The second part of Isaiah includes an account of Cyrus, king of Persia. Cyrus was a pagan king who conquered Babylon, liberated the Jews and returned them to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.
What is extraordinary about Cyrus being mentioned by name in Isaiah is Cyrus would not be born for one hundred fifty years.
“ . . . Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer and he that formed you from the womb: I am the Lord that makes all things, that stretches forth the heavens alone, that spreads abroad the earth by myself, that frustrates the tokens of the liars and makes diviners mad, that turns wise men backward and makes their knowledge foolish, that confirms the word of his servant and performs the counsel of his messengers, that says to Jerusalem, You shall be inhabited — and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof; that says to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers [Spirit of Elijah]; that says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure; even saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built — and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.
Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held to subdue nations before him (and I will disarm the loins of kings to open before him the two leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut): I will go before you and make the crooked places straight, I will break in pieces the gates of brass and cut asunder the bars of iron, and I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my elect, I have even called you by your name. I have surnamed you, though you have not known me. I am the Lord and there is none else, there is no God besides me. I girded you, though you have not known me, that they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none besides me. I am the Lord and there is none else . . .” (RE Isaiah 15:17-18, emphasis added).
The Lord naming Cyrus many years prior to his birth is a primary reason some scholars believe the latter part of Isaiah had to be written by a contemporary of Cyrus rather than Isaiah. It is inconceivable for some to accept the Lord could or would reveal the identity of Cyrus with such precision and clarity. A more practical explanation for the skeptic is the second half account was not written by Isaiah but an author who was present in the days of Cyrus.
There are many elements of this prophecy that appear contradictory. Cyrus was a pagan, not an Israelite. Yet the Lord gives him his name in advance of his birth, calls Cyrus His “shepherd and His “anointed one”. Both of those titles seem totally inappropriate for the historical figure that was Cyrus. However, if the Lord selected Cyrus as a type for a future Davidic figure to represent the lineage of Joseph in the description of the “Root of Jesse,” the puzzle pieces fit together nicely.
In the Lord’s description of the “Root of Jesse,” He explains he is a descendant of Jesse as well as of Joseph. A gentile, Cyrus fills that criteria because gentiles gain access to the blessings of Abraham through the lineage of Joseph, whose sons, Ephraim and Manasseh were half Egyptian or gentile.
Also the titles “shepherd” and “anointed one” are titles given to David and his latter-day descendant. In Ezekiel the Lord states His servant David will be His shepherd.
“And I will set up one shepherd over them and he shall feed them, even my servant David. He shall feed them and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them. I the Lord have spoken it” (RE Ezekiel 17:10, emphasis added).
In addition to the title of “shepherd” given to both David and Cyrus, the two also share the title of “anointed one.”
“Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said — and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said” (RE 2 Samuel 11:1, emphasis added).
Historically, Cyrus literally liberated the Jews from Babylonian captivity and knowing Isaiah’s prophecy, sent them to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple. Prophetically, the liberation of the Jews from Babylonian captivity was a metaphor for what the Joseph line of the Davidic king would do for Israel in the last days. Latter-day Babylon has no borders or physical boundaries. Modern Babylon is a corruption of the original faith embodied in the covenant God made with Israel.
“Yea, verily I say unto you again, the time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you: Go out of Babylon, gather yourselves out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other. Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off, unto the islands of the sea. Send forth unto foreign lands, call upon all nations, firstly upon the gentiles and then upon the Jews. And behold and lo, this shall be their cry, and the voice of the Lord unto all people: Go forth unto the land of Zion, that the borders of my people may be enlarged, and that her stakes may be strengthened, and that Zion may go forth unto the regions round about. Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom. Behold and lo, the Bridegroom comes, go out to meet him; prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord. Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Let them therefore which are among the gentiles flee unto Zion, and let them who be of Judah flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountains of the Lord’s house. Go out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. But verily thus says the Lord: Let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goes, let him not look back, lest sudden destruction shall come upon him” (RE T&C 58:2, emphasis added).
