Jan. 30, 2025
Joshua Lytle
The Book of Mormon includes much of the book of Isaiah, quoting up to a third of its text. Many of these quotations occur in 2 Nephi, where Nephi quotes full chapters from Isaiah and provides some commentary. His brother Jacob also quotes and interprets the words of Isaiah. The prophet Abinadi quoted and interpreted Isaiah before his death at the hands of king Noah and his priests. Christ quoted and interpreted Isaiah at his coming among the Nephites and further commanded the Nephites to search the words of Isaiah. And finally, the prophet Moroni the son of Mormon quoted and interpreted the words of Isaiah. Moroni also instructed those who would receive the Book of Mormon to search the prophecies of Isaiah, because those prophecies contained the eternal purposes of the Lord which he would fulfill in the last days.
Mormon 8:22-23
22 For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled.
23 Search the prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot write them. …
3 Nephi 23:1
1 And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.
Despite the book of Isaiah being a foundational text for the Book of Mormon, the LDS community has failed to properly accept the challenge of seriously searching the words of Isaiah. A typical reader of the Book of Mormon quickly skims those chapters of 2 Nephi that quote Isaiah, and there are few church leaders or scholars that seem equipped to help others understand those passages. The general feeling seems to be that busy and productive people have no time to study this incomprehensible text, and that those who do study Isaiah will inevitably be led to believe strange and false doctrines.
The prophet Nephi acknowledged that the words of Isaiah were difficult to understand, stating that they were written after the manner of the Jews and are only plain to those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. In spite of that difficulty, at the day when those prophecies were about to be fulfilled the keys of understanding would be revealed to those who were waiting for the Lord to fulfill his promises.
2 Nephi 25:1,4,7
1 …For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews.
4 …because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. …
7 …in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.
The work of this paper is to discuss the inclusion of Isaiah 4:1 in the Book of Mormon. This verse is the cause of a storm of false interpretations, but we can have some assurance that we understand Isaiah’s original intent. (See the previous paper, A Structural Analysis of Isaiah 4:1.)
It is a remarkable fact that the Book of Mormon has a lot to say about the seven women mentioned in Isaiah 4:1. When we understand what the Book of Mormon says about this passage and how the Nephite prophets came to their interpretations, we will have greater assurance that we are properly equipped to study the promises of the Lord contained in Isaiah.
Isaiah 4:1
1 Seven women will take hold of one man
in that day, and say,
We will eat our own food,
wear our own clothes,
only let us be called by your name—
take away our reproach!
Nephi, the first author in the Book of Mormon, has a lot to say about the prophecies of Isaiah. Despite the difficulties his brothers must have had understanding Isaiah’s words, Nephi often used Isaiah’s words to persuade them to believe in God and Christ. He knew that Isaiah’s words had broad applicability; not only did they concern Isaiah’s day, they also applied to Christ’s day and time, to Nephi’s people, and to the Gentiles of the last days who would receive the Book of Mormon and also instructions to gather the remnants of the Lamanites. Everything in Isaiah has an end-times interpretation.
1 Nephi 19:23
23 …that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.
The first and second books of Nephi contain direct quotations of over 17 chapters from Isaiah, including chapters 48-49 (1 Nephi 20-21), 50-51 (2 Nephi 7-8), and 2-14 (2 Nephi 12-24). In particular, 2 Nephi 12:22-14:1 (Isaiah 2:22-4:1) contains most of the passages in Isaiah necessary to understand these seven women [who] shall take hold of one man. However from the confusion most LDS members have in interpreting Isaiah 4:1 it is certain that they do not recognize where Nephi gives his own interpretation of this verse in 2 Nephi 28.
When Isaiah 3 describes the women who rule over the Lord’s people, Nephi recognizes that these women of Zion represent the churches of that day who rule over the Lord’s people. When Isaiah describes seven women Nephi recognizes these women to represent all the churches, every single one. When the seven women say they will eat their own food and wear their own clothes while requesting to be called by His name, Nephi recognizes that the churches of the Gentiles are denying the Lord and his covenants and power, while they each simultaneously claim to their adherents that God has given them power to determine questions of salvation on his behalf. They present to their adherents a corrupted covenant, instead of the everlasting covenant that God always extends to his people.
