The Doctrine and Covenants, a sacred text for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reveals a profound connection to the writings of the prophet Isaiah. This isn’t merely a casual reference; Isaiah’s words permeate the pages of the Doctrine and Covenants, offering profound insights into God’s plan of salvation, the Restoration of the Gospel, and the future of humanity.
“Isaiah is the most quoted Old Testament prophet in the Book of Mormon and arguably the most quoted Old Testament prophet in the Doctrine and Covenants as well. Our survey of the D&C found that nearly two-thirds of the sections, 86 out of 138, share some characteristic language, phrases, or terms with the words of Isaiah. In this study, we evaluate how and why Isaianic language is used in the revelations and other writings that compose the D&C.“
Ball and Snyder’s study analyzes the frequency and types of language from the Book of Isaiah found within the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C).
Prevalence: 312 instances of Isaianic language were identified, averaging nearly three occurrences per thousand words in the D&C.
Sources: While some passages are directly quoted, most are short phrases.
Distribution: Isaianic language is drawn from 82% of Isaiah’s chapters, with the last 27 chapters (focusing on restoration and redemption) being more frequently used.
Themes:
69% of Isaianic phrases in the D&C relate to future events like the gathering of Israel and the Second Coming.
21% offer counsel and advice.
10% pertain to warnings and rebukes for apostasy.
Prophetic Focus: Prophetic sections of the D&C (those dealing with future events) exhibit a higher concentration of Isaianic language (nearly 4.5 occurrences per 1,000 words) compared to contemporary sections (about 2 occurrences per 1,000 words).
Conclusion:
The D&C demonstrates a broad and abundant use of language from the Book of Isaiah, particularly concerning future events. This suggests a deep familiarity with Isaiah’s prophecies among the revelations recorded in the D&C.This study analyzes the frequency and types of language from the Book of Isaiah found within the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C).
What’s Next:
This blog series will explore the fascinating interplay between Isaiah and the Doctrine and Covenants. We’ll delve into:
The Frequency and Significance of Isaiah’s Quotations: Examining how often and in what context Isaiah’s words appear in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Themes and Doctrines: Exploring how Isaiah’s prophecies, such as the gathering of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the restoration of Zion, are echoed and expanded upon in the revelations received by Joseph Smith.
Modern Applications: Discovering how insights from Isaiah, as interpreted in the Doctrine and Covenants, can guide and inspire our lives today.
Join us as we embark on this journey of discovery, exploring the rich tapestry of prophetic voices that weave together the Old Testament, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
In the next post, we’ll delve deeper into the specific ways Isaiah’s prophecies of the Messiah are reflected in the Doctrine and Covenants.
