2 Ne 11:2-3 he
verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And my brother, Jacob, also
has seen him
Nephi recognized the similarities
between himself, Jacob, and Isaiah. All three had been privileged to see the
Savior, to witness portions of his mortal ministry, and to be given knowledge
about how the house of Israel will be gathered home in the last days. Their
combined witness declares that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, that the promises
of the fathers given to the house of Israel will all be fulfilled, and that God
lives, for they had all seen him. As Nephi declares, by
the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word.
Jeffrey R. Holland
“I
am suggesting here that Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah are three early types and
shadows of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martine Harris, if you
will—witnesses positioned right at the front of the book where Oliver, David,
and Martin would be positioned—that Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah are the three great
ancient witnesses of the Book of Mormon—or more particularly, the first three
great witnesses in the Book of Mormon testifying to the divinity of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, he who will be the central, commanding, presiding
figure throughout the Book of Mormon. Nephi stresses this idea himself when he
writes in the eleventh chapter of 2 Nephi: [verses 2-3].”