Isaiah 4:1
1 Seven women will take hold of one man
in that day, and say,
We will eat our own food,
wear our own clothes,
only let us be called by your name—
take away our reproach!
2 Nephi 28:3-6
3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord’s; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord’s; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord—
4 And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.
5 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;
6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.
Isaiah 4:1 presents this vivid imagery of the Lord with arm extended, ready to establish a covenant with his people who try to take hold of him. In 2 Nephi 28 the Lord expresses this to Nephi, saying mine arm is lengthened out all the day long. After Jesus’ death in Jerusalem he similarly says to the Nephites mine arm of mercy is extended towards you. Notice that Nephi uses the phrase maketh flesh his arm to mean making a covenant with Babylon rather than the Lord. Nephi sees that Isaiah’s seven women who ask that Christ take away their reproach remain under a curse because they take hold of Christ only half-heartedly.
2 Nephi 28:32
32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out my arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.
2 Nephi 28:31
31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm…
The churches who rule the Lord’s people mislead them. They all preach false doctrines, perverting the way of the Lord. Isaiah is clear that the Lord is carefully watching his people, ready to stand up and execute judgment when they ripen in iniquity. When the Lord’s people fall deeper into iniquity, they are generally accompanied – even led – by their corrupt leaders who have abandoned their responsibilities to care for those they rule over.
Isaiah 3:12-13
12 As for my people, …
women wield authority over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you,
abolishing your traditional ways.
13 Jehovah will take a stand and contend with them;
he has arisen to judge the nations.
Nephi understands from Isaiah 4:1 that all seven women, or in other words all the churches among the Lord’s people, pervert the right way of the Lord by dictating to their adherents the terms of their own corrupted covenant with him. Nephi also conveys the Lords’ determination to judge those who are guilty of leading his people astray: they shall be thrust down to hell. It is helpful here to include the KJV translation of Isaiah 3:12 and Isaiah 9:16 which preserve several key words repeated by Nephi, helpfully illustrating Nephi’s inspiration for 2 Nephi 28.
Isaiah 3:12 (KJV)
12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
Isaiah 9:16 (KJV)
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
2 Nephi 28:11-12
11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.
12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted…
2 Nephi 28:14-15
14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!
We know that the Lord is only well pleased with those of his people who are righteous, who are clean from sin.
D&C 38:10
10 Verily I say unto you, ye are clean, but not all; and there is none else with whom I am well pleased;
In Isaiah 3 the Lord expresses his displeasure with his people during his day of judgment by taking away all food supply and water supply from Judea and Jerusalem.
Isaiah 3:1
1 Even now, the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts,
deprives Judea and Jerusalem
of both staff and crutch—
all food supply and water supply,
At the last day the Lord is displeased with his people generally. Because he is a just God, he will preserve the few righteous who are among his people – it shall be well with them, and they have the food and drink that come from keeping their covenants. Regarding them the Lord instructs his servant to
Isaiah 3:10
10 Tell the righteous it shall be well with them;
they shall eat the fruit of their own labors.
Nephi understands these words of Isaiah very well. However, he is concerned that many among the Gentiles will be overly satisfied with themselves and their own self-righteousness. These people will not notice that the Lord is displeased with them and will spend much of their time justifying their corruption, thinking it to be of little consequence. It is towards these self-satisfied individuals and institutions that Nephi directs a warning of his own.
2 Nephi 28:24-25
24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
2 Nephi 28:21
21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well –and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
Though it shall be well with the righteous (Isaiah 3:10), Nephi provides a counter that the Lord is taking food and drink away from Judea and Jerusalem (Isaiah 3:1) because their inhabitants self-righteously believe that God is pleased with them. Despite the coming judgment, the self-righteous say to themselves:
2 Nephi 28:7-8
7 Yeah, and there shall be many that shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
In Isaiah 3:6-7 we are given some responsibilities placed upon a leader of the people. Good leaders are responsible for organizing their followers to help them obtain food and clothing, taking care of the poor and the needy. At a time when the Lord is withholding food and water from his wicked people, the only leader capable of helping his people obtain life-sustaining food and clothing will be the Lord himself.
