Land of Zion is the Americas. North country is North America. The New Jerusalem, the holy city, will be in North America. Here is the promised land, the inheritance of Joseph the seed of Abraham; including Ephraim and the Native Americans.  All promises of the last days are to the House of Israel.  Only a "very small remnant" of the Gentiles will escape the days of tribulation; and inherit the land of Zion with Joseph.

Understanding the lineage of Native Americans and the promises for the America's requires an understanding of the land of Zion and the promises to the seed of Joseph (Jacob's youngest son). The term Zion has been used in Scripture to describe the "pure in heart." The term Zion, according to Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, means pure, "free from sin or guilt; blameless."

Our Lord said, "4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matt. 5) The "pure in heart" must include those that have worshipped the God of Israel and obeyed the gospel of Christ. Otherwise, they could not be without blame.

The original disciples of truth were called "sons of God;" others were simply called the "sons of men." "2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Gen. 6)

This tendency to marry unbelievers existed even in the days of the Apostles. "14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Cor. 6)

From Genesis we learn that Enoch’s father built a city and named it after Enoch—the city of Enoch. "And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch." (Gen. 4:17) Living a celestial law, the righteousness of Enoch entitled him to be translated and taken up into heaven. "23. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Gen. 5) "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." (Heb. 11:5) Many of the city of Enoch were translated with Enoch and taken up into heaven. This city of Enoch could best be described as a city of Zion; the "pure in heart." The story of Enoch is found in the Book of Jasher, chapter three. The story of his son Methuselah is found in chapter four. Enoch and the city of Enoch (people of the city of Enoch) must return to the earth and die as required of all men.

There was a city of Zion in the days of David. "6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. 9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward." (2 Sam. 5) "1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion." (1 Kings 8:1)

The latter day city of Zion spoken of in prophecies is to be located in the land of Zion. Isaiah understood where the kingdom of God would be established in the latter days. He wrote, "1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia....7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion." (Isa. 18) Now, take a globe and start at Jerusalem and follow westward, beyond Africa, to a far distant land in the shape of wings. Isaiah perfectly described North and South America.

These are the isles of the sea spoken of in Scripture. When the term "mountain" is used symbolically in Scripture it means kingdoms. Here, then, on North America will stand the city of God, the New Jerusalem, mount Zion. North America is spoken of in Scripture as the land of the north. It is on the north isle of the sea and the northern land of Zion. "1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge. 4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. 5 They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. 6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. 7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah." (Psalms 48)

The prophet Isaiah saw the establishment of the kingdom of God on North America and the gathering of the House of Israel. "8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob." (Isa. 60).

"That there will be a city called Zion, or the New Jerusalem, built, beautified, and prepared for the millennium, is evident from all the prophets that have mentioned the work of God of the last days. That there was a Zion established at Jerusalem we do not wish to deny; but that has nothing to do with the one for the millennium. However, because some are unable to separate or distinguish it from the one for the millennium, we will first show the difference between the two, and then proceed to examine the prophets with respect to the place of the location of the latter.

"This Zion at Jerusalem was sometimes called the upper city, and it was detached from Jerusalem proper by a wall. Historians say that Jerusalem was founded by Melchisedec is not easy for us to determine: but one thing is certain, it was in existence in the days of David; for when he took Jerusalem from the Jebusites, it is said that he ‘took a strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.’ 2 Sam. 5:7. Many places in the inspired writings where Zion is mentioned, refer to this zion at Jerusalem.—Isaiah, speaking of this Zion, says: ‘For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem.’ Isa. 30:19.

"Now if Isaiah had no idea of any other Zion than the one at Jerusalem, why did he use the preposition at, as though there was another city called by the same name? Indeed, he knew that the Lord would cause to be built another city of Zion, which should be a place of deliverance in the last days, which he saw in the vision established upon this land, [America;] therefore, he used the preposition, ‘Zion at Jerusalem,’ to designate the difference between it and the one of the last days upon another land. But, says one, if the ancients knew that God would establish another for the millennium, why did they call the one at Jerusalem by that name? This is a thing that the scriptures in a measure leave in the dark; however, there is a foundation for an opinion, which we will give, whether it is correct or not.

