You probably have blogged it already (and I just have not come across it), but we are about to enter a civil war in this country that will shake it from coast to coast. Read my blog to see the supporting research on that. I am one of the few people that sees it coming. Like the ten tribes adherents (who are few and far between), there are few who recognize the Book of Mormon as the manual that it is for dealing with the extreme difficulties of war in your own land. There is dualism in Section 87 as I always say.

Keep up the great work!

That said, we know that the entire City of Enoch was translated and will return during the Second Coming. The scriptures say that Zion from above will be reunited with Zion from beneath. Personally, I think that this homecoming will be a simple process that is less impressive than the joy the saints experience.

Apparently, King Melkizedek and the City of Salem were likewise translated. The scriptures that we currently have do not give us enough information on this, but it would be great to find out more.

When the righteous of this time are reunited with the righteous of ages past, it will be a glorious day indeed. I hope many of us are present to see the promises of the Lord fulfilled.

Besides John the Beloved and the three Nephites, there were other obedient Christians who were translated. I think it’s safe to assume Moses and his brother Aaron were translated, as well as Elijah. Also, the brothers Nephi and Lehi appear to have been translated. Whether there were more individuals or peoples translated we do not know as yet.

At one time, we were all angels and dwelt in heaven together. It is logical to assume that heaven it is a series of planets on a higher order, the divine order. It’s not far-fetched to think of going to heaven without experiencing mortal death. From the scriptures, it seems evident that many of the righteous of this generation will be caught up to be with the Lord before the destruction of the wicked occurs.

It’s probably safe to assume that all the saints whose missions were on this earth will be reunited at some time in the near future, probably at the Second Coming before the Millennial reign, and that we will no longer dwell exclusively here.

You and I agree on about 97% of everything, and so I am NOT too inclined to hassle you about the 3% we differ on. True, I absolutely love traditional scientific interpretations of earth origins, etc., but you and I BOTH know that the gospel comes FIRST.

Besides, you are one of a tiny handful of individuals on the Bloggernacle who could cause me to actually shut up, pause, and wonder if I might be wrong. I mean that as a very high compliment.

As I shared with my good friend and fellow blogger S. Faux above, this subject is pure speculation and not at all central to our salvation. And of course, you are right about Eliza R. Snow. Brigham Young called her a prophetess, but she was not our prophet.

I believe that what Eliza shared in her poems was considered common knowledge back in the early days of the church. This is evidenced by the quote from an early and well-respected apostle Orson Pratt in my essay. His brother Parley also taught the doctrine.

Time has changed the way we view in the church this question of where the lost ten tribes are located. If it was common knowledge in the 1840′s, by 1910 less than 30% of the members of the church believed that they are not here among us on the earth.

Again, as I noted in my comment to S. Faux, from my experience in discussing this concept with members of the church in my neck of the woods, less than 5% believe it today. The majority believe as you do that the lost tribes are dispersed among us.

I think I have made it clear over the years through my essays here on Latter-day Commentary, I believe that the lost ten tribes of Israel are in a separate body and will join us at some future day. They will return just as the City of Enoch will return.

The phrase “land of the North” is one that engenders much speculation. I do not believe that it refers to anyplace on this earth, but to a portion of the earth that used to be attached and to which the lost ten tribes ascended through miraculous means.

Yes, it is dangerous to believe in and act upon false ideas and false doctrine, especially when it comes to our salvation. Like you, I too will continue to study and follow the gospel of Jesus Christ and not waste too much time in speculative scripture reading.

My ideas about the giant chunk of earth landing at the pole have been refined over the years. I don’t believe there will be physical contact when it comes back and I don’t believe that it will reintegrate or reassemble in any way. It was always a separate body.

I agree that we just do not know details of the lost ten tribes. I suspect that we are both right. Some from the ten tribes are indeed among us. Yet, there may be a large body of them somewhere separate. We know that they have prophets among them.

We also know that the Savior visited them after his visit to the Nephites in ancient America. And we know that when they return, they will bring their records with them. These records will include their dealings with the Savior and with John the Revelator.

Thank you again for your additional comments and for your caution. I am honored that you took the time to share your thoughts on the subject. I recognize that I am a bit of a maverick on this idea, but I assure you that I do not teach this in official settings.

As a long time teacher in the church, I follow Elder Packer’s direction about what I teach from the pulpit or in the classroom. I only teach that which is found in the authorized and current manuals of the church. I leave the speculation for my blog.

I think what this discussion comes down to in the end is that we just do not know and we will have to wait for ‘further light and knowledge’ to be revealed at some future date. As long as we do not become obsessive on points of mystery and allow it to distract us from the key doctrines of the gospel then I guess these suppositions are relatively harmless. We just should be cautious not to read more into the scriptures than has been revealed. We do not want to make the same mistake that the Jews made and reach beyond the mark. I will admit it would be kind of cool to have a giant chunk of earth land at the pole though. How cool it would be to witness such a miracle? But, I will continue to follow the gospel and not waste to much time in speculative scripture reading.

http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/WMace.html

Also read the poem from Eliza R. Snow, one of Joseph’s wives that R. Gary referred to in the link in his comment above. You can also find it in the Wandle Mace autobiography. This doctrine was clearly believed and taught in the early days of the church and even in my youth. Sadly, it is not commonly believed or taught today.

I learned this doctrine when I was but a lad, growing up in the old Covina Stake here in Southern California. I remember some High Council speakers teaching on the subject and it intrigued me so I did some studying and digging. You don’t hear this idea taught much any more. In fact, the handbook specifically advises us to avoid speculation and controversial subjects when we speak from the pulpit.

After several years of pondeirng and thinking about the creation of the earth, I’ve decided to revisit the topic in my next essay. I remember I got blasted when I first wrote about the ideas of evolution and the creation. I want to focus on several quotes of the early brethren who said that Joseph taught that this world was organized from the fragments of other, much older worlds.

I think I’ve written several times that I am a Catastrophist and don’t believe in Uniformitarianism. I imagine you have engaged in dozens of dialogs about this. If fact, I’ve read many of your comments about this on various spots in the Bloggernacle. I hope you’ll come back and comment on what I offer. Knowing that you are an expert on the subject, I will greatly value your critiques.