Joseph of Egypt

Funny Enjoyable Introduction from The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: The sermon this morning was nice. Young Hawkes expounded on the story of Joseph as metaphor. How he was sold to the Egyptians and therefore saved his entire backstabbing family. I cannot say if the young gentlemen cheering and moaning on the back row aided or detracted from the sermon. It might be a matter of opinion. Joseph is given a beautiful coat. Cheer. Joseph's coat is stolen, torn, and smeared in blood. Moan. Joseph is sold into slavery. Moan. Joseph is tempted by Potiphar's wife. Cheer. Joseph resists temptation. Moan. It was at this point that Young Hawkes paused his sermon and ordered the butcher to empty the back row. There were a few additional moans and cheers—both from those being expelled and the other denizens of St. Crispian's. Once Young Hawkes's Cambridge friends had been swiftly sent on their way, he gathered himself and began again, but not until after he had muttered loud enough for all to hear, "Anyone who thinks Potiphar's wife was a good idea has proven himself to be of no sense whatsoever. They can have another attempt at Christianity next week." “The Lord Was with Joseph” Genesis 37–41 We know that God blesses people who trust Him and keep His commandments. But sometimes it doesn’t seem that way. Sometimes the person who trusts God is abused and abandoned by family members. Sometimes the person who bravely refuses to violate the law of chastity gets falsely accused anyway. When things like that happen to us, we might be tempted to become angry with God. We might wonder, “What’s the point of trying to do the right thing if it only seems to make life harder?” Joseph, the son of Jacob, could have wondered that. At times, this faithful man prospered; at other times, it seemed that the more faithful he was, the more hardship he faced. But Joseph never left the Lord, and the Lord never left Joseph. That doesn’t mean the Lord prevented bad things from happening to Joseph, but through it all, “the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:3). Genesis 37:1–28; 39; 41:9–45 Genesis 37:3 he made him a coat of many colours Joseph’s “coat of many colours” has become legendary. Yet, the language used may not be an accurate description of the garment. In fact the word “garment” may be a better description. A modern Torah commentary gives alternate translations such as “Ornamental Tunic. [Although] the meaning is not clear. Others translate as ’a coat of many colors,’ or ‘a robe with sleeves.’” (W. Gunther Plaut, Torah: A Modern Commentary, p. 244) Yet, apocryphal sources indicate that the garment was “the garment of Adam” which had been handed down from one patriarch to the next. This, in part, explains the anger of Joseph’s elder brothers when they learned that he would be the recipient of the garment. It represented the next link in the patriarchal priesthood—and it was going to Joseph not Reuben. “In Alma 46:21-24 we read of a particular ceremony associated with the story of Joseph's garment. Because Jewish tradition indicates that Joseph's garment was the high priestly garment of Adam, this passage may have more meaning than previously supposed.” (Donald W. Parry, Temples of the Ancient World, p. 695, footnote 50) Hugh Nibley Here the survival of Joseph's garment guarantees and typifies the survival of Joseph (Alma 46:24). In the tenth century of our era the greatest antiquarian of the Moslem world, Muhammad ibn-Ibrahim ath-Tha'labi, collected in Persia a great many old tales and legends about the prophets of Israel…Among other things, Tha'labi tells a number of stories, which we have not found anywhere else, about Jacob and the garment of Joseph. In one… there were in the garment of Joseph three marks or tokens when they brought it to his father… According to ad-Dahak that garment was of the weave [pattern, design] of Paradise, and the breath [spirit, odor] of Paradise was in it, so that it never decayed or in any way deteriorated [and that was] a sign [omen]. And Joseph gave them that garment, and it was the very one that had belonged to Abraham, having already had a long history… Note here that there were two remnants of Joseph's garment, one sent by Joseph to his father as a sign that he was still alive (since the garment had not decayed), and the other, torn and smeared with blood, brought by Judah to his father as a sign that Joseph was dead. Moroni actually quotes Jacob (“Now behold, this was the language of Jacob”) as saying: “Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son” (Alma 46:25-26)… “These interesting little details are typical apocryphal variations on a single theme, and the theme is the one Moroni mentions; the rent garment of Joseph is the symbol both of his suffering and his deliverance, misfortune and preservation.” (An Approach to the Book of Mormon, p. 218-20) Neal A. Maxwell The Book of Mormon gives us a prophecy of Jacob that we do not find in Genesis: Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain. Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment. (Alma 46:23-24.) We likewise learn that prescient Joseph saw not only the coming famine in Egypt, but he also "truly saw our day." (2 Nephi 3:5.) Twice he exclaimed joyfully over the promise given to him that the Lord would raise up a seer out of his seed. (2 Nephi 3:16-18.) In fact, the many prophecies of Joseph in Egypt (which we have yet to receive) are characterized thus: "For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater. And he prophesied concerning us, and our future generations; and they are written upon the plates of brass." (2 Nephi 4:2.) (Plain and Precious Things [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1983], 82) Genesis 37:5 Joseph dreamed a dream Joseph turned out to be a prophetic dreamer. He both received dreams and interpreted them. Each of us receives revelation in different ways. One of the most common for Joseph was dreams. Elder Gilbert telling about President Oak’s observation at the different way patriarch’s receive revelation- some in dreams, some in stories, etc. Marion G. Romney Now I know, my brothers and sisters and friends, and bear witness to the fact that revelation from the Lord comes through the spoken word, by personal visitation, by messengers from the Lord, through dreams, and by way of visions, and by the voice of the Lord coming into one’s mind. Most often, however, revelation comes to us by means of the still, small voice. (Ensign, May 1978, 50 Genesis 37:22 sold Joseph… for twenty pieces of silver Christ was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave. Joseph was also sold for the price of a slave, but there was a price differential. For slaves less than 20 years old, the price was only twenty pieces, “Twenty pieces of silver [was] the redemption price for a five to twenty-year-old male.” (The Torah: A Modern Commentary, 246) Joseph was 17 at the time. Joseph and Jesus were worth more than twenty or thirty pieces of silver, but the poignancy of public rejection and being sold for the price of slaves affected both. Genesis 37:23 they stript Joseph out of his coat The opposite of being clothed in the robes of righteousness is to be stripped of one’s clothing. Like Christ was stripped of his robe before his crucifixion, Joseph is stripped of his special coat. The divestiture is symbolic of being stripped of one’s authority, power, or position. Could the brothers forever prevent Joseph from exerting authority over them by taking away his coat? Like the Roman soldiers, Joseph’s brothers assume the authority to divest him of his inheritance—as if they had the power. Whatever protection man would attempt to remove from Joseph, God would replace. As Isaiah said, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isa 61:10). Genesis 37:24 they took him, and cast him into a pit “Joseph is thrown by his brothers into a pit—a dreadful physical fact. But morally and spiritually, too, it may often seem that the soul of man is in a pit. The realization of this may come with shocking suddenness. Joseph at one moment walked in the sunlight in his coat of many colors; the next moment he was down in stifling darkness. One moment he seemed to have no need of anything; the next moment he had agonized need of everything. So with human souls. From self-sufficiency they may be plunged into paralyzing helplessness and desperate need of God. Yet at Joseph’s worst moment there were unsuspected forces moving for his release. God’s purpose working through its own instruments would carry his life on to deliverance and great destiny. Beyond this verse in Genesis comes the sound of Ps. 40:2, ‘He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock.’” (The Interpreter’s Bible, ed. by G. A. Buttrick et al [New York, Abingdon Press, 1952] vol. 1, p. 754-755) Genesis 37:31 they… killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood The blood of this kid goat prefigures the blood of the Lamb. The blood represents sin. In the case of the brothers, the blood represents their sin in selling Joseph. In the case of Christ, the blood represents the sins of the world. In both cases, the protagonist is sinless. In both cases, the protagonist would save those who had shed the blood of the innocent. Joseph would save the house of Israel; Jesus would save both Jew and Roman. The Lord will be with me in my adversity. Time and again, good fortune seemed to abandon Joseph, but the Lord never did. As you read Joseph’s story, ponder questions such as these: What did Joseph do to stay close to the Lord? How was the Lord “with him”? (see Genesis 39; 40:1–19; 41:9–45). What do you learn from Joseph’s story that could help you recognize the Lord’s presence in your life? You might also ask similar questions about your life. What evidence have you seen that the Lord has not forsaken you in times of trial? Consider how you can share your experiences with family members and future generations (see 1 Nephi 