Adam Awake

I Will Make a Spokesman for Him

by Lucas Jackson · · 12 min read

In the 3rd chapter of Second Nephi, Lehi is quoting a prophecy from Joseph of Egypt.1 The quotation is nearly verbatim to the original given in the Genesis 50 JST.2 I’ve put the two side by side in a simple study page, Joseph of Egypt’s Prophecy Compared, to easily see the differences. There is a lot to this chapter, but I will focus on the spokesman.

The real deviation begins in verse 17 of chapter 3. In Joseph’s prophecy as Joseph Smith restored it, the Lord says, “I will raise up Moses… and I will make a spokesman for him, and his name shall be called Aaron,” and then adds, “And it shall be done unto thee in the last days also.”3 In 2 Nephi the subject is “a Moses,” and no Aaron is named.4 By the time Lehi records this prophecy, Moses had already come and gone. The prophecy looks to a future seer who will be “great like unto Moses.”5 Verse 18 goes further: “And the Lord said unto me also.”6 These words have no parallel in Genesis 50.

This choice seer will be assisted with several things:

  • [The Lord] will give power unto him in a rod.
  • [The Lord] will give judgment unto him in writing.
  • [The Lord] will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for [the Lord] will not make him mighty in speaking.
  • [The Lord] will write unto him [His] law, by the finger of [His] own hand.
  • [The Lord] will make a spokesman for him.

Power in a rod: Notice the common thread between each of the items. Power in a rod can have multiple meanings, but the obvious one is the word of God. Earlier Nephi explains the iron rod to his brothers as being the word of God.7 A rod also has reference to a staff, much like Moses wielded to part the red sea.8

A rod should also take our minds to Isaiah 11:1–5.

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.9

The Prophet Joseph Smith gave several answers to questions about Isaiah in 1838:10

What is the rod spoken of in the first verse of the 11th chapter of Isaiah, that should come of the Stem of Jesse?

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.

Notice the servant, or rod… “Power in a rod,” “on whom there is laid much power.” Also we get another detail about this servant, he will be “a servant in the hands of Christ.”

But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.11

Judgment in writing: Again a possible reference to the word of God. Notice how Isaiah’s rod will judge (Isaiah 11:3–4, above): not after the sight of his eyes, but with righteousness.12 And the world will be judged by what is written: “out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world.”13

I will not loose his tongue, in this case the choice seer will only represent the role of the prophet, but not the spokesman.14

The Lord will write unto him His law, once again another potential reference to the word of God.15

And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;16

Finally, the Lord will make a spokesman for this choice seer.

After explaining the assistance given to this seer, the Lord begins to expound where this word and spokesman will come from. “I will raise up unto the fruit of thy [Lehi’s] loins; and I will make for him a spokesman.”17 This tells us the Lord intends to “raise up” posterity from Lehi, a righteous branch, and lineage of Joseph of Egypt.18 From this statement we also know that the spokesman will come from Lehi’s posterity: “the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.”19

The seer will “write the writing of the fruit of [Lehi’s] loins.” and it will be written to the seed of Lehi.20 Whoever the spokesman is, will declare that the writing is directed to the seed of Lehi. The title page of the Book of Mormon, written by Moroni, declares that the book is, “written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel.”21 The writing of Lehi’s seed was indeed translated by Joseph Smith by the gift and power of God.22

The word will then “go forth” unto the “fruit of [Lehi’s] loins.” Nephi, later in chapter 11, tells his children that he will “send forth” Isaiah’s, Jacob’s, and Nephi’s words as the first three witnesses of the truthfulness of the book.23 The Lord states in verse 21, of chapter 3, that the Nephite words “shall proceed forth out of my mouth” unto the Lamanite remnant. Later on Nephi receives the same promise from the Lord, “And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;”24 Once again the Lord declares His words will “proceed forth out of [his] mouth.”25

Back to verse 19, the Lord informs Lehi that the words which are written will act as though his posterity were to “cry from the dust.” They will cry repentance to the remnant of the Lamanites. “Their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.” The Nephite authors know their fate.26 They know their words will “go forth” as messengers, as a voice from the dust, as a spokesman for the choice seer.

For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust.27

And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead.28

And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.29

Search the prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot write them. Yea, behold I say unto you, that those saints who have gone before me, who have possessed this land, shall cry, yea, even from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and as the Lord liveth he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them.30

And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead.31

Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words.32

And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?33

Because of the faith of Lehi, Nephi and other righteous fathers,34 the Lord promises to make their weak words strong.35

Because of these connections I believe that the Book of Mormon authors are the spokesman prophesied in chapter 3 of 2 Nephi.36 They cry with their voice and speak as if from the dust, out of the earth.

