The Prophecy of Joseph of Old
The ancient prophet Joseph foresaw the day of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Scripture Analysis
2 Nephi 3:12-15
12 Wherefore [because power shall be given to a descendant of Joseph to convince the descendants of Joseph that the Bible is true], the fruit of thy loins [define phrase] shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins [The Book of Mormon], and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah [The Bible], shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
13 And out of weakness he [the descendant of Joseph] shall be made strong, in that day when my [the Lord’s] work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him [the seer] shall be confounded; for this promise, which I [Joseph] have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I [Joseph] am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;
15 And his [the seer’s] name shall be called after me [Joseph]; and it [his name] shall be after the name of his [the seer’s] father. And he [the seer] shall be like unto me [Joseph]; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his [the seer’s] hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my [Joseph’s] people unto salvation.
Ask students how the Prophet Joseph Smith fulfilled this prophecy made to Joseph of Old.
A Grandfather’s Blessing
Have students read 2 Nephi 4:3-9 and find all the phrases that show Lehi’s love for his grandchildren. Laman and Lemuel had always rebelled against Lehi. Why would Lehi have great love for their children?
The Psalm of Nephi
Nephi was sad when his father died. He lost his father and his older brothers turned against him and wanted to kill him. As he thought about his life he wrote a poem, in the style of the Jews. As students study this piece of poetry have them find the following:
Things that God had done for Nephi – 2 Nephi 4:20-25
Questions that Nephi asks himself – 2 Nephi 4:26-27
Commitments that Nephi makes – 2 Nephi 4;28-30
Help that Nephi asks the Lord for – 2 Nephi 4:31-33
Things that Nephi knows about God – 2 Nephi 34-35
How can the ideas in Nephi’s poem help us know what to do when our lives are hard?
Living After the Manner of Happiness
The Lord warned Nephi to leave his brothers. His brothers were going to kill Nephi. After they separated they had very different life styles. Have students read 2 Nephi 5:10-17 and 2 Nephi 5:21-25 and compare how the Nephites and the Lamanites lived. What did the Nephites do to keep the Spirit with them. What did the Lamanites do to lose the Spirit?
2 Nephi 3:12-15
12 Wherefore [because power shall be given to a descendant of Joseph to convince the descendants of Joseph that the Bible is true], the fruit of thy loins [define phrase] shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins [The Book of Mormon], and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah [The Bible], shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
13 And out of weakness he [the descendant of Joseph] shall be made strong, in that day when my [the Lord’s] work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him [the seer] shall be confounded; for this promise, which I [Joseph] have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I [Joseph] am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;
15 And his [the seer’s] name shall be called after me [Joseph]; and it [his name] shall be after the name of his [the seer’s] father. And he [the seer] shall be like unto me [Joseph]; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his [the seer’s] hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my [Joseph’s] people unto salvation.
Ask students how the Prophet Joseph Smith fulfilled this prophecy made to Joseph of Old.
A Grandfather’s Blessing
Have students read 2 Nephi 4:3-9 and find all the phrases that show Lehi’s love for his grandchildren. Laman and Lemuel had always rebelled against Lehi. Why would Lehi have great love for their children?
The Psalm of Nephi
Nephi was sad when his father died. He lost his father and his older brothers turned against him and wanted to kill him. As he thought about his life he wrote a poem, in the style of the Jews. As students study this piece of poetry have them find the following:
Things that God had done for Nephi – 2 Nephi 4:20-25
Questions that Nephi asks himself – 2 Nephi 4:26-27
Commitments that Nephi makes – 2 Nephi 4;28-30
Help that Nephi asks the Lord for – 2 Nephi 4:31-33
Things that Nephi knows about God – 2 Nephi 34-35
How can the ideas in Nephi’s poem help us know what to do when our lives are hard?
Living After the Manner of Happiness
The Lord warned Nephi to leave his brothers. His brothers were going to kill Nephi. After they separated they had very different life styles. Have students read 2 Nephi 5:10-17 and 2 Nephi 5:21-25 and compare how the Nephites and the Lamanites lived. What did the Nephites do to keep the Spirit with them. What did the Lamanites do to lose the Spirit?
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