"And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: ... And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them." ~ Ezekiel 37:22 & 24

There is an implicit implication being made herein. And though not spoken it ought to be quite obvious. Where there were two kingdoms, there is to be made only one. The two are no longer to be 'divided'. And where there becomes 'one' nation there also becomes but 'one' Messiah, King and Shepherd of Israel and NO LONGER TWO MESSIAHS. The Messiah ben David of the Jewish nation is to become one with that Messiah who is to lead the nation or kingdom of Israel, that Israelite Messiah, even Messiah ben Joseph or Messiah ben Ephraim. And though there may be two 'centers', Jerusalem in Palistine and the center stake in Zion in the center of North America, this is but one Lord and King, Jesus Christ who is the same as Jehovah.

There is also it the scripture naration of Ezekiel 37 a very dualistic inference that is given earlier in the chapter concerning the two histories of the two nations of Judah and of Joseph. It states:

"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand." ~ Ezekiel 37:16-17 (see also JST Genesis 50:31*)

The LDS presents to the world today a simplistic view of what constitutes the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph. It suggests that it may be looked to to be the text of the Bible, brought to the world by the hand of the Jews and the Book of Mormon that reports to be a record of a remenant branch of the tribe of Joseph with some additional references to addition scripture sources that it quotes from. Nothing in this world is usually just so simple. And in fact the record of the stick of Joseph is not just so simple to be only the stick of Joseph. Neither should I suppose that the Bible contains the whole of the stick of Judah. Each the Bible and the Book of Mormon are but a representative sampling of those two national histories, which in the beginnings were the same histories for the two various perspectives of Judah and of Joseph.

The world recognizes the Bible record as the historical scriptural record held by the Jewish nation, but though it does reference such 'joint records' which tell of Adam down to the times of Jacob and his family, until that point there would be a parallel history, but one must recognize that the retelling of the histories from Adam on down to that time of Jacob and even beyond are shewed as being from the view point of the Jews. The Bible was not compiled from such previous records available and remembered until beginning in that duration of time of the Babylonian captivity. Until then and even after that the various records were each a separate record 'scroll'. That is the five books of Moses would have been 5 separate scrolls and each of the other 'books' of the New and Old Testament would also be of their own book or scrolled records. Not until well after Christ was there an effort made to decide which of these remaining record scrolls would be compiled in to today's Bible. And over time many such prior record came into and out of existence over the process of time. It ought to be recognized that the books of Moses, particularly Genesis was in itself a summary collect of information gathered togeth by such as Moses from such records and histories as had fallen into his hands. The Bible itself records various references to book no longer in existence from which it will from time to time speak. And such as the Psalm record seems to be in part a collection of national hymn stories with such surviving doctrines and topics from other such records that had also in and of themselves become extinct by the time of the Early Christian Chruch which compiled the Bible canon.

And the Book of Mormon record of the stick of Joseph is no less detailed with other bits of information. A part of the Book of Mormon records material from what was had among the people of Lehi, primarily the Nephites, from what was referred to as the Plates of Brass. Those plates of brass also held the books of Moses and many other books and records of the prophet including a number who were not named or quoted from knowingly in the Bible. That would be of that parallel type of record source common to both the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph. When Joseph was in Egypt, the Lord had given him a similar commandment that was given in Ezekiel of the responsiblity of compiling a record by the hand of those of Joseph. That was the brass plates record, which had been handed down and by the time of Zedekiah and Lehi around 600 BC, that record was in the hands of and kept by the House of Laban, a relative of Lehi who was also of the House of Joseph, therefore he did keep the record as the Book of Mormon explains. That the greater extend of the stick of Joseph really ought to more fully also include that material that is found on the plates of brass, which are yet to come to light in their full textual form though the Lord has promised that one day they will.

And then there is the matter of post Bible and post Book of Mormon histories of both the Jews and the House of Joseph which in truth ought to be inclued in a more complete and comprehensive Stick of Judah and Stick of Joseph. In part some of the additional scriptures of the LDS Church should be looked at an include in the record of the comprehensive Stick of Joseph. The LDS Chruch represents itself to the world to be initially began by those called of God who were literal descendants of Joseph of Egypt who had been scattered into the world and gathered together in America in order to fulfill the covenant promises to father Abraham. That is thouse which speak of the descendants of father Abraham being such as who would bring the fulness of the blessings of Abraham to all the nations of the earth. Thus in this respect, the Doctrine and Covenants and a number of other record sources of the LDS Church are to be looked to as a part of a contemporay segment of the complete Stick of Joseph detailing certain fact about the House of Joseph's operations and history and functioning in the 'latter-days'.

Now, back to the record of Ezekiel in his time. Such as the stick of Judah and stick of Joseph command given to Ezekiel is often considered to be but as Ezekiel being called 'son of man' in his roll in the development of the stick of Judah compilation in Babylon. But while it is likely Ezekiel who does produce much of the compiled Bible record preserved out of Babylon, he never finishes it himself, nor does he ever write the history of Joseph. Thus the 'son of man' being commanded here can be easily seen to be of a greater consideration than just Ezekiel. One could consider it a 'general command' to all those who are the 'son of man' who undertook or undertake to write parts of the two records of the two nations as directed by the Lord, and that would be a fine understanding that it does go beyond the perspective of just Ezekiel. Yet there is even more to be so considered here. During Christ mortal ministry he was called the 'Son of Man'. And while that general title might so be applied to all who do the Lord's work under the Lord's direction, it has a very specific meaning applied directly to the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He is the 'Son of Man'. And this seems, in that more universal sense, to be a command given by the Father to the Son, commanding him to so see that the two records of the two nations of Judah and Joseph be kept. And thus when it so states for the Son of Man to join them one to another into one stick of history, they will become one in Christ's hand. And not only that, the Messiah of each nation will be that 'One Messiah' of them both in whose hand they have been so joined, which ties directly into the latter verses which speaks of there being but One King, One Shepherd and One Lord, who is to be known by the name of the 'Beloved' or 'David'. And that is Jesus Christ.

