NATIVE PEOPLE OF THE
AMERICAS
MISSIONARY PROGRAMS
The Church has been
given a special commission to preach the
Restored Gospel to the
Native Peoples of the Americas
who we understand to be descendents of the
Tribe of Joseph, one of the
Twelve Tribes of Israel,
as chronicled in the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon. In the Book of
Mormon the descendants of Joseph are often referenced as
The Seed of Joseph and it is
recognized that they have been scattered throughout the
Americas,
the isles of the sea and to unknown locations throughout the world.
Therefore, all of the missionary programs of The Church incorporate this
special commission. The
Church believes the tribe of Joseph journeyed to the
Americas
600 years before Christ. These indigenous peoples, discovered by
European explorers, came to be known as the Indian peoples of the
Americas.
The Church believes in the restoration of
Israel
as it is spoken of by the prophets and that the restoration will begin
with the Seed of Joseph. Missionary Programs for the Seed of Joseph are
a high priority of The Church. In the eighteen-hundreds The Church
began to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Native Peoples of the
United States
and
Canada.
The Church was established on two reserves in
Canada
in 1932. Subsequently, Native American missions were established in
Arizona
in 1961 and in
New Mexico
in 1971. The Church actively works with Native Americans in urban areas
as well as those on reservations. Internationally, the Gospel has been
preached to remnants of the Seed of Joseph and has been established in
Mexico,
Guatemala,
the
Caribbean
and
South America.
The goal of The Church is to take the Gospel message to every Indian
Tribe in the
United States
and to other descendants of The Tribe of Joseph throughout the world.
First Voices Website.
First Voices Newsletter.
NAO Handbook - Formatted for printing (PDF).
NAO February Annoucement (PDF).
For other information
please contact the General Church Correspondent (800)484-4714 or email
at
Gospel1862@aol.com.