5:14). Of course, you will have other trials in the future. What can you do now to help ensure that these trials don’t pull you away from the Lord? Consider writing a letter to encourage your future self to stay close to Him no matter what. You might include insights from Joseph’s life or from President D. Todd Christofferson’s message “Our Relationship with God” (Liahona, May 2022, 78–81). “Some misunderstand the promises of God to mean that obedience to Him yields specific outcomes on a fixed schedule. They might think, “If I diligently serve a full-time mission, God will bless me with a happy marriage and children” or “If I refrain from doing schoolwork on the Sabbath, God will bless me with good grades” or “If I pay tithing, God will bless me with that job I’ve been wanting.” If life doesn’t fall out precisely this way or according to an expected timetable, they may feel betrayed by God. But things are not so mechanical in the divine economy. We ought not to think of God’s plan as a cosmic vending machine where we (1) select a desired blessing, (2) insert the required sum of good works, and (3) the order is promptly delivered. God will indeed honor His covenants and promises to each of us. We need not worry about that. The atoning power of Jesus Christ—who descended below all things and then ascended on high and who possesses all power in heaven and in earth—ensures that God can and will fulfill His promises. It is essential that we honor and obey His laws, but not every blessing predicated on obedience to law is shaped, designed, and timed according to our expectations. We do our best but must leave to Him the management of blessings, both temporal and spiritual…Joseph of old, sold into slavery as a youth by his own brothers, in his anguish turned to God. Gradually, he rose to prominence in his master’s house in Egypt but then had all this progress ripped away because of the false accusations of Potiphar’s wife. Joseph could have thought, “So prison is what I get for keeping the law of chastity.” Instead he continued to turn to God and was prospered even in prison. Joseph suffered a further crushing disappointment when the prisoner he befriended, despite his promise to help Joseph, forgot all about him after being restored to his position in Pharaoh’s court. In due course, as you know, the Lord intervened to put Joseph in the highest position of trust and power next to Pharaoh, enabling Joseph to save the house of Israel. Surely Joseph could attest “that all things work together for good to them that love God.” See also John 14:18; Romans 8:28; Alma 36:3; Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8; “Abide with Me!,” Hymns, no. 166. Sister Dennis: Only the Lord fully knows the actual level of difficulty with which each of us is running our race of life—the burdens, the challenges, and the obstacles we face that often cannot be seen by others. Only He fully understands the life-changing wounds and trauma some of us may have experienced in the past that are still affecting us in the present. Often we even judge ourselves harshly, thinking we should be much farther ahead on the track. Only the Lord fully knows our individual limitations and capacity, and because of that, He is the only one fully qualified to judge our performance. Sisters and brothers, let’s be like those spectators in the story and cheer each other on in our journey of discipleship no matter our circumstances! That doesn’t require us to break rules or lower standards. It’s actually the second great commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves. And as our Savior has said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these … , ye have done it unto me,” for good or for ill. He has also told us, “If ye are not one ye are not mine.” There will be times in each of our lives when we will be the ones who need help and encouragement. Let’s commit now to always do that for each other. As we do, we will develop greater unity and facilitate a space for the Savior to do His sacred work of healing and transforming each of us. Motherhood and Tamar: Now there are two ways to interpret that cultural tenet. The world’s way would be to discount the significance of having children—to make a mock of the practice by asking, “Is that all that women are good for is to have children?” The world champions the accomplishments of women in every theater but the home. The kinder and more understanding approach would be to consider the story of Tamar in the context of a woman who places posterity above all else. She is a champion of Motherhood in a strange way. Tamar wanted to be a mother in Israel. Again the curse of barrenness seems to be the single worst thing that could ever happen to a woman. This is a recurrent biblical theme: Sarah was barren (Gen. 11:30), Rebekah was barren (Gen. 25:21), Rachel was barren (Gen. 29:31), and Hannah was barren (1 Sam. 1:2). But Tamar wasn’t barren by infertility—that’s not the issue! Tamar’s problem is that she married into a