Origin of American Aborigines

The prophet Joseph Smith taught in the Nauvoo House concerning the stick of Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Lehi was of the family of Manasseh and Ishmael and his family were of the house of Ephraim. The one hundred sixteen lost pages of the Book of Mormon contained a clear account of Ishmael’s ancestry. That is the reason, the prophet said, that no mention of Ishmael’s genealogy is in the Book of Mormon. Richards discusses the marriage relationships and union of the families. Lehi’s sons married Ishmael’s daughters thus combining the two tribes. Richards writes that this fulfills the prophecy in Genesis 48:20 that Ephraim and Manasseh together should become a multitude of nations.