And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.37

Notes

  1. 2 Nephi 3. ↩
  2. JST Genesis 50:24–38 (in the Church’s JST appendix; Genesis 12:36–43 RE); see Kent P. Jackson, Joseph Smith’s Translation of the Bible (Genesis 50). ↩
  3. JST Genesis 50:34–36 (Genesis 12:36–43 RE); Jackson, Joseph Smith’s Translation of the Bible. ↩
  4. 2 Nephi 3:17. ↩
  5. 2 Nephi 3:9. Who this seer is, I leave open here. Verse 15 says “his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father,” and the Lord said of Joseph Smith in 1830, “he receiveth them even as Moses” (D&C 28:2); in 1834 He promised “a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel” (D&C 103:16). Others read Isaiah 11, 3 Nephi 21:10 and D&C 85:7, below, of a servant still to come. This is not the “Prophet… like unto me” of Deuteronomy 18:15, whom Nephi and the Savior identify as Christ (1 Nephi 22:20–21; 3 Nephi 20:23). ↩
  6. 2 Nephi 3:18. Readers differ on who “me” is. Lehi closes the passage with “And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old prophesy” (2 Nephi 3:22), which may mean verses 18–21 are still Joseph of Egypt’s words, from a fuller record on the brass plates. Either way, “the fruit of thy loins” includes Lehi’s family, a branch of Joseph (Jacob 2:25). ↩
  7. 1 Nephi 15:23–24. ↩
  8. Exodus 14:16. A historical note: in April 1829 the Lord told Oliver Cowdery that he had “the spirit of Revelation,” the spirit “by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the red Sea on dry ground,” and a second gift, first written as “the gift of working with the sprout,” or rod. In 1835 it was printed as “the gift of Aaron” (Revelation, April 1829–B, Joseph Smith Papers; D&C 8:2–8). ↩
  9. Isaiah 11:1–5. Joseph Smith did not change these verses in his translation. ↩
  10. D&C 113:3–4; the section heading dates it March 1838, at or near Far West, Missouri. ↩
  11. 3 Nephi 21:10. ↩
  12. Judgment and righteousness are the pair the Lord chose Abraham to teach his household: “to do justice and judgment” (Genesis 18:19; in Hebrew tsedaqah and mishpat). Isaiah uses the same two roots: “with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth… And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins” (Isaiah 11:4–5). The rod’s judgment goes to the poor and the meek. Nephi says the same of the prophet like Moses: “he shall execute judgment in righteousness” (1 Nephi 22:21). ↩
  13. 2 Nephi 29:11; 3 Nephi 27:25–26. ↩
  14. Compare Moses, who said, “I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue,” and the Lord answered, “Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well… And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people” (Exodus 4:10–16; unchanged in Joseph Smith’s translation). Enoch said, “I am slow of speech,” and the Lord answered, “Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance” (Moses 6:31–32). Moroni felt the same about writing: “thou hast not made us mighty in writing” (Ether 12:23–25). ↩
  15. Moses received “tables of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18). In February 1831 the Lord told the Church, “by the prayer of your faith ye shall receive my law,” and then gave it (D&C 41:3; D&C 42:2). ↩
  16. D&C 85:7. ↩
  17. 2 Nephi 3:18. ↩
  18. Jacob 2:25. ↩
  19. Nephi sees the seer and the voice from the dust side by side: “the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust” (2 Nephi 27:9). ↩
  20. “That the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord” (D&C 3:19–20); see also Alma 37:4, 18–19. ↩
  21. Title page of the Book of Mormon. ↩
  22. Joseph of Egypt foresaw this record joined to Judah’s: “shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines” (2 Nephi 3:11–12); “they both shall be established in one” (1 Nephi 13:38–41); “join them one to another into one stick” (Ezekiel 37:16–19, unchanged in Joseph Smith’s translation). Of the one who would bring it forth, Moroni wrote, “whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless” (Mormon 8:14–16), as Joseph of Egypt had said, “that seer will I bless.” ↩
  23. 2 Nephi 11:2–3. ↩
  24. 2 Nephi 29:2. ↩
  25. See also Moroni 10:28 and 2 Nephi 33:14. ↩
  26. 1 Nephi 15:5. ↩
  27. 2 Nephi 26:16. Nephi is reworking Isaiah 29:4: “thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust” (unchanged in Joseph Smith’s translation). ↩
  28. 2 Nephi 27:13. ↩
  29. 2 Nephi 33:13. ↩
  30. Mormon 8:23. ↩
  31. Mormon 8:26. ↩
  32. Mormon 9:30. ↩
  33. Moroni 10:27. ↩
  34. Enos 1:15–18; Mormon 8:24–26; Mormon 9:36–37. The Lord told Joseph Smith the same: “this was their faith—that my gospel… might come unto their brethren the Lamanites… according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people” (D&C 10:46–52). ↩
  35. Ether 12:23–29; see also 2 Nephi 3:21: “the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith.” ↩
  36. The Lord did call Sidney Rigdon “a spokesman unto my servant Joseph” (D&C 100:9–11), and Oliver Cowdery was told to be “even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations” (D&C 28:3). Many read 2 Nephi 3 of one of them. But verse 18 says “the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it”: a spokesman from Joseph’s own seed, through Lehi. ↩
  37. Moses 7:62. Compare Psalm 85:11: “Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” ↩

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