Isaiah’s call to be a prophet came in a vision of the Lord in the Temple (6:8). In words reminiscent of the Savior, he responds, ‘Here am I, send me.’ Isaiah was introduced to a key aspect of his ministry when he was charged to tell the people, ‘Hear ye indeed’ and ‘See ye indeed’ (6:9). The blindness refers to the people who have eyes to see, but prefer to walk in darkness. They, not God, inflicted blindness upon themselves. When Isaiah offered them light and they preferred darkness—to be spiritually blind—they were bringing upon themselves God’s judgments.

Israel’s great arraignment before God—a courtroom scene in which Israel is the accused and God is the prosecutor and the judge… When the Lord gave the land of promise to the Israelites, he promised them that they would stay free… , if, they would keep his commandments… .He portrays Israel as being mortally ill but having neither means nor helpers to provide healing, even while rejecting divine remedies.

People who ignore God and his commandments must somehow be warned that the day of God’s judgment is coming… In Isaiah 2:5, Isaiah invites Israel, “Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

Isaiah forsaw a time when Jerusalem would lie in ruins and Judah be fallen (Isaiah 3:8). The kingdom of Judah would reap as it had sown (Isaiah 3:10-11). The leaders would fail in their leadership (Isaiah 3:12; cf. Ezekiel 34:1-8), and the Lord would hold them responsible for the national tragedy (Isaiah 3:13-15; Ezekiel 34:9-10)… Isaiah detailed the haughtiness and vanity of Zion’s women, who in due time would be stripped of all the external things that have been used to enhance their beauty (Isaiah 3:16-24).

The parable of the vineyard in Isaiah 5 (vv. 1-7) [is reminiscent] of Zenos’ allegory recorded in Jacob 5… despite [the farmer’s] careful preparation, he harvested bitter-tasting wild grapes (behavior such as murder, violence, and deceit), rather than sweet-tasting fruit. In his amazement he wondered why his effort was so poorly rewarded… [In] Isaiah 5:4, we see him revealed as a very concerned Father who strives with all the powers at his command to bring good into the lives of his children… (In Isaiah 5:10), Contrasting the smallness of their harvest with the large amount of land and seed they had sown, Isaiah showed how much they are missing from their lives by trying to live without God.

God’s promise to give Israel power over their enemies if they would serve him and keep his commandments (Leviticus 26:6-8; Deuteronomy 28:7) was put to the test as Assyrian dreams of empire rose… [King Ahaz with two enemies allied against him, Syria and Israel], needed powers superior to his own. The Lord stood ready to help. So Isaiah asked Ahaz what kind of sign would convince him that the hand of the Lord would be manifest in his forthcoming victory (Isaiah 7:10-11)… Ahaz refused God’s gracious offer… the Lord specified his own sign: the fall of Judah’s enemies before a special baby, yet to be born, would be old enough to know the difference between good and evil… This sign was given when a baby was born to the prophet Isaiah is to be the father… How honored he must have felt when his own son was called to typify the birth of God’s own Son (Isaiah 8:18)… Isaiah had warned Ahaz that if he did not believe the Lord, he would not be established (Isaiah 7:9)… Ahaz had ignored God’s offer for one of his own devising, but by ignoring God, he suffered the failures he had sought to avoid… Sennacherib, the Assyrian king… devastated the kingdom of Judah. Of its cities, only Jerusalem survived.

This is “a poem of rejoicing and celebration regarding Israel’s future deliverance… The cause of that deliverance would be the baby who would come to reign.

We know that the government was not placed on Christ’s shoulders during his first coming, but it will be when he comes the second time to fulfill his messianic role. Isaiah frequently uses an interesting phase when discussing Judah’s sins and God’s continued acts of judgment against her: “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still” (Isaiah 5:25; 9:12,17,21;10:4). Despite repeated punishments, Isaiah’s people refused to repent… [This] phrase implies] that God uses judgments as chastening tools to accomplish his divine purpose.

D&C 113:1-2 “identifies the subject of Isaiah 11:2-5 as the Stem of Jesse and teaches us that he is Jesus Christ… In our day, the Church is the kingdom of God that has been established on earth to prepare the world for the coming of God’s heavenly kingdom (D&C 6:1-2,6). The vision of Isaiah 11 is to prepare our minds for that coming… It appears that Joseph Smith is both the “rod” and the “root” of which Isaiah wrote… Because Joseph Smith is the leading holder of priesthood keys of this dispensation, the man who undertook the work of the gathering, who presides over the preparatory work, who has great priesthood power (B/M, 2 Nephi 3:11; D&C 112:15, 32), and who is a servant of Christ… The gathering of God’s people is a major theme of Isaiah 11, because it is a basis on which God’s work will succeed in the last days.