"Zion is a very ancient name, and signifies the pure in heart, or the place where the pure in heart dwell; and, according to recent revelation which the Lord has given to his people, there was a Zion established in the days of Enoch, wherein the church of the first-born dwelt: and, perhaps, Paul alludes to this Zion of Enoch when he says: ‘But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angles, to the general assembly and the church of the first-born.’ Heb. 12:22, 23. The saints of the Antediluvian world [before the flood], are the only ones that we can with propriety call the church of the first-born; but they and their Zion are in heaven; and Paul calls their Zion the city of God, and them the church of the first-born.

"Now it is possible that when Melchisedec, or whoever founded Zion, when arranging the various districts and suburbs of Jerusalem, called that district, or the upper city, which was so beautiful and elevated, ‘Mount Zion,’ out of respect to a former Zion, and because of the pureness of the name; the same as many name their children after eminent men, and those whom they in a particular manner respect.—After David it was called ‘the city of David.’

"This Zion of the last days, we believe, will be located on the land of America; and, indeed, the prophets have said enough to establish this idea. David says: ‘Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.’ ‘As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever.’—Psa. 48:2-8. David evidently saw the situation of zion, which he says is beautiful, at some other place besides Jerusalem, or he would not have said that it was on the sides of the north. Match this prophecy, concerning a land [America] beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, and we learn, first as Isaiah says, that this is the land where the Lord’s ensign of the last days was to be reared, and from whence the ambassadors of the Lord are to be sent to all nations, and where ‘the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the Mount Zion’ shall be established, to which the servants of God or swift messengers to the nations shall bring a present unto the Lord of a people terrible from their beginning.

"This proves that Zion is to be located in America. Second, that, according to David, it is to be on the sides of the north; consequently, on North America. David says in another place: ‘I will not give sleep to my eyes nor slumber to mine eyelids until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. Lo, we heard of it at Ephrata; we found it in the fields of the wood.’ ‘For the Lord hath chosen Zion: he hath desired it for his habitation.’ Psa. cxxxii. 4-13. It cannot be said in truth that Jerusalem was in the fields of the wood in David’s time; therefore, we conclude that he had reference to some other place besides Jerusalem. Indeed, the interior of North America is interspersed with the fields of the woods; or, in other words, fields in the midst of the wilderness. Isaiah says: ‘Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.’

 "We have before proved the Book of Mormon to be true; therefore, whatever it says upon this subject we consider as valid testimony.—Moroni, writing the words of Ether, says, page 550: ‘Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land; and he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come; after it be destroyed, it should be built up again a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore it could not be a New Jerusalem, for it had been in a time of old, but it should be built up again and become a holy city of the Lord: and should be built up unto the house of Israel; and that a new Jerusalem should be built upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type: for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he dies there; wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he should perish not; wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away.’

"The prophets have declared that there shall be deliverance for the saints in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; therefore, when we take all things into consideration with reason and the scriptures, for Zion to be built upon this continent: for this is a promised land to the tribe of Joseph, as much so as Canaan to the House of Israel. For instance, the Lord will establish a place of gathering upon this land, near the centre of the North division of the continent, which will be convenient for the House of Joseph that is upon this land to gather to, and also, for many of the saints that are now scattered among the Gentile nations. And also he will cause the old city of Jerusalem to be rebuilt, and the Jews to gather there. Thus there will be two central places of gathering, and deliverance. Zion and Jerusalem, when spoken of as being two great places of deliverance, are not synonymous: for Jerusalem and its suburbs, when spoken of at a distance, are all ranked under the one head; but the prophets speak of Zion as being established, and having stakes or auxiliary cities.