family of men that won’t fulfill their responsibilities to help her become a mother. Effectively, she is barren and fertile at the same time. In a way, it is more unfair than being barren by infertility. The biologically barren woman can call upon God to give her children. Tamar had to appeal to the men of her family—a less righteous and less responsive group. “And so by the unsavory acts of two desperate women was that lineage established through which came the purest of ‘chosen vessels’—Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ! Truly, the great Jehovah ‘descended below all things’ in taking upon himself mortality and the sins of the world. How gracious he is toward the weaknesses and foibles of the human family!” (Rodney Turner, “Woman and the Priesthood” [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972], 190-191) And the Lord was with Joseph Genesis 37:5–11; 40; 41:1–38 If I am faithful, the Lord will guide and inspire me. Joseph had a gift for discerning messages from the Lord through dreams. What can you learn from Genesis 37:5–11; 40:5–8; 41:14–25, 37–38 about receiving and understanding revelation from the Lord? For instance, what can you learn from Joseph’s example when revelation seems difficult to understand? (see Genesis 40:8; 41:16). Ponder how the Lord is revealing His will to you. What are you doing to act on revelation He has given you? How are you seeking additional guidance from Him?’ Genesis 39:3 the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand L. Tom Perry They took their seventeen-year-old brother and sold him as a slave to a caravan going into Egypt, a strange land, where they spoke a strange tongue and had strange customs. But the Lord was with this remarkable young man, and he seemed never to be discouraged. Though a stranger, a slave, his countenance must have radiated a special spirit. When offered for sale, he was purchased by a captain of the king's guard. It was only a short time before Joseph had so distinguished himself to the captain that he made him ruler over his house. In authority he was the first servant; and he was made overseer over all the captain had, and the captain put his complete trust, his properties, his income, into the hands of Joseph. ("Trust in the Lord," Ensign, May 1978, 51-52) Joseph Interpreting the Butler and Baker’s Dreams, by François Gérard Genesis 39:1–20 Elder Mark Pace: The Example of the Savior: “Not My Will, But Thine” Our Savior, who is our example in all things, has taught us how to endure adversity faithfully. Most poignant is His experience in Gethsemane: “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:41–43; emphasis added). The Father didn’t remove this cup of suffering, but He also didn’t forsake His Beloved Son. He sent an angel to strengthen Him, and with that strength the Savior was able to carry out the infinite Atonement. Likewise, when we face challenges, the Father does not always remove the burden, but when we submit to His will, we can count on Him to give us strength equal to the challenge. Genesis 39:21 The Lord was with Joseph...l and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison Dallin H. Oaks A common element in many of my best-loved Bible stories was the way the Lord protected his righteous and faithful sons. When I was young, that was my favorite part of the story of Joseph... In Egypt, Joseph was unjustly sent to prison. But even there he excelled, and the Lord blessed him. In time he came forth to interpret Pharaoh's dream, and he was made ruler of all Egypt. In that powerful position, he became the instrument to save his people from famine and to love and forgive the brothers who had wronged him. (See Gen. 40-45.) As a young boy, I was thrilled with Joseph's adventures and impressed with how the Lord had rescued him from the perils of murder, slavery, and prison. The first time I read the Book of Mormon, I found the statement that "Joseph ... who was sold into Egypt ... was preserved by the hand of the Lord." (1 Ne. 5:14.) In later readings in the scriptures, I found that this kind of protection is available to all. For example, the Bible states that "the Lord preserveth the faithful" (Ps. 31:23), and that God "is a shield unto them that put their trust in him" (Prov. 30:5). ("Bible Stories and Personal Protection," Ensign, Nov 1992, 37) President Eyring feeing weak in school. Response to prayer came, “I am proving you but I am also with you. I did not know then what those words meant. But I knew what to do—I went to work…. The prophet Moroni, for instance was proved and strengthened in such a way. He lived his final years alone. He wrote that he had no friends, that his father had been killed, that his people had been destroyed. He was hunted by those who sought to take away his life. Yet Moroni did not despair. Instead, he engraved his testimony of Jesus Christ on plates for people he would not live to see, including the descendants of the people who desired to kill him. He wrote for us. He knew