Messenger Magazine

Where Are the Ten Lost Tribes?

Posted on 3/1/2004 at 1:38:51 PM

The whereabouts of the lost tribes of Israel has been a mystery regularly debated among Latter-day Saints since the beginning of the restoration of the gospel. Many theories have abounded to explain how they are hidden from our view, with some suggesting they may be living underground near the North Pole, or in some other remote region on the earth which remains yet undiscovered, or hidden from view to explorers.

The beginning of their story, however, is not so puzzling, and is well attested to by the records of ancient scriptural history. The tribes of Israel had fallen into wickedness, despite the warnings of their prophets, such as Lehi, that it would lead to them being captured and taken to Babylon¹. Yet they failed to repent, and they were taken out of the land God had given them as was predicted. Even during their captivity God raised prophets among them like Daniel to try and bring them back to righteousness, but many of them either refused to reform or were slow to do so.

Many of them eventually recognized the awful state they were in and sought to leave the worldly influence of the land they lived in, and it is recorded in the ancient Apocrypha that, “they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a farther country, where never mankind dwelt, that they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.”² This group came to be known as the lost ten tribes, because their location from then on was unknown to the world.

Most secular scholars and some of the more liberal Latter-day Saints have assumed that they became scattered among the nations of the earth. Certainly, some of them did become integrated into Babylonian society, or set off to live elsewhere. However, the Lord has revealed in many places throughout scriptures that many of them remained a distinct and separate people, who will yet return en mass in a miraculous manner.

We learn from the Book of Mormon that the Nephites were not the only “other sheep” who Jesus promised to visit, but that the Saviour also intended to appear to the Lost Tribes,⁶⁶ and that they had their own scriptures which would one day be revealed to us⁶⁷. The three Nephite apostles, who were promised they would never die, were also told they had a mission to perform among these Ten Tribes⁶⁸, as does John the Revelator according to Latter-day revelation.⁶⁹ One of Joseph Smith’s contemporaries recolected:
 

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.⁷⁰

It seems that Joseph gained firsthand knowledge of the mission of the beloved apostle John, from meeting with him personally:

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.⁷¹

The Lord has prophesied that Joseph, or one of his successors will yet take part in the return of these tribes.⁷² That return will take place in an astounding way, when: “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 ice shall flow down at their presence. And a highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. … And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.”⁷³

Where could this North country they reside in be? Where is it they will be returning from? Where are they now? Some Church members, such as Benjamin F. Johnson and Oliver B. Huntington, have suspected it could be referring to the North Pole⁷⁴. But it is unlikely that there is any part of the earth left undiscovered, or that if there were that it would be big enough to hold all those people without them being noticed in any way, and the idea of their being a subterranean civilisation has been debunked to most peoples satisfaction.

One early Mormon Apostle, George Reynolds, spoke of these ancient Israelites turning “their journeying feet toward the polar star.”⁷⁵ In doing so he was perhaps giving a hint of a once popular belief amongst Church members that the Ten Lost Tribes were not on the earth at all, but had departed from it, just as the City of Enoch had thousands of years before⁷⁶. Parley P. Pratt seems to have been the first member to make public his thoughts that this might be the case⁷⁷. But was this his own opinion, the result of inspiration, or something he had learnt from the Prophet? Certainly this
idea was still around until the early part of the 20^th century, as President B.H. Roberts of the Seventy mentions that, “There are those I believe, who … have held that perhaps the Ten Lost Tribes were located upon some detached portion of the Earth.”⁷⁸

Of course opinions, even from Apostles, are not to be given the same weight as doctrine. Although one might suspect the thoughts of Church leaders might come as the result of greater knowledge of the gospel and a greater degree of experience and wisdom. So it may be unwise to discount them quickly without investigating their ideas more thoroughly. Especially when such opinions come from a Prophet of God, as Joseph himself had a similar
opinion:

The Prophet Joseph once in my hearing advanced his opinion that the Ten Tribes were separated 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.⁷⁹

We also have Brigham Young’s own recollection of this, that, “he had heard Joseph say that the Ten Tribes of Israel were on a portion of land separated from this Earth.”⁸⁰ To Brother Brigham Joseph’s teaching wasn’t merely speculation, and President Young personally believed it to be true, and was, quoted as saying that the Ten Tribes of Israel are on a portion of the Earth - a portion separated from the main land.”⁸¹

Another one of Joseph’s closest companions, also shared their belief in these tribes living on another planet. Eliza R. Snow, was both the wife of Joseph Smith and later Brigham Young. She described her own beliefs on this point in a more poetic form:

And when the Lord saw fit to hide

The ten lost tribes away;

Thou, Earth, was severed to provide

The orb on which they stay.⁸²

Unlike President Young however, we know exactly what Joseph related to her on the subject, Charles L. Walker wrote of an interesting conversation he had with her during the twilight of her life:

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.⁸³

Eliza’s hymn, which was part of the Church’s hymnbook from 1856 to 1912, would undoubtedly have raised questions in the minds of some members, and on one such occasion, one member revealed more of Joseph’s teachings on this subject in the following statement:

“Brother Brown, will you give us some light and explanation of the 5th verse on page 386 of the Hymn Book which formed another planet, according to the Hymn of Eliza R. Snow?”