"The city of David, or Zion at Jerusalem, was merely an auxiliary, and not the principal. Isaiah places this matter beyond doubt, that Zion and Jerusalem are not synonymous, but on two separate lands. ‘For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken: neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate; but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Bulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.’

"It is said, Gen. 10:25, that in the days of Peleg the earth (not nations) was divided; it is also said, Gen. 1:9, that the waters were gathered together unto one place at the time of creation; and of course the land was in one place, but it manifest that there has been a great division, so much so that the earth has been divided into continents, which the bible says was done in the days of Peleg; but according to the prophet Isaiah, when the time of restoration comes, then this continent upon which Zion shall be built, shall re-unite with the eastern, and thus fulfill the saying, ‘thy land shall be married,’ or joined. But, says the objector, how can there be two places of gathering if Ezekiel’s words are true? ‘And I will make them one nation upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all.’

"The land of America is a promised land to the house of Joseph; therefore, the ‘mountains of Israel’ are here as much so as in the land of Canaan. The idea is that the whole earth will be subjected to one form of government, and to one code of laws, and one king shall rule over them, whether in America or in Asia. But the two continents are to be united, and then it will be an easy thing for them to become one nation upon the mountains (not mountain) of Israel, and at the same time the tribe of Joseph and others dwell in Zion, and its vicinity upon this land, and the Jews in the land of Canaan, and one king rule over them all.—Reflector." (Gospel Herald, Vol. 4, pp. 316-318.

From the, Gospel Reflector,
1841, pp. 111-120.

"Again, it is not improbable but that the ancients of this continent kept a record of their national affairs; if they did not, they were different from other nations who were not any better skilled in science than they were. Indeed, we are led to infer from the numerous hieroglyphics, and writings that they were in the habit of writing much, if not, a history of their national affairs. The accounts of large temples, evidently places of worship, together with the fact that Hebrew writings have been found, gives us a clue to the origin of this people: and thus, after wandering through the field of conjecture and doubt, light now begins to dawn equal to that of twilight; and the veil that has covered these things in mystery begins to rend. But reader, do not stop here; let us be onward in our march, and pursuit of knowledge upon this subject, until the day star arises, and we immerge forth into the light, and learn who built these cities of the dead, and whose fingers have so curiously marked these temples with various inscriptions that have so much puzzled the antiquarian. But says one, where shall I go? from whence shall I obtain the information I Let the testimony of prophets, and patriarchs speak, and let us believe.

"Now it was customary with the ancient patriarchs to call their children together, previous to their death, and bless them with a patriarchal blessing. Jacob whom the angel named Israel was a distinguished patriarch; hence he called his sons to him before his decease, and blessed them, and predicted what should befall their posterity. But it will be remembered that the birth-right, in case there was no transgression, lawfully belonged to the eldest son. But because of the transgression of Reuben the birth-right fell to the sons of Joseph; hence it is written: 'Now the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel; for he was the first-born; but, for as much as he defiled his father's bed his birth-right was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler: but the birth-right was Joseph's.'---1 Chron. v. 1, 2. The blessings that were conferred upon the sons of Joseph, and prophecies concerning their posterity, are recorded in the xlviii of Genesis. First, Jacob said to Joseph: '11 Now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in Egypt, before I came unto thee, are mine: as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.' Thus they had the blessing of the birth-right conferred upon them, or in other words, Jacob conferred his particular or choicest blessing upon them; and it will be remembered that those to whom the birth-right belonged were entitled to the particular, or choicest blessing. 'And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand towards Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand, toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my father Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long, unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; AND LET THEN GROW INTO A MULTITUDE IN THE IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH.' From this we learn that Ephraim and Manasseh were to grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth, and Jacob's name was to be named upon them. Therefore the prophets made a distinction, and distinguished the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, by saying, the House of Jacob; and the other tribes by the House of Israel. However, sometimes all were included under the one head. 'And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, not so my father for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, AND HIS SEED SHALL BECOME A MULTITUDE 0F NATIONS." Put the latter part of this quotation with the one before it, "AND LET THEM GROW TOGETHER INTO A MULTITUDE IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH,' and we discover that Ephraim, and Manasseh were to become a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth. 'And he blessed them that day, saying, in thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim, and as Manasseh; and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.' Thus they had the choice blessing of Jacob; and after that, when any one of the children of Israel prayed for his friend and blessed him, he said: 'God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh,' believing that no greater blessing in time, could be conferred upon him.

