Declaration Of Lineage

[nosmelone]

When I joined the Church I did not know of my Jewish ancestry. When I received my Blessing I was surprised that I wasn't of Ephraim, as that was what I was told to expect. My last name is very Jewish so Judah would have been a good "guess" but the Blessing declared I "came through the loins of Levi". That was almost 50 years ago. I've done considerable family history and found that I do in fact descend from Cohen/Levi ancestors. So the Blessing can be literal but as with an adopted child sealed in the Temple they become as if born in the covenant- no difference.

I especially appreciate your last line about no difference between a child sealed in the temple and born under the covenant. I was sealed to my mother and step father when I was in 8th grade but when I got my blessing at age 21 while prepping for the mission (yes I left late) it said I was born under the covenant and at first I questioned it but my step dad advised that in the revelation received by the patriarch there may not be any way to tell the difference between the two. I recall him asking my specific questions before the blessing but he never asked if I was born under the covenant or sealed to my parents either. So the fact that it was even brought up during the blessing to me is a sign of direct revelation... I feel he was surely inspired.

I also had a convert on my mission in Kentucky who was an older black woman who received her blessing and it stated she was of the tribe of Judah. I know that she was a better missionary than any of the missionaries I served with (no disrespect to those I served with)...she converted her whole family (this includes most of the extened family) by the time I finished my mission. Apparently the same responsibilities of Ephriam fell upon her to some degree.

[telnetd]

had a missionary companion from Brazil that received his patriarchal blessing on the mission while we were companions. It stated that his lineage was of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but didn't specify a tribe.

Have you ever heard of a patriarchal blessing in which the person is told he is not a

literal descendant of Abraham?

Gail

[Alan]

I have been interested in this topic for many years.

I had a companion on my mission whose PB clearly stated he was adopted into the house of Israel, tribe of Ephraim. His father was not a member and was from southern Germany.

I have a very good German friend who is from southern Germany and he too is adopted, according to his PB.

However, I have yet to meet an indigenous northern European who is not of literal Israelite descent. We even have an Irish woman in our ward who is the tribe of Gad, and I know another Irishman who is the tribe of Dan. I have met a Benjaminite (American missionary from Jewish family) and someone from the tribe of Manassah (another American with a lot of Native American in his background).

We also have a Chinese woman in our ward who is, according to her PB, a literal descendent of Ephraim.

Interestingly, Elijah Abel (a black man ordained to the priesthood during Joseph's day) was told in his PB that he was an orphan.

Don't know what any of this means, but I find it interesting.

Edited January 15, 2013 by Alan

[cdowis]

I seem to remember that some authority said that all twelve tribes are now represented. I imagine that we have some interesting lineages from Mongolia members.

Edited January 16, 2013 by cdowis