A Remarkable Old Testament Prophecy

Post No.  6   Read Time: 7 minutes.

The Sticks of Joseph and Judah

The Stick of Joseph

Join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. –Ezekiel 37:17

Looking ahead to our time, the biblical prophet Ezekiel prophesied that there would be two books, the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph, that would become one in thine hand. The Bible (the stick of Judah) and the Book of Mormon (the stick of Joseph) both emphasize the importance of seeking and following divine guidance.

In support of Ezekiel’s prophecy, there are three narratives. The first is the philosophical account which contributed to ethics and helped preserve Christianity during the reigns of Constantine and the Holy Roman Empire. The three influential figures in this development were Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. Over time, influences from various scholars led to changes in Christian doctrines.

After centuries of analysis and debate on biblical translation, Joseph Smith, resulting from the appearance of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, was able to describe the true nature and character of God. Complimenting what he learned through that sacred experience, the newly translated stick of Joseph clarifies and restores many plain and precious truths that had either been lost or omitted from the Bible. However, even though he translated the historical record through the wisdom and power of God, his work faced fierce resistance from the American Protestant establishment, receiving no notable endorsements.

The second narrative involves the Muslim scholarly tradition. With the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Renaissance received a major boost, for many Eastern scholars fled to Italy, bringing with them important books and manuscripts and a tradition of Greek scholarship. As the new spirit spread north across Europe, the revival of classical learning and wisdom was a welcome change. Emphasizing truth and the dignity of man, humanism as it came to be known, inspired a host of lofty concepts.

The third narrative is the Book of Mormon, an account written upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi. Written by commandment and through prophecy and revelation, it aims to convince Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, and proves the truth of the holy scriptures.

The Book of Mormon invites all people to read and ponder its message and ask God if the book is true. Those who receive a divine witness from the Holy Spirit come to know the divinity of Jesus Christ, the prophetic role of Joseph Smith, and the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the kingdom of God on the Earth.

Historical narratives from Greek, Muslim, and Roman traditions (and later Protestant) frequently aimed to change or influence Christianity. In their attempts to make religious beliefs and traditions more popular, acceptable, and universal, ecclesiastical leaders significantly altered many of the doctrines and practices of the Primitive Church. 

In 1776, in an example that survived deep into American culture and demonstrated how fortunate our country was to have courageous individuals willing to make a stand, the Virginia Assembly defined heresy as the denial of the Trinity or the divine authority of the scriptures, still punishable by imprisonment or death. Thomas Jefferson, in what he described as the severest trial of his life, argued against such laws, advocating for their removal to prevent enforcement against individuals’ beliefs, as he doubted whether people would support execution for heresy related to their acceptance or rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity.

What is the Book of Mormon and What is its Purpose in the Modern Day

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, a companion volume of scripture with the Bible. Its central message instructs individuals to acknowledge their weakness, confess their sins, and surrender their lives to God our Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. This guidance will help people address challenges, establish priorities, and find meaning in life. Consistent with biblical themes, the Book of Mormon asserts that one’s purpose is best understood through seeking spiritual counsel and striving to follow divine direction.

Filled with redemptive theology, the Book of Mormon is “the most correct of any book on earth.” This is because it affirms that peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come can be enjoyed only in and through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. With its undiluted and penetrating message, it focuses repeatedly upon man’s utter inability to forgive or cleanse or resurrect or save himself. It places the Savior center stage and testifies of the infinite and eternal scope of his atoning sacrifice.

Ezra Taft Benson

Our opportunity and challenge is not just to read and study the Book of Mormon but to live it and accept and apply its doctrines and philosophy. From its pages, paraphrased through the words of a previous Church leader, we learn how to better raise our children; how to deal justly and mercifully with others; how to bear testimony; how to teach and preach in such a manner that people cannot go away unaffected; how to detect the enemies of Christ; how to withstand those who seek to destroy our faith; how to discern and expose secret combinations that seek to eliminate freedom from the face of the earth and destroy the works of God; how to deal properly with persecution and those who oppose the Church; and how to establish Zion. In summary, our study of the Book of Mormon should be a lifetime pursuit. The power within its teachings will provide spiritual and intellectual unity throughout our entire lives.