"Jacob blessed Joseph as follows: 'Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: (from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb: the blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors, UNTO THE UTMOST BOUND OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.'--Gen. xlix. 22-26. First, we learn from the above quotation that Joseph was a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches were to run over the wall. This was spoken no doubt to suit the capacity of the ancient oriental nations, who considered the sea as a wall that hemmed in the land, or Eastern continent: for this reason it may be read with propriety 'over the sea.' Second, the blessing that Jacob blessed Joseph with prevailed above the blessing of his progenitors, unto the utmost (farthest off,) bounds of the everlasting hills. Jacob's progenitors were Abraham, and Isaac; and their blessing upon him, as far as an earthly inheritance was concerned, was the land of Canaan; but Joseph's was to prevail above this, or extend to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills.

"Now reader imagine yourself standing in Egypt where Jacob then stood, and then search for the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, and you will find them in America. Match this prophecy concerning Joseph, 'his branches (posterity) shall run over the wall,' and reach unto (or inherit,) 'the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills,' with that of Ephraim, and Manasseh, 'let them grow together into a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth,' and we find that they were to inhabit the farthest off land from Egypt, and there become a multitude of nations.

"Now the scriptures cannot be broken, therefore, these predictions must apply to America, for the most obvious reason, they cannot be applied with any propriety to any other land. And let the world search from one end of the earth to the other, and they will not find a multitude of nations, who have sprung from Ephraim, and Manasseh, unless they find them in America. They may search Asia, Europe, and Africa, and they will not find them; that is, a multitude of nations inhabiting a land to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. But here is an almost boundless country, which was secluded from the Old World, and inhabited by a race of men evidently of the same origin, although as evidently divided into many nations. Hosea speaking of the children of Ephraim says, 'when the Lord shall roar, then the children (of Ephraim) shall tremble from the West.' Thus admitting that the ancients of America, together with the present race of Indians are the descendants of Joseph, the prophecies concerning his posterity have been fulfilled to the very letter. And as the birthright fell to his sons; consequently, their blessings with regard to an earthly inheritance excelled those of their brethren. It is evident also from what Moses said, that the blessing of Joseph, with regard to an earthly inheritance, was greater than those of his brethren: 'And of Joseph he said, blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and forthe 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.'--Deut. xxxiii. 13-16.

"Christ said: 'I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel.'--Math. xv. 27; and speaking to the Jews he said: 'And other sheep I have, which are not of &s fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.'--John, x. 16. He could not have alluded to the Gentiles as being his other sheep which were not of the same fold with the Jews, because he personates himself as being the one to go and bring them. The Book of Mormon says, that Christ after the resurrection visited the people on this continent, and established his gospel among them, which indeed, was a remarkable fulfilment of this singular saying of Christ. The prophet speaking of the conversion of the House of Israel in the last-days says: 'From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughters of my disperscd, shall bring mine offering.'--Zeph. iii. 10. If we stood on the land of Canaan where this prophet stood, and then should set out in search of a land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, we would pass through the Barbary States, formerly called Ethiopia, and over the rivers of the same country; but as soon as we should get beyond them, we would come to the Atlantic Ocean, and if we should still pursue our journey, we would come to America--a land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, and here find a branch of the House of Israel--the Red men of the forest. Zepheniah continues his predictions, verse 11th : 'For I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride; and thou shalt no more be haughty because of mine holy mountain.' It is a peculiar trait in the character of the Western Indians to be haughty--but they shall be so no more, because God will send his truth unto them, and establish his Zion, and they will rally around his standard. From what has been said, the reader will discover that the land of America is a promised land to the tribe of Joseph, as much so, as Canaan to the House of Israel in general; and we might refer to many other passages of scripture which are corresponding testimony in favour of the same; but brevity admonishes us to hasten.

