Do Mormons believe the Native Americans to be descendents of Jews?
First, let’s clear up a minor misconception, here. Lehi and his family were not Jews. Jews, in this meaning, are members of the tribe of Judah, which is only one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Lehi and his family were of the tribe of Manasseh. Ishmael, who came with them — and whose seed mingled and interbred with that of Lehi — was of the tribe of Ephraim. So the Lamanites as well as the Nephites were of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, and not of Judah. In 2 Nephi 4:3–9 ( http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/4/3-9 ) Lehi blesses the seed of Laman and Lemuel, that though they may be cursed for their inequity, that they will not be destroyed, that the Lord will be merciful to them and their seed forever, and that in the end, their seed shall be blessed. This would seem to imply that there must still remain in this world to this day, and to the end, some descendants of Laman and Lemuel; that even though th
