2 Nephi 3:6-7

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 3:6-7

6 For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.

7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.

Quotes for Discussion

How is Joseph Smith “like unto Moses”?

Joseph Smith Jr.

Moses

In 1830 members of the Church suffered persecutions in the New York State area. Joseph told them that the Lord would deliver them from their enemies and lead them to a “land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey” (D&C 38:18).

In about 1300 B.C. the children of Israel were suffering bondage to the Egyptians. Moses told them the Lord would deliver them from their enemies and lead them to “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8).

Once the Saints arrived in the state of Ohio, the Lord told Joseph, “I will give unto you my law” (D&C 38:32).

After the children of Israel left Egypt and gathered in the wilderness of Sinai, Moses was given the “law” (Exodus 24:12).

Ohio was not the ultimate destination of Zion, but many important things happened there (D&C 57:1-3).

The wilderness of Sinai was not the ultimate destination of the children of Israel, but many important things happened there (Exodus 13).

The Lord made a “spokesman” (Sidney Rigdon) for Joseph (2 Nephi 3:18).

The Lord made a “spokesman” (Aaron) for Moses (Exodus 4:14-16).

Joseph received many of the ten commandments as part of the law (D&C 42:18-29).

While in the wilderness of Sinai, Moses received the ten commandments as part of the law (Exodus 20:3-17).

In Ohio, Joseph oversaw the construction of the first temple in this dispensation (D&C 109 and 110).

In the wilderness of Sinai, Moses constructed the tabernacle, a portable temple (Exodus 25-31).

Joseph sent men to the promised land of Missouri, whose capital was to be the New Jerusalem (D&C 57:1-3).

Moses sent men to the promised land of Canaan, whose capital was to be Jerusalem (Numbers 13).

Zion was not fully established in the promised land of Missouri in the days of Joseph (D&C 58:4, 44).

Zion was not established in the promised land of Canaan in the days of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:4-5).

The New Jerusalem will be built and become a co-capital during the Millennium (Isaiah 2:3).

Jerusalem will be rebuilt and become a co-capital during the Millennium (Isaiah 2:3).

These prophecies concerning the work of Moses and that of Joseph Smith were recorded on the brass plates obtained by the sons of Lehi. In fulfillment of the Lord’s promise, these few sentences have been restored; and we hereby learn something of the greatness of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Among those who were called in the great council, he held a place of distinction and honor and a wonderful work for the salvation, not only of the house of Israel but also for all mankind on the face of the earth, was foreordained and assigned to him ages before he was born.

President John Taylor spoke truly when he said:

Joseph Smith the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, ahs done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.

It seems to me that even we, the Latter-day Saints, who have accepted him as a prophet of God, have to a great extent failed to recognize him and esteem him as fully as we should for the great work which, under the guidance of Jesus Christ, he performed for us and for the whole world. Yet, like so many of the prophets of old, and even the Savior himself, he has received the thanks of an unbelieving world by sacrifice and martyrdom.

Any who think that the Father and the Son are without knowledge of the history of this world from its beginning to its end, have reason to humble themselves and repent. The day will surely come, when the Lord will reveal all that was made known to Enoch, Moses, and the brother of Jared, which is now hidden from our knowledge because of the hardness of our hearts, for this cannot come only in a day of humility and righteousness.

Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:184-85, 1972

It was decreed in the counsels of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that he, Joseph Smith, should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people, and receive the fullness of the keys and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God. The Lord had his eyes upon him, and upon his father, and upon his father’s father and upon their progenitors clear back to Abraham, and from Abraham to the flood, from the flood to Enoch, and from Enoch to Adam. He has watched that family and that blood as it has circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man. He was fore-ordained in eternity to preside over this last dispensation.

Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 425

I honor and revere the name of Joseph Smith. I delight to hear it; I love it. I love his doctrine. What I have received from the Lord, I have received by Joseph Smith; he was the instrument made use of. If I drop him, I must drop these principles; for they have not been revealed, declared, or explained by any other man since the days of the Apostles. If I lay down the Book of Mormon, I shall have to deny that Joseph is a Prophet; and if I lay down the doctrine and cease to preach the gathering of Israel and the building up of Zion, I must lay down the Bible; and, consequently I might as well go home as undertake to preach without these three items.

I felt like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom the Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom he gave the keys and power to build up the kingdom of God on earth and sustain it.

Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 458

The Indian chiefs remained at Nauvoo until the Prophet returned and had his trial. During their stay they had a talk with Hyrum Smith in the basement of the Nauvoo House. Wilford Woodruff and some others were present. They were not free to talk, and did not wish to communicate their feelings until they could see the great Prophet.

At length, on the 2nd day of July, 1843, President Joseph Smith and several of the Twelve met those chiefs in the court-room, with about twenty of the elders. The following is a synopsis of the conversation which took place as given by the interpreter:-

The Indian orator arose and asked the Prophet if the men who were present were all his friends. Answer-"Yes."

He then said-"We as a people have long been distressed and oppressed. We have been driven from our lands many times. We have been wasted away by wars, until there are but few of us left. The white man has hated us and shed our blood, until it has appeared as though there would soon be no Indians left. We have talked with the Great Spirit, and the Great Spirit has talked with us. We have asked the Great Spirit to save us and let us live; and the Great Spirit has told us that he had raised up a great Prophet, chief, and friend, who would do us great good and tell us what to do; and the Great Spirit has told us that you are the man (pointing to the Prophet Joseph). We have now come a great way to see you, and hear your words, and to have you to tell us what to do. Our horses have become poor traveling, and we are hungry. We will now wait and hear your word."

The Spirit of God rested upon the Lamanites, especially the orator. Joseph was much affected and shed tears. He arose and said unto them: "I have heard your words. They are true. The Great Spirit has told you the truth. I am your friend and brother, and I wish to do you good. Your fathers were once a great people. They worshiped the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit did them good. He was their friend; but they left the Great Spirit, and would not hear his words or keep them. The Great Spirit left them, and they began to kill one another, and they have been poor and afflicted until now.

The Great Spirit has given me a book, and told me that you will soon be blessed again. The Great Spirit will soon begin to talk with you and your children. This is the book which your fathers made. I wrote upon it (showing them the Book of Mormon). This tells what you will have to do. I now want you to begin to pray to the Great Spirit. want you to make peace with one another, and do not kill any more Indians: it is not good. Do not kill white men; it is not good; but ask the Great Spirit for what you want, and it will not be long before the Great Spirit will bless you, and you will cultivate the earth and build good houses like white men. We will give you something to eat and to take home with you."

When the Prophet's words were interpreted to the chiefs, they all said it was good. The chief asked, "How many moons would it be before the Great Spirit would bless them?" He [Joseph] told them, Not a great many.

At the close of the interview, Joseph had an ox killed for them, and they were furnished with some more horses, and they went home satisfied and contented.

Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts, 5:, p.480-481

Edited July 2, 2009 by pam