"The point at issue is, whether or not the ancients of this land received revelations; and if they did, whether or not, they were to be preserved to come to light in the last days. But, 'to the law and the prophets, if a man speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in him.'

"Jacob said while blessing Joseph: 'Even the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above,' &c. Now we ask what may be called the blessings of heaven, or the choice blessings of God? Surely, the precious blessings of heaven are his word, Spirit, revelations, administration of angels, gospel of Christ, &c. Moses prophecies of the same; 'Blessed of the Lord be Joseph's land (America) for the precious things of heaven.' The posterity of Joseph, the prophets have said, while dwelling in Palestine were rebellious, following after other gods; therefore, it was in this land that they have been blessed with the precious things of heaven. Hosea puts this matter beyond successful contradiction; the Lord speaking through him of Ephraim, says: 'I have written to him the great things of my law; but they were counted as a strange thing.'--Ho. viii. 12. The Book of Mormon is counted a strange thing to this day.

"Now if this people received revelations, and had inspired writings among them, we have reason to believe from what David says, that God has preserved them to come forth in the last days to help fill up the measure of knowledge, that it may cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. 'The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, 0 Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation FOR EVER.'--Ps. xii. 6, 7. Thus if they had inspired writings, they were to be preserved, not in oblivion for ever, but to come to light; for said Jesus: 'For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad."'--Luke, viii. 17.

"It is evident from the following that this writing of the tribe of Joseph, was to come forth, and be united with the Jewish scriptures: 'The word of the Lord came again unto me saying, moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick and write upon it, for Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, for Joseph the stick of Ephraim, and for all the House of Israel his companions: and join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, thus saith the Lord God, behold, I WILL TAKE THE STICK OF JOSEPH, WHICH IS IN THE HAND OF EPHRAIM, and the tribes of Israel his followers, and will put them with him, EVEN WITH THE STICK OF JUDAH, AND MAKE THEM ONE STICK, and they shall be one in mine hand.'--Eze. xxxvii. 15-19. It anciently was customary with the Jews to write their writings upon parchment, and roll them upon sticks; hence they used the term the stick of the law, the stick of Isaiah's prophecy, &c. The Jews use the term to this day. Therefore, nothing can be more plain than the above prophecy: there is presented two sticks with writings on them, the one to Ephraim, or Joseph, the other to Judah. That of Ephraim was to be brought forth by the Lord to unite with that of Judah, and they were to become one in his hand, or agree in testimony. It is plain that the stick with the writing upon it for Judah was a figure or sample representing the Old and New Testaments, or Jewish scriptures; and it is equally evident that the one for Ephraim has no allusion to them; but to a writing that was to be brought forth by the power of God just in time to gather Israel. The Jewish scriptures were not written by the tribe of Joseph; therefore, this writing for Ephraim has reference to a separate work from the Old and New Testaments; although agreeing in testimony: and it was to be brought forth, or united to them by the power of God. But says the objector, this prophecy can be otherwise explained, and shown to have been fulfilled a long time previous to this. We deny that it can be with propriety explained in any other way, or shown to have been fulfilled at any time previous. The following verses of the same chapter settles this point: 'And say unto them, thus saith the Lord God, behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone and will gather them on every side, and bring them unto their own land; and will make them ONE nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neithier shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling. places wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them: and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.'

