Are We of Israel?

In Short

This book is a theological and historical inquiry into the identity of the "lost" tribes of Israel. It examines the belief that the Latter-day Saints are descendants of the house of Israel, specifically the tribe of Ephraim, and that this lineage is scattered across the globe. By synthesizing scriptural prophecy, historical analysis of ancient migrations, and cultural analogies between Old Testament practices and Northern European customs, the text argues that these dispersed peoples are now gathering to fulfill divine promises. It is a foundational document for understanding 19th-century Latter-day Saint identity.

The Story

The narrative begins with a bold premise: the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding their posterity are not merely spiritual allegories but literal, historical realities waiting to be traced. The author asserts that while the world often ridicules the idea that the Latter-day Saints are of the house of Israel, there is significant evidence—drawn from both scripture and secular history—to support this claim. The arc of the work moves from the biblical promise of "the seed of Joseph in America" to the wider dispersal of the Ten Tribes into the northern regions of the world.

The author argues that Israel was, from its inception, a maritime nation. By analyzing the commercial activities of tribes like Dan and Asher, the text posits that the Israelites were never truly confined to a single geographic cradle. Instead, they intermingled with surrounding nations, spreading their influence and their bloodline far beyond the Levant. This dispersion was not an accident but a divine process of "sifting" the house of Israel among all nations, ensuring that the blessing of Abraham would reach every corner of the earth.

Central to this movement is the fate of the Ten Tribes after their captivity in Media. The text rejects the notion that they were simply absorbed into local populations or lost to history. Rather, it follows the tradition of the ancient writer Esdras, who describes a people choosing to leave the "multitude of the heathen" to journey toward an uninhabited land in the far north. This slow, arduous migration—encumbered by families and livestock—eventually brought them into contact with the peoples who would become the Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians.

The text then pivots to identify these Northern European races as the bearers of Israelite blood. By analyzing the linguistics of terms like "Saxon"—suggested to be a contraction of "son of Isaac"—and identifying similarities between ancient Nordic religious customs and Mosaic law, the author builds a case for a shared ancestral heritage. Elements like the use of sacred altars, the organizational structure of "tithings," and the practice of primogeniture are cited as remnants of an Israelite past.

The work concludes by framing the modern gathering of believers as the literal fulfillment of these ancient covenants. It posits that the "blossoming and budding" of Israel—as foretold by Isaiah—is happening in the present era. The argument ends not on a note of historical finality, but on a spiritual one: the scattered blood of Abraham is serving as a leaven among the nations, preparing for a future where these people stand as "saviors on Mount Zion," eventually leading all humanity to the divine.

How It Unfolds

The promise to the patriarchs The work opens by establishing that God’s covenant with Abraham requires a literal, ongoing existence of his seed. It sets the stage by arguing that the dispersion of the tribes was a necessary mechanism for spreading divine blessings across the world.

The maritime heritage The argument shifts to the early history of the Israelites, focusing on their commercial reach through the Mediterranean. This section establishes that the Israelites were never isolated, providing a historical basis for their early migrations into foreign lands.

The northern migration The narrative traces the Ten Tribes from their captivity in Media to the uncharted lands of the north. It relies on the testimony of the ancient record of Esdras, suggesting the tribes sought a place of isolation to preserve their statutes and laws.

The Scandinavian connection The book examines the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian cultures, looking for echoes of Israelite law and tradition. It draws parallels between the social structures of the northern tribes and the biblical system of "captains over tens and hundreds."

The gathering of the elect The conclusion pulls these threads together, asserting that the modern gathering is the culmination of these millennia-old movements. It frames the contemporary religious movement as the primary inheritor of the Ephraimite legacy, tasked with the final restoration of the house of Israel.

The People

The text is driven by figures both historical and theological. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob serve as the foundational figures whose covenants provide the motive force for the entire argument. Their roles are not merely as ancient patriarchs but as the progenitors of a biological and spiritual legacy that defines the identity of their descendants. Ephraim, as the "firstborn" of Joseph, occupies a central place in the narrative. The author portrays him as a figure of great enterprise, whose descendants are destined to become a "multitude of nations," facilitating the gathering of the rest of Israel.

The Ten Tribes are the primary protagonists of the historical mystery. Rather than passive victims of captivity, they are presented as a collective, deliberate people who chose a path of isolation to maintain their religious purity. The Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians act as the primary candidates for this hidden identity. Through the author’s lens, these groups are transformed from generic historical entities into the long-lost scions of the covenant, whose rugged laws and social customs serve as evidence of their hidden lineage. Finally, the Latter-day Saints are the modern seekers, the group through which this ancestral history is brought to light and fulfilled. They are not merely observers of history but active participants in its final, glorious chapter.

In Its Own Voice

The author begins with a bold declaration of the divine intent behind Israel’s expansion:

"Israel shall blossom and bud and fill the world with fruit."

The text explains the necessity of the Ten Tribes’ migration to maintain their religious identity away from foreign influence:

"But they took this counsel to themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth unto a further country where never man dwelt."

The author concludes with a summary of the global impact of this perceived genealogical legacy:

"Truly the Lord is fulfilling His promises, Israel has blossomed and budded and filled the earth with fruit, but in the great future He will do it yet more abundantly and gloriously."

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for the continuity of the divine covenant through human history. It seeks to resolve the tension between the "lost" status of the tribes and the promise of their eventual restoration. The central question is whether genealogy and religious mission can be woven together into a coherent historical identity. By arguing that the history of the world is, in effect, the history of Israel’s dispersion and gathering, the text attempts to provide a grand narrative that gives meaning to both the ancient past and the immediate experience of the reader. It is a work concerned with the intersection of identity, prophecy, and the legitimacy of modern religious claims.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of religious thought, specifically within the 19th-century American context, will find this a fascinating primary document. It offers a clear, earnest window into the world of a writer who sought to reconcile secular history with scripture. The prose is warm and confident, reflecting a sincere belief in the grand scale of the argument.

However, the reader should be prepared for the realities of its period. The text relies heavily on 19th-century philological and historical theories—such as the derivation of modern ethnic names from Hebrew roots—that are no longer supported by contemporary linguistics or archaeology. Furthermore, the author assumes a Eurocentric worldview common to his time, often treating European and Near Eastern histories as the sole stage for global divine action. The book demands patience with its archaic structure and its frequent, dense reliance on scriptural citation. Despite these challenges, it remains a valuable artifact for those who wish to understand the logic and rhetorical style that shaped the development of a unique American theological tradition. What stays with the reader is the author's persistent, optimistic conviction that history has a definite, purposeful direction, leading toward an ultimate, global reconciliation.