Time and again as a young woman, I began reading the Book of Mormon with great enthusiasm and goals to study diligently. Reaching the Isaiah chapters, I usually sputtered and continued at a half-hearted pace until through this part. As an adult, I became determined to understand. Through prayer and pondering, I've begun to understand the symbolic language and come to love the words of Isaiah.
Some are confused why these are included in the Book of Mormon, when they are also found in the Old Testament. Nephi said it best himself. “Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them” 2 Ne. 25:8.
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." Articles of Faith 8 One of the reasons Nephi was commanded to bring the Brass Plates on the journey was to preserve the Old Testament prior to translation mistakes and deliberate removal of many plain and precious parts. The Book of Mormon version of Isaiah corrects some errors in the King James Version, predating KJV and other available texts by several centuries.
Seeing, discussing, and prophesying about the past, present, and future, Isaiah was a seer. Because he was a seer, Isaiah saw the War in Heaven, the destruction of Jerusalem after the Savior’s death, the battle of Armageddon, the millennial reign of the Savior, and other important and fascinating events. "But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known. Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings." Mosiah 8:17-18
