WHO is the Stem of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah?
 Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ. ~ D&C 113:1-2

There is much confusion created by the various interpretations men have given to this answer given in response to the question asked. And the confusion lies in not understanding the question, and exactly what is meant by the word 'stem' (lower case in both Isaiah 11 and 2 Nephi 21), and the phrase 'stem of Jesse', which the compliers of the Doctrine and Covenants there in their question capitalize as the 'Stem of Jesse' as the answer to the question states that Christ is he who is spoken of in verses 1-5 of Isaiah chapter 11. And it is certainly obvious that Isaiah 11:1-5 does indeed speak of Jesus Christ.

Now in an attempt to settle the controversy, lets first start by considering what is meant by the word stem (in lower case both in Isaiah 11 and 2 Nephi 21) in conjuction with the phrase 'stem of Jesse'. When one considers a 'family tree' at some point each 'stem' begins with a particular ancestor to all who follow upon that 'stem's' linage line. Jesse is so noted as the 'branching' ancestor to this particular stem which is being spoken of. Another familiar word which refers to all the members of one particular linage line which come from one ancestor is spoken of as that particular ancestor's posterity. In fact in Isaiah 11:1 and 2 Nephi 21:1 the substitution of the word 'posterity' work wounderfully well for the word 'stem'. And it works equally well and clarifyingly so in the question asked in D&C 113:1.

1 AND there shall come forth a rod out of the posterity of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

1 AND there shall come forth a rod out of the posterity of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

1 WHO is the Posterity of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah?

By this most appropriate substitution, the emphasis may be returned to the actual 'subject' being spoken of in both verses in Isaiah 11;1 and 2 Nephi 21:1. And the subject being spoken of is the 'rod' and not the object of the preposition the 'stem or posterity of Jesse' which is a part of the modification of the subject and not the subject being spoken of at all. Not that is good English and good sentence struture! The rod is the posterity of Jesse being spoken of in all three verses. When one comes to understand the true 'subject' of this first topic sentence of the entire paragraph, including the entire set of verses being questioned 1-5, is that 'subject' of reference, which is absolutely the rod; there is no confusion. And when one thus understands the question in it proper terminology of asking who is that posterity of Jesse, who is the 'implied rod' of even the question, then the confusion melts away and is totally relieved. And then one comes to understand completely and simply that it is the 'rod' who is the posterity of Jesse being spoken about in verses 1-5 of Isaiah chapter 11. And there is NOT one person who is the 'rod' separate from another person being questioned as being the 'posterity or stem of Jesse', for the modifying prepositional phrase 'of the stem [posterity] of Jesse', but refers back to the subject being spoken of, the 'rod'.

Stated as simply, clearly and straight forwardly as possible, Jesus Christ is the rod which would come forth out of the stem/posterity of Jesse. And only in the sense of the entire phrase, 'Posterity of Jesse' singluar does it mean Jesus Christ. Certainly not every descendant of Jesse is the Christ, only that one particular 'Seed' of the promise is the Christ.

This clear and straight forward understanding which applies the correct rules of English grammar, does shed briliant light upon just who Jesus Christ, as the seed of Jesse as well as of Joseph of Egypt is, which is further discussed both in the commentary on D&C 113, Language Structure Governs Interpretation and Understanding and in the text entitled Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph.

     IN the Doctrine & Covenants, Section 113, the Lord does answer certain questions regarding Isaiah 11 and/or 2 Nephi 21. The first question asked there is poorly frame, but the Lord does properly answer the question posed. The essential question is but what is here next underlined, and that part that is poorly posed is what is left not underscored.

"Who is the Stem of Jesse spoken of in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th verses of the 11th chapter of Isaiah?" ~ D&C 113:1

The stem of Jesse is actually the whole of the posterity of Jesse. And yes Jesus is of the posterity of Jesse. And that makes the question to be answered by the Lord properly, for he who is spoken of in verses 1-5 is indeed Jesus Christ as so stated by the Lord in verse 2 of D&C 113. And Christ is of the posterity of Jesse. But such leaves yet another level of understanding to be yet gathered in.

"Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ." ~ D&C 113:2

And now indeed, that posterity of Jesse who is spoken of in verses 1-5 of Isaiah 11/2 Nephi 21, is Jesus Christ. Yet there are many who are of the posterity of Jesse who are not Christ. The Christ is but one, a very special one, that comes out of the posterity of Jesse. He is more specifically and uniquely the Rod, a Rod, The Rod out of the stem of Jesse. This point will now be left all the way until the last be be rendered here, for there is much that is to be gone through to get there. At least it what such for me to find.

Now as we read and reread the scriptures, we do learn line upon line, precept upon precept. I've been taught that President David O. Mckay loved to go to the temple as often as he could. He said that every time he went, he learned something new that he did not know, that he did not understand before. And such is true when one reads, studies, and re-reads the scriptures over and over again.

If you will recall, if you were like me, reading the Book of Mormon was more of a chore than a complete comprehensive learning experience, especially when one would grind through the Isaiah chapters from the plates of brass. And then after that, each time you read the Book of Mormon again, more was opened up to your mind's understanding. I was lucky as that 'first' time was my Book of Mormon class year in Seminary. While I would often read from the Book of Mormon with my family at home and at Church, it was that Seminary class which charted out the entire Book of Mormon to be read from beginning to end over that school year.

And as I was some what lazy to read, I believe as I recall my second time through the Book of Mormon was in association with my Book of Mormon Institute class series of classes. Again there it was laid out and expect that you would read the entire Book of Mormon again in conjunction with that Book of Mormon year of Institute. I did learn more that second time through the Book of Mormon than I had learned before, and it helped to have the teacher guide to facilitate that learning on that next level of understanding.

Not until I was a missionary in New Zealand was I again challenged to read as part of our required reading the whole of the Book of Mormon. It was done as a part of our personal study early in the morning. And we would read the Book of Mormon and our other readings at our own rate on our own. The discussions we would go over together, but the scripture readings would be on our own. Having had Seminary, Institute, Sunday School and various teaching and learning experiences at meetings, that helped, but beyond that the reading in the mission field was that which you made of it yourself. And it was early in the mornings when oft times you would still be somewhat half asleep and not fully engrossed. Thus additional things were picked up and learned by was still not a complete comprehesive understanding of all things that was obtained.

In fact, I have continued to read the Book of Mormon a good number of times over my life now at age 68, and still each time I read through the book and study it I do learn even more and deeper the story, doctrine and principles that the Book of Mormon does contain. And I have learned that even the church manuals, Seminary and Institute Manuals and even the Church's introductry headings to the various Book of Mormon chapters are but given in various levels of understanding.

And now, if you will, may I share an item of additional understanding that I feel that I have gained through many years of reading, studying and re-reading the Book of Mormon over and over again. We are taght in the scriptures that Jesus is the Truth, the Light and the way. As Alma the younger gives his blessings of instrutions to his three sons Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton, Shiblon kind of gets squeezed in between the blessing to Helaman who will take over the reigns of leadership and Corianton whose multiply chapters of instrution are given him because he has strayed in his life. Shiblon's message from his father seem kind of small. But let me present but one verse from those fatherly instructions given to Shiblon, which are not given to either Helaman or Corianton.

"And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness." ~ Book of Mormon | Alma 38:9

Here is a compound of the three things of which Christ is a part of in the gospel plan. He is way, the path, the means by which we are saved. In Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life, that was also received by Nephi, there in is the straight/strait and narrow way or path as given in that dream. In that is to be found Christ, his Gospel, His Doctrine that if we do walk we will return and come unto the kingdom of heaven. There is no other way or means given but by him.

Also in that dream vision, along that path there ran an 'iron rod' which mean was given to the the Word of God. Perhaps it is John the beloved apostle that can give us the most direct further understanding here in the first few verses of his Gospel of John wherein is spoke of the 'Word.' The 'Word' is another name for Jesus Christ, who is the same as Jehovah, that is given unto our Lord and our Ministering God in the name of the Father.

