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by Seventy Douglas Hatten In my studies, I have noticed that God’s plan for The gathering, or the restoration of the House of
Israel, and the genesis of The ten lost tribes remain lost precisely because
they have not only been dispersed, but they have lost their identity. They
are mixed among all the Gentile nations, thinking themselves to be Gentiles. (Read
Amos 9:9 and 2 Nephi 7:11-13) God has laid the foundation for the restoration
of Ephraim, and ultimately all of While Joseph is the head of the tribes of Remember that the Patriarch Israel prophesied that
Manasseh’s younger brother, Ephraim, would be greater than he, and his seed
would become a multitude of nations.
Many Europeans (especially “And the
rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away,
and shall not inherit the land; for, verily, I say that the rebellious are
not of the blood of Ephraim, wherefore they shall be plucked out.”
[D&C Sec 64:7b] One of Ephraim’s tasks is to convert his older
brother, Manasseh. But he cannot convert
anyone until he first becomes fully sanctified and obedient himself. This is where Levi steps in, another tribe
that must be restored in the last days.
One of the first experiences I believe the righteous offering that the sons of
Levi will offer up to the Lord is a righteous people, prepared to meet
God. Levi had no land of
inheritance. They were intermingled
among all the other tribes of In the Doctrine and Covenants, we find that a
Melchizedek priesthood member (from Ephraim) can function in a limited way as
a Bishop only until such time as a literal descendant of Aaron was found who
was called of God for this purpose. [D&C 64:2, 104:8] This is important, because the fullness of
the keys to set in order the temporal aspects of the Kingdom appear to be
dependant upon this tribe coming forth and functioning in their duties. It is with their help that Ephraim will
sanctify, and by their ministry that we will be prepared for our calling,
allowing us to fully consecrate unto the Lord. Levites will also be found among all the
other lost tribes, serving as ministers for God to help prepare them to
become who they are intended to be. I believe we have Levites working among
us now, even in our church. Though Joseph’s work, in part, was to help restore
us to a knowledge of our Israelite inheritance, since his death tribal
identity seems to have been set aside, or its significance not understood by
many in the Restoration Movement. I believe the restoration of Ephraim has
been somewhat on hold. Because Manasseh was technically born first, it is
possible that Manasseh will more fully embrace their tribal inheritance
before we do. Ephraim was to take the gospel to Manasseh, and many laborers have
worked in this field over the years. Some among Manasseh have even received it.
However, it may now take a movement within the ranks of Manasseh itself, by
the voice of their own prophets for them to arise and become fully converted.
When they do, it will be a wake up call for Ephraim. Manasseh’s awakening
will be a tremendous blessing to the nations, but also a fearful thing for
the wicked. When Ephraim then awakens from his long slumber since the death
of Joseph Smith, Jr., he too will arise and his dominion, strength and
blessings will exceed even that of his older brother. Once Ephraim and Manasseh wake from their slumber,
recognize their identity and begin working together, the tribe of Joseph will
be made whole again, and through this divine act of God is the salvation of
the rest of The Lord has told us through the mouth of His
prophets, that He would purify His people.
He also told us that all those who did not rebel against the work of
the Lord would not suffer the judgments of the wicked, but that His light
would shine upon them and His promises and blessings would be poured out upon
them. Those who rebel will be plucked
out of the To further examine this marvelous work and wonder
that God will perform in these last days, we’ll look to Zenos’ parable of the
olive tree in the Book of Mormon, for it also shows us the order and the
process for the redemption of Keep in mind that we are “And it came
to pass that after many days, it began to put forth somewhat a little, young
and tender branches; but behold, the main top thereof began to perish.”