Isaiah 3:6-7
6 Then will a man apprehend a kinsman
of his father’s house, and say,
You have a tunic: be our leader
and take charge of this ruination!
7 But he will raise his hand in that day
and swear, I am no physician.
There is neither food nor clothing in my house;
you cannot make me a leader of the people.
These judgements from the Lord occur in part because the rulers of his people, including the women of Zion who are their ecclesiastical leaders, have abandoned their responsibilities to the people. Instead of caring for the poor and the needy, they exalt themselves and put down the poor, oppressing [the Lord’s] people.
Isaiah 3:12-16, 18
12 As for my people, …
women wield authority over them.
….
he has arisen to judge the nations.
14 He will bring to trial the elders of his people
and their rulers, and say to them,
It is you who have devoured the vineyard;
you fill your houses by depriving the needy.
15 What do you mean by oppressing my people,
humbling the faces of the poor?
says Jehovah of Hosts.
16 Jehovah says …
… the women of Zion are haughty
18 In that day my Lord will strip away their finery…
Nephi is clearly interpretating these verses from Isaiah. He interprets the women of Zion to be the people’s ecclesiastical leaders, namely their churches which have all become corrupted, lifted up because of pride, leaving only a few who are the humble followers of Christ. Nephi’s fine sanctuaries which cause them to rob the poor correspond to Isaiah’s charge that the leaders of God’s people fill [their] houses by depriving the needy. (In the KJV it becomes even clearer that Nephi is pulling this from Isaiah: the spoil of the poor is in your houses) Nephi’s claim that the churches rob the poor to indulge in fine clothing corresponds to Isaiah’s claim that the Lord will strip away their finery.
2 Nephi 28:12-15
12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.
13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.
14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!
Nephi has a few interesting expressions for pride, which make more sense when we read these verses from Isaiah. The comparison comes through more clearly in the KJV this time. In Isaiah 2 the last day is described as a day when the proud are humbled, and only the Lord is exalted. Nephi relates, as his version of the last day describes the prideful as wicked, while only the humble, meek, and poor in heart are the true followers of Christ. For him the prideful are many and the humble are few.
Nephi describes the churches as lifted up and puffed up because of pride, while Isaiah says that the day of judgment will be upon every one that is lifted up. According to Nephi they have stiff necks, compared to Isaiah’s daughters of Zion who walk with stretched forth necks. And finally, according to both Nephi and Isaiah those who have high heads shall be brought low.
Isaiah 2:11-12 (KJV)
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
Isaiah 3:16 (KJV)
16 …the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks…
Isaiah says that at the last day the women of Zion – in other words the churches – will be haughty and pretentious, claiming to be called by Christ’s name. In Nephi’s words, they will each say I, I am the Lord’s. Despite these pretentions, they will be participating in the Gentile’s works of darkness. The Lord will expose their private dealings and hidden schemes, remove their beauty and glory, and leave them in shame and disgrace. This is symbolized by baldness (recall that long hair is the glory of a woman), and having their finery stripped away.
Isaiah 3:16-18, 24
16 Jehovah says, moreover,
Because the women of Zion are haughty
and put on airs, painting their eyes,
ever flirting when they walk
and clacking with their feet,
17 my Lord will afflict the scalps
of the women of Zion with baldness;
Jehovah will expose their private parts.
18 In that day my Lord will strip away their finery…
24 …
in place of beauty
there shall be ignominy.
Isaiah 29:15
15 Woe to those who contrive
to hide their schemes from Jehovah!
They work in the dark, thinking,
Who will see us? Who will know?
Nephi also sees many at the last day whose works shall be in the dark. Nevertheless the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them. This indicates that while they think they can hide their abominations from the Lord – after all, there are often no living witnesses to their wickedness – the Lord is a just Judge, and nothing can be hidden from him. This is Nephi’s answer to Isaiah’s questions – Who will see us? Who will know?
