In Chapter 3, Lehi speaks to his son Joseph talking to him about the Joseph from the Bible. Lehi announces he is a descendant of the line of Joseph (the Bible says his sons are Manessah and Ephraim, from an Egyptian wife, making him part Egyptian). Then Lehi says:
5 Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light—yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom.
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.
9 And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.
15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.
16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever.
17 And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him.
2 Nephi 3:5-6, 9, 15-17
These passages say :
- Joseph (son of Jacob from Genesis) prophesied that a great man would someday be coming.
- A righteous "branch" or person (not the Messiah or Jesus) would come to the earth in the "latter days."
- He would remember the covenants and bring them out of darkness into freedom.
- He would be a "seer" or prophet.
- He would be great like Moses.
- He would have the name Joseph.
- God's power would work through him.
- He would show great judgment in his writing.
- He would be a mighty speaker and a spokesman for God.
This means that Joseph Smith was the most powerful spiritual figure ever to come to our earth. However, the person who wrote the Book of Mormon - or the only one who saw these words - was JOSEPH SMITH! He prophesied about himself!
These passages in 2 Nephi make Joseph Smith greater than Joseph son of Jacob, Moses and Jesus himself. He passes over all their work and points to the work of Joseph Smith.
Its accuracy and self-glorification create much speculation. Joseph Smith did no great miracles. His prophesies failed. He only had the power to get himself into more and more trouble.
NOTE: Joseph Smith also claimed to be from the line of Aaron, granting him the Aaronic Priesthood. Aaron was from the line of Levi, one of the 12 sons of Jacob. In these passages, it says that Joseph came from the line of Joseph (or the fruit of his loins). Joseph Smith could not be from two lines. This would make him part Jewish and part Egyptian.