Question
Gramps,
What does it mean to be of the seed of Joseph and specifically of Ephraim? Is this the same lineage as Lehi and Joseph Smith.
Denise
Answer
Dear Denise,
In the Book of Mormon Lehi is said to be of Manasseh (Alma 10:3) and it says that Joseph Smith is of Ephraim in 2 Nephi 3:14-15—
And thus prophesied Joseph, [Joseph of Egypt] saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; [speaking of Joseph Smith] and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise; And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.
As to what it means is that you are partakers of the promise that was made to Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. And who are the seed of Abraham?– those of the House of Israel. If you have received your patriarchal blessing, it probably tells you that you are of the tribe of Ephraim, as are most of the members of the Lord’s Church today. We are the heirs of Abraham, and we inherit the obligation to bless the families of the earth even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.”
How is that to be done? First, by the power of example. As we live righteous and worthy lives, those about us will feel the spirit of the gospel, and they will desire for the peace and happiness that we exemplify in our lives. Secondly, every young man in the Church, approaching nineteen years of age should prepare himself in every way to serve an honorable mission and actually bring the blessings of salvation and eternal life to the people to whom he will be directed by the Lord. The task is great and the time is short! Now more than any other time in history should families rear their young men from the very earliest age to live honorable lives and prepare to serve the Lord as missionaries. Thus will be fulfilled the obligations placed upon us as heirs of the covenant.
Gramps