The modern day Babylon is pervasive in all cultures throughout the world. The Lord warns us to flee this Babylon of culture and thought. Denver Snuffer addressed this subject in “Second Comforter, Conversing with the Lord through the Veil.”
“Those who copied scripture, and who preserved it after it left the prophets’ hands, influenced its content much more than theologians have been willing to admit. Increasingly however, scholars are coming to the conclusion Babylon changed the Biblical trajectory, and introduced both changes to religious practices and to earlier records. What followed the Babylonian captivity was forever affected by the persistent lingering influence of Babylon. It was not just the record after Babylon which was affected, however. Even the portions written before 600 BC had to be preserved by the post-Babylonian copyists and curators. Babylon influenced them, and they influenced the text. Furthermore, throughout the post-Babylonian Israelite history, the writers and thinkers were unable to escape exposure to Babylonian culture, and it affected their thinking. All that was written after Babylon was influenced by their exile there. Even those few prophets who spoke after Babylon used that era in metaphor and parable to teach and warn. Babylon and the experiences there, including the changes to thought, have been inculcated into the scriptures at the “DNA level” and it cannot be removed at this point. The Bible therefore must be studied with care to distinguish between its divergent influences. We make only brief mention of this here. Latter-day Saint commentators have dealt with this subject, and we are not going to repeat what can be found elsewhere.
We only note the Babylonian “head of gold” is with us still, and to flee from it we need first to realize it remains an influence today. Without that recognition we cannot hope to “grind it to dust.” This is not all, however, as Daniel’s vision warns us. The Post-Babylonian great world powers of the Medes and Persians, Greeks and Romans all brought their influences and thoughts to the people of the Bible and to the people of the world. Language, art, mathematics, science and culture itself all have their foundations in these prior ancient civilizations. We build over their ruins and accept their ways. The horse path of the Medes becomes the worn and widened road of the Greeks, and the cobblestone pathways of Rome, and our own paved highways today. We do what they did, and go where they went. Not just in our foot-traffic, but in our legislatures, art, and even in our minds.. Though these civilizations have long since passed from the world’s center stage, while they occupied it they left an influence which persists today. From commerce to language, thought to dress, all these world-dominating cultures hold a continuing influence among the people of Western Civilization. Western Civilization in turn dominates the world. Therefore, although these prior cultures may have ceased as active world governmental powers, they remain alive and influential in mankind’s thoughts and culture. They affect every aspect of our modern-day lives” (Jr. Snuffer, Denver C.. The Second Comforter: Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil (pp. 332-334). Mill Creek Press. Kindle Edition).
Fleeing Babylon is a modern day exodus from religious, cultural and societal devolution from the true religion first established in the days of Adam. The coming of the Spirit of Elijah to those who begin this exodus is a major step in renewing the original faith of our Patriarchal Fathers.
The One Mighty Among Them
Lehi’s exposition of the prophecy of Joseph who was sold into Egypt was included in his last blessing on his youngest son, Joseph. At the conclusion of Lehi’s blessing, Lehi added a prophecy of “one mighty” who would be among his son Joseph’s posterity in the last days.
“And now behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old prophesy. Wherefore, because of this covenant, thou art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book. And there shall raise up one mighty among them who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God with exceeding faith to work mighty wonders and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel and unto the seed of thy brethren. And now blessed art thou, Joseph. Behold, thou art little; wherefore, hearken unto the words of thy brother Nephi, and it shall be done unto thee even according to the words which I have spoken. Remember the words of thy dying father. Amen” (RE 2 Nephi 2:7, emphasis added).
Denver Snuffer addressed the one mighty in this passage from his book, “Preserving the Restoration.”
