewish leader of the last days. In 2 Nephi 11:10 (Isaiah 11:10) another major figure of the last days is introduced: a “root of Jesse,” who shall stand as an ensign for the people to which the Gentiles shall seek. The Lord identifies this “root of Jesse” as 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 days.” (D&C. 113:5-6)
This servant is often identified as the Prophet Joseph Smith In comparing Joseph Smith with the “root of Jesse,” each aspect of his calling will be analyzed:
1. Joseph: Descendant of Jesse and Joseph:
The Book of Mormon contains an important prophecy about a descendant of the ancient Joseph who would also be named Joseph and who would do a great work of salvation among the Israelites to bring them to the knowledge of God’s covenants in the last days (see 2 Nephi 3:6-11, 14-15). Joseph Smith, Jr., is this Joseph. His patriarchal blessing identifies him as the heir to the promises of Ephraim (son of the ancient Joseph), and he is called a pure Ephraimite by Brigham Young even though all his ancestors were not of Ephraim.
There is not the same recorded evidence of Joseph Smith being a descendant of Jesse through the tribe of Judah. However, there were occasions in earlier Church history when a number of the brethren, including Joseph Smith, claimed that they shared lineage with Jesus in the tribe of Judah.
In short, Joseph Smith fulfills the requirements as a descendant of Joseph through his son Ephraim. He was also a descendant of Judah through Jesse, and he may have descended through the same lineage as Jesus.
Joseph Smith: Rightful Heir to the Priesthood:
The early priesthood holders of this dispensation were lawful heirs to their power through their lineage (see D&C 86:8-11). Indeed, Isaiah prophesied that the strength of Zion in the last days would be the authority of the priesthood to which Zion “has a right by lineage” (Isaiah 52:1; D&C 113:8; see also 107:40-41, 56-57). Joseph Smith held the priesthood and through it organized the Church of Jesus Christ in this dispensation (see D&C 13; 20; 23; 84; 107; 124:123).
Joseph Smith: Holder of the Keys of the Kingdom:
With the priesthood, the Prophet also received certain keys. First, he received the office of an apostle under the hands of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of “the kingdom of heaven” (see Matthew 16:19; D&C 27:12-13). Later, through Moses, Elias, and Elijah, he received the keys necessary for this dispensation and was told that thus the world would know that the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” was near at hand (D&C 110:11-16). With these keys for the gathering of Israel, missionary work, the sealing powers of the temple, and other powers, Joseph Smith had the authority to usher in the dispensation of the fullness of times.
Joseph Smith: His Work to Be an Ensign to the Nations:
In 1844, the Prophet Joseph Smith stated:
The Savior said … the keys of knowledge, power and revelations should be revealed to a witness who should hold the testimony to the world… . The testimony is that the Lord in the last days would commit the keys of the priesthood to a witness over all people … a special messenger--ordained and prepared for that purpose in the last days. (HC 6:363-64)
Joseph recorded that Moroni had told him “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” (JS-H 1:33). The gospel (the everlasting covenant) has since spread worldwide, thereby becoming a light to the world, a standard (or ensign) for the Lord’s people and for the Gentiles to seek and a messenger to prepare the way before Christ’s second coming.
Joseph Smith: His Role in the Gathering of Israel in the Last Days:
On April 3, 1836, Joseph Smith received from the resurrected Moses the keys for the “gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north.” (D&C 110:11) A few years later, in 1841, the Prophet sent Orson Hyde to Palestine to dedicate the land for the return of the Jews, and since 1881, the Jews have returned to Israel from over a hundred nations.
[Victor L. Ludlow, Isaiah: Prophet, Seer, and Poet, pp. 170-174]
Note* The age-old question the world has faced is whether Jesus of Nazareth would be, was, and is the anointed Messiah according to all that has been written, prophesied, and symbolically shaped in the history of the world. Those of any religion or people who beg to differ must come up with a more satisfactory explanation as to who or what might better explain such beliefs. A similar scenario can be applied for those who seek a satisfactory solution to Isaiah’s criteria for the “rod” and the “root of Jesse” as found in Isaiah 11:1, 10 (2 Nephi 21:1,10). The qualifications of Joseph Smith with regards to those criteria are compelling. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]