In this chapter, Lehi talks to his lastborn son, Joseph. He makes him a promise that his “seed shall not utterly be destroyed.” (3) So there are Josephites still on the earth, direct descendants from Joseph, the son of Lehi…who descended from the great “Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt.” (4)
Joseph of Egypt “truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel.” (5) And he saw that “a seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.” (7)
A chosen seer in the last days
This seer (who we know to be Joseph Smith) would do these things:
- Be esteemed highly among Lehi’s seed (7)
- Do a work for Lehi’s seed, which shall be “of great worth unto them.” (7)
- Bring Lehi’s seed “to the knowledge of the covenants which I [God] have made with thy fathers.” (7)
- Be great in God’s eyes (8) / Be great “like unto Moses” (9)
- Convince others of the word of God (11)
- Be made strong in weakness. (13)
- Commence the work of the Lord in the latter-days…the restoration (13)
- Be blessed of the Lord. (14)
- Confound his enemies (14)
- Be named after Joseph of Egypt (who is prophesying these things) (15)
- Be named after his father (Joseph Smith, Jr. was named after Joseph Smith Sr.; it’s curious to note that Joseph Smith was the 4th child. He had several older brothers, all of whom could’ve received their father’s name before him, but didn’t) (15)
- Be like unto Joseph of Egypt, “for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.” (15)
Joseph of Egypt prophesied that the latter-day seer would be made strong out of weakness and restore the house of Israel to its former glory.
Joseph brought physical salvation to his family when they were starving in Egypt.
Joseph Smith, Jr. restored the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth, to save all who will accept those covenants in our day. The world is starving spiritually. Joseph Smith restored the keys to feed this hunger and save those who come unto Christ.
A powerful duo
The Bible and Book of Mormon will come together in the latter-days to establish God’s truths and gospel.
They “shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.” (12)
Blessings of the Book of Mormon and Bible together include:
- Confounding of false doctrines
- Settling contentions
- Establishing peace
- Bringing Lehi’s seed to the knowledge of their fathers in latter-days
- Revealing God’s covenants to his children
Back to the Basics
Lehi tells how this record will come forth in the future and speak to his posterity from the dust. If you could leave a message to your future descendants, what would you tell them? Would you give them advice so they didn’t make the same mistakes you did? Would you encourage them to make wiser decisions that will bring them happiness?
Lehi tells us what his record will contain.
And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren. / Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenants which I made unto thy fathers.” (20-21)
The Book of Mormon authors chose to leave a message about repentance to their posterity. That’s how important it is. They knew it was the key to wisdom, happiness, direction, and power.
Repentance is key to having a relationship with Christ, who is the ONLY ONE who can save us.
