1 Nephi 10:8-10
7 And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—
8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.
9 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.
Lehi is quoting Isaiah 40:3. The context of Isaiah’s prophecy about John the Baptist is the Council in Heaven (sode)where John was given his earthly assignment. The first two verses of that chapter are a review of the entire ancient Israelite temple drama in the setting of the Council in Heaven (sode).
The key word in Isaiah 40:1-2 is comfort, which means to empower. The “comfort” is Isaiah 61 is a coronation ceremony: to wash, anoint, clothe, crown, and give a new name. {1}
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FOOTNOTE
{1} For a discussion of the Hebrew word translated as “comfort” see Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, First edition, p. 467-71; Second edition, p. 340-42.
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