Pure Ephraimite, AmIRight?

Brigham Young famously described Joseph Smith as "a pure Ephraimite." Likewise it is emphasized in the Book of Mormon itself that Joseph Smith is from Joseph of old (coming through Ephraim, as must needs be every president of the Church). This is a critical piece to the Ezekiel 37 prophecy, which describes a stick of Judah (Bible) and stick of Ephraim (Book of Mormon) coming together as scripture. 

There's just one problem. 

Joseph Smith Jr. was most likely not Jewish. Instead he was assuredly Irish. Northwest Irish to be exact.

But that's okay, because Ephraim wasn't always considered Jewish either. He was born of an Egyptian mother (Asenath) and he, along with his brother, Manasseh, had to be adopted into the 12 Tribes by their grandfather, Israel. His life among the patriarchs would be marked by excellence, as well as intense jealousy towards his uncle, Judah. 

To me, it would be poetic if God chose a gentile like Joseph Smith to restore a church for the ultimate gathering of Israel as a modern Ephraim, by blessing (not breeding) him into the fold of the chosen people he had long envied and tried to imitate. --Even through seer stones.

Let's talk about 3 different types of seer stones. Because this is not just about interesting genealogy (or lack thereof). I want to get to claims of power, authority, seership, and presidency today, and with bloodline out of the picture that leaves us looking elsewhere. 

David A. Baird/
Historical Arts and Castings

The first type of seer stone is the spectacle-like device attached to the gold plates. This was meant to help Joseph Smith visualize and interpret the words engraved upon them by ancient hands. Because these spectacles are attached to a breastplate like temple priests of old, they are later referred to as an urim and thummim.  Traditionally, the urim and thummim would help priests perform cleromancy, i.e. determining God's will in a black and white, binary way. I imagine it would provide feedback as to whether man's interpretation was correct or not. At some point Joseph Smith decides he doesn't want to work only in this rigid way; he produces his own seer stone. The one that looks like a chocolate egg.

By Welden C. Andersen and Richard E. Turley Jr.

The chocolate-colored seer stone was something Joseph Smith had from when he was a young boy and fancied himself as having the powers of ancient Hebrew seers. There's a name for this kind of behavior, it's called Anglo Israelism. In other words, those who are from Northern European descent will believe --against all evidence to the contrary-- that they are literal heirs to the same blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This includes claims to priesthood power, land possession, and succession. 

The amazing thing is that the chocolate seer stone seemed to work. Joseph Smith produced The Book of Mormon with it. Later, when he comes across Egyptian papyrus, Joseph Smith uses another stone (a white one) to produce The Book of Abraham. We are starting to understand now that the chocolate-colored and white stones were likely not used for historical translations, but rather inspiration to produce scripture that deepens our knowledge of God.  

I have a testimony of The Book of Abraham. By extension, I believe those seer stones worked, not because Joseph Smith has the blood of Ephraim pumping through him, but because God blessed him to use those stones for enlightenment as He did with the Brother of Jared. This ability to act as seer further established Joseph Smith's authority as head of the restored Church. 

And then he was murdered without a succession plan.

It seems unthinkable that after all that effort to restore the Church of Jesus Christ, a framework for how it should continue was not solidified. And yet there it was, a succession crisis lasting 6 months! Thankfully the doctrine of having an established presidency with keys was already in place, but who should combine those keys and take on the mantel of president, prophet, and seer was up for serious debate and produced several factions in that time. 

Ultimately Brigham Young took the reins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but not since his predecessor do we see presidents of the Church using seer stones to establish doctrine and scripture. And yet we know the Church held on to the seer stone(s) because it was able to produce this item recently for exhibition. 

This is because, I believe, those stones serve as a type of "budded rod." Please allow me to explain.

The "budded rod" is described in the Old Testament as proof that Aaron and his sons should lead the Israelites. The parallel to the latter-day succession crisis is astounding. In both cases each of "The Twelve" believe they are next in line for power and authority. In Numbers 16 we learn that God commands the 12 to lay out their staffs (AKA rods) and return in the morning. The next day Aaron's staff has bloomed and has produced literal fruit (almonds). That secures his place as leader, and the rod's place in the Ark of the Covenant, next to the gold pot of manna, and the 10 Commandments. What was Brigham Young's "budded rod"? I surmise that it was the seer stone, which had produced the fruit of The Book of Mormon and was handed over to him by Oliver Cowdery. 