[Jacob 3:34] God’s people were now divided into two Kingdoms: the
northern “…the master
of the vineyard saw it, and he said unto his servant, It grieveth me that I
should lose this tree; Wherefore…we will pluck off those main branches which
are beginning to wither away, and we will cast them into the fire, that they
may be burned. And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many
of these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I
will” [Jacob 3:35-37] The Northern Kingdom was decimated or “cast into the
fire” by the invading forces of Though Lehi was in “And it came
to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural
branches of the tame olive tree in the nethermost parts of the vineyard; some
in one, and some in another, according to his will and pleasure.” [Jacob 3:48] Again, this speaks of a wide dispersal, or
scattering of the different tribes of “And he said unto
the servant, Look hither, and behold the last: behold, this have I planted in
a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a
part of the tree hath brought tame fruit; and the other part of the tree hath
brought forth wild fruit: behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the
others.” [Jacob 3:68] If you will recall, part of Lehi’s seed was
righteous - the Nephites, and the other part was wicked - the Lamanites. He considered destroying those parts that
had gone wild. [See Jacob 3:70] The Lord sent his prophets, and called them to
repentance with many miracles, signs and wonders. [Read Jacob 3:85] “And it came to pass that they went down
into the nethermost parts of the vineyard…. they beheld that the fruit of the
natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first, and the second, and
also the last; and they had all become corrupt. And the wild fruit of the
last, had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even
that the branch had withered away and died…the Lord of the vineyard wept, and
said unto the servant, What could I have done more for my vineyard?”
[Jacob 3:86-89] Here we see the lament of God over the Nephites, the
Lamanites, the Ephraimites, and all the lost tribes. All had gone into idolatry and became as
Gentiles, or wild fruit. What is the
cure that God has in mind? “…the Lord
said…I will spare it a little longer: for it grieveth me that I should lose
the trees of my vineyard. Wherefore let us take of the branches of these
which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft
them into the tree from whence they came” [Jacob 3:110-112] God is going to take the natural branches, which
have now turned wild, and graft them back into their original tree. Those who did not know they were “And let us
pluck from the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and graft in
the natural branches of the tree in the stead thereof.” [Jacob 3:113] While this speaks of the spiritual cleansing, it is
also speaking of the means by which God plans to cleanse the It is my belief that this part of the parable is
where we are now at. God is getting
ready to do this last work to cleanse His vineyard and preserve the good and
throw the bad into the fire. “Wherefore, go
to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our mights in the
vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the
natural fruit, which natural fruit is good, and the most precious above all
other fruit. Wherefore, let us go to, and labor with our mights, for this
last time; for behold the end draweth nigh: and this is for the last time
that I shall prune my vineyard. Graft in the branches; begin at the last,
that they may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the
trees, both old and young, the first and the last, and the last and the
first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time.” [Jacob
3:125-127] The servants are the priesthood and all those who
obey His voice and are called to assist in the work. “Wherefore,
dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time:
for the end draweth nigh.” [Jacob 3:128] Again, He will send forth prophets and great
miracles, signs and wonders. ”And if it so
be that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then
shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow; And as they begin to
grow, ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit,
according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; And ye shall not
clear away the bad thereof, all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too
strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the
trees of my vineyard.” [Jacob 3:129-131] Here we see that this grafting in of the good and
the plucking out of the bad is a process.
It does not happen all it once. “For it
grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore, ye shall
clear away the bad, according as the good shall grow, that the root and the
top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the
bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of
my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard.” [Jacob 3:132] The bad is cleared away only as the good
grows. This is telling us the manner
of the cleansing of “And thus will
I bring them together again, that they shall bring forth the natural fruit;
and they shall be one.” [Jacob 3:134] This is the gathering of the tribes. They will be
gathered not only physically to one place, but they will become of one heart
and one mind. Christ said if we are not one, we cannot be His. Isn’t the work of the Lord marvelous? The Lord has also said that the city of Joseph of Egypt went through many trials, being sold
into slavery, falsely accused and imprisoned.
But God raised him up and he became the head and prospered in his
preparations, which would be the means of salvation for his other brothers. The tribe of Joseph and The righteous need not fear, for it will be well
with them. [Isaiah 54:14-17] “In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from
oppression; for thou shalt not fear; and from terror; for it shall not come
near thee. Behold, they shall surely
gather together against thee, but not by me; whosoever shall gather together
against thee shall fall for thy sake…No weapon that is formed against thee
shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou
shalt condemn. This is the heritage of
the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” [Also read Jeremiah 17:7-8 and Isaiah
60:1-3]
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