“Isaiah 13 and 14 constitute for the most part a prophecy against Babylon… The city of Babylon was a major power through most of biblical history, though in Isaiah’s day it was under the domination of Assyria. Isaiah prophesied that the city would fall, and he foretold the role of the Medes in the process (Isaiah 13:17). Babylon was overthrown in 539 B.C. when Cyrus, king of the Medes and Persians, took the city. It never again regained its prominence thereafter… In scriptural imagery, Babylon is the enemy of God and the antithesis of Zion, the friend of God… Lucifer is the king of Babylon and the arch-rebel who typifies all other rebels… It is crucial that the Saints know that Babylon, with all her allurements, will eventually fall, as Isaiah prophesied. That sustains their hopes when they are criticized, persecuted, and hated by all those identified with Babylon because they live so differently from Babylon (B/M, 1 Nephi 22:22-23). Isaiah 13 describes the destruction of the wicked in the day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:9)… In Isaiah 14, the fall of Lucifer is a type of the fall of the king of Babylon… Whatever is not built up by the Lord will fall in those days. Just as surely as Lucifer fell, so also will all kingdoms and powers that are based on pride and rebellion against God (Isaiah 14:26-27; cf. 2:10-17)” (“God Is With Us.” Studies in Scripture 4. Edited by Kent P. Jackson. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1993, 87-106).

Isaiah begins this chapter with a vision of the events that will transpire during the latter-days. He begins by sharing his vision of events of the latter-days.

We learn that in the latter days, the Lord’s house will be in the top of the mountains. People of all nationalities will gather there in order to be taught the word of the Lord. Does this prophecy have direct application, as many suggest, to the gathering of the Latter-day Saints to the mountains of the State of Utah where they would be safe from persecution and would build a temple unto the Lord. Today, it is from the headquarters of the Church, the doctrine or law of the Church goes forth throughout the world. Each April and October, the leaders come from all nations to be taught the word of the Lord.

It may be also that in the latter days many will seek out members of the Church in their desire to learn how to live in peace and harmony, rather than rancor or contention, with their diverse neighbors.

It is noteworthy that Micah, a contemporary prophet of Isaiah, also recorded this vision (see Micah 4:1-3), giving further witness to the truth of this prophecy.

Isaiah make this plea with all member of the house of Jacob because as the Book of Mormon notes “all have gone astray.”

Isaiah addresses the conditions where in Jacob has gone astray and led the Lord to turn away. These conditions include replacing their covenants with the Lord with superstition, material wealth, strong military force and idol worship.

The time is coming when the works of their hands, material, idol worship or preparation for war, will fail them completely and they will be destroyed.

We learn from the Book of the Mormon that it is the “majesty of his [Lord’s] glory [that] shall smite them.” It is the Lord himself who will execute the destruction of the wicked.

We are again reminded that the only lasting protection that Jacob or any of us have in this life is in our making and keeping covenants with the Lord. Only when we turn to him for guidance and direction in our lives will we find the peace and happiness each of us seek.

It appears to me that Isaiah is seeing in vision the total destruction of Judah by the Babylonians. Many of the educated and skilled members of the population are taken captive to Babylon. Whereas the land had provided food and water for the inhabitants, it was left in devastation by the conquering warriors. Those who were not taken to Babylon were left with little food or water for their survival. The ruin of their nation is the direct result of their disobedience to the Lord’s commandments.

It is only for those who are righteous that Isaiah holds out any hope of survival. For the wicked, there is no hope. Their day for repentance has passed.

Now Isaiah addresses the decadent dress of the daughters of Zion, those who should be an example of righteousness, however instead by their appearance manifests the moral decline that is rampant in society.

It is important to note that Isaiah’s prophecy is directed towards a time yet future. During this time, the dress standards of righteous daughters [and sons] of the Lord will have deteriorated to the extent that they no longer represent the dress standard of the Lord. If they continue in their dress to be like the members of the world, they will forfeit their standing with the Lord. As the length of women’s dresses continue to be shorter and more revealing; body piercing and accessory jewelry by both sexes becoming more common, we must assume that we are swiftly nearing the time Isaiah saw and will bring about the Lord’s declared intervention.

Isaiah makes it clear that his view of a vineyard that is carefully tended by the master represents “the house of Israel” and the “pleasant plant,” his covenant children. The master, despite his care and nurture, rather than bringing forth sweet grapes, the vines had produced wild grapes. The tragic result of the productivity of the garden is the result of Israel’s disobedience and failure to respond to the care and direction the Lord had given. Instead, she had ignored their covenants and become rebellious.

