I find it interesting how there can be so many different interpretations of scriptures. I guess that's why James wrote:
"...that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

I agree with you that the latter verses in the 37th chapter of Ezekiel prophecies of the gathering of Israel, but we believe the use of the name David refers to the Messiah "The Son of David" who will reign over gathered Israel during the millennium.

The earlier verse promises the resurrection and the middle ones (verses 16-17) speak of two records which will be "one in thine hand". One of these records, is the "stick of Judah and for the children of Israel his companions" refers to the Bible, which is largely a record of the Jews (Judah's descendants).

The "stick of Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all of the house of Israel, his companions" refers to another record of which Ezekiel explains would be joined with the stick of Judah and would be "one in thine hand". We believe this record of Joseph's descendants is the Book of Mormon kept by a branch of Joseph's descendants who crossed the "wall" (the ocean) to the "land of everlasting hills" (western hemisphere with the range of mountains from the Aleutian Islands, Canadian Rockies, Rocky Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains and the Andes). (See Genesis 49:21 & 26)

I have studied the scriptures most of my life, and I am totally convinced that the Book of Mormon is, in fact, the "stick of Joseph" that Ezekiel spoke of.

I invite you to read it prayerfully, and see if you come to the same conclusion. A Book of Mormon prophet named Moroni made a similar promise to that made by Peter that I mentioned above. He wrote, "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:4-5)

Thank you again for this great question.

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[BEV'S NOTES: Books in ancient times were usually written on parchment of papyrus in a series of parallel columns, which answered to the pages of a modern book. This was all written down on scrolls that were stitched together. At each end, and parallel to the columns, was a stick around which the skin or papyrus was rolled, the reader as he went along unrolling one end and rolling of the other. They often spoke of writing on 'sticks' because of this.

Here is Ezekiel 37.15-20 from the King James version of the Bible which we choose to read as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

"15 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes."]

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Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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