Brigham Young and his successors would likely deny it. He wanted it known that his authority lie in in his proximity to Joseph Smith AND being a literal descendant of Israel, like so many past presidents of the Church purported to be since. But a few things point against lineage being the actual, literal reason. First, we have modern hindsight to inform us that LDS presidents were mostly Northern European by DNA. Second, Brigham Young held on to the stone despite never using it --to our knowledge-- to produce scripture. Third, this could be coincidental, the box the stone was kept in was adorned with a rose blooming from its bud.

I need to take you a bit deeper into this symbolism if we're going to discuss applications for today. If we think the seer stone is a type of budded rod, then I imagine gold pot of manna is represented in our time by the new and everlasting covenants revealed to us, and the tablets are the scriptures by which we'll be judged. Just like in the days of old, the Ark of the Covenant is the outward representation of a people united and led by God. It also cements the authority of our doctrine. 

The imagery of the gold plates providing mana to our souls today is very beautiful. Let us not forget the plates were not the only things given to Joseph Smith by the angel, Moroni. He also presented the Sword of Laban and the Liahona. I think we tend to take that in as a neat factoid, and evidence that the events recorded in the Book of Mormon really did happen. While they certainly served that purpose, I have come to believe they were emblems of the Church Head and Body. Of Judgement and Mercy. Even of Joseph and Emma. If we combine these elements, it creates a figurative Mercy Seat atop of the Ark. I also interpret them as a warning: Lose your way and you will lose your life. 

Woman as the compass or Liahona is not an original thought I have. The scriptures and temple are teeming with this connection. And while I am more drawn to symbolism than early Church history, I do know that when Joseph Smith introduced polygamy Emma Smith became withdrawn, Joseph was murdered, and Emma --who had been charged to discern truth from error-- ceased to journey with Brigham Young. Since that time it seems the modern Ark of the Covenant went West, separating itself from the Mercy Seat, leaving a space filled with enmity between the men leading this Church and the outspoken women who ask them to redirect. 

Enmity might seem like a strong word, but I don't know how else to describe the response Brigham Young and his successors had after Emma stayed put. The words of the temple were changed so that women no longer received blessing unto God, but their husbands instead. The Relief Society became an auxiliary organization, instead of part of the "kingdom of priests." Further light about Heavenly Mother was stunted or blocked. And much more in the era of Correlation. This is life without a Mercy Seat, if you ask me. 

I wish to emphasize two things here. First, if you've read this far, thank you. Second, the new figurative Ark established Brigham Young as the one who should succeed Joseph Smith, and that authority lives on through our current structure utilizing the laying on of hands. I still can (and do) sustain current Church leaders in their roles because they are legitimately assigned to them. The only insight I have carved out for myself is that this legitimacy isn't rooted in Ephraimite blood, but rather a stone. This view further underscores my interpretation of Church leaders as the "wild branches" in Jacob 5 who are keeping this Gospel alive despite simultaneously bringing it to its knees (e.g. here, here). 

As Church authority lives on hand to head, remember too that Emma has a "lineage" of placing her hands on heads that are keeping up the work of discernment. And it is work. It would be much easier to simply take everything said over the pulpit as God's truth spoken by his Ephraimite messenger, and not challenge the messengers to produce tokens to validate. As Revelation puts it, straddling verses 11:19 & 12:1-2:

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ^aark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great ^bhail.

1 ^aAnd there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a ^bwoman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

2 And she being with ^achild cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

Pained in delivering this ark, this Church and its proclamations in the latter-days. I don't know about you, but I feel that.  

A Deep Dive into the Priesthood(s) of God

Okay, this is a doctrine-according-to-me post.

To start I'll need to list some pertinent definitions:

Office: a special duty, charge, or position conferred by an exercise of governmental authority and for a public purpose : a position of authority to exercise a public function and to receive whatever emoluments may belong to it (m-w.com)

Order: a group of people united in a formal way OR a special duty, charge, or position conferred by an exercise of governmental authority and for a public purpose : a position of authority to exercise a public function and to receive whatever emoluments may belong to it (m-w.com)

Now to tackle this question: What's the difference between the Aaronic and Levitical Priesthoods? IS there any difference?

Yes, there's a big difference that makes the promise that the Aaronic Priesthood will never again be taken from the earth a big deal (see D&C 13:1), and it's that the Aaronic Priesthood can be shared with any worthy male, even outside the House of Israel.

I know the above image is hard to see, but if you were to zoom in it shows the House of Israel setup where male involvement equals patrilineal priesthood and the female role centers on producing heirs to the covenant. Make note that to be a Levitical priest you didn't just have to be male, you had to be a Jewish woman's firstborn, have no blemish, and your priestly father must bless you before he dies. Later on the angels come down from heaven to take Aaron and his sons through the washing and anointing process so that the priesthood can be extended to all worthy literal sons of Aaron (Exodus 40:12). This, in essence, becomes Levitical Priesthood 2.0. When the Early Church is formed, all worthy males are given access to the Aaronic Priesthood as we know it now, but this practice is eventually killed off (literally and figuratively). The Restoration brings back the more accessible Aaronic Priesthood.

