“Joseph of Egypt also saw in vision the work and labors of the Prophet Joseph Smith. A knowledge of Joseph Smith and his role as the great prophet of the Restoration was had by many of the ancient prophets, but to none was it known in greater detail than to his progenitor, Jacob’s son Joseph. Here the latter-day Joseph was referred to as a ‘choice seer’ unto the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary, 1:205).
| Prophecy in 2 Nephi 3 | Possible Fulfillments |
| “A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins” (verse 6). | The Lord said that Joseph Smith Jr. was to “be called a seer, a translator, a prophet” (D&C 21:1) and that Joseph was appointed to stand at the head of this dispensation (see D&C 110:16; 112:32). |
| “He shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins” (verse 7). | Millions of descendants of the Book of Mormon people recognize Joseph Smith as the prophet of the Restoration. |
| “He shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins … , which shall be of great worth unto them” (verse 7). | Many of the children of Lehi have been blessed by the light of the gospel that was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. |
| “He shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him” (verse 8). | Joseph Smith’s life focused upon doing the will of the Lord. For example, in the beginning of his ministry he was commanded to translate the Book of Mormon: “And you have a gift to translate the plates; and this is the first gift that I bestowed upon you; and I have commanded that you should pretend to no other gift until my purpose is fulfilled in this; for I will grant unto you no other gift until it is finished” (D&C 5:4). |
| “He shall be great like unto Moses” (verse 9). | Moses gathered Israel from Egypt to the promised land. Joseph Smith was given keys by Moses to gather Israel: “Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel” (D&C 103:16). This is one of many ways that Joseph Smith was like Moses. |
| “I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins” (verse 11). | Joseph Smith translated and gave the children of Lehi the record of their ancestors (see D&C 3; 5; 10), as well as many other revelations. |
| “That which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and … that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines” (verse 12) | The Book of Mormon and other modern revelations give plain and authoritative clarification on many principles and doctrines of the gospel recorded in the Bible (see D&C 20:8–15; 42:12). |
| “Out of weakness he shall be made strong” (verse 13). | A humble farm boy became the prophet of the Restoration. |
| “They that seek to destroy him shall be confounded” (verse 14). | As promised by the Lord (see 3 Nephi 21:10), the Prophet Joseph Smith was preserved until he had accomplished his mission (see D&C 121:16–22). |
| “His name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father” (verse 15). | Joseph Smith Jr., son of Joseph Smith Sr., was named after his father (see Joseph Smith–History 1:4). |
| “For the thing [the gospel and its ordinances], which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation” (verse 15). | It is through the restoration of the Church and the Lord’s ordinances that the Prophet Joseph Smith showed us how to obtain eternal life. |
(Book of Mormon Student Manual [2009], 56.)