Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-30
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Columbus, Georgia. Dec. &c. 1899.
To the Editor.
Dear Bro:-Kindiy explain through
your valuable paper the following APP
parent discrepancy: Ezekiel 81, 10
says that he N asked 10 take another
stick and write upon II for Joseph the
stick OF Ephraim. When Jacob blessed
Joseph's two sons he said Gen. -. i0
that Ephraim should become "mul-
titude Of nations" We understand, OF
course, that this multitude OF nations"
refers to the many tribes OF Indians. de-
scendants OF Lehi. In reading Alma
10. IL, Amulek traces his ancestry to
Lehi who came from Jerusalem. and
who II descendant OF Manasach
We have. so far. been unable to find
any one prepared to solve the problem:
therefore for the benefit OF others az
Wen as ourselves We respectfully ask
for the desired Information. The
News" II an ever welcome visitor.
Your brethren In the cause OF truth.
II. T.. HANSEN,
J. A. soRENSoN.
The discrepancy" which troubles our
correspondents and which la only "ap-
parent" Ia caused by the assumption
that the tribes OF Indians who were
once multitude OF nations, are all
descendants OF Lehl." That N n mis-
take. Lehi. II is true. was
descendant Of Manasseh. But Ish-
mael, who. with his family.
Joined Lehi and his sons In their
colonlzlng OF this continent. also Zornm
the servant OF Iaban who accompanied
them. were Ephraimltes: 80 the Prophet
Joseph explained. lie said. too. that II
the larger plates Of Nephi had been
translated this would have been fully
revealed. But the smaller plates We're
utilized and the Book OF Mormon Is but
an "abrldgmcnt" OF the entire record.
The people OF Zarahcmla must also be
taken into account among the early in
habitants OF this land. Book OF Nor
mon. y. 1850
Ezekiel calls this record The stick
OF Joseph. which Is In the hand OF
Ephraim and the tribes OF Israel his
followers" (c.xxxvll. v, 49, The blessing
Of Jacob concerning the sons OF Joseph
placed Ephralm before Manassch. lie
takes precedence In this matter. (Gcn,
XVIII, 1920. In the last days, too, Eph-
rain IL the Lords "firstborn" In the
new and everlasting covenant, and the
stick OF Joseph Is now "ln the hand OF
Ephraim and the tribes OF Israel his
fellows" ana may be appropriately
called either the stick OF Joseph or the
stick OF Ephraim.
Please answer following questions In
your paper.
Section 20 Doctrine and Covenants
hs De-.
shall administer the Sacrament, HE
shull kneel with the church" Does
thht mean for all to kneel? The writer
mas had the privilege to visit several
places OF worship. one place the Elder
or Priest viii stand alone while the
other sits: the next place the one Will
kneel while the other sits; the next
place the two win stand or kneel To-
gcher Please answer which OF all
these are right Yours In the Gospel.
j. A. NJ.
The spirit rather than the exact form
In the great thing ncedfu" In this
administration. However, It IL Inn
portant that all the forms given by
revelation should be carefully observed.
II the Elder or Priest who pronounces
the blessing uses the words given by
divine command In u reverent manner,
ana kneels while doing 10. we think the
ceremony Ii properly performed. lie
knecls with or In the presence OF
the Church. Circumstances some
times render It inconvenlent for
all the members TO kneel. but
II one OF two brethren adj
mnlsterlng the omblems can kneel. both
can do so. and that we regard as better
and sufficient to answer the purpose In
view, Uniformity in all such things
is greatly desirable. But none of us
should be too technical
letter from Cache Valley contains
lengthy account OF some disputes that
have occurred. over the question Of the
number Of members OF the Church at
the time of It's organization. when, II
IL stated In Church history: I'VE now
proceeded TO call out and ordain some
others OF the brethren to different Of
fees OF the Priesthood. ETC." Some take
the view that only six persons had been