Why Is Sharia Law Not Acceptable in America?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns the need to keep the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law of America. In December 2025, Chip Roy (R-TX-21) and Keith Self (R-TX-03) acted to protect constitutional law in the United States by launching the Sharia-Free America Caucus in the House of Representatives. They did so to “counter the alarming rise of Sharia law in the United States.”

According to the press release on December 18, 2025, “Sharia is a dominating force that is not compatible with the U.S. Constitution. The formation of the Caucus has earned the support of U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville – the leading voice in the Senate against Sharia.” The following quotes are from the press release. 

Rep. Chip Roy

America is facing a threat that directly attacks our Constitution and our Western values: the spread of Sharia law. From Texas to every state in this constitutional republic, instances of Sharia adherents masquerading as ‘refugees’ – and in many cases, sleeper cells connected to terrorist organizations – are threatening the American way of life. Those who succumb to this political ideology seek to replace our legal system and Constitution. Under Sharia law, there is no freedom of speech, religion, or women’s rights. Europe should be a wake-up call to America, showing what the spread of Sharia law looks like. America’s immigration system must brace to take on this battle, not only to preserve our constitutional republic but to take charge in the spiritual warfare and defend our Judeo-Christian values….

Rep. Keith Self

The American way of life is under siege by radicals from a culture waging war against our Constitution and Western values. We’ve seen what happens when nations allow this infiltration: countries like France and England are on the verge of losing their identity and sovereignty. The same forces are at play here in America today, and if we don’t stop them, they will conquer our country too….

Sen. Tommy Tuberville

For months, I’ve been warning about the growing threat of Islam in the United States. Islam isn’t a religion, it’s a death cult. Sharia Law teaches that it is righteous to kill all infidels, and especially Christians. Unfortunately, 15 innocent people were murdered by Radical Islamists in Australia this weekend. If we don’t wake up, these types of terrorist attacks will become commonplace. I’m glad that some of my Republican colleagues in the House have a backbone and are joining me in the fight against this anti-American ideology.

This site states, “Twenty-four House Republicans joined the caucus within its first month of existence.” In the next paragraph, the article states that membership grew to forty-three members in the first two months of existence. Self said that he expects the caucus to continue growing. 

The Sharia-Free America Caucus and its growth attracted the attention of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), according to an article by Tyler O’Neil at The Daily Signal.

CAIR “has designated the Sharia Free America Caucus” as an ‘anti-Muslim hate group.’

O’Neil quotes a Muslim reformer as saying: 

“Labeling a congressional caucus that represents millions of Americans a ‘hate group’ simply for addressing the threat of Sharia supremacism to Muslims and non-Muslims is not civil rights advocacy,” Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, told The Daily Signal in a statement Wednesday.

“It is the American equivalent of a blasphemy law – a tool to silence, stigmatize, and shut down legitimate constitutional debate.”

While Jasser noted that some of the caucus members’ statements could have benefited from more clarity, he claimed that “CAIR isn’t interested in nuance. They want total dominance of the conversation – where any public challenge to theocratic Islamism is branded as hatred and any critic is driven from the public square, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.”

“This is structurally identical to how clerical regimes in Muslim-majority countries use anti-blasphemy laws to crush Muslim dissent against theocrats,” he argued. “CAIR has never stook with reform-minded, freethinking Muslims – the dissidents, the secularists, the liberal reformers, the faithful who reject theocracy from within the Muslim community.”

… CAIR announced the “hate group” designation last month, accusing the caucus of attempting to render the practice of the Islamic faith illegal….

CAIR does not usually designate “hate groups,” but it has repeatedly partnered with the Southern Poverty Law Center in urging community foundations to stop funding organizations the SPLC brands “anti-Muslim hate groups.”

Critics claim the SPLC puts mainstream conservative and Christian groups on a “hate map” alongside Ku Klux Klan chapters, suggesting that a similar hatred drives them….

A Terrorist Organization?

“The fact that CAIR – an organization that multiple states have classified as a terrorist organization – has designated the Sharia Free American Caucus as a ‘hate group’ is absurd,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told The Daily Signal.

“Recent attacks in places like New York and Michigan are a reminder of the very real threat posed by violent ideologies and I’m glad my colleagues are looking at ways to prevent Sharia law and political Islam from taking hold in America,” he added.

When approached for comment, Self responded, “We don’t care about the opinion of a designated terrorist organization.”

Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, designated CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization on Nov. 18, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., followed suit in December. CAIR sued, and a federal judge issued a temporary injunction blocking DeSantis’ executive order.

A Vital Distinction

Jasser, the Muslim reformer, told The Daily Signal that “there is a necessary and important distinction between personal pietistic Islamic practice – which deserves full constitutional protection – and many applications of Sharia that infringe on individual and human rights.”

“This includes not only overt political Sharia imposed through local governance, but Sharia-based practices that strip individuals – women, religious minorities, apostates, dissenters – of their fundamental rights and dignities, whether in the home, the community, or the public square,” he added.

The Caucus’ Distinction

“Sharia is a political and legal system that seeks supremacy over the U.S. Constitution,” Rep. Self told The Daily Signal. “As Dr. Zuhdi Jasser has rightly said, the real threat is political Islam and Sharia supremacism, not the personal faith of peaceful Muslims.”

“Our caucus is not banning ‘Islam,’” Self added. “We are simply insisting that America remains governed by one law – the Constitution – and that we reject any foreign legal system that demands to replace it. CAIR can call that ‘hate’ if they want. Americans call it common sense.”

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, told The Daily Signal that the debate isn’t “about freedom of religion – this is about the threat of political Islam that is antithetical to America’s foundation.” He said that immigrants should “assimilate to our culture, not impose third-world ideals into our society.”

 

Is Arctic Frost Worse Than Watergate?

More documents have been released about Jack Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump. According to an article by Fred Lucas at The Daily Signal, the newly released documents from the Department of Justice “provide details on former special counsel Jack Smith’s subpoenas for phone records of current administration officials and members of Congress.” 

The documents were made public shortly before a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, titled “Arctic Frost: A Modern Watergate.” They reveal how Smith’s probe demanded current FBI Director Kash Patel’s phone records and proposed subpoenas for records of 14 members of Congress.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, released the documents along with Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the subcommittee that held the hearing on Tuesday.

Cruz compared the data gathering by Smith’s team to the scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974.

“It is a modern Watergate, trading a break-in at one office for a digital sweep into approximately 100,000 private communications, more than a dozen senators, and thousands of individuals’ lives,” Cruz said.

“It is something far broader, an operation that aligned Democrats across all three branches of government: the Biden executive branch, through DOJ and the FBI, wielding investigative power against political opponents; Democrat-appointed judges in the judiciary, through warrants, secrecy orders, and deference, failing to serve as a meaningful check; and members of the legislative branch, who should be the first line of oversight, choosing instead to look the other way,” Cruz continued.

In 2025, the Senate Judiciary Committee released a set of documents that showed Smith’s team collected phone data from nine Republican senators and one Republican House member in the investigation, dubbed “Arctic Frost.”

The new batch of documents shows Smith’s team wanted even more members’ records.

Cruz noted the Smith team sought records of about one-fifth of Senate Republicans. He asked Will Chamberlain, senior counsel for the Article III Project, a watchdog group, how he would compare the Arctic Frost probe to the Watergate scandal.

Chamberlain brought up the surveillance of then-Trump campaign manager Susie Wiles and her lawyer. Wiles is not the White House chief of staff. According to reports, the FBI recorded a phone call between Wiles and her lawyer without her knowledge.

“If anything, it might even be greater. The scope of this, in terms of the sheer number of people and organizations affected, this brazen violation of attorney-client privilege, wiretapping, a phone call between Susie Wiles and her lawyer,” Chamberlain told the Senate panel. “These are egregious offenses, and if Watergate was just about a single break-in, this is effectively compounding that by 200.”

Smith issued two subpoenas to Verizon, requesting about two years of Patel’s phone records spanning January 2021 through February 2023, the documents show.

The subpoenas sought Patel’s residential and email addresses and phone connection records, including records of text messages sent and received. Such information would not include the content of conversations by phone or text.

Federal judges approved nondisclosure agreements for the requests, asserting there were “reasonable grounds” because disclosure of the subpoenas “will result” in actions such as flight from prosecution and evidence tampering….

An email on Jan. 10, 2023, discussed plans to subpoena toll records for various members of Congress and staff, including Republican Reps. Brian Babin of Texas; Andy Biggs of Arizona, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Jody Hice of Georgia, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Lee Zeldin of New York; as well as Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Cruz.

“The records include a wish list created by Smith’s team naming 14 members of Congress for whom they wanted to seek tolling data. Some of those members are senators on this very committee,” Grassley said.

“But, the list notes that Smith’s team already knew these members had communications, to include text messages for some members, with individuals associated with President Trump.”