“Lehi continued in verse 2 Nephi 3:23: “Wherefore, because of this covenant” [with Joseph of Egypt], “he” [the son of Lehi] “is blessed, for his” [Lehi’s son] “seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book. And there shall rise up one mighty among them” [The “words of the book” is the book recovered by Joseph Smith’s hand; the Book of Mormon. Another called “mighty” will be “among” them. The word “among” does not require him to be a descendant of Lehi. It only requires the “mighty” one to be among or sent to them. A minister who understands the Book of Mormon and preaches it with strong conviction could fulfill this promise. But someone will someday accomplish this mission, other than Joseph Smith.] (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration . Mill Creek Press. Kindle Edition.
As the “Root of Jesse” in RE T&C 129:3 and RE Isaiah 5:4 plays a role in gathering Israel, the “one mighty” in Lehi’s prophecy plays a key role in restoring Israel and the house of Joseph as well. When prophetic descriptions of both men are compared, one could conclude both descriptions speak of the same person.
“Question: What is the Root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter [Isa. 5:4]?Answer: Behold, thus says 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 day” (RE T&C 129:3, emphasis added).
Since both the “Root of Jesse” and the “one mighty” are involved in gathering Israel, both are further linked to John the Beloved who is the ministering angel and Elias who restores all things [knowledge] and gathers Israel.
“A revelation given to Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery in Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829, when they desired to know whether John, the beloved disciple, tarried on earth. Translated from parchment, written and hid up by himself.
the Lord said unto me, John, my beloved, what do you desire? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you. And I said unto him, Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto you. And the Lord said unto me, Verily, verily I say unto you, because you desired this, you shall tarry until I come in my glory, and shall prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
And for this cause the Lord said unto Peter, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? For he desired of me that he might bring souls unto me, but you desired that you might speedily come unto me in my kingdom. I say unto you, Peter, this was a good desire, but my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater work yet among men, than what he has before done; yea, he has undertaken a greater work. Therefore, I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel. He shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth, and I will make you to minister for him and for your brother James [Jacob]. And unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come. Verily I say unto you, you shall both have according to your desires, for you both joy in that which you have desired” (RE JSH 13:18-19, emphasis added).
Adding more precisely to the mission of John the Beloved in the last days, the Savior explained to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery specifically what John the Beloved would oversee in his angelic role.
“Question: What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation [Rev. 3:13]?Answer: We are to understand that it was a mission and an ordinance for him to gather the tribes of Israel. Behold, this is Elias who, as it is written, must come and restore all things” (RE T&C 74:14, emphasis added).
In effect, John the Beloved ministers as an angel to a mortal man who qualifies as an “heir of salvation,” and in turn, the “heir of salvation” then ministers to those whom he presides over. King Benjamin on the tower near the Temple in Mosiah is a type for Israel’s gathering in the last days.
Additional Types that May Apply to Both Jesse and Joseph
The “one mighty and strong” prophecy in RE T&C 83:4 points to a pattern of redundancy that almost cries out as a type for the last days. Immediately following the description of the “one mighty and strong” the prophecy turns to a man who is called and appointed as a predecessor to the “one mighty and strong” prophetic figure.
“while that man who was called of God, and appointed, that puts forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning” (RE T&C 83:4, emphasis added).
A man called of God and appointed, having authority from God to perform a specific function but is prohibited from extending beyond boundaries set by God. Transcending those boundaries is a provocation to God. Reference to putting forth his hand to steady the ark refers to Uzzah, a non-Levite who drove a wagon carrying the ark of God. Only Levites, and specifically the Kohathites were authorized to carry the ark. But it must be carried manually without the aid of a cart or wagon. As well intentioned Uzzah may have been in his attempt to steady the ark, Uzzah violated God’s commandment and paid for his transgression with his life.
“And when they came unto the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he smote him because he put his hand to the ark. And there he died before God. And David was displeased because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah; wherefore, that place is called Perez-Uzzah to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? So David brought not the ark home to himself, to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had” (RE 1 Chronicles 8:3, emphasis added).