2 Nephi 28:9-10
9 Yeah, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.
10 And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.
After the Lord declares his intention to take away Jerusalem’s food and water and strip the women of Zion of their finery, Isaiah’s seven women still declare that they will eat their own food and wear their own clothes (Isaiah 3:1, 4:1). These seven women are self-sufficient, unwilling to receive anything from the Lord. They would do well to accept the Isaiah’s advice in Isaiah 2:22:
Isaiah 2:22
22 Desist from the things of man,
in whose nostrils is but breath!
For of what consideration is he?
Nephi also emphasizes the self-sufficiency of the Gentiles and their churches. Despite the Lord promising that those who hearken unto his precepts are blessed, most will respond with we have received and we need no more! It can be seen that the precepts of men are easily confused with the precepts of the Lord, who gives here a little and there a little to those who hearken unto him. Because of this – regardless of which church we belong to – if we desire to be blessed by more of the power of God and receive more gifts of the Spirit we should consider which precepts of men are denying his presence in our lives.
2 Nephi 28:4, 5
4 ...they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.
5...they say unto the people: …behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;
2 Nephi 28:26-27, 29-31
26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!
27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!
29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.
There are no doubt many precepts of men which each of us believe and rely on daily. I cannot say much more, because each of us needs to discover these things for themselves. The reason why the Lord gives unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little is because he can only give us a new precept when we are finally prepared to acknowledge that the current precept of men we have believed must be replaced. At that time we are blessed as we hunger and thirst after righteousness, and we are filled (Matthew 5:6).
1 Nephi 10:17-19
17 …the power of the Holy Ghost … is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him…
18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come…
Moroni takes over the narrative of the Book of Mormon from his father in Mormon 8. Moroni prophesies about the last days, which commence with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. He reveals that the book of Isaiah which contains the covenants of the Lord which he has made with his people which will be fulfilled at the last day. The following lines from Mormon 8:22-23 are the center of a chiasm discussing the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. (Look for a chiasm in Mormon 8:14-34 with form ABCDEFE’D’C’B’A’.)
Mormon 8:22-23
22 For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled.
23 Search the prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot write them. …
When we view these lines as the center of a lengthy chiastic structure, we gain a glimpse of Moroni’s hidden prophetic intent: He wishes for us to understand that the Lord’s promises and eternal purposes are contained in the prophecies of Isaiah, and we would do well to search them. To be clear, this point may be inferred by a careful linear reading, but without the emphasis and poignancy conveyed upon discovering the larger chiastic structure.
Moroni further reveals the prophetic nature of his and his fathers’ writing in the Book of Mormon when he writes:
Mormon 8:35
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
This statement likens the Book of Mormon to the book of Isaiah, which prophesies about future events using ancient events as types to foreshadow the last days. Jesus described this style of prophecy when he said all things that [Isaiah] spake have been and shall be.
3 Nephi 23:1-3
1 And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.
2 For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.
3 And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake.
Instead of searching diligently in the scriptures – especially in the words of Isaiah, a foundational text for the Book of Mormon – the church has treated lightly the words of Isaiah and the Book of Mormon. This negligence has brought the whole church under condemnation, and this condemnation lies on all the children of Zion. To escape condemnation Zion and the church must repent and heed the words in the Book of Mormon, including Isaiah, which contains the Lord’s covenant with his people.
D&C 84:54-57
54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written–
The LDS church already has a considerable focus on the Book of Mormon. To learn which parts of the Book of Mormon we have treated lightly, we must search diligently more than we ever have before. We must search the prophecies of Isaiah. And we must learn which teachings from the Book of Mormon we have replaced with precepts of men.
In Mormon 8 Moroni uses Isaiah’s words many times to describe the Gentiles at the last day. Moroni foresaw great wickedness among the Gentiles at the time the Book of Mormon would come forth, noting that when [the Book of Mormon] shall come forth among you great and marvelous things must shortly come (Mormon 8:34).
