WHICH GROUP IS LEHI'S AND ISHMAEL'S FAMILY DESCENDED FROM?

Gen. 49:22 says Joseph is a fruitful bough, (that is: will have a large posterity) even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: (that is: Joseph's posterity will come over the ocean; this prophesy was fulfilled, at least in part, by the coming of Lehi and his people to America). 3 Nephi 15:12 says:

12. Ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the house of Joseph. (The O.T. Made Easier, pg. 425, Dr. David J. Ridges)

Joseph thru Manesseh is for Lehi and his family, Joseph thru Ephraim is for Ishmael and his family.  According to Joseph Smith as told to Erastus Snow, this is from the 116 pages that were lost by Martin Harris.  (Journal of Discourses, a collection of sermons by early LDS leaders, Volume 23, page 184).

Temple baptismal fonts are usually symbolized on the backs of Twelve oxen in remembrance of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.  Why is the Ox the symbol, instead of some other animal?

The ox was the banner, standard and ensign of Joseph, the birthright son, the father of Ephraim and Manasseh, which plays a key role in the restoration of the gospel in the latter-days.  Joseph had strength and power over his brethren because of his obedience to God.   In ancient Israel, the ox, “bull,” “wild bull,” (or “unicorn,” as it is rendered in the King James Version, Hebrew for wild ox) was a type or symbol of strength and power. (See Num. 23:22, n. 22a, below):

22. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a unicorn. (Footnote 22a Hebrew for 'a wild ox')

The Mesa Arizona Temple holds an annual Easter Pageant on the Temple grounds. Twice during the presentation, twelve men enter the stage.  Each holds a banner with a symbol of one of the twelve tribes, for instance, the Lion is symbol of Judah. The Ox, or bullock, is the symbol of Ephraim. (Mesa, Arizona web site)

In addition, Joseph Prado (1547-1595) (A Spanish Jesuit Biblical scholar) has said, "the head of a bullock (a castrated bull or steer) was depicted, because it was through the vision of the Kine or oxen that Joseph of Egypt had predicted and provided for, the famine in Egypt. (Pharaoh had a dream concerning famine and the seven Kine.  Kine are plural for cow.  The story is found in the entire chapter of Gen. 41).

16. And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.  (Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, Genesis Chapter 37). The eldest, Rueben, lost his birthright because of sin; therefore the birthright fell upon Joseph).

17. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns (or wild oxen): with them he shall push the people together (or gather) to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. (Deuteronomy 33:16-17, footnote 17b) (I Have a Question, March 1993, LDS.org)

Witnesses of Christ

"We have to ask, why is there no other first century Jew who has millions of followers today?  Why isn't there a John the Baptist movement?  Why of all first century figures, including the Roman emperors, is Jesus still worshipped today, +while the others have crumbled into the dust of history?

It's because this Jesus, the historical Jesus, is also the living Lord.  That's why.  It's because He's still around, while the others are long gone…

Centuries later the resurrected Christ appeared to Mormon and to Moroni.  (Mormon 1:15; Ether 12:39)  In the last days he has appeared to Joseph Smith and to others.  The list includes Martin Harris, 1827; Oliver Cowdery, 1829; Newel Knight, 1830; Lyman Wight, 1831; Orson F. Whitney, of the Twelve, 1876; Heber J. Grant, 1883; John Taylor, 1888; Lorenzo Snow, 1898; George Q. Cannon, who served as counselor in the first presidency under four presidents of the Church, 1902; George F. Richards, of the Twelve, 1906; Joseph F. Smith, 1918; David O. McKay, 1921; LeGrand Richards, 1926; David B. Haight, 1989.

An example of a vision with Christ is given from the life of Melvin J. Ballard of the Twelve, (1873-1939) grandfather of Russell M. Ballard currently of the Twelve today.  He had the following remarkable experience with the Savior:

'Away on the Fort Peck Reservation where I was doing missionary work with some of our brethren… I found myself one evening in the dreams of the night in that sacred building, the temple. 

