The Book of Mormon is to have a unifying influence on the righteous in the latter days. Many Gentiles will come into the fold and spread the word of truth to the remnant of Israel. How are the Book of Mormon peoples descendants of the Jews? Even though Lehi is a descendant of Manasseh, son of Joseph (see Alma 10:3), and Ishmael a descendant of Ephraim, son of Joseph (see Journal of Discourses, 23:184–185), these families originate in Jerusalem and spring from the Jewish national culture. Mulek, founder of the Mulekites, a people that later coalesces into the Nephite culture, is of the tribe of Judah (see Omni 1:12–16; Mosiah 25:2; Helaman 8:21). When the Lord speaks to Martin Harris concerning the Book of Mormon in our day, He declares: “And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God—Which is my word to the Gentile, that soon it may go to the Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant, that they may believe the gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come who has already come” (D&C 19:26–27). Thus the Lamanites are identified as a remnant of the Jews, based on their cultural origins in the Holy Land. Nevertheless, all are part of the house of Israel, including those Gentiles who are adopted into the fold through a covenant relationship.