For Moroni the women of Zion in Isaiah who wield authority over the Lord’s people represent their ecclesiastical leaders and their churches. These women of Zion – all of the Gentile churches that professed to take upon them the name of Christ – would insist on a corrupted covenant, only eating their own food and wearing their own clothes. They would be haughty and lifted up, misleading their Church members with false doctrines.
Isaiah 3:12
12 As for my people, babes subject them;
women wield authority over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you…
Isaiah 4:1
1 Seven women will take hold of one man
in that day, and say,
We will eat our own food,
wear our own clothes,
only let us be called by your name—
take away our reproach!
Mormon 8:28
28 Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts…
Mormon 8:33
33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people…
Notice that Moroni includes the key phrases lifted up and stiffnecked, which mirror Isaiah’s use of lifted up and stretched forth necks. These phrases provide additional evidence that Moroni’s churches of the Gentiles are Isaiah’s seven women of Zion.
Isaiah 3:16 (KJV)
16 Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks…
Isaiah 2:11-12 (KJV)
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
Moroni recognizes that when these Gentile churches deny the covenant that Christ offers to them that they also deny the power of God which could operate in their lives. He explicitly says that of the Christian churches, every one had become polluted. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints may wish to believe that these were only the Christian churches that existed during Joseph Smith’s day – for of course our church is the only true and living church on the face of the whole earth, with which the Lord is well pleased (D&C 1:30). But strong evidence suggests Moroni’s censure also includes the Latter-Day Saints. His question why have ye polluted the holy church of God? closely mirrors Jesus’ words in D&C 84:54-56, where we are told that treating lightly the things we have received has brought the whole church under condemnation, and this condemnation rests on the children of Zion, even all.
Mormon 8:36-39
36 …your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
38 ..why have ye polluted the holy church of God?...
How do these churches of the Gentiles deny the covenant that Christ offers? They are more interested in the things of the world than the things of God. Moroni expresses this by saying that they have been built up for money and to get gain. Notice the corrupted covenant that these churches offer to their adherents: for money ye shall be forgiven of your sins.
Mormon 8:32-33
32 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.
33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain?
Christ does not require anything from those that come unto him except their repentance: they shall be redeemed without money. To everyone he says come that you may eat, with no money and at no cost. And he rebukes the Gentiles who follow these Christian churches and their perverted covenant: why do you spend money on what is not bread, your labor on what does not satisfy?
Isaiah 55:1-3
1 Attention, all who thirst; come for water!
You who have no money,
come and buy food, that you may eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
with no money and at no cost.
2 Why do you spend money on what is not bread,
your labor on what does not satisfy?
Hear me well: Eat what is good,
and your souls shall enjoy abundance.
3 Give ear and come unto me;
pay heed, that your souls may live!
And I will make with you an everlasting covenant:
my loving fidelity toward David.
Isaiah 50:1
1 …Surely, by sinning you have sold yourselves…
Isaiah 52:2-3
2 Shake yourself free, rise from the dust;
sit enthroned, O Jerusalem.
Loose yourself from the bands around your neck,
O captive Daughter of Zion.
3 Thus says Jehovah: You were sold without price,
and you shall be redeemed without money.
Moroni rebukes the ecclesiastical leaders who offer this corrupted covenant mentioned by Isaiah. When Isaiah says by sinning we sell ourselves and our labor on what does not satisfy, Moroni adds his observation that those things will decay and canker. These leaders – pollutions and hypocrites – profess to take upon them the name of Christ but are ashamed to accept the terms of his covenant because of the praise of the world. Their hearts remain far from the Lord.
Mormon 8:38
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?
Isaiah 4:1
1 …only let us be called by your name...
Isaiah 29:13
13 …these people
approach me with the mouth
and pay me homage with their lips,
while their heart remains far from me…
To those Gentiles who have corrupted Christ’s covenant—replacing it with what Nephi calls precepts of men—Moroni warns them that they have transfigured the holy word of God and that they must look unto the revelations of God with renewed diligence.
Mormon 8:32-33
33 ….Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.
In Isaiah 4:1 the seven women of Zion insist that they will wear their own clothing. Isaiah 3:18-24 conveys some of the Lord’s displeasure with their preoccupation with ostentatious displays and his determination to strip them away.
