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Matthew, you have well-made your point that the Book of Mormon is an antitype of the Brass Serpent. As you quoted from the heart of the Book of Mormon in your closing statement, “Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live;” (3 Nephi 15:9). You made the antitype to the Brass Serpent obvious.
In your section on Lehi’s blessing to his son, Joseph, you quote 2 Nephi 3:20-21, that the words of the Nephites shall go forth, “unto their brethren who are the fruit of [Joseph of Egypt’s] loins.” This brings up the question as to who are the “brethren” of the Nephites that the Book of Mormon has been going to in these latter-days? The modern-day Lamanites are obviously among them, but the next few verses extend the meaning far beyond that.
“Wherefore, because of this covenant thou [Joseph, son of Lehi] art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book.” (2 Nephi 3:23)
The seed of Lehi’s youngest son, Joseph, would not be destroyed and they would hearken unto the words of the Book of Mormon in the latter-days.
“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.” (2 Nephi 3:24)
It is clear that Joseph Smith was to be a descendant of Joseph, son of Lehi, and be raised up among other descendants of Joseph, son of Lehi.
“And now, blessed art thou, Joseph. Behold, thou art little; wherefore hearken unto the words of thy brother, Nephi, and it shall be done unto thee even according to the words which I have spoken. Remember the words of thy dying father. Amen.” (2 Nephi 3:25)
This is what this blessing and prophesy of Lehi to his young son Joseph was all about. The Prophet of the Restoration, and his people, were to be descendants of Joseph, son of Lehi.
There is no Lamanite blood in the lineage of Joseph Smith. His ancestors all came from the northern portion of the British Isles. The only way this prophesy could have been fulfilled is that descendants of Joseph, son of Lehi, migrated to North-Western Europe prior to the destruction of the Nephites. This also means that the majority of the early converts to the Church who came from Northern Europe were and are descendants of our Father Lehi, through his son Joseph.
Matthew, where do your ancestors come from?
Theodore,
I just came upon your Comment above; time and age don’t allow me to read all that I would like. Please forgive my being about a year late.
You first cite Lehi (with your add-ons):
“Wherefore, because of this covenant thou [Joseph, son of Lehi] art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book.” (2 Nephi 3:23)
“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.” (2 Nephi 3:24)
I disagree, respectfully, with your understanding of the words, “among THEM”, with your add-on “[among the seed of Joseph, son of Lehi] …”, etc. The words, “among them,” can more easily refer back to the seed of Joseph, son of Jacob/Israel, whose blessing is for ALL his progeny (including Joseph Smith), not just Lehi’s seed (which does NOT include the Prophet Joseph Smith – contra your argument below).
Thusly, I also disagree with ALL of your next two sentences:
“This is what this blessing and prophesy of Lehi to his young son Joseph was all about. The Prophet of the Restoration, and his people, were to be descendants of Joseph, son of Lehi.
“It is clear that Joseph Smith was to be a descendant of Joseph, son of Lehi, and be raised up among other descendants of Joseph, son of Lehi.”
Joseph Smith need only be a descendant of Joseph of Egypt, son of Jacob/Israel, to satisfy his original and Lehi’s promises. (There is no scriptural, genealogical, historical, and/or anthropological evidence that “… descendants of Joseph, son of Lehi, migrated to North-Western Europe prior to the destruction of the Nephites.”)
Thanks for your interest and comment. Lehi said to his son, Joseph, “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 who shall do much good…”
The only antecedent for the pronoun, “them” is the seed of Joseph, son of Lehi.
I enjoyed the analysis, but quibble with the title. Had it been entitled something about Nephi’s writing as an anti-type, there would be no issue. The article focuses on Nephi. This is important because the Book of Mormon was never conceived to have this content in it. Mormon’s interests influenced the Book of Mormon, and a single modern historical event lost Mormon’s editing of Nephi and gave us the unedited Nephi we currently have. This is a very useful analysis of Nephi, but not for the whole of the Book of Mormon.