that some would mock his words. He knew that some would reject them. Yet he kept writing… Moroni’s testimony was refined in loneliness, but is shines with light to guide all generations to seek our Father in Heaven and his Son, Jesus Christ…he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain…thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God…Because of His glorious Atonement, Jesus Christ can strengthen us in our times of trial. He knows how to succor us because He has felt all the challenges that we will ever feel in mortality. ‘He will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people…that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.. I bear witness that these moments are note evidence that he the Lord has abandoned you. Rather, they are evidence that He loves you enough to refine and strengthen you. He is making you strong enough to carry the weight of eternal life.” With the Lord’s help, I can flee temptation. If Joseph were to give counsel on how to resist temptation to commit sexual sin, what do you think he would say? Think about this as you read about his experience in Genesis 39. For example, consider how Joseph might respond to concerns like these: • If no one else knows what I’m doing, what’s the big deal? (see verses 8–9). • I try to resist, but the temptation just doesn’t seem to stop (see verse 10). • What should I do when I’m in a situation where temptation is strong? (see verse 12). How would you explain why obeying the law of chastity is important? (see For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, 23–28). Joseph’s example, of course, can apply to other kinds of temptation. With Joseph’s experience in mind, consider making a plan for avoiding and resisting temptation. For example, you could think of a temptation and write down situations to avoid and how you will “flee” when the temptation arises. Quotes from article How to Overcome a Lust-filled World Temptation Situations to avoid Plan to respond Here are some other scriptures that could inform your plan. What do you learn from each about how the Savior can help you resist temptation? Matthew 4:1–11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Nephi 15:23–24; 3 Nephi 18:17–18. As you make your plan, it might also help to think about times in the past when you successfully avoided or resisted temptation. How did the Savior help you? (see 2 Nephi 4:18–33). Genesis 41:15–57 The Lord will help me prepare for possible hardships. Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream led to some very wise and practical counsel for surviving a famine (see Genesis 41:15–57). Consider what spiritual messages the Lord might have for you in this account. How do you feel He wants you to prepare for hardships in your future? Genesis 40:23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him You can imagine that Joseph was very excited when the butler was restored to his former position. Certainly, he would use his influence on Pharaoh to get Joseph out of his false imprisonment. Joseph had no reason to doubt but that he would be immediately released. Joseph must have thought the baker and butler incident was designed by God for his immediate release, but freedom didn't come right away. Can you imagine how Joseph felt? He certainly had the opportunity to complain, saying, "Lord, you gave me power to interpret the dream of the butler and baker; why then has the butler forgotten me? Why must I remain in this prison, falsely accused?" Joseph would suffer in prison for 2 more years. He must have wondered as the Prophet Joseph in Liberty Jail: O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed...? (D&C 121:1-2) "Josephus records: "'Now Joseph, commending all his affairs to God, did not betake himself to make his defense, nor to give an account of the exact circumstances of the fact, but silently underwent the bonds and the distress he was in, firmly believing that God, who knew the cause of his affliction and the truth of the fact, would be more powerful than those that inflicted the punishments upon him' (Antiquities of the Jews, Book II, v:1)." (Arthur R. Bassett, "Joseph, Model of Excellence," Ensign, Sept. 1980, 13) Genesis 41:9 I do remember my faults this day While Joseph languished in prison, he had the opportunity to put in a good word for himself through the butler. When he interpreted the dream about the butler and baker, he asked the butler to put in a good word for him, “make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.” (Gen. 40:14) We never hear Joseph complain or harbor hard feelings toward the butler because of this great oversight. The oversight cost Joseph an additional two years of prison time. Most men would take retribution if given an opportunity but Joseph was a man of mercy and discretion. See also David A. Bednar, “We Will Prove Them Herewith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 8–11. Genesis 41:25 God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do C. Christopher