< 1 Nephi 6 >
v. 2: it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph
1) The Lineage: Lehi → Manasseh → Joseph → Jacob → Abraham
The Book of Mormon explicitly identifies Lehi’s family as descendants of Joseph through his son Manasseh.
“I am a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt.”
— Alma 10:3 (Amulek speaking, confirming Nephite lineage)
That means:
2) Why Joseph’s Lineage Matters in the Book of Mormon
Joseph — son of Jacob and Rachel — was sold into Egypt, rose to power, and preserved Israel during famine (Genesis 37–47).
Before Jacob’s death, he gave Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh a special blessing (Genesis 48):
“Let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
— Genesis 48:16
That blessing became prophetic — Joseph’s descendants would “spread abroad” to the ends of the earth.
Nephi and Lehi’s family leaving Jerusalem and traveling to the New World is seen as one fulfillment of that prophecy — Joseph’s seed being scattered and multiplied across nations.
3) The Covenant Role of Joseph’s Descendants
Throughout scripture, Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) have specific covenant roles:
1) The Lineage: Lehi → Manasseh → Joseph → Jacob → Abraham
The Book of Mormon explicitly identifies Lehi’s family as descendants of Joseph through his son Manasseh.
“I am a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt.”
— Alma 10:3 (Amulek speaking, confirming Nephite lineage)
That means:
- Lehi, and thus Nephi, came from the tribe of Manasseh.
- which came from Joseph.
- who was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel).
2) Why Joseph’s Lineage Matters in the Book of Mormon
Joseph — son of Jacob and Rachel — was sold into Egypt, rose to power, and preserved Israel during famine (Genesis 37–47).
Before Jacob’s death, he gave Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh a special blessing (Genesis 48):
“Let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
— Genesis 48:16
That blessing became prophetic — Joseph’s descendants would “spread abroad” to the ends of the earth.
Nephi and Lehi’s family leaving Jerusalem and traveling to the New World is seen as one fulfillment of that prophecy — Joseph’s seed being scattered and multiplied across nations.
3) The Covenant Role of Joseph’s Descendants
Throughout scripture, Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) have specific covenant roles:
- Judah: preserves the birth line of the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
- Joseph (Ephraim & Manasseh): carries the covenant birthright to gather Israel in the last days.
- The Book of Mormon, written by Joseph’s descendants, comes forth to gather Israel spiritually through testimony of Christ.
- The modern restoration (Joseph Smith, another “Joseph”) is part of that same lineage’s mission — to “bring again” the covenant.