And thus it is so prophesied, that Jesus will be the one who is seen to have caused to be written the records of both Judah and Joseph. And it will be that the two nations will be joined one to the other as but one nation under One Shepherd, One King, King David. And then that King David who is the Messiah will be both seen to be of the house of David as well as of the house of Joseph. And thus Messiah ben David and Messiah ben Joseph will be seen and be known to be but One Messiah. And it will be he who is that Messiah ben Joseph who gathers Israel and who will contend in that last battle against the forces of Amalek which is another name so given to Satan and his followers. And it will be he who is the Suffering Messiah, who once suffered death and was raised again by the power of that priesthood, that Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of Man or the Son of God. And then it will be seen that he has come again as the One and only true Messiah. The Messiah of both Judah and Joseph, and that there is no other Messiah beside him. [Note: this is one reason that the Book of Mormon stresses that there is but one Messiah and why LDS scholar ought not attempt to attribute that the Jewish tradition of Messiah ben Joseph does but refer to Joseph Smith as some have been known to do.]

"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." ~ John 10:15 (3 Nephi 15:12-21)

Now even in the New Testament and in the Book of Mormon is this concept echoed that it would be so, that Jesus would be the single one shepherd of the two nations of the Hebrew children. Jesus taught them in the lands of Jerusalem that there were other sheep which he told the remnant of the seed of Joseph in America that they were a part of, the lost sheep, the lost ten tribes of Israel who all come under the name and banner of Ephraim as Israel, the kingdom thereof and his companions. Thus the understanding so presented in Ezekiel 37 is consistant throughout the scriptures and so also further defined in understanding that it is Christ who is the one shepherd which Ezekiel did so call King David.

"Wherefore the fruit of thy [Joseph] loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to a knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
"And out of weakness shall he be made strong, in that day when my work shall go forth among all my people, which shall restore them, who are of the house of Israel, in the last days."

'Can These Bones Live Again?'

Where in the world could the Lord have transported Ezekiel to at that moment in time that had a valley of display filled with the bones of the dead? The Book of Mormon presents just a location at that exact time that so filled with the bones of the dead. In the land we know as America, that Jaredite nation had just completed their utter total self-anihilation leaving no one to bury their remaining borns left baking in the son. That valley of bones as shown to Ezekiel was but a representative image of all those that had ever lived, that did then live, and that would come to live on the earth over its entire duration of the Lord's provided probation testing of mankind from beginning to end. The answer to the question and how it has, does and will work will be given shortly, but first the words from the text of Ezekiel:

"THE hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
"And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
"And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
"Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
"Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
"And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
"So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
"And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
"Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
"So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army." (Old Testament | Ezekiel 37:1-10)

Now, what does this first part of Ezekiel chapter 37 have to do with the second part of that chapter which speaks of the two nations of Israel coming together inton being one great nation under the one Messiah that they will both recognize as being their Messiah? Well, that is the coming together of the great nation of Israel unto which all mankind who ever has lived must joined themselfs to in order to come unto Christ, receive the blessings of Abraham and so qualify as a united part of the nation of Israel to come to be redeemed by and through the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. And how is that possible and how is that going to happen?

Jesus has said that except a man be born of the water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. That is he cannot and will not come to be a son or daughter of Jesus Christ unto Salvation. But the great majority of all who have lived and died and who do now live and all who will yet live—the majority of them will not have been baptized unto Christ in their own lifetime. The New Testament reference the means that a person who was dead could be baptized and then therefore resurrected when it said:

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" 1 Corinthians 15:29

And without going into further detail, simply said, the living are to be vicariously baptized for the dead and to so perform the ordiances of salvation for all who have ever lived, so that they can so qualify according to the world of God and be baptized. And it is Peter who further explained just how it is that the dead would hear and be converted unto Christ when he said:

"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." 1 Peter 4:6

Thus it is seen in short how it is possible. They are taught the gospel in the spirit world of the dead and their baptism and other salvation ordinances are performed vicariously for them by such as baptism of the living vicariously for those who are dead. Thus is the way laid open for all to be saved in Jesus Christ, though he only minister about 3 years on earth in the flesh. And when will there be time for this to all happen? Will it has already began. The foundation of it is being laid by the Chruch of Jesus Christ today in the temples of the Lord where such vicarious ordinances such as baptism are being performed for the dead. No there is not enough time to have it done for all before the Second Coming of Christ, just a foundational layer. What do you think is going to be going on during the 1000 years of the Lord's Millennial Reign? And when all these souls are so provided for and they themselves have 'wrestled with the gospel of Jesus Christ' and become as did Jacob a son (or daughter) of Israel, having prevailed in and of the Lord, they too will be added to the House of Israel, having received that blessings through the seed of Abraham according to that covenant blessing of father Abraham.

Now we know that the valley of bones is but a representation of all who have lived. And we understand that much all of the bodies of men have returned to the dust of the earth. But that dust, symbolized by those 'bones' will be called forth by the power of God and all will be brought to be of the people of the Lord, even of Israel as it is said by the 'connecting verses' of Ezekiel 37 which tie the 'Nation of Israel' and its workings to all who have lived and the resurrection of their dead 'bones'.

"¶ Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
"Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
"And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
"And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD." Ezekiel 37:11-14

Now as Paul Harvey would say, you have the rest of the story. At least here it Ezekiel 37 you have much of the connecting links that bring much of it together from united the two Messiahs into the one True Messiah to bring about the salvation of all mankind in and through that Messiah into his kingdom and as a part of his people Israel.