As with Jacob, Lehi’s other son born in the wilderness, only a few verses are directly referring to Joseph, the last born in the wilderness. There are two major points directed to Joseph: (1) may the Lord consecrate the promised land unto him and his seed forever; and (2) the promise that his seed would not be destroyed. As cited earlier, “the knowledge of a Savior” was to come “to the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Zoramites, through the testimony of their fathers (The Book of Mormon)” and to the Lamanites (D&C 3:16–17), confirming that many of Joseph’s seed are today among the people we call the Lamanites.
Lehi spoke of himself and his son Joseph being descendants of Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt; and then, as mentioned above, declares that “great were the covenants of the Lord which he made unto Joseph” (v. 4). As shown to Nephi in vision, the covenants made to Joseph would be among the “many covenants of the Lord have they (that great and abominable church) taken away” (1 Nephi 13:26). The Prophet Joseph Smith restored much of what Lehi quotes, and more in his inspired translation of Genesis 50. These restorations will be cited as they pertain to the following verses. Thus there are two witnesses that established the validity of the promises made to Joseph of Egypt. The text from Lehi’s blessing to his son Joseph gives the evidence that these covenants were to be fulfilled in the latter days.