When the sons of Israel tore their brother Joseph’s coat into fragments and brought a remnant of it back to their father, their deed was a type or prefiguring of the destiny of Joseph’s descendants. Centuries later Isaiah prophesied that “out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant,” and the “remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.” (Isaiah 10:21; 37:32)

At dinner tables throughout history, even since the beginning, families have told the story of their nation to their children, and to their children’s children, again and again. War, with all its evils, remains a fixture in our lives.

What is the cause of this endless human conflict? As author Tokien illustrates in his epic, it is abuse of power. Those who exercise unrighteous dominion are ever seeking to kill the innocent and enslave the powerless. Thus, “Freedom!” remains the battle cry of the oppressed throughout the ages. Yet in a troubling pattern of history, a nation can win freedom at great cost, then turn and forfeit that liberty to the lures of power and its attendant corruption. What is the secret to lasting liberty and prosperity, that seems to elude the nations and peoples of the earth? Wherever the answer may be found, surely we must guard and apply that knowledge well, for the sake of succeeding generations.

In the Book of Mormon there was an obscure remnant of scattered Israel which enjoyed a two hundred year golden age of peace, prosperity, and liberty. Who were those people, and how did they do it?

In the events preceding that remarkable period, Moroni, their captain, an exceedingly valiant man revered and loved throughout their history, gathered his people to warn them against tyranny.

And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it— In remembrance of our God, our religion, and freedom, our wives, and our children— and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. And he called it the title of liberty.

And he said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph of Egypt, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces. Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph.

(Alma 46:12,24)

Now this once-proud nation is long forgotten. At one time, they “had it all,” but ultimately they lost it, and perished. But for reasons known to God, their precious secret survived. For the remnant engraved their history on plates of gold and buried them in the earth, to be found by Americans of another golden age. Today those ancient voices whisper from the dust an urgent warning to all nations: “Serve God or perish. Look to God and Live!”

Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land. ( Alma 9:13)

Dinner Talk

1. What is the origin of the remnant of Joseph, and where are they found today? (See also the title page of the Book of Mormon. )

2. Look for the Alma 9:13 motif and see how many times it is repeated in the Book of Mormon. Why is this theme important for us today?

Title Page of the Book of Mormon

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, JUN.