Isaiah 3:18-24
18 In that day my Lord will strip away their finery—the anklets, head ornaments and crescents,
19 the pendants, chains and scarves,
20 tiaras, bracelets and ribbons, zodiac signs and charm amulets,
21 the rings, the noselets,
22 the elegant dress, the shawl, the kerchief and the purse,
23 hosiery, sheer linen, millinery, and cloaks.
24 And instead of perfume there shall be a stench,
instead of the girdle, a piece of twine,
instead of the coiffure, baldness,
instead of the festive dress, a loincloth of burlap;
for in place of beauty
there shall be ignominy.
Even more offensive than the long list of indulgences allowed by the women of Zion is their failure as leaders. Not only have they neglected the poor and the needy, they have devoured the Lord’s vineyard and impoverished his people to sustain their extravagance.
Isaiah 3:14-15
14 He [Jehovah] will bring to trial the elders of his people
and their rulers, and say to them,
It is you who have devoured the vineyard;
you fill your houses by depriving the needy.
15 What do you mean by oppressing my people,
humbling the faces of the poor?
says Jehovah of Hosts.
Because Moroni recognizes that the seven women of Zion represent all of the Christian churches, his commentary that these churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts, and that there are none save a few only who do not participate in this extravagance. To be even more clear, not only does he critize the wearing of very fine apparel, but he specifically mentions the adorning of your churches, signaling the identity of the women of Zion as the Christian churches and not as their individual congregants.
Mormon 8:36-37, 39
36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
For the Book of Mormon prophets a prominent idea noticed in Isaiah are the works of darkness. Nephi remarks on this, but Moroni places special attention on this idea—not only in Mormon 8. Isaiah says these works of darkness exist even among those professing Jesus’ name and hide behind their showiness of their adornments and fine apparel. These works of darkness are prophesied to come to light when the Lord strips the women of Zion of their fine apparel.
Isaiah 3:16-18, 24
16 Jehovah says, moreover,
Because the women of Zion are haughty
and put on airs, painting their eyes,
ever flirting when they walk
and clacking with their feet,
17 my Lord will afflict the scalps
of the women of Zion with baldness;
Jehovah will expose their private parts.
18 In that day my Lord will strip away their finery…
24 …
in place of beauty
there shall be ignominy.
Isaiah 29:15
15 Woe to those who contrive
to hide their schemes from Jehovah!
They work in the dark, thinking,
Who will see us? Who will know?
Moroni sees these seven women at the last day as the Christian churches. The churches at that day will hide their wickedness in the dark, behind the showiness of their adornments and fine apparel. Moroni calls these works of darkness secret abominations and secret combinations. Though these acts are hidden from the world at large, God hears the cries of his saints even when the only testimony on their behalf is their blood which cries from the ground.
Mormon 8:27, 36-37, 40-41
27 And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness.
36 … your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.
When Jesus visited the Nephites after his death in Jerusalem he commanded them to search the words of Isaiah. He quoted from the prophet Isaiah and interpreted his words for them. It is clear that Jesus saw many similarities between Isaiah’s description of events among the Gentiles at the last day and the recent events among the Nephites. The destruction among the Nephites and Christ’s coming to them constituted a partial fulfillment of Isaiah’s words.
1 And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.
2 For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.
3 And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake.
Many Nephite cities were destroyed at the time of Jesus’ death in Jerusalem. As his body laid in the tomb the Nephites experienced three days of darkness, during which Jesus spoke to them explaining the great destruction that had come upon them. These words were recorded in 3 Nephi 9 and 10, and contain many references to Isaiah 3:25-4:2.
Isaiah 3:25-4:2 prophesies a day when Zion will suffer destruction and shall sit on the ground destitute (3:25-26), when seven women will take hold of one man to establish their own corrupted covenant (4:1), and the survivors of Israel will be the plant [children] of Jehovah, beautiful and glorious (4:2). And all these things will happen in one day.
Isaiah 3:25-4:2
25 Your men shall be felled by the sword,
your might overthrown in war.
