Twelve Families of Israel
Dan
Asher
Naphtali
Ephraim/Judah = From Joseph
Manasseh
Issachar
Benjamin
Zebulun
Reuben
Simeon
Gad
The Abrahamic Covenant promises…
Hebrews will be brought out of Egypt and redeemed
The Lord is the god of Abraham’s seed
Eternal increase through baptism with authority
A Savior through David’s lineage is their heritage
Abraham’s mortal posterity will inherit the land of Israel
Descendants will be numerous as the stars and sand upon the seashore
Mary, mother of Jesus, was descended from the Hebrew people
Jesus’ Hebrew name Yeshua means “One who makes free”
The Hebrew people created the writings that have become the Old Testament and the Pearl of Great Price
The ancient prophets and original quorum of Seventy were Hebrews
Many Book of Mormon prophets were Hebrews
Seminal Contributions of the Jews
Dead Sea Scrolls
Line of priesthood authority
Levitical priesthood
Solomon’s temple
Belief in one Heavenly Father
Sacramental ceremonies
Laying on of hands
Torah scrolls
Urim and Thummin
Eternal Truths Restored by Jesus Christ
The Holy Ghost
Godhead
The Plan of Salvation
Temple proxy work
Sealing power
Marriage covenant
Personal revelation
Additional sacred scriptures
Major and minor prophets were Hebrew
They saw our day
Isaiah was quoted in Book of Mormon
Prophet Joseph deemed Book of Abraham to be holy scripture
The family is central to both religions
Torah commands us to honor our parents
Proclamation of the Family – LDS
Role of women revered as wives and mothers first
Judaism – women have deep understanding
LDS – Women commanded to live lives of personal purity, devotion
Both Groups
Religious, cultural persecution
Fought and died for their beliefs
Called a peculiar people
Temple-centered people
Why Was Jesus Not Accepted by Many Jews?
•Messianic thoughts and writings were secretive, not available to most of the Hebrew population
•The gospel was preached to few in the world – and in one relatively small area
•Jesus’ ministry was very short. It reached people by word of mouth, became misinterpreted, as the Bible and other scriptures are, even today
•Traditions of the Jews are ancient. Mysticism was prevalent and it overcame pure Gospel teachings
•People of those times, as now, were not ready for many of the concepts of pure truth and doctrine of a broken heart, a contrite spirit and belief in gods who are real. The idea of being born a second time and coming into the presence of God and His Christ were considered old, false teachings
The Lord will make a new covenant with houses of Israel and Judah; they shall know him as Jehovah, their awaited Messiah.
The Lord declares through his prophet that Judah will know him. Benjamin, Levi and all the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will finally know and accept and worship in their souls, in their very cells, their true Messiah. No more will a man need to teach his neighbor, but all shall know the Lord, obey his covenants and receive his forgiveness. Then they shall become as new people. This is the good news that Judah needs to hear from Ephraim and Manasseh, the house of Joseph. Numerous other prophecies of the redemption of the Jews were given to Jeremiah.
The Yet Unrealized Prophecy:
The Book of Mormon: In 2Ne 29:14, one of the strongest, we read:
And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions, and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.