As the above relates to keys, I see it this way. The apostles of the Church each hold 3 keys, which are 1) The Gathering of Israel, 2) the Abrahamic Covenant, and 3) Sealing power. Gathering of Israel is inherently female (you need to be born of a Jewish mother). Abrahamic Covenant is inherently male (your father must be a priest to receive His power). The sealing keys unite male and female for eternity. It's a nice triad. Note too that the office of Bishop rightfully belongs to a son of Aaron, and the gentile in that position is really just a seat warmer (see D&C 107:73). The keys to the Aaronic priesthood are for the outward ordinances (e.g. repentance, baptism), as well as ministering angels. The latter makes sense because the Aaronic Priesthood was initiated by actual angels descending to earth to minister to Aaron and his sons when the lower law (i.e. The Ten Commandments) were given.

Now let's talk Melchizedek Priesthood. It holds the keys to the spiritual things of the Church. You need it to confirm newly baptized members, to perform the sealing ordinance, and much more. We learn in D&C 107:4 that this priesthood is actually the Lord's priesthood, but to avoid overuse of his name it was called after Melchizedek who "was such a great high priest"  (see D&C 107:4 & 2).

Let's dive into this a bit more, though...

Because Melchizedek was notably NOT from the House of Israel.

Yeah, say that again. Melchizedek was NOT from the House of Israel. He was not an heir to the blessing of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. How do we know this? Because Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek as a respected elder, meaning he was alive at the same time and not a descendant of Abraham. You know who else was outside of the House of Israel? All gentiles, and everyone else born before Abraham... Which includes Father Adam himself!

I point this out because it makes the Melchizedek Priesthood standout and gives hope to people who feel stifled within the four walls of the House of Israel (I'm looking at you, ladies). We then step back and see a priesthood that centers on Melchizedek, but begins with Adam and will ultimately end with Christ's return. This is some true Alpha - Omega power going on. It follows that the associated covenant would be new (Adam) and everlasting (Christ), and encompassing of all promises and blessings in and out of Abraham's posterity (i.e. House of Israel and beyond).

We learn in Moses 5&6 that Adam did not always have this great priesthood. It wasn't until he gave sacrifices that he was overcome by the Holy Ghost and baptized and confirmed by Him through the Spirit. (That fact, by the way, underscores why the Melchizedek Priesthood pertains to Spiritual matters.) From that time, all the sons of Adam had a birthright, but only the chosen few received his patriarchal blessing to join this holy order. (This is the same pattern for Abraham: sacrificing in similitude of the Father and Son, subsequent covenants and power from father to son.)

At the same time Adam entered into a priesthood covenant with the Lord, Eve also had the Holy Ghost come upon her (see Moses 5:11). Like Sarah, there was likely a key associated to the female component of this priesthood power. We don't know much about this except that trees are an important source of power and imagery relating to women (see this breakdown, and this one re: wisdom, James 1:5 and the Sacred Grove) and could be the token for priestess-hood. When we later read about Deborah the Prophetess we might think she's an anomaly in the House of Israel (i.e. a woman with power beyond procreation), but the more I study this I believe she was calling down a birthright as a Daughter of Eve (not Sarah), which was symbolized by her standing under a (date palm) tree.

Why have I dragged you down this rabbit hole? Why are we here in the priesthood weeds? For a couple of reasons. 1. We need to appreciate why priesthood restoration is a big deal for the rest of mankind and 2. methinks that the next chapter for women and priesthood power will come by filling in the details of the New and Everlasting Covenant. Whereas our greatest promise had been eternal power onto our husbands in the House of Israel (i.e. Aaronic, Levitical) and temporal authority in the offices thereof, the door is opening on the Melchizedek side for greater things in store. --Likely alongside the Adamic order. The Melchizedek key that relates to this is, "the key of the mysteries of the knowledge of God." (See D&C 84:19)

Predictions --because no pre-General Conference post is good without predictions-- we're going to take bigger steps toward gathering Israel, and in parallel the New and Everlasting Covenant will endow more women with more power in the temple... or perhaps in a grove of trees! (Why not, right?)

For what it's worth, I ended up in this doctrinal pursuit based on the prompts and clues President Nelson sent. So there's that. :)

Follow-up thought: The temple exists to take the sons of Aaron and make them the sons of Adam again. The temple exists to take the daughters of Eve and make them the daughters of Sarah, as well.