We can observe a huge difference between “searching” the words of Isaiah and not doing so in responses to the question and answer in Doctrine & Covenant 113:5–6: “What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter? 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.”
Someone who has read these things but hasn’t searched them might say, “That sounds like the prophet Joseph Smith! So let’s assume it’s him and write that in our manuals and teaching materials.” Or you might hear people say, “Everyone knows that is the prophet Joseph Smith!” and take the high moral ground when someone believes differently—though they themselves haven’t searched the topic but simply jumped to conclusions about it.
If you did word searches in the Book of Isaiah and Book of Mormon you might look up terms such as “ensign,” “gather,” and “my people.” You would then discover that they deal with the restoration to God’s covenant and lands of inheritance by the Jews, Lamanites, and Ten Tribes—called “the house of Israel”—in a new exodus from the four directions of the earth, and that he who gathers them is God’s end-time “servant” in the Book of Isaiah.
You would also not take Isaiah 11:1, 8 out of context but ask yourself questions such as, “If the “stem” and “root” of Jesse are persons, wouldn’t it follow that the “rod” and “branch” in Isaiah 11:1 are also persons? And if so, who are they? When viewing the entire context in which these verses appear, you would further observe that they form a part of a much larger scenario in the Book of Isaiah that is discussed at length in the Book of Mormon.
You would additionally discover that Israel’s gathering and restoration and the Lord’s great and marvelous work are all one and the same end-time event that hasn’t happened yet. If you analyzed the “great and marvelous work,” marvelous work,” “great work,” or “work” of the Lord in the scriptures you would see that it follows a great division among the Ephraimite Gentiles who are the ones who assist in gathering and restoring the house of Israel.
You would also find that those who cry, “A Bible! A Bible!” (2 Nephi 29:3) when additional scriptures come forth at the time the Lord performs his great and marvelous work are Ephraimite Gentiles who end up fighting against Zion, and that “the restoration of the Jews, or of the house of Israel” (1 Nephi 15:20), the mission of the two witnesses to the Jews “at the time of the restoration” (Doctrine & Covenants 77:15), etc. are all concurrent events.
Literary tools used in the Isaiah Institute’s commentaries demonstrate different approaches to searching the “words” of Isaiah and related scriptures. They form an initiation or induction into Isaiah’s end-time prophecy on which one can build. They are also easily verifiable for accuracy through anyone’s own searching efforts. Lastly, when searching Isaiah, it is best to start with his definitions of things before branching out to search other scriptures.
Personal study for me includes the entire gospel, but also work to understand the analogies God applies in the scriptures.
Take for example the use of the fruit tree. You first need a seed to grow a peach tree. The example of this is the stem where all he genetic material is located. It makes sense that Jesus Christ is the Stem of Jesse and the D&C states that plainly from the word of God himself.
Once you have the stem you need roots to grow so the upper tree can be realized. Sometimes as the scriptures states, the top of the trees need to be pruned to help grow the roots. Sometimes the top of the tree fails The question is the tree dead? I say from experience the answer is NO. During such events when the top of the tree fails, a Rod can be realized from the stem, and if the roots are strong the Rod grows very quickly. In such a short period of time the Rod becomes the new tree and an abundance of fruit can be realized. In additions, the tree is much stronger and more symmetric than the first upper tree that failed.
My point, the stem of Jesse is a single person represented by Jesus Christ who has all the knowledge and love for all. The Root of Jesse must come well before the Rod of Jesse. So yes, different person. A branch that grows out the roots suggests to me another person or group. The branch from the roots is not described with key traits as much as the Stem, Root snd Rod.
I still contend the descriptive traits of Root of Jesse do suggest this Davidic servant describes Joseph Smith Jr. God made sure the authority of the priesthood was restored. Even the Kingdom of God as stated in the D&C states the Kingdom was with man in D&C 136. The key what you and some realize, the Kingdom of Heaven (Zion) was attempted, but failed. Good did state in D&C that the Kingdom of God which is a product of the Root of Jesse goes forth that the Kingdom of Heaven (Zion) may be.
The Rod of Jesse is endowed with much power will likely be an important Davdic servant in the redemption of Zion. Who this person is, I don’t know, but I hope I have the eyes that will see snd ears that will hear. In regards to the branch that grows from the roots, that too is yet to be seen with clarity.
Thank you Avraham!
Appreciate the posting and the suggestion we may not understand who the Root of a Jesse may be. I do appreciate the reference from D&C 113.
D&C
Section 113:5-6
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 keysof the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.
What does this state about the Root of Jesse?
1) direct descendant of Jesse…not of mixed lineage.
2) rightly receives the keys of the authority of the priesthood.
3) will receive the keys to the Kingdom of God
4) an ensign will be setup where the Gentiles seek and future gathering of his people in the last days.
I do see and believe the Stem of Jesse who is Jesus Christ, the Root of Jesse and Rod of Jesse are different people. The question, can we assign Joseph Smith Jr to one of these?
As suggested, let’s look at other references on the Root of Jesse.
Old Testament
Isaiah 11:10-11
10 ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
What can we learn from Isaiah?
1) Clearly states the Root of Jesse is an ensign to the people, the Gentiles will seek this ensign realized from initial work of the Root of Jesse.
2) In time, a second time the hand or our lord will be realized to recover a remnant of his people is this by the work of the work of Root of Jesse after he is gone or while he is alive?
3) if you know and grow a fruit tree you need a stem with the source genetic information that can grow roots, then once the roots are establish the too of the tree can fail but a Rod will come out of the stem where by in short time takes over the top of the tree because the roots are well established. Fruit trees which grow in this manner are very strong and produce an abundance of fruit as the roots and the tree are well balanced. To my point, you can’t have the Rod of Jesse until the Root of Jesse is fully realized and established.
New Testament
Romans 15:12
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Root of Jesse is again a key for the Gentiles.
Summary, let’s ask the following questions.
1) Who do we know received the keys to the kingdom of God?
2) Who received the keys to the priesthood?
3) Who has setup an ensign where by the latter-day Gentiles seek today?
4) What is the ensign that impacts the Gentiles while at the same time can in late Latter-Days influence and support the remnant of a Jacob?
I will be honest, I am on the side the Root of Jesse is best described in this case suggests to relate to the first Latter-Day Davidic servant Joseph Smith Jr.
i can’t say I have answers the question he, Joseph Smith Jr is a direct descendant of Jesse. I researched Joseph’s tree and shrouded some aspects stop around 1500 AD. What I can say, the Rod of Jesse lineage is mixed where the Root of Jesse suggests to be less mixed. This implies two different people and different timing. Again talking only on the Root of Jesse.
Please show me where I am wrong?