Yes, sir, I think I can answer your question. Sister Eliza R. Snow, in visiting my grandparents, was asked by my grandmother: “Eliza, where did you get your ideas about the Ten Lost Tribes being taken away as you explain it in your wonderful Hymn?’ She answered as follows: “Why, my husband (The Prophet Joseph) told me about it.’

Have you any other information that your grandfather ever gave you, as contained in any conversation with the Prophet Joseph Smith?

I have! One evening in Nauvoo, just after dark, somebody rapped at the door very vigourously. Grandfather said he was reading the Doctrine and Covenants. He rose hurriedly and answered the summons at the door, where he met the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said, “Brother Brown, can you keep me over night, the mobs are after me?’ Grandfather answered, “Yes, sir. It will not be the first time,
come in.’ “All right,’ the Prophet said, shutting the door quickly. He came in and sat down. Grandmother said: “Brother Joseph, have you had your supper?’ “No’ he answered, “I have not.’ So she prepared him a meal and he ate it. Afterward they were in conversation relative to the principles of the Gospel. During the conversation the Ten Lost
Tribes were mentioned. Grandfather said, “Joseph, where are the Ten Tribes?’ He said “Come to the door and I will show you, come on Sister Brown, I want you both to see.’ It being a starlit night the Prophet said “Brother Brown, can you show me the Polar Star?’ “Yes, Sir,’ he said, pointing to the North Star. “There it is.’
“Yes, I know’ said the Prophet, “But which one? There are a lot of stars there.’ Grandfather said: “Can you see the points of the Dipper?’ The Prophet answered, “Yes.’ “Well’ he said, “trace the pointers,’ pointing up to the largest star. “That is the North Star.’ The Prophet answered: “You are correct. Now,’ he said, pointing toward the star, “do you discern a little twinkler to the right and below the Polar Star, which we would judge to be about the distance of twenty feet from here?’ Grandfather answered, “Yes, sir.’ The Prophet said: “Sister Brown, do you see that star also?’ Her answer was, “Yes, sir.’ “Very well then, he said, “let’s go in.’

Brother [Israel] Call, you have here read the statement of Brother [Homer M.] Brown [Patriarch of Granite Stake, and grandson of Benjamin Brown] concerning the Ten Tribes of Israel being upon another planet besides this. “Yes, and I have heard my father [Anson] relate the same regarding the Ten Tribes, and father heard the Prophet make the same statement that the Ten Tribes are on a another planet, as related by Brother
Brown.”⁸⁴

Could such a detailed description from the Prophet Joseph be just mere speculation on his part? Of course if this was the only such account we might question its accuracy, but we have at least seventeen similar accounts from friends of Joseph Smith,⁸⁵ many of which were recorded at earlier dates. This is but one other example:

He then referred to the “Ten Tribes’ saying, “You know a long time ago in the days of Shalmanezar King of Assyria when the Ten Tribes was taken away, and never heard of since.” He said, “The Earth will be restored as at the beginning, and the last taken away will be the first to return; for the last shall be first, and the first will be last in all things.” He illustrated the return by saying: “Some of you brethren have been coming up the river on a steamboat, and while seated at the table, the steamboat runs against a snag which upset the table and scattered the dishes; so it will be when these portions of the earth return. It will make the earth reel to and fro like a drunken man,” quoting 24th chapter [of] Isaiah, 20th verse. When speaking of the return of the Ten Tribes, he said, “The mountains of ice shall flow down at their presence,” and a highway shall be cast up in the middle of the great deep.”⁸⁶

The similarity between these accounts (of which there are many more) and the faithfulness of the witnesses establish that Joseph Smith did indeed teach that the Ten Lost Tribes were upon a different planet. This explains how they have remained a separate people, unknown to the rest of the world, and the miraculous nature of their return.

Sadly there are some details that we have no record of the Prophet revealing, such as the manner in which they left the earth, or how the knowledge of their whereabouts was revealed to him. Did they become sufficiently righteous for their city or country to be translated? This may be unlikely, considering the state they were in when they left and the amount of time it took Enoch and his people to reach this point.

Did the Lord inspire them with the scientific invention and discovery needed to be able to effect their own escape into space? Or did He, seeing their earnest desire to be removed from the temptations of the world, use His power to give them a home where that wish could be truly granted? Whatever means were used it was no less an amazing miracle that will only be equaled by their return from the
heavens.