In 705 B.C., the Assyrians had been at the gates of Jerusalem. It was only due to the righteousness of the inhabitants that the Lord intervened and Judah was spared. However, just as Israel had been conquered just sixteen years earlier (721 B.C.), the kingdom of Judah would also be taken into captivity as they became more wicked.

We now have a series of six woe’s given to Israel.

The issues that Isaiah addresses are often characteristics found amongst those in position of power and authority. The individuals use these qualities in order to maintain and justify their continued domination over the poor and unfortunate. These qualities are strongly condemned by the Lord, and the individuals will suffer severe consequences for their actions.

I believe that this verse notes the consequences that will follows the woes that have been specified. If the individual makes no effort to repent from these woes, it will be for him/her like the fire that destroys the stubble in the field or when the chaff is removed from the wheat or when the plant is rotten and bears no blossom or fruit. These qualities are of no value in the Lord’s kingdom and render the individual of no use in his service. If the individual chooses to continue to value these designated attributes in their life, they then severe their relationship with the Lord.

Did Isaiah see the new converts throughout the world who were then counseled to gather to the Utah valley during the 1800’s, coming initially by covered wagon and handcart and later by boat or train, in order to build up Zion? Is he referring to our time as the missionaries of the Church are speedily travelling by plane to the distant parts of the earth in order to teach the children of the house of Israel the restored principles of the gospel thereby holding up the Ensign of truth to the nations of the earth? Is he referring to a yet future time when it will again be necessary for the members of the Church and others throughout the world to speedily gather to a central location in order to be receive protection from the Lord from the turbulence that will exist in the world and where they can continue to live the principles of the restored truth? Isaiah saw during his day these future events as they unfolded before him in prophetic vision. He described them in the terms he understood and trusted we would come to understand. I believe that we will come to more fully understand the application of his words as they begin to unfold before us. We have already seen the specific application of this verse to the above two events.

Isaiah identifies his call to serve as a prophet of the Lord the year of the death of king Uzziah [Azariah] (740 B.C.). Isaiah will serve as a prophet, as noted previously by Sidney B. Sperry, for approximately forty-five years (740-699 B.C)” (see The Voice of Israel’s Prophets, 16). He will serve during the reign of four kings of Judah (Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manaseh). He will live during the time of the Assyrian conquest of the kingdom of Israel, and view in prophetic vision important events, including the Babylonian conquest of Judah and the future conquer of Babylon by the Medes-Persians. His prophetic vision includes the birth of the Messiah and his second coming as well as the events of the last days and the Millennium. He is truly one of Israel’s greatest prophets.

To a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, these words, “Here am I, send me,” strikes a familiar cord. Our belief is that before we came to this earth, we lived with Our Heavenly Father. We lived as spirits, not yet clothed with bodies. A plan was presented that would enable us to continue our progression. It would involve leaving our heavenly home and coming to earth in order to receive a physical body. A council was held, in which we were all in attendance, and the plan designed by Our Heavenly Father was presented. Jesus Christ, our elder brother, in support of the Father’s plan, offered to come to earth, pay the price of death introduced by Adam and Eve’s transgression and make it possible for us to gain forgiveness from our sins if we would accept Him as Our Savior and the glory for His sacrifice would go to the Father. The major concern was that because the Father’s plan involved our having the ability to choose to obey or not, many would not return to live again with Father. A contrary plan was then presented that was authored by Lucifer. It insured that all would be obedient to Father’s commandments, but at the forfeiture of our free agency. Upon the acceptance of his plan, he wanted as his reward, to receive all the glory the Father had.

Isaiah’s acceptance of the call to serve was followed by the following declaration by the Father.

While it is always the desire of the Lord that his children hear his voice and choose to be obedient, He knew in advance that many would not obey his counsel. This would also occur as Isaiah began to deliver to the people of Judah the will of the Lord. Many would not believe him or choose to repent. They would act “as if” they did not understand his words or were unable to recognize their application to their lives. Often when we ourselves do not want to receive the message we are being given from another, a common mechanism of defense is to pretend either an inability to hear the communication or to comprehend its meaning. The common saying, “Ignorance covers a multitude of sins,” is a well-known truth.

The correction in the Book of Mormon makes it clear that while a majority of Israel would chose not to follow the counsel of the Lord, that “a tenth” of those dispersed would chose the Lord.

Syria and Israel determine to wage war against their Southern neighbor when Judah refuses to form an alliance with them against the Assyrians. King Ahaz fears that he will be dethroned.