Our green scriptures, our Hymn scriptures, teaches us that the "Iron Rod" is the "Word of God." And as we obtain and grasp and hold onto that mighty Word/word of God, it will safely guide us through. The truth is the word of God, given by, in and through the very Word of God, who is also Christ Christ. That being another aspect of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So thus we have the path and the rod of the dream as being these two actualy aspects of who and what Jesus Christ is and can be unto us.

Left to last here, is the light or the spirit of revelation that we may come to rely upon as well. That is represented in the Tree of Life vision as Christ as well. That which is given as the Love of God. That precious fruit of the tree, of which if we do partake become the most delicious and most desirable of all. It is those times when the very Spirit of God does come in and coresponds directly to our spirits. It give the pure light of Christ manifest unto may directly by the Spirit of God. Most precious, most precious of all.

Thus the tree of life dream is a compound of atributes offered unto us in and through Jesus Chrsit. It is the way, the truth and the light, which in turn is the life, even the very eternal life given unto man. And this is not given unto us normally all at once to understand, but it is given line upon line, precept upon precept, even here in the scriptures a little, and there in the scriptures a little more.

Even now we may read it and talk about it and even perhaps experience it in varying degrees. And yet it does seem to be somewhat elusive still as though there is yet still more understanding and life to be given to us that will futher be built upon this foundational structure that we may have come to in our understanding.

And now I but regress to that which was my original topic. The Rod which is the Word of God, even Jesus Jehovah the son of the Father who was that Word that stood in the presence of the Father from the beginning. And with the Father he was called, ellected and consecrated to be our Ministering God in the name of the Father by that great divine investiture that brought the position of God to Jehovah while yet he was but a spirit, a Spirit God of the Old Testament, who created the temporal creation under the direction of the Father as we may note in our temple endowment.

I will call upon my meager learning of man concerning the comprehension of our language, the English/American language here to divide out from Isaiah 11/2 Nephi 21 and D&C 113, that which and who is the specific Rod, the Iron Rod, the Word of God is. I will use my meager knowledge to diagram the parallelism of the first verse of Isaiah 11:1.

I will begin with the Bible verse of Isaiah 11:1, which is a parallelism of a compound sentence structure. That is two short sentences joined as one compound sentence by a conjuction. The first simple sentence is stated as:

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse."

~ or as the New King James Version has it ~

"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse."

This first simple sentence structure may be diagramed correctly thus:

This sentence diagram is correct because I had an internet on line diagramming application diagram it for me rather than to just rely on my meager talent. That is as far as the internet may be relied upon. Here the parallel elements of interest are the 'subject' of the first sentence being 'Rod' with its verb 'shall come.' The rest is delineating modifiers of articles and prepositional phrases of 'from stem' and 'of Jesse.' Those prepositional phrases are not the subject of the two parallel sentences.

The second simple sentence of the parallelism is:

"A Branch shall grow out of his roots."

Again a simple diagram of this shorter sentence easily does reveal that the subject is 'Branch' and the verb is 'shall grow.' 'Out of his roots' is but the further delineating prepositional phrase. A course in grade school sentence structure and diagramming is not the point here. The point is being able to properly read such a parallelism with proper comprehension and understanding.

Thus in parallel, to take a short cut, the conjunction 'and' joins two short parallel sentences whose parallel subjects are 'Rod' and 'Branch.' Both of these subject nouns are directly associated as descriptors of Jesus Christ. He is the Rod or Word and he is also being the often referenced 'Branch.'

In short summary, Christ is the 'Rod' from the stem of Jesse, AND Christ is the 'Branch' out of his [Jesse's] roots. Thus from the point of proper comprehension of what Isaiah 11:1 states, it is the 'Rod' and 'Branch' that as parallel subjects form who Christ is.

And from this the revealed information that is further revealed in D&C 113:3-4 is nothing short of astonding. But that will not be gone into here at this time. (See Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph.)

Parallelism: the use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose that correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning, etc.

Descriptor: •Linguistics — a word or expression used to describe or identify something. (noun: descriptor; plural noun: descriptors)