Here’s a look at What the bible says about the book of Mormon. When we read the bible we see no direct mention of the book of Mormon. But when we read the book of Mormon we see more answers to the question…
Which is where did the ten tribes of Israel go before and after the destruction of the first temple built in Israel.
In the Apocrypha book it is revealed that the bulk of the Ten tribes of Israel sailed to a land which we can safely say is the modern day Americas today.
There is also mention in the New testament by the Messiah after his resurrection that he had to go and visit the other lost sheep.
This is interesting seeing as we know that at the time of the Messiah’s arrival the Northern ten tribes of Israel had mostly left Israel.
Why Is It Called The Book Of Mormon
Before we begin to explore connection between the bible and the book of Mormon it’s important to know its called the book of Mormon. If you’re like me you may have always wondered what the book was about.
When you’re brought up any religion contrary to your own belief, you’re often told to stay away from other religions.
This means that understanding other religions become taboo. Here we believe in reading, anything that relates it’s self to the bible. This is definitely true when we look at the book of Mormon.
Why Name It The Book of Mormon?
So why is it called the book of Mormon?
When we read the actual book, it tells us that Mormon was a Hebrew prophet who compiled the books of Mormon.
After Mormons compilation he passed the books on to his son Moroni. Just like other prophets in the bible, the book of Mormons also has books named after various Hebrew prophets.
The Book Of Mormon’s Israelite’s And Gentiles
The books of Mormon were initially written on gold plates in a foreign language (Most probably Hebraic). These plates were found in the Americas and the prophecy within them said they would be translated when the time was right by a Gentile (i.e. a non-Israelite).
In 1823 Joseph Smith was visited by Moroni, in a vision and given the ability to translate the plates, fulfilling prophecy, within them.
This is an interesting time for the revelation of the Book of Mormons, because it’s around the same time the Israelite’s (So called Black people and Hispanic) were being set free from slavery.
In the United States President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. It ordered the freeing of slaves (Israelite’s) in America.
In the UK the Slavery Abolition Act, (1833) is an act of Parliament that abolished slavery in most British colonies, it freed more than 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and South Africa as well as a small number in Canada.
The scriptures prophesy that Israel would be enslaved by the gentiles in Deuteronomy 28:68. It also says they would be released once they were destroyed mentally and physically (Deuteronomy 28:45).
All of these things happened are are still happening to the children of Israel today. They are a sign also, that identify who Israel really are today. i.e. those from West Africa, West Indian Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans and their descendants.
Where Are The Ten Lost Tribes Of Israel Today?
The answer to the above question is not as mysterious as it seems when we read all the scriptures.
In the Apocrypha we read that the ten tribes also known as the Northern tribes or Israel left Israel and arrived in America.
The region of America mentioned in prophecy is described as a land that no man had ever set foot on. The scriptures call it Arsareth (2 Esdras 13:45).
When we read the book of Mormon we find another important discovery. We are told that there were some from the northern tribes of Israel who sailed to the Americas after the destruction of the first temple in Israel 720BC.
The time of this departure, after the temple destruction would be in the years of 597 – 586 BC during king Zedekiah’s reign (A bad Israelite King who ruled the tribes of Judah).
Most of the Northern tribes (ten lost tribes) had been carried away previous approx. 720 BC by Assyrian leader Salmanessar. This was during the reign of Hosea the last king of all the tribes of Israel before their split into the Northern (10 tribes) and Southern (2 tribes).
Below is a dialogue between Esdras and the Most High concerning the journey and whereabouts of the ten lost tribes:
2 Esdras 13:39-47
39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him;
40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.
41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt,
42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.
43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.
44 For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over.
45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth.
46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,
47 The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace.
The Most High explains to Esdras what became of the Ten tribes. How they initially were taken out of the land by Asyrian king Salmanasar. And then after how they left Salmanasar and took a year and a half long boat trip.
To get insight into the departure of this Remnant from Judah we have to read the book of Mormon! Yes, I know! you may think it’s not part of the bible, but that is about to all change.
The Ten Tribes In The Book Of Mormons
When we read 1 Nephi 1:4, we see the father of Nephi, Lehi (of the tribe of Joseph) receiving word from the Most High. He receives this in the first year of King Zedekiah 597 – 586 BC (2 Kings 24:17-20).
1 Nephi 1:4
4 For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.
The Most High tells Lehi to depart from Jerusalem where he had lived all his life.
1 Nephi 2:1-5
1 For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life.
2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.
5 And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.
So we see the beginning of the journey of a remnant of the tribe of Joseph who came from Jerusalem.
It needs to be noted that Lehi was not from the tribe of Judah, Benjamin or Levi but was a descendant of Joseph.
We also see that he had the five books of Moses’ prophecies and the History up until King Zedekiah, in his possession. Which his son Nephi retrieved from Jerusalem.
After Nephi returned from Jerusalem with the Scriptures Lehi his father made sacrifices to the Most High.
What The Bible Says About The Book Of Mormons
When Lehi learns of his heritage he prophecies. Within his prophecy he explains that scriptures would go out to all the tribes of Israel:
1 Nephi 5:10-22
10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning.
11 And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;
12 And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;
13 And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.
14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.
15 And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records.
17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed18 That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.
19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.
20 And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.
21 And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children.
22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.
So we see that this remnant of Israel i.e. Lehi and his family carried the Scriptures with them, eventually to what is called the promised land i.e America today!
The Ten Lost Tribes Go To The Americas Before Columbus
Nephi is later told by the Most High to make a ship so he could sail to the promised land. He takes direction for the construction of the ship from God.
1 Nephi 17:8
8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.
1 Nephi 18:4
4 And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.
1 Nephi 18:22,23
22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.
23 And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land.
Hopefully this scriptures have shown you how the Book of Mormon completes the mystery about the 10 lost tribes of Israel. As well as the Apocrypha book 2 Esdras.
The truth is, if you read the book of Mormon you will see that the theme is the same as that of the bible.
The Messiah’s purpose is fulfilled in the book of Mormon when he visits the remnant of the ten tribes after his crucifixion and resurrection.
Appearing to the ten lost tribes just as he did to the Jews (Benjamin, Levi and Judah predominantly) after his resurrection (3 Nephi 11).
The book teaches baptism (3 Nephi 11:22-28) and the keeping of the commandments also. It also teaches that the House of Israel must teach the world the true faith of the Most High, just as all the scriptures do.
Conclusion
Hopefully this article has shed a lot of light on the scriptures more completely? It’s important that we read for ourselves. Without reading the book of Mormon there is a big gap in the history, in regards to the whereabouts of the Ten lost tribes.
The book of Mormons proves that Columbus never discovered the Americas and that the people there (Native Americans, Latinos, Mexicans etc.) are the true Israelites.
Shalom! And share this with some one that needs it…