In 721 B.C., the Assyrians will conquer the kingdom of Israel and take the inhabitants to Assyria. Isaiah knew by revelation from the Lord that Israel would be no threat to the king Ahaz and the kingdom of Judah. King Ahaz does not believe the Lord nor his servant Isaiah.

The sign that the Lord gives to king Ahaz has possible dual meaning for either a virgin is going to bear a son before the departure of the kings of Syria and Ephraim [Israel] or/and at a time yet future, a child will be born to a virgin whose name, Immanuel, means “God with us.”

One might inquire, “Why would the Lord offer information concerning the Messiah as a sign to a wicked king?” Ivan D. Sanderson offers further insight.

The words of Isaiah which refer to the birth of Jesus Christ as well as to his second coming are immortalized by Handel’s Messiah. Part 1, No. 12—Chorus, “For Unto Us a Child Is Born.” The words are sung each December as the Christian world celebrates Christmas.

The names referenced by Isaiah centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ, all have direct application to him who as the Son of God, come to earth to be Our Savior. The Jewish rulers were threatened by the influence Jesus had upon the people to the point of believing that he had come in order to overthrow their authority (see John 11:48).

When he appeared before the Romans, the charge brought upon him by the Jewish leaders was not blasphemy but insurrection against the Roman government. It was Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, who asked Jesus, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33). His reply, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness of the truth… ” (John 18:37).

Jesus came not to claim his right as King of the Jews when He was born in Bethlehem, but when he returns He will come as Lord of Lords and King of Kings over the entire earth. His government will be established in order to provide lasting peace with righteous judgment and justice for all.

Who is it that the people have turned away from? They have turned away from the warnings pronounced upon by the prophets. As they choose not to follow the word of the prophets, they in turned rejected the Lord himself. They decided instead to follow the wickedness of their leaders and to continue in their ways of iniquity. They did not repent of their actions in spite of it being their only hope if they were to avoid the pronounced destruction foretold by the Lord through his prophets.

Nephi, a prophet from the Book of Mormon, confirms this important truth, which has application not only for the Jews, but for all of God’s children.

The preceding prophecy of Isaiah, I believe, has reference to the destruction of Israel and Judah, and to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, but also to the conditions of the last days. Isaiah’s pronouncement of the atrocities that would exist during this time (enveloping wickedness; fires that will be so widespread they will darken the sky; total lawlessness and gang rule, and due to the scarcity of food, cannibalism), were designed to cause the citizens to humble themselves and to repent so that the pending destruction would be avoided. Isaiah reminds them again, even in face of their pervasive wickedness, that the Lord is ready, based upon their repentance to forgive them.

A promise of hope is given during these dire times to all who choose righteousness. This promise was made by the Lord himself during his mortal ministry as He spoke to his disciples about the doom of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.

It will be necessary for each of us, before these horrendous times arrive, to “stand in holy places.” It will require us to, as the Psalmist states, to have “clean hands, and a pure heart; [having] not lifted up [our] soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalms 24:4). Only those who are obedient to the Lord’s commandments will be preserved.

The prophet Mormon, who abridged the history of the Book of Mormon, confirmed this truth.

This chapter in Isaiah is special to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The date is the evening of September 23, 1823. It had been three years since Joseph Smith, in his fifteenth year, had received in answer to his humble prayer, a visitation from God, the Eternal Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

During this visit, the angel Moroni quoted several scriptures to him, including the eleventh chapter of Isaiah. I believe the significance of Moroni quoting this particular chapter is found in the meaning of first and the tenth verse of Isaiah 11. It involves who is represented as the “Stem of Jesse,” and in verse ten, who is the “root of Jesse?”

We will learn who is represented as the “Stem of Jesse” and the qualities possessed by the “root of Jesse” spoken of in Isaiah 1:10 in a revelation recorded by Joseph Smith in March, 1838.

Jesus Christ is understood to be the Branch and Stem as referenced in Isaiah and Joseph Smith, the prophet of the Restoration is believed to be the “rod that shall come of the Stem of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1, 10). It was through Joseph Smith that Jesus Christ restored the Church He had established when He was upon the earth but had fallen into apostasy. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that stands as an ensign to all the world of truth and righteousness.

What are two of the responsibilities that will find their fulfillment by the Branch and Stem of Jesse as noted by Isaiah?

It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who will sit in judgment of the wicked and the righteous and he will reward them accordingly.

Following the return of Jesus Christ to the earth, there will then commence a period of one thousand years referred to as the Millennium. During this time, Jesus Christ will reign upon the earth and there will be peace among the all the inhabitants.

During this time of peace, the animals that were previously natural enemies (wolf and lamb; leopard and kid [goat], calf and young lion cub) will no longer have enmity toward each other nor toward human beings (see Isaiah 11:6-8).

