Isaiah 2--Mountain of the Lord's House

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isaiah 2:2).

We often connect this prophecy with the pioneer trek to the West and the latter-day temple, and rightly so. But how does a temple in the West connect to Judah and Jerusalem in the Middle East, as stated in the previous verse? The Book of Mormon gives insight by changing one word. The corresponding verse in Second Nephi reads:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it" (2 Nephi 12:2).

The word that is changed to when. The emphasis is now changed from a geographic or cultural issue to a timing issue. Jerusalem and Salt Lake City are separated by a great distance, but some wonderful event will have a great impact on the region of Judah and Jerusalem.

And that major event did not occur in Salt Lake. It happened at the dedication of the Kirtland Ohio Temple. This event signaled the gathering of Israel, including Judah. One part of the dedicatory prayer emphasizes the beginning of a new era.

"But thou knowest that thou hast a great love for the children of Jacob, who have been scattered upon the mountains for a long time, in a cloudy and dark day.

"We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob, that Jerusalem, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed . . .

"And the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou didst give to Abraham, their father" (D&C 109:61-62,64).

That very hour marked the beginning of the gathering of Israel in general, and Judah in particular. 

"Established in the Top of the Mountains"

This prophecy pinpoints the latter-day Church headquarters to be in Utah. The name Utah can be traced to two Indian languages. In the Ute language it means "people of the mountains." A similar Apache word (yuttahih) means "those that are higher up." Here is a link where you can read more:

http://www.utah.gov/about/quickfacts.html

The "people of the mountains" who are "higher up" are those living in Utah. But even though this phrase, "top of the mountains" can refer to Utah or Salt Lake, the more important concept is the establishment of temples as "mountains of the Lord's house." The prophets Moses, Nephi, the brother of Jared, and others went up into the mountain to commune with the Lord.

"Out of Zion Shall Go Forth the Law"  

In a general context, Zion can mean North and South America. The first temple in the latter days was established in Kirtland Ohio. But the "word of the Lord" originates largely from Jerusalem (see Isaiah 2:3). We can receive various gospel laws in the temple. These laws are received as we make sacred covenants with the Lord, and many of these covenants can only be received in the temple. The "word" of the Lord is contained in the scriptures. The Bible, Book of Mormon, and much of the Pearl of Great Price deal with people who either lived in the region of Jerusalem or left that area to come to the Americas.

"Replenished From the East"

As Isaiah is privileged to see into our day, he makes some interesting observations about our society.

"Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east" (Isaiah 2:6).

The East was the source of worldly knowledge and philosophy. In today's re-dedication of the Ogden Temple, Elder Bednar spoke of today's world seeking learning from science and philosophy, and yet "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). Where do we turn for "knowledge of the truth?" Do we go to the Internet? Do we seek the philosophies of the world? The knowledge of eternal truths are to be had in the holy temple and in the scriptures.

A Materialistic Society

Isaiah observes, "Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots" (Isaiah 2:7). We live in a materialistic society in search of silver and gold. Horses and chariots are symbols for war. There are wars and rumors of war throughout the world, as military conflict marks our day.

"Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made" (v. 8). In our day you don't see many falling down to golden calves, but idol worshiping is in abundance. For some, those things made by the fingers of men become paramount. Having stuff is okay, except when it becomes our number one priority, displacing the things of God. Isaiah helps us keep things in relative perspective. In the millennial day, when we are allowed to see things clearly, we will cast our idols to the moles and bats (see v. 20). Compared to the things of God, our material possessions won't be worth a second glance. Hence, they will be cast to the moles and the bats--animals that don't see.

Restoration Scripture

Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, many truths, as well as lost scripture, were restored. Verse 16 is noteworthy. The King James Version reads, "And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures." The Book of Mormon has the brass plates as its source for Isaiah. This verse recorded in Second Nephi reads, "And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures" (2 Nephi 12:16). The footnote for this verse says, "The Greek (Septuagint) has 'ships of the sea.' The Hebrew has 'ships of Tarshish.' The Book of Mormon has both, showing that the brass plates had lost neither phrase."

It is very unlikely that Joseph Smith would have known about the Septuagint translation. We can be grateful for precious truth restored.