However, due to health or other personal circumstances, he may be given nonfunctioning status. The only name that counts in the temple is the name of Jesus Christ. 3:5). How do I get rid of inappropriate thoughts? Hey there, cousinanother Grover descendant here. Why? It is to play an important part in convincing Lamanites, Jews, and Gentiles that Jesus is the messiah and that God does remember his covenant people (see Book of Mormon: Title Page From Book of Mormon). Or is there some important significance to my tribe? First off there officially is not a tribe of Joseph - but rather the tribe of Joseph was devided between Ephrain and Manasseh - the greater role given to Ephrain. This has bothered me for over thirty years. I think theres some parallels with patriarchal lineage. Salt Lake City, 1985. Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. If he had no descendants, section 68 is meaningless. Judah is a lions whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? Now, the tribe of Judah has many revelations specifically tied to it. Many Latter-day Saints are of the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe given the primary responsibility to lead the latter-day work of the Lord. Our patriarchal blessings indicate what the Lord expects of us and what our potential can be. I have a dozen or so ancestors who have the exact same claim to fame (almost typed clame). EG- you most definitely should have the opportunity to receive another blessing, as do others in this situation. Our blessings can encourage us when we are discouraged, strengthen us when we are fearful, comfort us when we sorrow, give us courage when we are filled with anxiety, lift us up when we are weak in spirit. 29:3; Morm. tribe of ephraim lds patriarchal blessing. Saul didnt seem much like what we think of as a king, but progressively with David and then especially with Solomon they gained a capitol, a palace, a temple, engaged in foreign affairs, and had pretty much all the trappings of kingship. 2:10). Mormon lives are busier than most. 1978 Prophecy, Book of Moses, Curse of Cain, 2 Nephi 30:6, All are Alike Unto GodWhat is the truth? Rumors were his wife did it as well. This doctrine of adoption was understood by ancient prophets and apostles (e.g., Rom. The original tribe of Levi did not receive a land inheritance (other than the levitical cities), so that its priestly members could live throughout the land, so Joseph (the dominant tribe in the north) was basically bifurcated into two representing his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to keep the tribal number at ten. Aggregated Content Copyright 2008-2011 by the original authors. It contains personal revelation and instructions from Heavenly Father, who knows our strengths, weaknesses, and eternal potential. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel., As we hold the tension between were all related, and were all descended from all the tribes and patriarchal lineages mean _some_thing, Im reminded of the tension between being sealed (generally) and being sealed to my family (particularly). Otherwise its like the name in the temple. Grab the info you need on several topics all in one easy access point! But we know from modern population genetics that when were talking about that kind of time depth, our near-term genealogical view of things simply doesnt work anymore. Ill try raising this point next time I need to wreak havoc in HP group. A patriarchal blessing is eternal, and its promises may extend into the eternities. Many of Ephraim's descendants are being gathered first, for they have the responsibility of preparing the way for the gathering of the other tribes (D&C 113). An essential part of a patriarchal blessing is a declaration of lineage. 1992). "And they [others of the tribes of Israel] shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants…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" (D&C 133:30-33; see also Israel: Gathering of Israel). Because each of us has many bloodlines running in us, two members of the same family may be declared as being of different tribes in Israel. I have long wondered what Richard Bushmans take on lineage and patriarchal blessings in general is. 5:1-2). Only by following the counsel in a patriarchal blessing can one receive the blessings contained therein. The keys of gathering Israel were committed to the Prophet Joseph Smith by Moses on April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple (D&C 110:11). The prophecy in 1st Nephi tells us theyll belong to the tribe of Nephis father, Lehi. Opinions on this subject differ widely. Abr. Our blessings can encourage us when we are discouraged, strengthen us when we are fearful, comfort us when we sorrow, give us courage when we are filled with anxiety, lift us up when we are weak in spirit. Eldred G. Smith said this Many of us are a mixture of several tribes of