A Land of Their Inheritance

In chapter 13 his new book Heart of the Matter, President Nelson made this observation: “The Book of Mormon reveals that the inheritance of Joseph, son of Israel, was not forgotten when land was distributed to the tribes of Israel, as promised in the Abrahamic covenant. Joseph’s inheritance was to be a land choice above all others. It was choice because it was chosen to be the repository of sacred writings on golden plates from which the Book of Mormon would one day come. It was choice because it would eventually house the world headquarters of the restored Church of Jesus Christ in the latter days. And it was choice because it is a land of liberty for those who worship the Lord and keep His commandments.” I was intrigued by this statement because Ephraim and Manasseh both received a part of the land of Israel in multiple passages in Joshua 13-19 when the lands were divided up among the tribes. For example, we read, “And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Beth-el…. So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance” (Joshua 16:1-4). So, originally they did receive an inheritance, but that of course was gone after the Assyrians came and scattered the twelve tribes. In his final blessing to his children, Jacob said this: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall” (Genesis 49:22). I believe this refers to the fact that the tribe of Joseph would “run over” the traditional boundaries of Israel and receive their inheritance elsewhere. Ultimately this became their only lasting inheritance, and perhaps that’s what President Nelson was referring to. This is the passage that he referenced from the account of the Jaredites in making his statement: “Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away” (Ether 13:8). Whatever the initial inheritance given to the children of Joseph, ultimately their land where the Lord wanted them to end up was in the Americas. And it is only in the Book of Mormon that we learn about the destiny of Joseph and his seed.

               Another interesting passage in the Book of Mormon confirms the importance of Joseph’s seed in the land of the Americas. As Captain Moroni sought to motivate his people to fight for their freedoms and the cause of their God, he said this: “Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment. Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God” (Alma 46:24-25). From this we gather that Jacob knew that part of Joseph’s seed would be destroyed (perhaps that part that had an inheritance in the land of Israel) and part would be preserved (perhaps those who are to build up the New Jerusalem in these last days). Moroni of course interpreted these according to his own people, which makes sense and is equally valid. But we do know that it is the descendants of Joseph who will be responsible to lead the Church of Jesus Christ and ultimately welcome back the lost tribes of Israel. Speaking of those lost from various tribes in the “north countries” the Lord prophesied, “And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto 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. And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:30-34). The children of Ephraim—i.e. the posterity of Joseph—will help to welcome back all the tribes of Israel in the last days, and they will do it from the New Jerusalem that they will build up in the promised land. The Book of Mormon and the words of modern revelation help us understand the great things that the Lord will still do for the House of Israel as He prepares to return among them once more.