Book of Mormon brought forth by the gentiles

[toughdee]

In the Book of Mormon it is prophesyed that it will be brought forth unto the descendants of the Lamanites by the gentiles. Yet in modern day, we know that the house of Israel is being gathered and the early days of the church it was primarily Ephraim. Joseph Smith himself is of the house of Ephraim hence the "stick of Joseph" thing. So why does it refer to them as the gentiles. I know that sometimes gentiles can mean those without the gospel, even if they are decendants of Isreal. In that case however, the Lamanite descendants would also be gentiles right? Yet it disctinctly says that by the gentiles will the Book of Mormon be brought to the house of Isreal. How to interpret?

[Vort]

I interpret it as meaning that Joseph Smith was a "gentile". He, like most of us, probably had some small (or maybe even not so small) amount of Jewish ancestry, but he was not a religious or cultural Jew, had no known familial or other ties to Judaism, and did not consider himself a Jew. That's my opinion on the matter.

[skippy740]

Jacob 5Â*

Some are born and some are adopted (grafted) into the House of Israel.

[Just_A_Guy]

"Gentile", in the Book of Mormon, has two meanings. In one sense it means anyone who isn't an Israelite, but in another and even broader sense it means anyone who isn't of the specific Israelite tribe of Judah (or one of the tribes that stuck with Judah after the fall of the Northern Kingdom). Joseph Smith (and we) are Israelites, but not through Judah--and thus, in Nephi's usage, can be deemed "Gentiles".

[skalenfehl]

Gentiles are anyone outside of God's covenant people. Before Joseph Smith prayed in the grove, he was a gentile. The church was restored by gentiles. The Kirtland Temple was built by and dedicated by gentiles, as Joseph Smith declares in the dedicatory prayer, which words were given to him specifically by God:

D&C 109:60 Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the Gentiles....

Doctrine and Covenants 109

[rameumptom]

You are using modern Mormon connotations to understand an ancient text. For Nephi and Moroni, the Gentiles would be anyone who was not clearly a descendant of Israel, either by lineage or at least culturally. So, Europeans were considered Gentiles, regardless of whether moderns could find Jewish DNA in them.

As it is, there is no scientific evidence that Joseph Smith was literally descended from Ephraim. It is only assumed by tradition that many Europeans may have Ephraimite blood in them, but that is only an assumption by Mormon thinkers. After all, what denotes Ephraimite blood? We do not have a sample of ancient Ephraimite DNA to determine anything about it. Nor do we have any ancient Lehite/Nephite DNA, either.

Edited December 18, 2013 by rameumptom

[Traveler]

In the Book of Mormon it is prophesyed that it will be brought forth unto the descendants of the Lamanites by the gentiles. Yet in modern day, we know that the house of Israel is being gathered and the early days of the church it was primarily Ephraim. Joseph Smith himself is of the house of Ephraim hence the "stick of Joseph" thing. So why does it refer to them as the gentiles. I know that sometimes gentiles can mean those without the gospel, even if they are decendants of Isreal. In that case however, the Lamanite descendants would also be gentiles right? Yet it disctinctly says that by the gentiles will the Book of Mormon be brought to the house of Isreal. How to interpret?

There is a lot to understand (symbolism) about Joseph concerning the house of Israel and the gentiles (as well as the restoration - including the Book of Mormon). For example ancient Joseph was run out (forced) from the house of Israel and became a Gentile - Citizen of Egypt. His children - specifically for this reference (Ephraim) were gentiles - born of a gentile mother and were given gentile names. Yet it was Joseph, as a gentile that saved the house of Israel by providing his brothers with wheat.

The Traveler

[Blackmarch]

Jacob 5Â*

Some are born and some are adopted (grafted) into the House of Israel.

also from that chapter its possible for those that are born into or even grafted can fall away, and become something other than what God intends, and need to be brought back into the fold/reborn into it.