After a season of prayer and rejoicing I was informed that I should have the privilege of entering into one of those rooms, to meet a glorious Personage and, as I entered the door, I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious Being my eyes have ever beheld or that I ever conceived existed in all the eternal worlds.  As I approached to be introduced, He arose and stepped toward me with extended arms and he smiled as he softly spoke my name.  If I shall live to be a million years old, I shall never forget that smile. 

He took me into His arms and kissed me, pressed me to His bosom and blessed me, until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt!  When He had finished, I fell at His feet and as I bathed them with my tears and kisses, I saw the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of the world.  The feeling that I had in the presence of Him who hath all things in His Hands, to have His love, His affection and His blessing was such that if I ever can receive that of which I had a foretaste, I would give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt!...I see Jesus now not upon the cross.  I do not see His brow pierced with thorns nor His Hands torn with the nails, but I see Him smiling with extended arms, saying to us all: 'Come unto Me.'"  (Verse by Verse, The Four Gospels, Ogden & Skinner pgs. 702-704)

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BOOK OF MORMON

"In a revelation directed to the Shakers, the Lord gave specific instruction concerning the preparation and schooling of Leman Copley, a recent convert from the Shakers:  'My servant Leman Copley shall be ordained unto this work, that he may reason with them (his former people, the Shakers), not according to that which he has received of them, but according to that which shall be taught him by you my servants; and by so doing I will bless him, otherwise he shall not prosper.' (D&C 49:4)  There is a remarkable lesson for us here.  Leman Copley's missionary approach was not to be based upon what he had learned as a Shaker, but what he had learned as a Latter-day Saint. 

In short, his assignment was not to establish common ground and glory in similarities; rather, he was to be true to the truth, to declare with boldness what had been delivered to earth by revelation in this final dispensation of grace.  By being true to the Restoration he would be prospered.

A later incident in Church history further illustrates the power of this principle.  Elder Parley P. Pratt writes of an occasion wherein the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon addressed a large congregation in the East:

'While visiting with brother Joseph in Philadelphia, a very large church was opened for him to preach in and about three thousand people assembled to hear him.  Brother Rigdon spoke first and dwelt on the Gospel, illustrating his doctrine by the Bible.  When he was through, brother Joseph arose like a lion about to roar; and being full of the Holy Ghost, spoke in great power, bearing testimony of the visions he had seen, the ministering of angels which he had enjoyed; and how he had found the plates of the Book of Mormon and translated them by the gift and power of God.

He commenced by saying: 'If nobody else had the courage to testify of so glorious a message from Heaven and of the finding of so glorious a record, he felt to do it in justice to the people and leave the event with God.'  This was no time to declare a message such as any other minister from any other church might deliver.

This was no occasion for sharing and seeking to establish doctrine from the Bible.  Joseph's work is a new and independent revelation and his witness an independent witness.  What was the result of Joseph Smith's sermon in Philadelphia?  'The entire congregation were astounded, electrified, as it were and overwhelmed with the sense of the truth and power by which he spoke and the wonders which he related.  A lasting impression was made; many souls were gathered into the fold.  I bear witness that he, by his faithful and powerful testimony cleared his garments of their blood.  Multitudes were baptized in Philadelphia and the regions around.' (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pg. 298-299)…

Do we desire to know more about how to avoid pride and the perils of the prosperity cycle; how to avoid priestcraft and acquire and embody charity, the pure love of Christ; how our sins may be remitted and how we can know when they have been forgiven; how to retain a remission of sins from day to day; how to come unto Christ, receive his holy name, partake of his goodness and love, be sanctified by his Spirit and eventually be sealed to him?  Do we know how to prepare for the second coming of the Son of Man?  If so, we must search and study the Book of Mormon.  This volume of holy writ is without peer.  It is the most relevant and pertinent book available to mankind today…This volume is not just a book about religion.  It is religion…As Moroni explained to Joseph Smith:  'Those who are not built upon the Rock shall seek to overthrow this church; but it will increase the more it is opposed' (Messenger and Advocate 2:199) (Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, McConkie, Millet & Top, pgs. 378-379).