Set boundaries like the example of Uzzah are generally associated with the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood. When someone holding the preparatory Priesthood performs a function, strict obedience to the parameters of that function is required.
Joseph Smith pointed to strict adherence to set parameters in the Aaronic Priesthood as a sign a servant of God strictly follows.
“. . . but that my [Joseph Smith] ordination was a preparatory work, or a going before, which was the spirit of Elias; for the spirit of Elias was a going before to prepare the way for the greater, which was the case with John the Baptist. He came crying through the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." And they were informed, if they could receive it, it was the spirit of Elias; and John was very particular to tell the people, he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. He told the people that his mission was to preach repentance and baptize with water; but it was He that should come after him that should baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost. If he had been an impostor, he might have gone to work beyond his bounds, and undertook to have performed ordinances which did not belong to that office and calling, under the spirit of Elias” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 384-385). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition, emphasis added).
A sign of a true messenger from God is they will not transcend the bounds of their assignment. Under the Aaronic Priesthood particularly, the sign of someone under the Spirit of Elias is they will not point to themselves but to someone who follows after as the Savior followed the ministry of John the Baptist.
This pattern is followed by God with the office of king. Joseph Smith noted that king David did not receive the Spirit and Power of Elijah or the fullness of the Priesthood. This is consistent with the claim the office of king was Aaronic or the Spirit of Elias preparing for something greater for the king and his people.
The anointing of Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin is a type for this Aaronic law.
“And when they had come into the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place. Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came [Saul is “called” by the Lord at this point ], saying, Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come unto me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spoke to you of; this same shall reign over my people.
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where the seer’s house is. And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer. Go up before me unto the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them, for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house? And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak so to me? . . . Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord has anointed [ and “appointed] you to be captain over his inheritance?
After that, you shall come to the hill of God where is the garrison of the Philistines. And it shall come to pass, when you have come there to the city, that you shall meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tambourine, and a pipe, and a harp before them. And they shall prophesy. And the spirit of the Lord will come upon you and you shall prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man ” [born again spiritually]. (RE 1 Samuel 4:10-11, 14, & 16, emphasis added).
The Lord called Saul through His seer, Samuel. Saul was from Benjamin, not Judah, the lineage that is soon to become royal. In Saul’s second year he is instructed to wait for Samuel for seven days so Samuel can perform the sacrificial rites. As the seventh day drew to a close, Saul was concerned the sacrificial offering would not be done in time. Saul commanded the burnt and peace offerings be brought to him and Saul offered the sacrifices. Like Uzzah extending his hand to steady the ark, Saul, not being of Levite descent forfeits his right to the throne of Israel.
“And it came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What have you done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you came not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash, therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord. I forced myself therefore and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which he commanded you. For now would the Lord have established your kingdom upon Israel for ever; but now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people, because you have not kept that which the Lord commanded you. And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin” (RE 1 Samuel 6:4, emphasis added).
Saul was not struck down immediately, but the effects of his sin did begin immediately. Saul was commanded to smite Amalek as a consequence for what they had done to Israel. The Lord’s commandment to Saul was explicit.
“And there was serious war against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him unto himself. Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen unto the voice of the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass” (RE 1 Samuel 7:2, emphasis added).
Saul was commanded to slay all the Amalekites and their livestock. Contrary to the Lord’s command, Saul preserved the life of Agag, the Amalekite king and the livestock. This was an act of rebellion in the Lord’s eyes that would not be forgiven. Saul’s account of events was not well received by Samuel or the Lord.
“And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord your God in Gilgal.
And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams; for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, I pray you, pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel” (RE 1 Samuel 7:8-10, emphasis added).
According to the Lord’s priorities, it is better to obey His commands with exactness than to disobey to perform a sacrifice. Saul’s disobedience not only cost him the throne but eventually his life as well.