Preceding verses 12 through 15, Nephi in chapter 30, offers some insight possibly regarding the meaning of the phrase, “the knowledge of the Lord”.

Not only will spiritual knowledge be available to all but all knowledge and truth that has been revealed will be made available to all the inhabitants of the earth without the distorting influence of Satan. Scattered Israel will again be gathered.

The first time that the children of Israel were gathered was when they were lead by Moses out of Egypt. The second gathering, under the direction of Jesus Christ, began when the ensign was established as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was restored upon the earth. Even today, the missionaries continue to travel throughout the world gathering scattered Israel to the truths of the gospel. This effort will continue during the Millennium so that all may have the opportunity to receive the teachings of Jesus Christ and to recognize him as the Messiah, their Savior and Redeemer. While there will be those who will not accept his gospel, all will be given the option to choose for themselves.

Chapter 14 in Isaiah, as previously noted, is a continuation of chapter 13. The rise of Babylon as a world power must have struck Isaiah’s listeners as highly unusual. Babylon, during Isaiah’s lifetime, was no threat to Judah for it was under the control of Assyria. It was the dreadful Assyrians, who came to the walls of Jerusalem in 721 B.C. during the reign of Hezekiah, not Babylon, who was Judah greatest enemy. Nevertheless, Isaiah having seen in prophetic vision the rise of Babylon as a world power in 612 B.C., will liken their destruction and wickedness to a time even yet future, the last days!

We learn from Isaiah that Israel [Judah] will be taken from their homes and land by an oppressor (king of Babylon). While they are there, they will serve them as captives. Eventually, Israel will be free and allowed to again return to their own land.

History will verify Isaiah’s vision. In 587 B.C., Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, conquered the kingdom of Judah and took the residents captive to Babylon. In 539 B.C., the Medes and Persians, under king Cyrus, defeated the Babylonians and destroyed their golden city of Nineveh. King Cyrus, in 538 B.C., allowed the Jews to return to their own land and rebuild Jerusalem and their temple.

Who, according to Isaiah, will preserved Israel from their Babylonian conquers? It is the Lord, through the hands of the Medes and Persians, under king Cyrus, who will grant them victory over the Babylonians. The Lord used this gentile monarch to punish the wicked nation of Babylon and her leaders. The Lord also inspired king Cyrus to allow the Jews to return and again build up their city and lands.

In these verses the king of Babylon, who symbolizes all wicked leaders of nations past and present, is likened to Lucifer. It is Lucifer, who led the revolt against the Father in the beginning, who has throughout history encouraged the actions of evil and wickedness by the leaders of the world against the direction of the Lord as given through his prophets. The time will come when all wicked leaders, like the king of Babylon, will be overthrown by the Lord and cast into outer darkness. When later others will view Lucifer’s overthrow, they will register surprise that he was the catalyst for all evil in the world!

Isaiah likens all he has said about Babylon to the destruction of the Assyrians. In 612 B.C., the Lord will use the Babylonians to defeat the Assyrians. Later, as previously stated, the Lord will then use the Medes and Persians to defeat the Babylonians. This action with the Assyrians and Babylonians is similar to the intervention the Lord will orchestrate upon all nations who become ripe for destruction.

The use of the term “ripe for destruction’ in the scriptures applies either when the wickedness of the rulers and people has reached the level where there is no return to righteousness or where their laws and government established by the voice of the people and “they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they are ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted” (B/M, Heleman 5:1; see also Mosiah 29:26-27; Alma 10:19-20).

The destruction will come as previously described by Isaiah to the Assyrians, Babylonians, even to all nations that become “ripe for destruction.” Only those nations that will prosper will be those that are established upon the principles the Lord has revealed even those upon which the city of Enoch was based.

In contrast to Zion is Babylon or the world. These characteristics are noted as they occurred amongst the Nephites in 27 B.C. There is little doubt in my mind that they are in large measure the traits of the majority of all members of the nations prior to their destruction. Note the qualities found amongst the Nephites as they ripened for destruction!

Contrast these qualities with the description of those who were alive after the Savior had visited the Americas.

According to the vision of Isaiah, both the conditions noted will exist during the last days prior to the Lord’s return. The initial qualities were to be found later in Judah prior the Babylon conquest as they had existed in Israel prior to the Assyria conquest.

The second conditions will exist amongst some, but will not be fully manifest until the second coming of the Lord when He will then establish His own kingdom upon the earth amongst the pure in heart. They will qualify for membership in his kingdom by their obedience to His commandments and keeping the covenants they had made. It is then that peace will truly exist upon the earth.