"Now reader go to the land of Canaan, and if you find the tribes of Israel gathered upon that land no more to be divided into two nations forever, living without sin, and a David reigning over them, then we will admit that this prophecy is fulfilled; but if you do not find them in this situation, then with us you will irresistably come to the conclusion that its fulfilment is in the future; that is the gathering of Israel;--but this writing was to come forth as one of the instruments in the hands of God to gather Israel: consequently it is one of the antecedents. And now we testify that the Book of Mormon has come forth in fulfilment of this prophecy concerning the uniting of the two sticks or writings; and that it is a record of the descendants of Joseph upon this continent.

"David is very plain upon this subject, speaking of the gathering of Israel, and the great work of God in general in the last days, says: 'Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea the Lord shall give that which is good: and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set us in the way of his steps.'--Ps. lxxxv. 10-13. Christ praying for his disciples said: 'Sanctify them through thy truth--thy word is truth.' From these we learn that the word of the Lord was to spring out of the earth, while righteousness looks down from heaven. The next thing that was to follow was Israel set in the way of his steps partaking of the blessings of the land. The Book of Mormon, as we have before mentioned was deposited in the earth, and we believe that it has come to light in fulfilment of this prophecy.

"We will now turn to the xxix of Isaiah; and from that we shall learn that a book was to come forth precisely like the Book of Mormon; but before we commence let us examine what the prophet had in view. In the xxviii, he exclaims as follows: 'For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.' Thus having his eye fixed upon this great work of God, as the prophetic vision rolled before his mind, he saw intervening things, which he also used as a comparison, as follows: 'Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and IT shall be unto me as Ariel.' According to the particular construction of the above, the word IT does not stand for Ariel; bit for some other city or nation; that was to be destroyed with a like destruction, as Ariel. It is not improbable, but that the prophet had reference to the Ephraimites, mentioned in the 28th chapter, whom he said were drunkards, 'whose glorious beauty is a fading flower which are on the head of the fat valleys.' This no doubt has an allusion to the Ephraimites dwelling in the various valleys of America, whose particular failings since the time the Lord withdrew the greater portion of his Spirit from them, have been rioting, drunkenness, &c. The prophet mentions the destruction that was to come upon them: 'Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and destroying one, which, as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm,' &c. 'The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet.' The Book of Mormon gives a full account of this destruction, which was similar to that the prophet described that came upon Ariel. Hence he says: 'And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.' This cannot have reference to the destruction of Ariel, or the city where David dwelt: for the speech of the Jews has never whispered out of the ground, or from low out of the dust; but the ancients of America have been visited with destruction, and as we have before quoted, 'trodden under feet,' their writings, revelations, or their speech has been buried in the earth; but strange to tell, it has come forth, or whispered out of the dust. But to hasten:

"The prophet resumes the subject, and mentions the particular destructions that were to come upon Ariel, and says: 'And the multitude of all nations that fight against her and her munitions, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.' The Romans when they destroyed Jerusalem supposed that it never would be built again; but all their thoughts of obliterating the name, were like those of a dream; for God shall cause the city to be reared again. He then turns the subject and prophecies of the latter-day work of God: 'It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and behold, he eateth: but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against mount Zion.' From this we learn that those who fight against Zion, or the work of God in the last days, shall be visited with like destructions that Ariel was;--such as the sword, with thunder, earthquakes, tempests, and with fire; and when they shall make efforts to destroy Zion, and think to put a stop to the progress of the work of the Lord, all their thoughts and efforts shall comparatively be like dreams. This Zion here mentioned no doubt is what the prophet alluded to where he says: 'The Lord will do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act;' and the destruction that is to come upon those that fight against Zion, is the 'consumption determined upon the whole earth.' But says one, this Zion is synonymous with Ariel. If it is, then the prophet uttered incomprehensible nonsense: for in the first place he speaks of Ariel as being the object of a destruction; second, the nations that fight against Zion were also to be the objects of destruction, and not Zion.