Israel, and so it is the right of the patriarch to declare that line through which the blessings of Israel shall come., many of us are a mixture of several tribes. In the last days, Ephraim's descendants have the privilege and responsibility to bear the message of the restoration of the gospel to the world and to gather scattered Israel (D&C 113:3-6). No setting apart required. Original Content Copyright 2008-2011 J. Max Wilson. It makes no sense in the modern church, except to the extent that we choose to give it meaning. The Lord continued to acknowledge Ephraim's blessing centuries later when he said, "I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn" (Jer. Judah and part of the tribe of Benjamin maintained their allegiance to their monarch, and following Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, became known as the Kingdom of Judah. Some rights reserved. Ive ordered copies of some ancestors patriarchal blessings in preparation for a family reunion in Nauvoo, and especially liked the instances of people with multiple blessings over several decades, including two or three different lineages. Ive heard claims in both directions and Im genuinely curious. (Not the modern white-supremacist kind, but the 19th Century, Englishmen-are-Ephraimites strain.). Its standard Church policy. Ive been asked this question, and had a thought hit me that seemed correct at the time. The answer is common ancestry. If Lehi was a real person with real descendants, he lived so long ago that nearly all Native Americans would have him as a literal ancestor. tribe of ephraim lds patriarchal blessing. JSJ preached a little on physical blood changes upon conversion, which we dont teach today but which clearly influenced the patriarchal blessing process and how we view lineage today: 14. Find out what Mormon Church leaders really think of polygamy. "We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent" (A of F 10; cf. In the great majority of cases, Latter-day Saints are of the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe to which has been committed the leadership of the Latter-day work. Latter-day Saint Life Patriarchal Blessings: What to Do When Yours Isn't "Coming True" This principle ought (in its proper place) to be taught, for God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know Him (who remain) from the least to the greatest. It is to be done by this sealing power, and the other Comforter spoken of, which will be manifest by revelation. What does it mean to be from the lineage of Joseph? Sorry, hit wrong button and comment sent before conclusion. The naming of tribes other than Ephraim has been rare, but is becoming more common as the word is spread abroad, more people are coming into the fold, and more Priesthood duties are becoming necessary to be fulfilled. Heber C. Kimball; "I think no more of taking another wife than I do of buying a cow. 17:5-6; see also Israel: Scattering of IsraelIsrael: Lost Tribes of Israel). Besides, the giver of the blessings, the Lord, reserves the right to have them become active in our lives as suits his divine purposes. I think the point of this post and thread is to get past a bit labels like son of a whore and son of a prophet at least in a certain sense (the sense of are we not all beggars, or are we not all children of Adam and Eve?), Coincidentally, since my last post, I came across this germane passage in Romans 9: So if the patriarchs lived circa 1900 B.C. It does not matter if a persons lineage in the house of Israel is through bloodlines or by adoption. Next on the list so you can trace your ancestry back to Adam? If Ephraim had descendants that survived to today, then pretty much everyone on the planet is a descendant of Ephraim (excluding some limited areas where reasonable mixing does not occur, such as say Australian aborigines). A patriarchal blessing includes a declaration of lineage, stating that the person is of the house of Israela descendant of Abraham, belonging to a specific tribe of Jacob. Patriarchal blessings may contain promises, admonitions, and warnings. 1 Nephi 14:1-2; "And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks 2 And . For further understanding of the prophecies and promises as they relate to the tribe of Judah, I would suggest that your grandson study the writings of Isaiah, Ezekial, Joel, Jeremiah, and Zechariah. Having a declared tribe means you have a place at the table, that you belong. However, a person should not expect that the blessing will detail all that will happen to him or her or be an answer to all questions. Freedom in Him is the most treasured gift of all! He mentioned (if I remember correctly) that assigning tribes outside of Ephraim was discouraged as modern members could be adopted into Ephraim and should be used with high discretion. Should I be worried? I dont know, Aaron, I just wrote that without actually looking at anything. Widtsoe, John A. Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 3:7). but no Im differentand it is unique to who I am. Heres another way to look at it. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Darius Grey was declared to be of all the tribes except one. Probably even their dogs had wonderful characteristics and spiritual gifts. I feel to this day the Patriarch who did my blessing was not inspired..rote blessings to all. Its not like people from Benjamin are better clerks than others or Issachar play better sports or Reuben are all the leadership. 37:15-19; 2 Ne. No blessings have been alike that weve come across in the stake. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence. 9: 1) At the division of the kingdom Benjamin joined the northern tribes ( 1 Kgs. That number (using an internet exponent calculator) works out to something like 5708990770823839524233143877797980545530986496. The lembda carry confirmed cmh so can they serve as a bishop by right of lineage with no counselors required? Arguing about whether Native Americans are literal descendants of Lehi doesnt make much sense either. Jesus said; "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I dont know that they read them all but a random selection review at a minimum is required. (The entire population was not taken captive, and some escaped to the south as refugees, such as, presumably, Lehis ancestors.) Patriarchal blessings should be read humbly and prayerfully and frequently. An examination of the LDS' latest teachings from the presidency to the women's groups. King Benjamin refers to the faithful as the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters thus being able to be spiritually begotten through faith (Mosiah 5:7), and thus coming into the family of Christ through a spiritual birth. What are the responsibilities and blessings of the Tribe of Manasseh? Many Latter-day Saints are of the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe given the primary responsibility to lead the latter-day work of the Lord. Historical evidence proves Lehi & Nephi didn't exist! Joseph Fielding Smith (1972), 14950. How you can know and trust what God has to say in His word, A Collection of News Items and Prophetic Utterances from and about Mormonism. As for the roles each tribe plays, Genesis 49 is the authoritative source, with additional insights on Ephraim, Manassah, and Levi in the D&C (Sec 13, 110, and 133, primarily). The Book of Mormon records that Joseph of old "obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel…to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord" (2 Ne. Ten of the tribes revolted and followed Jeroboam as their king and became known as the Kingdom of Israel or the Kingdom of Ephraim. Kinderhook Plates and The Greek Psalter Incident serve as further proof Smith was a false prophet. I would HATE that calling . But after Solomons death the kingdom fractured into two: a northern kingdom called Israel, and a southern kingdom called Judah (including Jerusalem). [2] Similarly, the recipient of the blessing should not assume that everything mentioned in it will be fulfilled in this life. Church members are counted as a descendant of Abraham and an heir to all the promises and blessings contained in the Abrahamic covenant (see Abrahamic Covenant). So how many slots would there be in the year 1800? As always, Mark E. Petersen is the definitive resource: http://www.ldslastdays.com/default.aspx?page=talk_patriarchs.htm. To learn more about patriarchal blessings, you can read these articles in the Gospel Library at www.lds.org: About Patriarchal Blessings (New Era, Mar. My patriciarch typed up the blessings himself. A few of you are extended cousins of mine and also descend from him; most of you do not descend from him. If you were a man and lived in Nauvoo with the prophet, guaranteed you served as his bodyguard, at some point. The patriarch has no blessing of his own to give; the blessing is the Lords to give. Quotes & false prophecies from Mormon leaders. How is this to be done? 12: 21 ), but the nearness to Jerusalem seems to have caused Benjamin gradually to become part of the kingdom of Judah. The LDS Church doesn't ascribe to the orthodox belief in original sin; why is that? Im sure everyones grandpa was a great man with unique experiences and uplifting stories. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Rom. Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy fathers children shall bow down before thee. 10:14; Jacob 5; cf. 42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. Guide to the Scriptures, Evangelist, Israel, Patriarchal Blessings, Patriarch, Patriarchal, Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light, Declaration of Lineage in Patriarchal Blessings, Request a copy of your own or a deceased ancestors patriarchal blessing, ChurchofJesusChrist.org, Whom do I talk to about getting a patriarchal blessing? New Era, July 2010, Your Patriarchal Blessing, Ensign or Liahona, February 2010, RobertK. Wagstaff, When Should I Get My Patriarchal Blessing? New Era, August 2009, About Patriarchal Blessings, New Era, March 2004, DanielH. Ludlow, Of the House of Israel, Ensign or Liahona, January 1991, Teaching Children about Patriarchal Blessings, Ensign, October 1987, DavidA. Edwards, What a Patriarchal Blessing Can Do for You, New Era, May 2013, The Gathering of the House of Israel, Patriarchal Blessings, Lesson Helps for Teaching Children, What is a Patriarchal Blessing, The Latter-day Saints Channel Q&A, episode62, Request a copy of your own or a deceased ancestors patriarchal blessing. Like many blessings, they must be requested by the person or by the family of the one desiring the blessing. Were all adopted into the covenant relationship. My brother who was adopted from China was given the lineage Naphtali, not Ephraim like the rest of our family. Ive come to believe the tribe has some reflection that the individual must seek out in their own explorations of scripture and prayer to seek the significance the Lord would have them understand. Those who are not literal descendants are adopted into the family of Abraham when they receive baptism and confirmation (see Law of Adoption). In the Latter Day Saint movement, a patriarchal blessing is an ordinance administered by the laying on of hands, with accompanying words of promise, counsel, and lifelong guidance intended solely for the recipient. So whether the lineage was literal or not, it influenced me for the better. Still, I dont mind getting (literally) extra blessings. And then with the Jews to be gathered we will once again have the Kingdoms of Ephraim and Judah. While the primary responsibilities of Ephraim are to spread the gospel, the primary responsibilities of Judah are to maintain and keep the records. The patriarch seeks inspiration to specify the dominant family line that leads back to Abraham. Saying this person descended from Ephraim and this person didnt no longer makes any sense given our modern understanding of population dynamics. (E.g., a baby born in 2000 had two parents born in 1975, four grandparents born in 1950, eight great grandparents born in 1925 and 16 great, great grandparents born in 1900.) What are the blessings of the tribe of Ephraim? Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a persons lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. It is a sacred, spiritual calling that usually will continue the remainder of the patriarchs life. 2004) and Q&A (New Era, May 2002 and Mar. Patriarchal blessings are sacred and personal. Just my take. Could this book cost you salvation in Jesus? And perhaps they were just as literally the descendants of Ephraim/10 tribes as the rest of us with no particularly unique claim to a literal blood connection (as Israel is to be gathered from all nations), but it seems this early group of pioneers were called and chosen to lay the foundation of this marvelous work. 20% of verses in the Book of Mormon contain the phrase "and it came to pass", Almost 4,000 changes to the Book of Mormon and over 7,200 Greek and Latin words found, Book of Mormon Artifacts; Smithsonian & National Geographic says no artifacts found. At some level much of it might not matter, in other ways, there may be meaningful differences. I believe the prophesy (D&C 133:26-34) of a specific group representing the 10 tribes gathered in from the North has already been fulfilled with the influx of converts from Northern Europe who came and made up a large portion of the membership in Utah and laid the foundation for full work of the gathering of Israel from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people (D&C 77:11) in these last days. Imagine if we had the knowledge to complete a massive pedigree chart going back to the time of the biblical patriarchs. If you're a Christian & feel you're speaking a different language, learn about the differences here. It is important that we study this promise and its attendant responsibilities so that we can know what is and will be required of us. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory, that we may be sealed up unto the day of redemption.Ephesians, 1st chapter. It is a common feature of patriarchal blessings to declare the tribe from which the person receives the blessing descends. Whether his children directly through bloodline or through adoption, we are heirs to both the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant. Your an idiot is a deliciously ironic phrase. She is now 26. Sometimes here at BCC we do requests. The Book of Mormon; The Doctrine and Covenants & Church History; The Pearl of Great Price . While the idea of literal ancestry was strongly held in the 19th and early 20th century, my sense is that that view is receding, because it just