Waddell From the beginning of time, the Lord has provided direction to help His people prepare spiritually and temporally against the calamities and trials that He knows will come as part of this mortal experience. These calamities may be personal or general in nature, but the Lord’s guidance will provide protection and support to the extent that we heed and act upon His counsel. A wonderful example is provided in an account from the book of Genesis, where we learn of Joseph in Egypt and his inspired interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream. (Quotes from Genesis 41) Today we are blessed to be led by prophets who understand the need for us to prepare against the calamities “which should come”4 and who also recognize the limitations or restrictions that we may encounter in striving to follow their counsel. There is a clear understanding that the effects of COVID-19, as well as devastating natural disasters, are no respecter of persons and cross ethnic, social, and religious boundaries on every continent. When considering the principle of preparedness, we can look back to Joseph in Egypt for inspiration. Knowing what would happen would not have been sufficient to carry them through the “lean” years without a degree of sacrifice during the years of abundance. Rather than consume all that Pharaoh’s subjects could produce, limits were established and followed, providing sufficient for their immediate, as well as their future, needs. It was not enough to know that challenging times would come. They had to act, and because of their effort, “there was bread.” Genesis 41:34 Take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years Joseph has already manifested the gift of interpreting dreams. His next spiritual gift is the gift of administration, manifest in his brilliant solution, immediately offered after the interpretation. How does he know that it will take a 20% surplus to provide for the years of famine? 20% times seven years is 140%. Joseph is inspired to prepare an extra 40% because the surrounding nations are going to come to Egypt near the end of the famine. The extra 40% will make Pharaoh rich and famous. Genesis 41:36 that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine “As we strive to care for ourselves and our families, one of our greatest challenges is to find peace in the midst of an uncertain future. We may have the basic necessities of life today, but what about tomorrow? The prophets have urged us to live providently—in other words, to live in a way that will provide the necessities of life not only today, but tomorrow as well. “The wisdom of living providently has been recognized since ancient times. Joseph encouraged the Egyptians to store grain during the seven ‘fat’ years against the lean years that would come. (See Gen. 41:28–36.) From the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop comes a fable about the ant and the grasshopper, which illustrates in a very simple way the principle of provident living. In time of plenty, the grasshopper took no thought for what he might need when the winter came. But the ant worked busily, preparing and providing for a time when food would not be so plentiful. The ant could look to the future with confidence, while the grasshopper—if he thought about the future at all—could only hope for the best. “But living providently is more than just putting aside food for future need. It encompasses all areas of life. If we want to face the future with confidence and peace of mind, we must prepare ourselves in six areas: literacy and education, career development, financial and resource management, home production and storage, physical health, and social-emotional and spiritual strength. When we strive to prepare in these areas, we can enjoy peace of mind as we face the uncertainties of the future. “Sister Barbara W. Winder, general president of the Relief Society, says that ‘provident living includes the prudent, frugal use of one’s resources, making provision for the future as well as providing wisely for current needs.’” (“Provident Living: A Way of Life,” Ensign, Aug. 1987, 35) Spencer W. Kimball There are in our lives reservoirs of many kinds. Some reservoirs are to store water. Some are to store food, as we do in our family welfare program and as Joseph did in the land of Egypt during the seven years of plenty. There should also be reservoirs of knowledge to meet the future needs; reservoirs of courage to overcome the floods of fear that put uncertainty in lives; reservoirs of physical strength to help us meet the frequent burdens of work and illness; reservoirs of goodness; reservoirs of stamina; reservoirs of faith. Yes, especially reservoirs of faith so that when the world presses in upon us, we stand firm and strong; when the temptations of a decaying world about us draw on our energies, sap our spiritual vitality, and seek to pull us down, we need a storage of faith that can carry youth and later adults over the dull, the difficult, the