Are We of Israel?

"Are We of Israel?" by George Reynolds is a religious treatise written in the late 19th century. This book delves into the beliefs surrounding the ancestry and identity of the Latter-day Saints as descendants of the ancient Israelites, particularly focusing on the promises made to Abraham and his posterity. Through a combination of scripture, historical analysis, and interpretations of prophetic texts, Reynolds seeks to provide evidence for the claim that many modern nations, especially those in Europe and the Americas, are linked to the tribes of Israel. In "Are We of Israel?", Reynolds explores the concept that the Latter-day Saints are among those of Israel and discusses the historical and spiritual significance of this heritage. The book opens by reiterating the divine promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding their descendants. It then traces the migratory patterns of the lost tribes, particularly the Ten Tribes, and their potential connections to various European nations such as the Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians. Throughout the chapters, Reynolds presents arguments and testimonies from both ancient and modern sources, including insights from leaders like President Brigham Young, to illustrate how the blood of Israel might be found mixed within nations around the world. The work culminates in a strong assertion that the gathering of Israel is not just a past event but an ongoing process that ennobles and connects people across time and space. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

George Reynolds was a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a longtime secretary to the church's First Presidency, and a party to the 1878 United States Supreme Court case Reynolds v. United States, the first freedom of religion case to issue from that court.