plain doesnt make a lot of sense. British Israelism. Anyone or anything that disagrees with the LDS Church is considered anti-Mormon. Ill try to explain the problem with that view. "for I know whom I have believed" 2 Tim. In response to a previous comment, Richard Bushman was interviewed by Dan Witherspoon on the Mormon Matters podcast about his work as a patriarch and the directions he was given in that calling re: tribal assignments, etc. Frankly, I believe Patriarchal Blessings are pointless. Was the restriction of unclean foods in the Bible a commandment. The patriarchal blessing reveals to its recipient which tribe they belong to - although it is nearly always identified as the Tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim is the tribe of the restoration. Since that is way, way, waymore than the total number of people who have ever lived on this earth, how can that be possible? Further, a "choice seer" would arise from Joseph's descendants who would "do a work for the fruit of [Joseph's] loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I [the Lord] have made with thy fathers" (2 Ne. What it means to me is that we are ALL, every one of us on the face of the earth, brothers and sisters, literally. Yes, know that there have been and probably are patriarchs who are on automatic. These privileged blessings are a powerful witness of the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ in bringing exaltation to each of us. God knows our spirits; He knows our strengths and weaknesses. By their very nature, all blessings are qualified and conditional, regardless of whether the blessing specifically spells out the qualification or not. Salvation and exaltation are often used synonymously, but salvation (being resurrected) will be granted to all through Gods grace while exaltation (ones final degree of glory) hinges on our choices. 8:9). I compared our two blessings.they were exactly word for word. He was told in his blessing that he would be blessed with many beautiful daughters. He and my mother became the parents of five sons. The most important aspect of our patriarchal lineage is that it ties us to the covenant made between God and Abraham. The blessing of one . This exact point annoyed me to no end (as a mathematician) reading that Salazar Slytherin who supposedly lived a thousand years ago had exactly one heir. How can different children from the same family descend from different partiachal lines? An essential part of a patriarchal blessing is a declaration of lineage. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z, Book of Mormon: Title Page From Book of Mormon, https://eom.byu.edu/index.php?title=Ephraim&oldid=4550. 3:5-16; D&C 133:30-34) and that the Prophet Joseph Smith is the "choice seer" (3 Ne. Its nice to have that extra copy of the will around with some reassuring words that you havent been disinherented, I suppose. . Why would you place your salvation into the hands of a false prophet? Amen! Those promises and blessings that are not realized in this life will be fulfilled in the next. While a patriarchal blessing contains inspired counsel and promises, it should not be expected to answer all of the recipients questions or to detail all that will happen in his or her life. My most famous Mormon ancestor was Thomas Grover, who was my great, great, great grandfather (on my mothers side). Someday there will be a big family reunion for all the children of our Heavenly Father. Id say the other ordinances (baptism and sealing) are sufficient for establishing heirship, perhaps thats why they are essential ordinances and PBs arent. I think he also mentioned reviewers (SP and SLC). And if he did not have descendants that survived to today, well, then obviously no one alive today is a descendant of Ephraim. This was well illustrated in my fathers patriarchal blessing. Mormonism has its own folklore on the subject, such as folk beliefs that the Ten Tribes are living at the north pole or at the center of the earth. "Of the twelve tribes, the tribes of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, will be gathered first and then direct the other tribes in their gathering (see JST, Genesis 48:5-11; Deuteronomy 33:16-17; D&C 133:30 . To answer about the personal importance I attached to lineage, I would stay the most important impact has been on my mission. 1 Nephi 14:1-2; And it shall come to pass, that if theGentilesshall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also inpower, in very deed, unto thetakingaway of theirstumbling blocks2And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall benumberedamong the house of Israel; and they shall be ablessedpeople upon thepromised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded., Alma 10:3; And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant ofManasseh, who was the son ofJoseph who wassoldinto Egypt by the hands of his brethren..