terrifying moments, disappointments, disillusionments, and years of adversity, want, confusion, and frustration. (Faith Precedes the Miracle [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972], 110) Genesis 41:38 Can we find such an one… in whom the Spirit of God is? L. Tom Perry Because of the service Joseph rendered, the Pharaoh said unto his servants, “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Gen. 41:38.) The Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was, indeed, directed by the Lord when he said unto Joseph, “forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art.” (Gen. 41:39.) When one follows the course marked by the road signs of the gospel of Jesus Christ and places his trust in the Lord, its influence is such that it is manifest not only in action and deed but by a marked and visible change in his very being. There is a special light and a spirit which radiates from his eternal soul. It can be described in words like brightness, light, joy, happiness, peace, purity, contentment, spirit, enthusiasm, etc. (“Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, May 1978, 52) Genesis 41:51 The birth of Manasseh Manasseh—can we comprehend the righteous lineage of Manasseh? How many Book of Mormon prophets does it take to make Manasseh’s line a glorious one? His was certainly a fruitful bough. The following story is about one such descendant who felt a kinship to father Manasseh. A young American Indian girl was given responsibility for her father’s old and sick livestock. It was her job to shepherd them and tend them. One day she inadvertently led her small flock onto a dangerous mesa. Some of the animals fell off to their death. Others were scattering and trying to get down. It was her job to keep them safe. “Never had I felt so alone. As I made my way down from the mesa without the help of a trail, I was wrapped in the emotion of the recent disaster. The difficulty of the route I had chosen aroused my full consciousness. Was I making yet another mistake? A few weeks before, I had been chastened when my grandmother and aunt caught me teasing a rattlesnake with a whip while my frightened little brother watched. Now I was climbing down a rock face I had never climbed; somehow even teasing a rattlesnake seemed harmless by comparison. “And so there I remained, immobile and sniffling, until a calming thought came to my mind from a Sunday School lesson. It was the story of Joseph of Egypt… “Bloodlines are important, no matter how ancient; they are the ties that can never be broken. I must have believed that even as a child, for I was convinced that the same power that enabled Joseph to endure would come to the aid of a little Indian girl stuck high on a mesa ledge. “So I prayed to the same God who guided Joseph through all his tribulations: ‘Father, Father, I don’t know where to go! Where should I place my hands and my feet?’ During the rest of my climb down, I recall that I had never felt more agile or more instinctive. When my feet finally came to rest in an arroyo, I witnessed another unusual occurrence. The remaining flock had somehow found a pathway down. They had gathered together in the arroyo and were grazing on sweet grass as though nothing had happened. “That day, I didn’t understand why I had such a strong attachment to Joseph, but nine years later my patriarchal blessing would declare that I had been born through the loins of the oldest son of Joseph: Manasseh, so named, Joseph says, because ‘God … hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.’ (Gen. 41:51.) “With a heavy heart and lead feet, I drove my flock back to their pen. Closing the gate, I finally looked back at the sheer face of that mesa, and I knew from that day forth there wasn’t anything my Heavenly Father wouldn’t grant me if I asked with a pure heart.” (A. J. Rock, “The Summer of My Accountability,” Ensign, July 1992, 27) Genesis 41:55 Pharaoh said… Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do Russell M. Nelson Anciently, when “all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do” (Gen. 41:55). In the latter days, people starving for nourishment that only the gospel can provide are again to be fed—by Joseph. The Lord declared that “this generation shall have my word through [Joseph Smith]” (D&C 5:10). Today we may “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Ne. 32:3) because of Joseph Smith. (“The Exodus Repeated,” Ensign, July 1999, 8–9) Genesis 41:56 And Joseph opened all the storehouses Sterling W. Sill When the famine began, Joseph opened the granaries. Thus, with one good idea, two nations were saved from starvation. However, this idea of storing up food for the future always has been and probably always will be one of our greatest ideas. To begin with, in one way or another these alternating periods of feast and famine continue to come with some regularity as an important part of life. (Principles, Promises, and Powers [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1973], 267)