We have a sermon by Abinadi in the Book of Mosiah that presents an interesting way to understand the content of both the Book of Mormon and Covenant of Christ.
I’m going to quote a passage, first as it appears in the Book of Mormon, then as it appears in the Covenant of Christ. Before doing this, I want you to consider exactly what we are reading.
This is a sermon spoken by Abinadi, which he never wrote down. In his talk, Abinadi is quoting from an earlier prophet named Isaiah. Whether this was an actual quote or just a paraphrase of Isaiah by Abinadi is not clear from the text. But Abinadi attributes the content of this part of his sermon to Isaiah.
A listener named Alma heard it and would later record what he recalled of the talk. Whether Alma consulted with the Isaiah text as he wrote down Abinadi’s earlier sermon, or repeated from memory what he remembered of Abinadi’s words, we have no way of knowing.
Then hundreds of years later the account Alma recorded was summarized in an abridged account by Mormon. He explained that he used Alma’s record to make that abridgment.
Then the abridged account was translated “by the gift and power of God” through Joseph Smith. This, then, is how Abinadi’s reference to Isaiah was remembered by Alma, summarized by Mormon, and translated by Joseph Smith:
“Yea, even doth not Isaiah say, Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men — a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him. He was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray — we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment. And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death. Because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth; yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief.
When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed; he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong — because he hath poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Mosiah 8:3-5.
Using the Book of Mormon as a starting point, and with the assistance of Jesus Christ who first provided the prophecy to Isaiah and also assisted Joseph Smith with his translation, the Covenant of Christ restates this same material in this way:
“Of course, doesn’t Isaiah say: Who believes what we’ve heard? Who’s heard the Lord’s revelation? For He’ll grow up with His favor like a lively vine springing from the desert ground. He has no rank or position deserving respect, and when we notice Him, there’s nothing about Him to please us. He is despised and rejected by men — a man of sorrow and familiar with disease. And we turned our faces away, ignoring Him. He was despised and thought to be of no value. Yet it was our sickness He took upon Himself, our suffering He endured.
He suffered for our sins, healed our sickness; was punished for our iniquities, bearing our guilt to completely restore us. We all strayed like sheep, wandering off — each one going their own way; and the Lord has imposed on Him the guilt belonging to us all. He was oppressed and submitted, without complaining; like a lamb brought to be slaughtered, and as a ewe is silent while they shear her, so He endured without opening his mouth. He was condemned by an unjust judgment. There were none who defended Him. For He was slain as a sacrifice for the transgressions of My people, who deserved the punishment. He died with the wicked, and was buried with the rich. Though He had done no evil, nor had He declared anything untrue; but the Lord was content with His offering; satisfied with His healing.
After He made himself a sin offering, He’ll inherit offspring, obtain eternal life, and vindicate God’s promises. He’ll see His sacrifice and will be satisfied; by the understanding He gains the righteous Servant will make many others righteous, for He’ll remove their iniquities. Therefore I intend for Him to inherit multitudes, and His triumph will endow Him eternally — because He submitted willingly to death, and He was regarded as a sinner; but instead, He took on other’s guilt while making intercession for sinners.”
It is worth reading both versions. The question is: Does the language used in Covenant of Christ help you to understand the text? For me, the answer is “yes” and I’m grateful to the Lord for it.