"The following establishes the idea that this Zion is a latter-day work: 'But thou, 0 Lord, shall endure for ever, and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof,' 'When the Lord shall build up Zion he shall appear in his glory.'--Ps. cii. 13-16. It is plain from the scriptures that the Lord has not yet appeared in his glory in fulfilment of this prophecy; for when he will appear in his glory, he will be accompanied with his saints and angels: therefore, Zion is not yet built. Furthermore all the Zion that ever was established at Jerusalem was in existence at the time David composed this Psalm. But he says: 'This shall be written for a generation to come; and the people which shall be created.'--Isaiah, Ix, speaking of the building of Zion, describes the materials that are to be used: for instance, such as the Pine-tree, Fur-tree, &c. He also says: 'For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.' Some have supposed that the prophet here alludes to heaven; but we cannot receive such an idea, because he says, that the ships of Tarshish shall bring the people from far, and their gold and silver with them, to beautify the Lord's sanctuary. Men do not go to heaven in ships neither do they take their gold or silver with them!! He further adds: 'Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory; the sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righleous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.' The above is so plain that it needs no comment whatever.

"It is certain from the reading of the prophets that they all looked forward with joyful anticipations to the time when God should set his hand the second time to gather his people Israel from among the heathen, and from the North countries, and elsewhere; and when he will establish his Zion for the Millennium, and cause the walls of Jerusalem to be reared again, to the joy of the saints. Indeed, the prophets have said, that Zion and Jerusalem shall be places of deliverance at the time the judgements of God shall go forth among the nations. 'And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.'--Joel, ii. 32. But to return to the subject of the Book of Mormon.

"Isaiah after clearing the way before him by describing the establishment of Zion, or the great work of God, and the manner that those who mock, or oppose it, shall be destroyed, describes the generation in which it will commence; he then particularizes the instrument that God would bring forth as the antecedent to prepare the way. Hence, he breaks out with the following words: 'Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger but not with strong drink.' When was there ever a time that men staggered more at the promises of God than they do at the present time? 'For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.' Surely, darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people. When Christ was on earth there were some few inspired men: for instance John the Baptist, Simeon, &c.; but since the apostacy, prophets, and seers have been covered; therefore, he has reference to a generation, or generations, after the beginning of the Christian era, and of course to some one as late as the present; therefore, he says: 'And the vision of all (the one that shall first salute their ears) is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, read this I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed.' When the Book of Mormon first came to light, words or characters were copied from the plates which contained the original, and sent to learned men; but they said, they could not fully decipher them: 'And THE BOOK is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men :therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.' Now we testify that this prophecy has been fulfilled in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and if it is not the right book, then another one must come forth in the same way, and exactly like it. That it was to be a latter-day work, is evident from the following: 'Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field?' Lebanon is not yet turned unto a fruitful field; but after this work was to come to light, it was to be but a little while before it should be: "And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness."

The House of Israel is God's chosen people. The work of the last days will be a gathering of all His people that have been scattered to the four corners of the earth. The land of Canaan was given to Abraham as an everlasting inheritance. The children of Israel (9 1/2 lost tribes) and the children of Judah (2 1/2 tribes) will be gathered back to their homeland. They are to be aided in this endeavor by His people that live in Zion. Now, what people that are of the seed of Abraham were given this land as as inheritance? The seed of Joseph.

The blessing placed upon Joseph by his father Jacob, just before he died, explains this inheritance. "22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: 26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren." (Gen 49)

We learn that the seed of Joseph was to branch out to a distant land, "unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills." This most accurately agrees with the land of Zion. It also agrees with the Book of Mormon, which tells of the seed of Joseph, led by Lehi, leaving Jerusalem about 600 B. C. and venturing to this promised land--the land of Zion. This blessing "prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors." The inheritance of Joseph in this land took precedence over the blessing of Abraham in the land of Canaan.

This land was once inhabited by two groups of people: the Nephites and the Lamanites. Both were of the seed of Joseph. When the Nephites turned to wickedness, about 400 A. D., they were utterly destroyed by the Lamanites. The Lamanites were once a people of 500 nations; until the white man arrived and began a war of genocide against the Native Americans. They did not know the will of God. Although these "archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him," "his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob." The only thing that saved the Native Americans from extinction as a people, at the hand of the white man, was the will "of the mighty God of Jacob."