Samuel never saw Saul again after this incident, but he mourned his fall nonetheless. The Lord sent Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint the new king. When Samuel summoned Jesse and his son’s to meet him, Samuel believed Eliab should be the one appointed as God’s new ruler in Israel. But the Lord rejected Eliab and told Samuel, “for the Lord seeth not as a man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (RE 1 Samuel 7:16, emphasis added).
From the moment Samuel anointed David king, the Spirit of the Lord fell upon David and an evil spirit troubled Saul thereafter. Many events in the lives of David and Saul may serve as types for the latter-day David and that “one who was called and appointed,” too many for the purposes of this paper. Like this subject under discussion, there is no way to know for certain the course these events may take. But there is one subject related to this topic worth considering.
The circumstances leading to king David’s ascent to the throne of Israel may be a type or pattern by which the latter-day David reigns over Israel in the last days. In a battle against Israel’s arch nemesis the Philistines, Saul and his three sons are slain leaving no heir to the throne. David is anointed king over Judah. When Saul was king over Israel, he appointed David over Israel’s army and David was victorious in all their conflicts until Saul became aware of David’s anointing by Samuel.
The armies of Israel warred with David and Judah for a time but eventually, having no heir from Saul to sit upon the throne, the elders of Israel approached David.
“Then came all the tribes of Israel to David, unto Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were he that led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be a captain over Israel.
So all the elders of Israel came to the king, to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah” (RE 2 Samuel 1:32-33, emphasis added).
All the tribes of Israel came to David and endorsed his ascent to Israel’s throne, but it was the elders of Israel entering into a covenant with David before the Lord to anoint David to be king of Israel.
The Joseph Version of the Davidic Ascent
The Book of Mormon account of Mosiah leaving the land of Nephi bares similarities to the story of David ascending to Israel’s throne. The Joseph portion of the “Root of Jesse” is not as war torn and more spiritual in nature. Mosiah travels through the wilderness with his people and finds Zarahemla. The people of Zarahemla were Mulekites, after Mulek, the only surviving heir to Zedekiah’s throne.
“ . . . Now the land south was called Lehi, and the land north was called Muloch, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Muloch into the land north and Lehi into the land south . . .” (RE Helaman 2:29, emphasis added).
In addition to the name Mulek being changed to Muloch, Lehi, a descendant of Joseph was in the Southern kingdom while descendants of Judah [a type for Israel] are in the North.
“Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah king of Judah was carried away captive into Babylon. And they journeyed in the wilderness and were brought by the hand of the Lord, across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth. And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceeding numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time. And their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator. And Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them. But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory. And they are written, but not in these plates.
And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla and of Mosiah did unite together [Joseph and Judah], and Mosiah was appointed to be their king. And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it, and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God [constitutes a seer]. And they gave an account of one Coriantumr and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons. It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower [of Babel] at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just. And their bones lay scattered in the land northward” (RE Omni 1:7-8, emphasis added).
King Mosiah found the people of Zarahemla in a condition similar to Israel in their scattered state. That is why the combined records of Judah and Joseph bring “. . . them [Israel] to a knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. And out of weakness shall he [Joseph Smith] be made strong, in that day when my work shall restore them [Israel], who are of the house of Israel, in the last days” (RE Genesis 12:39, emphasis added).
In the last days when the “one mighty and strong” rises up it will be to replace someone called [like Saul] and appointed [like Saul] and then oversteps his bounds, no matter how innocent or well-intentioned they may be. Saul was chosen and appointed by God and remained so until he had taken actions beyond the authority God allots him.
Presuming Priesthood conditions in the latter-day church of the gentiles follows a similar course as when Moses was removed, the prevailing Priesthood is Aaronic. Given the examples of Uzzah and Saul as well as others, one can only guess what the one who precedes the “one mighty and strong” does with the best of intentions to provoke God to end his life. It has been foretold. It will happen. When it does, the “one mighty and strong” will unite Israel under one head, one named David and he translates the records Israel brings with them.
3/18/2024
Scott Roderick
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