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RoseAnn,
I thoroughly enjoyed your article.
Regarding the prophecy of Joseph of Egypt, quoted in Lehi’s blessing to his son Joseph, you rightly state that, “Lehi and Captain Moroni each saw their people, the Nephites, as fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy.” However, there is more to this prophecy that does not fit with their day.
“God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days.” (2 Nephi 3:5)
How could the Messiah be made manifest to the “righteous branch” of Nephites “in the latter days” if they had all been destroyed in the days of Mormon? This is further expounded upon in the continuation of Lehi’s blessing to his son, Joseph.
“For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins…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…Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins…And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old prophesy. Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book. And there shall rise up one mighty among them [among the seed of Joseph, son of Lehi], who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren. And now, blessed art thou, Joseph… and it shall be done unto thee even according to the words which I have spoken.” (2 Nephi 3:6-25)
The prophecy is clear that the choice seer of the Restoration would be a descendant of Joseph, son of Lehi, as would be his brethren, because the seed of Joseph would not be destroyed. That is what the message of the dying Lehi to his son Joseph was all about. The reason that Lehi’s son Joseph was so blessed is because this choice seer, Joseph of the restoration, would be of his seed. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his brethren were to be descendants of Joseph, son of Lehi.
Joseph Smith had no Native American ancestry. His heritage all goes back to northern England. The obvious inference is that a branch of the descendants of Joseph, son of Lehi, somehow ended up in northern England.