Smith defended his actions while testifying before the House Judiciary Committee in January: “For the conspiracy that we were investigating, it was relevant to get full records to understand the scope of that conspiracy,” Smith told the House panel. He added, “In conducting a criminal investigation, securing non-content toll records, as you described, is a common practice in almost any complex concern.”

How Will ICE Agents in Airports Help the TSA Situation?

Congressional Democrats worst nightmare may have just come true. Senate Democrats put the government into a partial shutdown on February 14, causing TSA workers to go without pay. More than 400 TSA agents have quit, while others are working twelve-hour shifts or calling in sick. Senators need to pass the SAVE America Act and pay the workers!

Reuters staff reported in an article published at The Daily Signal about the situation at certain airports. ICE agents are now in airports to help TSA agents speed up airport lines, and the union for TSA workers sees a problem. Faster lines do not help with the problem of no pay for TSA agents. 

In appearances on Sunday news shows, border czar Tom Homan and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy argued that Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel can help with airport security screening, starting on Monday, even though they have not been specifically trained for it.

“When we deploy tomorrow, we’ll have a well-thought-out plan to execute,” Homan said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program.

Tens of thousands of TSA agents have been working without pay for weeks because of an impasse between Democrats and Republicans in Congress over funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency of ICE and TSA.

Trump announced on Saturday that ICE agents would be sent to airports unless Democratic lawmakers agree to fund DHS. Democrats have criticized the department’s immigration operations that have killed U.S. citizens and sparked public outrage, demanding a change in rules.

Some 10% of TSA employees have been absent from work in recent days, with the rate even higher at major airports in Atlanta, New York City and Houston, leading to lengthy lines for passengers trying to get to their gates. Hundreds of TSA agents have simply resigned, according to their labor union and TSA.

“ICE will do the job far better than ever done before!” the president, a Republican, wrote in a Sunday morning social media post.

Democratic senators caused the TSA problem but try their usual tactic of blaming Republicans. President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans – other than my Senator Lisa Murkowski – insist that voters need to be US citizens to register to vote and show picture identification to vote. Seems like a reasonable demand to me.

Who Are David Axelrod and Scott Jennings?

 My VIPs for this week are David Axelrod (a Democratic strategist) and Scott Jennings (a Republican consultant). They are friends who had “a frank discussion” at Arizona State University’s Dialogues for Democracy event on March 17.

According to Gitanjali Poonia at the Deseret News, Axelrod and Jennings discussed “some of the biggest hot-button issues,” such as “the Iran war and the SAVE Act.” 

That’s just another Tuesday for this pair of political pundits from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

But in a day and age when politics feels personal, Jennings and Axelrod have managed to forge a friendship despite their political differences.

Axelrod asked Jennings, “How is it that we have gotten to the point where being friends with someone who has a different point of view than you is considered somehow inappropriate – or worse?”

Jennings, in response, talked about what drew him to Axelrod at CNN.

“Most people don’t listen to anything other than themselves, but Ax tends to open his heart and his ears before he opens his mouth,” said Jennings.

“Even though we’ve had some sharp disagreements, I never doubt his sincerity or the way he approaches the job. He’s not there to hurt anybody; he’s there to help the conversation.”

Axelrod deflected the stream of compliments and, in response, acknowledged Jennings as “one of the smartest guys I’ve ever sat down with on a television set.”

Axelrod and Jennings couldn’t be more different politically. The former worked as an adviser to former President Barack Obama, and the latter assisted former President George W. Bush.

But the spoke to each other with great ease.

“We need to be able to have these discussions,” Axelrod said toward the end. “We’re so separated by our media and our politics that we often don’t get to know each other, and it’s easy to assume the worst about each other.”

“My hope is that we can find a way back to a place where we seek out our common humanity instead of wallowing in our differences. Because I think that is the fundamental challenge for our democracy.”

I personally enjoy sharing ideas with people who do not think the same way as I do IF they are willing to discuss ideas and policies. I absolutely do not enjoy being told that I am an idiot because I think differently, but I gain understanding from respectful dialogues. I am conservative, but I have family members who help me to understand life and events from different perspectives. They also help me to not think of liberals as enemies, but as people who think differently than I do.

Does Federalism Hinder or Help the States?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is federalism, or the division of powers between the federal government and the state governments. This site provided the following information on federalism. 

