Now, anyone who has set out to read the Book of Mormon has not gone far into the book before they encountered Isaiah, and as often as not he has proven a formidable stumbling block. Paradoxically, Isaiah is some of the most difficult scripture to understand, and yet by far, he is the most widely quoted of all the prophets. Nephi, especially, quoted him at considerable length. Now, why? Well, I think in part, because of a rare and singular experience that Isaiah had.

Somewhere around 740 BC Isaiah was caught away in a heavenly vision. He saw the Lord Jesus Christ seated upon an exalted and glorified throne. Surrounding that blazing throne, angels sang praises to the Lord Almighty. The Temple where this vision occurred was filled with the glory of God and its foundations trembled. This was the same indescribable vision of Daniel, Ezekiel, John the Revelator and others.

Isaiah was overwhelmed with a sense of his own unworthiness at the grandeur and glory of who and what he saw. “Woe is [unto] me,” he said, “[for] I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: [for] mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5).

In response to his humble pitiful cry, an angel placed a live coal upon Isaiah’s mouth, figuratively symbolically sanctifying and justifying this man before God. Now, clean before the Lord, he heard the voice of the Savior cry out, “…Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?...” (Isaiah 6:8)

Isaiah answered, “…Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8).

By these words Isaiah volunteered and accepted a call that would span his life and end in his martyrdom.

The Lord’s response: “…Go, and tell this people; Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not.” (Isaiah 6:9)

For the next 40 years Isaiah did go, dedicating his life in bringing souls unto Christ. He was called to labor to the last extremity in saving the House of Israel from destruction, but they would not listen and they were subsequently destroyed.

Now, for perspective, it was once said if you could look into heaven for five minutes, you would know more than had ever been written on the subject. In that regard you will recall that the first 135 pages of the Book of Mormon are the words of three men, all three of whom looked into Heaven, saw the Lord, and knew Him. Those three men: Nephi, Isaiah, and Jacob - the three great witnesses.

Isaiah has never been more widely read, received, and popular than now. And that, my friends, is a great thing!