26 Her gateways shall lie bereaved and forlorn;
she [the woman Zion] shall sit on the ground destitute.
1 Seven women will take hold of one man
in that day, and say,
We will eat our own food,
wear our own clothes,
only let us be called by your name—
take away our reproach!
2 In that day the plant of Jehovah shall be beautiful and glorious, and the earth’s fruit the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel.
Because Isaiah does not write in a linear fashion, we must ask for ourselves which order these events will have in the last day. Knowing the nature of our Lord and Savior, destruction cannot come upon a people until they ripen in iniquity, refusing to respect the covenant which he has made with them and living according to their own corrupted laws. Then the judgements of the Lord can come upon the people. During this process the few righteous who hearken to the voice of the Lord by keeping his covenants and enduring the persecution and scorn of the wicked are raised by the Spirit to higher spiritual levels, and are delivered from their afflictions and become beautiful and glorious.
Jesus uses the first twelve verses of 3 Nephi 9 to list the Nephite cities were destroyed, and his reasons for destroying them. After recounting the recent destruction, to the surviving Nephites Jesus says mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, promising that all who come unto him will be received. These words reference Isaiah’s imagery of Jehovah extending his arm to the seven women of Zion. Those who receive Christ will believe on his name and become the sons of God. This parallels the seven women who ask to be called by [his] name, though they will not keep Jehovah’s covenant. The surviving Nephites were spared because they were more righteous, and Jesus thought that these would be capable of making and keeping his covenant with them—these he would be able to receive into the covenant, while the others received [him] not. The surviving Nephites parallel Isaiah’s survivors of Israel who become the plant [children] of Jehovah, beautiful and glorious.
3 Nephi 9:13-18
13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
16 I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.
18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Jesus then describes what he considers to be an acceptable sacrifice, a sacrifice that satisfies the terms of his covenant. Instead of the haughtiness displayed by the women of Zion (Isaiah 3:16), Jesus requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Because Christ came to save the world from sin, all those who repent and come unto him as a child are able to receive the blessings of his covenant and be baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost. The burnt offerings required under the Mosaic law were a type and shadow of the purification we can experience in this baptism of fire.
3 Nephi 9:19-22
19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
21 Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.
As the Nephites continued under three days of darkness, Jesus illustrated his arm of mercy extended towards the Nephites by recalling how many times he had gathered [them] as hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and nourished [them]. He recalled the many times he had attempted to gather them but had been rejected—just like the seven women of Zion rejecting Jehovah’s covenant. He demonstrated his oustretched covenant arm by promising to gather them if they would repent and return with full purpose of heart.
3 Nephi 10:3-6
3 And it came to pass that there came a voice again unto the people, and all the people did hear, and did witness of it, saying:
4 O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.
5 And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
6 O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.
Jesus also warned the Nephites what would happen if they refused to remain gathered after his coming. Their dwellings would become desolate until his covenant with their fathers was eventually fulfilled at the last day when they would be gathered again for the last time. These words parallel those of Isaiah in 3:26 which say that she [Zion] shall sit on the ground destitute (in the KJV, she being desolate shall sit upon the ground). These surviving Nephites clearly felt the reality of this as they began to weep and howl again because so many of their people had died.
3 Nephi 10:7-8
7 But if not, O house of Israel, the places of your dwellings shall become desolate until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers.
8 And now it came to pass that after the people had heard these words, behold, they began to weep and howl again because of the loss of their kindred and friends.
The surviving Nephites received the covenant that Jesus offered to them and received the blessings of that covenant for several generations. Compare the Nephites with Isaiah 4:2: In that day the plant [posterity] of Jehovah shall be beautiful and glorious, and the earth’s fruit the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel.
4 Nephi 1:16-18
16 …surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings…
After Christ’s coming the Nephites were blessed in all their doings, and among the happiest people created by God. Rather than being split into many sects, churches, lineages, or being divided against each other in any way, they were all one. Instead of many churches each claiming to be the true church – Behold, I, I am the Lord’s; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord (2 Nephi 28:3) – they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.