Another basic concept embodied in the Constitution is federalism, which refers to the division and sharing of power between the national and state governments. By allocating power among state and federal governments, the Framers sought to establish a unified national government of limited powers while maintaining a distinct sphere of autonomy in which state governments could exercise a general police power. Although the Framers sought to preserve liberty by diffusing power, Justices and scholars have noted that federalism has other advantages, including that it allows individual states to experiment with novel government programs as laboratories of democracy and increases the accountability of elected government officials to citizens.

Although the text of the Constitution does not clearly delineate many of the boundaries between the powers of the federal and state governments, the Supreme Court has frequently invoked certain constitutional provisions when determining that Congress has exceeded its constitutional powers and infringed upon state sovereignty. One well-known provision, regarded by the Court as both a shield and sword to thwart federal encroachment, is the Tenth Amendment, which provides that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people…. Other notable provisions addressing Congress’s power relative to the states that the Court has debated include the Supremacy Clause in Article VI, which establishes federal law as superior to state law, the Commerce Clause in Article I, Section 8, Clause 3, which grants Congress the authority to legislate on matters concerning interstate commerce; and Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which grants Congress the power to enforce that Amendment’s guarantees against the states through the enactment of appropriate legislation. More broadly, federalism principles also undergird many Supreme Court decisions interpreting individual rights and the extent to which the Court should federalize, for example, the rights afforded to state criminal defendants. But judges and scholars disagree on how basic principles of federalism should be realized, and a key point of controversy is whether the judiciary should enforce the interests of the states against the Federal Government or leave the resolution of such key questions about the relationship between federal and state power to the political process.

With the above cited information in mind, this essay will share a recent example about how the federal government can hinder or help the states. In her article published at The Daily Signal, Virginia Allen reported on the recent remarks of Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy about the differences in how “development and extraction of resources in Alaska” were managed by the Biden administration and the Trump administration. 

“Trump is all about opportunity. In other words, no limits, giving Alaska the opportunity to develop its resources, build things, market things, exactly the way it was supposed to be,” the Alaska Republican governor said.

“Under [President Joe Biden], it was the opposite. They were violently determined not to allow anything to happen in Alaska.”

“They put the environmentalists first, not the people or the needs of the state or country first,” Dunleavy said of the Biden administration, while talking with The Daily Signal at the Miami Security Forum….

Alaska: Resource Rich

Alaska was the only state to receive its own executive order on Trump’s first day back in the White House. The order, titled “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” again made it the policy of the United States to “fully avail itself of Alaska’s vast lands and resources,” including Alaska’s liquefied natural gas.

Trump’s order “means hope” for Alaska because it compels the federal government to take full advantage of the state’s natural resources, from timber to mining, thus increasing investment in Alaska, the governor explained.

Trump’s executive order to further develop Alaskan oil resources is significant following the conflict with Iran that has rocked global oil markets. Iran threatens ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping lane.

Japan, for example, imports about 90% of its oil from the Persian Gulf. It takes, under normal circumstances, about 20 days for an oil shipment to reach Japan from the Middle East, but it would take just eight days for an oil shipment to reach Japan from Alaska, Dunleavy explained.

National Security

In addition to holding a wealth of natural resources, Alaska is also a critical U.S. national security asset due to its proximity to Russia and its location in the Arctic.

Both Russia and China demonstrate a keen interest in the Arctic. Russia, in particular, is extracting the region’s natural resources for economic purposes and asserting military dominance there.

In just the past 10 years in the Arctic, Russia has “revitalized Soviet-era bases, deployed missile defense systems, invested in domain awareness capabilities, increased aerial and maritime patrols, and stepped up its exercise schedule,” according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

While Russia has about 40 icebreakers, special ships that can navigate the Arctic’s icy waters, the U.S. has had only two, one of which never fully worked, according to Dunleavy. However, the Big Beautiful Bill, which Trump signed last year, included funding to procure an estimated 17 new icebreakers.

The new icebreakers “will position us as a year-round Arctic nation where we have icebreaking going on, we have shipping going on,” Dunleavy said, calling the investment “very, very important.”

While “a lot of administrations have fallen asleep regarding Alaska,” Dunleavy said, referring to the state’s natural resources and key security location, “the Trump administration has not.”

The effect on Anchorage shows in the number of schools and businesses that have closed over the past few years. When there are no high-paying, energy-related jobs in Alaska, employees and families move out of Alaska. This means that there are no adults to visit the businesses or students to attend the schools. Hopefully, Alaska, under the Trump administration, can get the jobs flowing to Alaska once again.

