Why is Isaiah in the Book of Mormon?
The Book of Mormon quotes approximately one-third of the writings of Isaiah. This is curious. Nephi’s engraving of this record had to be extremely laborious; and his people already had the writings of Isaiah on the brass plates. A careful reading of Nephi’s introduction to his Isaiah quotations in 2 Nephi gives us some important insights. First, Nephi specifically states that he is giving these particular words of Isaiah to his people as an additional witness of Jesus Christ. He testifies that both he and his brother, Jacob, have seen their Redeemer and sees in Isaiah a third witness of the saving work of Christ (2 Nephi 11:2-4). Thus, the Book of Mormon begins with the testimony of three witnesses Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah. Further, Nephi implies that he sees in these selected words of Isaiah proof of the saving mission of Christ (verses 4-6). He also states that it is his intent to “liken his [Isaiah’s] words unto my people,” (2 Nephi 11:2) and he recommends this likening of Isaiah’s
