This verse undoubtedly refers to the mighty highway that will be raised up to accommodate the ten tribes returning from the outermost regions of the heavens. These tribes originally fled from Assyria when their country was conquered by the Babylonians. These ten tribes fled northward and, as we have just mentioned, they divided and the more righteous appear to have been removed to another planet. But when they return they will appear in the north lands from which they disappeared.
All of this fits into a modern revelation which says: "And they that are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water.... And they shall bring forth their rich treasure until the children of Ephraim, my servants. And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence. And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim."1
This will be such an amazing development that it will make past miracles look small by comparison. Jeremiah emphasized this when he said: "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. But the Lord liveth, which brought up and led the seed o f the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them: and they shall dwell in their own land."2
Now before leaving this remarkable chapter we have just two more brief comments to add. We have only discussed the stem of Jesse, who is Jesus Christ, and the root, who turns out to be Joseph Smith. Now we are compelled to ask, "Who was the branch that grew out of the roots the stem of Jesse? And secondly who was the rod that came forth out of the stem?
The branch is identified a number of times in the Old Testament as a great leader who be raised up among the Jews. In fact, so much is told about the branch that we will have no trouble identifying him when he finally appears. The branch is described by Jeremiah as a righteous king who will rule over the Jews in the latter days.3 Joseph Smith was aware that his name would be David.4
Concerning this branch named David, Ezekiel says: "I will set up one shepherd over them [that is over the Jews when they have gathered to Jerusalem in the latter days] and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd."5
Zechariah says the branch or David of the latter days "shall build the temple of the Lord" in Jerusalem.6
He shall also have two prophets of God to call down fire from heaven to protect Jerusalem from Gog and Magog for 3 1/2 years during the great siege of Jerusalem.7
This David or branch of the latter days will apparently be in charge of the Jews when Jesus makes his triumphant appearance among them and destroys the huge armies of Gog and Magog. So it is this branch or David who presides over Jerusalem during the great battle of Armageddon. He is referred to by Ezekiel in chapter 46 as the prince who ministers in the temple. But Jeremiah specifically identifies this prince who ministers in the temple as David.8
Now last of all we come to the rod who is described in modern revelation as "It is a servant in the hands of Christ, who is partly a descendant of Jesse as well as of Ephraim, or of the house of Joseph, on whom there is laid much power."9 It is noted that the lineal descent of the rod is identical with that of the root, or Joseph Smith. Both are partly of the house of Joseph and partly of the house of Jesse, the royal line of Judah. Since the rod is God's servant with great power, it is suggested that he is given this great power to help the Savior set up the Millennial kingdom. And since the rod and the root are of the same lineal descent, some have wondered if the rod might not be the post-mortal ministry of Joseph Smith.
This possibility is suggested from the patriarchal blessing given to Joseph Smith by his father on December 9, 1834. In that blessing Joseph Smith had sealed upon his head all of the predictions described for him by Joseph who was sold into Egypt, and his father said that these would continue until his enemies would mar his ministry. Even Jesus told the Nephites that his servant of the latter days will be "marred" by his enemies.10 This is presumed to refer to Joseph Smith's assassination in 1844 when he was only 38 years of age.
Now the father of Joseph Smith who was pronouncing this blessing suddenly changed his tone after mentioning the fact that the ministry of Joseph Smith would be "marred" at a certain point. He now started talking about events very close to the Second Coming, and of course that would turn out to be after Joseph Smith's death. The blessing said that Joseph Smith would stand on Mount Zion, and not only see the Second Coming of the Lord, but he would witness the reeling of the earth to and fro prior to its flight back toward Kolob. And he was also told that he would be a witness to the return of the ten tribes from the land northward. This great blessing given to Joseph Smith by his father was recorded in the Church Archives in the Patriarchal Blessing Book, volume 1, pages 3-4.
Someday we will know whether the role of Joseph Smith not only included his mission as described in the scriptures as the root, but perhaps the post-mortal mission as the rod. Only time will tell whether Joseph Smith will have both of these great missions.