(Isa. 11:1–5)
It is clear from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants that the principal character in this passage is Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith, recalling the visit of the angel Moroni on the night of September 21, 1823, wrote that Moroni “quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled.”
The imagery of the tree in this passage is a natural continuation of the figure used in relationship to Christ and the children of Israel throughout the scriptures… . Heaven’s Forester carefully trims his trees (consider Zenos’ allegory quoted by Jacob) and in this manner cleans out the evil of his forest. With God’s cleansing of Israel—cutting down boughs here, leveling thickets there, especially the lofty and arrogant ones—all that remains of the people of covenant at this reading is a stump. This prepares the way for flourishing new shoots to come out of the heritage of Jesse… .
There is warning for all in the language here that speaks of God smiting the earth with the rod of his mouth and the very breath of his lips slaying the wicked… . In those last days Christ’s judgment will be the truth he speaks and an acknowledgment of that truth from all who hear him.
In that millennial moment the Messiah will usher in the peace for which all the righteous have wished, worked, and waited.”
(Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 86–87.)