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Early Beliefs About the Location of the Lost Ten Tribes
ANOTHER PLANET
President Young said he had heard Joseph say that the Ten Tribes of Israel were on a portion of land seperated from this Earth.
Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal, September 8th, 1867. (He was the 5th prophet of the Mormon Church).
President Young is quoted as saying that the Ten Tribes of Israel are on a portion of the Earth - a portion seperated from the main land.
Source: Cowley, Matthias F., Wilford Woodruff - History of His life and Labours, 1909.
The Prophet Joseph once in my hearing advanced his opinion that the Ten Tribes were seperated from the Earth; or a portion of the Earth was by miracle broken off, and that in the latter-days it would be restored to Earth or be let down in the polar regions. Whether the Prophet founded his opinion upon revelation or whether it was a matter of mere speculation with him, I am unable to say. [Elder Pratt however seemed to of been of the opinion that they resided on or in the North Pole.]
Source: Orson Pratt to John C. Hall, December 13th, 1875. (Orson Pratt was a early member).
The stars which will fall to the Earth, are fragments, which have been broken off from the Earth from time to time, in the mighty convulsions of nature....some with the Ten Tribes...These must all be restored again at the 'times of the restitution of all things.' [This will restore the Ten Tribes of Israel;...]
Source: Parley P. Pratt, Millenial Star 1:258. (Parley P. Pratt was a early member and ran the Mormon newspaper Millenial Star).
At night paid Sister Eliza R. Snow a short visit and had some conversation with her on the dividing of the Earth. She told me that she heard the Prophet say that when the Ten Tribes were taken away the Lord cut the Earth in two, Joseph striking his left hand in the centre with the edge of his right to illustrate the idea, and that they were on an orb or planet by themselves, and when they return with the portion of this Earth that was taken away with them, the coming together of these two bodies or orbs would cause a shock and make the 'Earth reel to and fro like a drunken man.' She also stated that he said the Earth was now ninety times [percent?] smaller now than when first created or organized.(Yes, the famous poet Eliza R. Snow was one of Joseph Smith's wives).
Source: Diary of Charles L. Walker, March 10th, 1881. (Another early member).
September 28, 1931, the late Lorin C. Woolley related in the writers presence, of having asked Eliza R. Snow and John Van Cott to relate the Prophet's statement relative to the location of the 'Ten Tribes', and which was made by the Prophet at a meeting of a few Saints in Nauvoo. Joseph stated, according to these two parties, that the 'Ten Lost Tribes' were on a planet seperated from this Earth by water and air.
Source: Musser, Joseph W., Truth 7:182.
A portion of the North country containing the Ten Tribes may be seperated from the Earth.
Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal, September 25th, 1859.
NORTH POLE and JOHN THE REVELATOR
I have heard Joseph say that 'John was among the Ten Tribes beyond the North Pole.'
Source: Oliver B. Huntington Journal, January 13th, 1881. (Early member).
The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Joseph in an unusual manner, and [he] prophesied that John the Revelator was then among the Ten Tribes of Israel who had been led away by Shalmaneser, King of Assyria to prepare them for their return from their long dispersion, to again possess the land of their fathers.
Source: History of the Church, John Whitmer, see DHC 1:176. (John Whitmer was one of the eight witnesses who testified seeing the gold plates used to write the Book of Mormon).
While 'the camp of Zion' was on the way to Missouri in 1834 Joseph was some ways ahead of the company one day, when there was seen walking with him by the roadside a man, a stranger. When the company came up there was no person with him. When at camp that night, Heber asked the Prophet who that man was; Joseph replied it was the beloved Disciple, John, who was then on his way to the Ten Tribes in the North.
Source: Heber C. Kimball letter to Addison Everett, Oliver B. Huntington Journal, 13th January, 1881.( Heber C. Kimball was a member of Brigham Young's top leadership).
Joseph said that John was to tarry until Christ came. He is now with the Ten Tribes preaching to them, and when we can get ready for them they will come.
Source: Life of Levi Ward Hancock, June 4th, 1831. (Early Member).
Le Grand Richards, an Apostle quoted the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C):
And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people, and shall reign over all flesh.
And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence.
And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep.
Their enemies shall become a prey upon them.
And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land.
And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants.
And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.
And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim.
And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy.
Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows. (D&C 135:25-34.)
Where the lost tribes and their prophets are we do not know, except as the Lord has said that they are "in the north countries."
Source: Richards, Le Grand. A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, 2nd ed. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1950. 219.