The “Stick of Joseph” and the False Foundation of Mormon Theology
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims that the Book of Mormon is a prophetic fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:16–17, alleging that the “stick of Joseph” refers to their extra-biblical scripture and that the “joining” of it with the “stick of Judah” (which they say is the Bible) foretells a latter-day restoration of the gospel. This interpretation is deeply flawed—both textually and historically—and represents a common tactic in Mormon theology: retroactively inserting LDS beliefs into the biblical text where they do not belong. Let’s begin with what Ezekiel 37 actually says. "Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.” —Ezekiel 37:16–17 (NIV) This passage is not, and never was, about two sets of scriptures. God commanded ...