Joseph Smith, an uneducated farm boy, translated the Book of Mormon and had it printed in 1830--four years before anyone in this country was even aware that civilizations such as described within its pages, existed. Joseph Smith was of the seed of Joseph and the tribe of Ephraim. It was most appropriate that he would translate the ancient record of these peoples. The land, cities, rivers, and mountains described in the Book of Mormon perfectly agree with historical evidence. An absolute impossibility without divine inspiration. Most important, the Book of Mormon verifies the Scriptures of the Eastern Hemisphere; which already told of this land and of the future of the Native Americans.

It has been thought that the Native Americans were part of the people that crossed the land bridge out of Mongolia. The Native Americans, though, bear no resemblance in features, customs, or beliefs to the Alaskan Natives. They most nearly match those of the Eastern Hemisphere and then most nearly to the House of Israel.

It has been written that when the seed of Joseph begin to understand their heritage, the time of Christ's return is at hand. The kingdom of God and the city of God, the New Jerusalem, will be built upon Zion in North America for the Millennium. The seed of Joseph, the Native Americans, will be established to rule upon this land under the command of prophet of their seed and Christ as the King of all the world and will "suck the milk of the Gentiles." The white man will have done to him the same as he did to the Native Americans in that day when God gathers all of the House of Israel.

Before that day the nation will fall under great destructions for their murdering of the latter day prophets and rejection of the fullness of the everlasting gospel; even as the Jews fell under such a curse. Jerusalem was utterly destroyed and only a remnant of the Jews remained--to be sold into slavery throughout the world. It was exactly forty years from the time the Jews rejected Christ and the fullness of the everlasting gospel until they were destroyed by the Roman army. The times of Gentiles was fulfilled (ended) in 1967, when Jerusalem was longer trodden down of the Gentiles. Should the same forty years apply to this generation, there are only about seven years remaining until the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

"16 Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 17 Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. 18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, 19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, 21 The rings, and nose jewels, 22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, 23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. 24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. 25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. 26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground." (Isa. 3)

"5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. 6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. 7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. 8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man." (Isa. 33)

After the destructions and desolations that are to come upon this land and the world, Zion will be established for the Millennium. The seed of Joseph, the Native Americans, will be restored as the elect of God, a promised seed.

"3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. 5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. 7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. 9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? 10 Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. 12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13 And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. 15 But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name. 16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. 17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. 18 There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up. 19 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee? 20 Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God. 21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: 22 Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

"1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. 4 For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. 6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. 7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion." (Isa. 51, 52)

"5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified." (Isa. 60)

My thoughts and my prayers go out to you my native brothers, the remnant of the early tribes of Zion. The promises made to Joseph will soon be yours. This land will once again be your inheritance.

"1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. 11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 14 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. 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake." (Isa. 54)

O Tell Me Red Man
(From Times and Seasons, July 15, 1841, Vol.2, p. 474)

O stop and tell me Red Man,
Who are ye? why you roam?
And how you get your living?
Have you no God; - no home?

With stature straight and portly,
And decked in native pride,
With feathers, paints, and boraches,
He willingly replied:

I once was pleasant Ephraim,
When Jacob for me pray’d,
But oh! how blessings vanish,
When man from God has stray’d

Before your nation knew us,
Some thousand moons ago,
Our fathers fell in darkness,
And wander’d to and fro.

And long they’ve lived by hunting,
Instead of work and arts,
And so our race has dwindled
To idle Indian hearts.

Yet hope within us lingers,
As if the Spirit spoke:
He’ll come for your redemption,
And break your Gentile yoke:

And all your captive brothers,
From every clime shall come,
And quit their savage customs,
To live with God at home.

Then joy will fill our bosoms,
And blessings crown our days,
To live in pure religion
And sing our Maker’s praise."