Gordon B. Hinckley

In support of my overall goal of explaining how and why Christianity came to America, I offer these words of Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 13 years, who, in 1988, declared, “We who believe in the Book of Mormon accept these great words: ‘Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.’ . . . An acknowledgement of the Almighty and a return to the teachings of God will do more than all else to keep our ship of state on a steady course as she sails into the third century of nationhood. Here is the answer to the conflicts that beset us. Here is the answer to the evils of pornography, abortion, drugs, and the squandering of our resources on evil pursuits. Here is the answer to the great epidemic of litigation which consumes time, saps our financial strength, and shackles our entrepreneurial spirit. Here is the answer to tawdry politics which place selfish interest above the common good . . . Trust is what makes a government work, and a lack of trust is one reason for the serious problems we are experiencing.”

Thomas Jefferson

Taking its place by teaching in clearer, plainer, and in more expansive ways, and by restoring lost truths, the Book of Mormon is the keystone to recovery following years of apostasy. Recognizing that many points of Christ’s doctrine hinged on the definitions of scholastics and interpretations by ecclesiastics, that many truths had been corrupted, and even lost, Thomas Jefferson observed the terrible state of confusion in which Christianity was mired: “The religion-builders have so distorted and deformed the doctrines of Jesus, so muffled them in mysticisms, fancies and falsehoods, have caricatured them into forms so monstrous and inconceivable as to shock reasonable thinkers. . . . Happy in the prospect of a restoration of primitive Christianity, I must leave to younger athletes to encounter and lop off the false branches which have been engrafted into it by the mythologists of the middle and modern ages.”

Margaret Thatcher

In 1996, Lady Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, visited Utah where she spoke of the goodness and strength of America, which was settled by people from the British Isles who, she said, came with the English Bible and the English common law. Those early settlers from the British Isles were Christian people who came with the Judeo-Christian concepts of right and wrong, of truth and error, which they derived from reading that Bible. They were people who looked to God for strength and inspiration and expressed their gratitude to him for every blessing.

Lady Thatcher said, “You use the name of Deity in the Declaration of independence and in the Constitution of the United States, and yet you cannot use it in the schoolroom.” This is symptomatic of the secularizing of America. Reverence for the Almighty, gratitude for his blessings, pleadings for his guidance, are increasingly being dropped from our public discourse. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding as a nation, I hope we will reflect on and again embrace the values that built our country.

Summary

Big Idea

The Book of Mormon serves as a vital companion to the Bible, fulfilling biblical prophecy and restoring lost truths to Christianity. It offers clear doctrine and guidance, emphasizing the necessity of divine revelation and the central role of Jesus Christ, and aims to unify spiritual understanding in the modern era. The coming together of the “stick of Judah” (the Bible) and the “stick of Joseph” (the Book of Mormon) is the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy, providing a foundation for faith, spiritual growth, and societal improvement.

Key Points

The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel predicted that two books—the Bible (Judah) and the Book of Mormon (Joseph)—would unite, symbolizing restored truth and unity.

The Book of Mormon clarifies and restores doctrines that were altered or lost through centuries of philosophical, religious, and scholarly influences.

The Book of Mormon repeatedly asserts the divinity, atoning sacrifice, and centrality of Jesus Christ as the path to peace, salvation, and exaltation.

Individuals are encouraged to read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon to receive personal revelation regarding its truth.

Greek, Muslim, Roman, and Protestant traditions have shaped and sometimes distorted Christian doctrines, highlighting the need for the Restoration.

The Book of Mormon provides teachings for daily living, such as raising children, dealing justly with others, and defending faith, as emphasized by Ezra Taft Benson.

Gordon B. Hinckley links the teachings of the Book of Mormon to solutions for modern societal issues and maintaining national integrity.

Thomas Jefferson opposed laws punishing heresy, underscoring the importance of religious liberty and the restoration of original Christian teachings.

Restoring clarity, the Book of Mormon is the keystone for overcoming confusion and apostasy.

Margaret Thatcher praised America’s Judeo-Christian heritage while lamenting that our nation has turned away from reliance on the Almighty.