In response to Joseph’s faithfulness in saving his family, the Lord promised him that his blessings would be above that of his progenitors, meaning his forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For while they were promised an inheritance in the land of Canaan, Joseph and his seed received an even greater land of promise which was to be separate from their brethren. As it was prophesied, “Joseph is a fruitful bough [branch], even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall.” [Genesis 49:22]. In other words, Joseph’s seed would move beyond their lot in the land of Canaan to a land “shadowing with wings” [Isaiah 18] and “unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.” [Genesis 49:26].

​

While the lot given to Ephraim and Manasseh in the land of Canaan was truly great, it does not compare with the prophesy of Moses in Deuteronomy.  “And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.” [Deuteronomy 33:13-16].  What better description could there be of the Americas than the words of Moses?

​

The Book of Mormon expounds that because Joseph brought his father into land of Egypt, the Lord promised to bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that He might be merciful to the seed of Joseph, that they should not perish. The land that God brought the seed of Joseph to was the Americas, especially central America.  Of this land, the Lord Jesus said, “And behold, this is the land of your inheritance; and the Father hath given it unto you.” [3 Nephi 7:14].