2 Nephi 3

Lehi Speaks to His Son Joseph

Now I want to talk to you, Joseph, my youngest son. You were born when we were traveling through hard times. Your mother had you during my saddest days. I pray the Lord will give you this land too. This is a very special land. It will belong to you and your kids and your brothers forever. But you must obey the commands of the Holy One of Israel. Joseph, my youngest son, I brought you out of all my troubles. May the Lord bless you forever. Your kids will not be completely destroyed.

Joseph of Egypt’s Promises

You are my son. I am related to Joseph, who was taken as a prisoner to Egypt. The Lord made great promises to Joseph. So Joseph saw our time. The Lord promised him that from his kids, God would bring a good branch to the House of Israel. This would not be the Messiah, but a branch that would be broken off. But they would still be remembered in the Lord’s promises. The Messiah would be shown to them in the last days. He would come with the Spirit’s power. He would bring them from darkness into light. He would bring them from hidden darkness and being prisoners to freedom.

A Special Seer Will Come

Joseph told the truth when he said: 'The Lord my God will bring a seer. He will be a special seer for my kids.' Joseph said the Lord told him: 'I will bring a special seer from your kids. He will be respected a lot among your kids. I will tell him to do work for your kids, his brothers. This work will be very helpful to them. It will teach them about the promises I made with your fathers.' 'I will tell him to do only the work I give him. I will make him great in my eyes because he will do my work.'

'He will be great like Moses. I said I would bring Moses to save my people, O house of Israel.' 'I will bring Moses to save your people from Egypt.'

'But I will bring a seer from your kids. I will give him power to bring my words to your kids. He will not only bring my words, says the Lord, but he will help them believe my words that have already been sent to them.' 'So your kids will write. The kids of Judah will write. What your kids write and what the kids of Judah write will come together. They will prove false teachings wrong. They will stop arguments. They will bring peace to your kids. They will teach them about their fathers in the last days. They will also teach them about my promises, says the Lord.' 'He will be made strong from his weakness. This will happen when my work starts among all my people. I will bring you back, O house of Israel, says the Lord.'

Joseph said: 'The Lord will bless that seer. Those who try to destroy him will fail. This promise from the Lord about your kids will come true. I am sure this promise will happen.' 'His name will be named after me. It will be after his father’s name too. He will be like me. The thing the Lord brings through his hands will save my people by the Lord’s power.' That is what Joseph said. I am sure of this just like I am sure of Moses’ promise. The Lord told me: 'I will keep your kids safe forever.'

Moses and the Future Seer

'The Lord said: ‘I will bring a Moses. I will give him power with a rod. I will give him my law in writing. But I will not make him a great speaker. He will not speak much. I will not make him powerful in speaking. But I will write my law to him with my own finger. I will make someone to speak for him.’' 'The Lord also told me: ‘I will bring someone from your kids. I will make a speaker for him. I will let him write the writings of your kids to your kids. The speaker for your kids will tell about it.’'

'The words he writes will be the words that should go to your kids. It will be like your kids are crying to them from the dust. I know they have faith.' 'They will cry from the dust. They will call their brothers to turn back to God. This will happen many generations after them. Their cry will go out just as simple as their words are.' 'Because of their faith, their words will come from my mouth to their brothers, who are your kids. I will make their weak words strong through their faith. This will help them remember my promise to your fathers.'

Lehi’s Final Blessing

My son Joseph, this is how my father long ago talked about the future. So because of this promise, you are blessed. Your kids will not be destroyed because they will listen to the words of the Book.

One powerful person will come from them. He will do much good with his words and actions. He will be God’s helper. He will have great faith to do amazing things. He will do something great in God’s eyes. He will bring much help back to the House of Israel and to your brothers’ kids. Joseph, you are blessed. You are young. So listen to the words of your brother Nephi. Things will happen to you just like I have said. Remember what your dying father said. Amen.