Who Was the Seer of the Latter Days?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 42-50 in a lesson titled “God Meant It unto Good.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

It had been about 22 years since Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Joseph had suffered many trials, including false accusations and imprisonment. When he finally saw his brothers again, Joseph was the governor of all Egypt, second only to the pharaoh. He could easily have taken revenge on his brothers, and considering what they had done to Joseph, that might seem understandable. And yet Joseph forgave them. Not only that, but he helped them see divine purpose in his suffering. “God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20), he told them, because it put him in a position to save “all his father’s household” (Genesis 47:12) from famine.

In many ways, Joseph was like Jesus Christ. Even though our sins caused Jesus great suffering, He offers forgiveness, delivering all of us from a fate far worse than famine. Whether we need to receive forgiveness or extend it—at some point we all need to do both—Joseph’s example points us to the Savior, the true source of healing and reconciliation.

This scripture block taught numerous principles, including (1) “God sent me before you to preserve you” (Genesis 45:5-7; 47:12); (2) Forgiveness brings healing (Genesis 45; 50:15-21); (3) Jacob gave his family prophetic blessings (Genesis 49); (4) God can help me find meaning in my trials (Genesis 50:19-21); (5) “A seer shall the Lord my God raise up” (Genesis 50:24-25).

All the principles are worthy of discussion and extremely interesting. However, this essay will discuss the last principle about a seer being raised up. The scripture verses are as follow, the first set from Genesis 50:24-25, and the second set from Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:24-38.

24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

 

24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers; and I go down to my grave with joy. The God of my father Jacob be with you, to deliver you out of affliction in the days of your bondage; for the Lord hath visited me, and I have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of my loins, the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins; and unto thee, whom my father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet; (not the Messiah who is called Shilo;) and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of thy bondage.

25 And it shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power; and shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and out of captivity unto freedom.

26 A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.

27 Thus saith the Lord God of my fathers unto me, A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren.

28 And he shall bring them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers; and he shall do whatsoever work I shall command him.

29 And I will make him great in mine eyes, for he shall do my work; and he shall be great like unto him whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel, out of the land of Egypt; for a seer will I raise up to deliver my people out of the land of Egypt; and he shall be called Moses. And by this name he shall know that he is of thy house; for he shall be nursed by the king’s daughter, and shall be called her son.

30 And again, a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth of my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them in the last days;

31 Wherefore the fruit of thy 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.

32 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.

33 And that seer will I bless, and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise I give unto you; for I will remember you from generation to generation; and his name shall be called Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his father; and he shall be like unto you; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand shall bring my people unto salvation.

34 And the Lord sware unto Joseph that he would preserve his seed forever, saying, I will raise up Moses, and a rod shall be in his hand, and he shall gather together my people, and he shall lead them as a flock, and he shall smite the waters of the Red Sea with his rod.

35 And he shall have judgment, and shall write the word of the Lord. And he shall not speak many words, for I will write unto him my law by the finger of mine own hand. And I will make a spokesman for him, and his name shall be called Aaron.

36 And it shall be done unto thee in the last days also, even as I have sworn. Therefore, Joseph said unto his brethren, God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land, unto the land which he sware unto Abraham, and unto Isaac, and to Jacob.

37 And Joseph confirmed many other things unto his brethren, and took an oath of the children of Israel, saying unto them, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

38 So Joseph died when he was an hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and they put him in a coffin in Egypt; and he was kept from burial by the children of Israel, that he might be carried up and laid in the sepulchre with his father. And thus they remembered the oath which they sware unto him. [Emphasis added.]

In his article “Two Josephs Across the Centuries: The Strong Prophetic Ties between Joseph of Israel and Joseph Smith,” published at Latter-Day Saint Magazine, Paul Bishop shared the symmetry in sacred history. 

Sacred history sometimes unfolds with a symmetry inviting to careful attention. One such pattern appears in the prophetic link between Joseph of Egypt and Joseph Smith. Latter day Saint scripture presents this relationship not as coincidence but as part of a divine design reaching across millennia. The idea emerges in the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 50 and receives powerful reinforcement in the Book of Mormon, particularly in 2 Nephi 3. When the passages are read together, they present a compelling vision of prophecy fulfilled through lineage, revelation, and the restoration of sacred records. 

Joseph of Egypt already stands as one of the great figures of the Old Testament. His story carries the drama of betrayal, endurance, and eventual deliverance. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, he rose through years of hardship to become a trusted leader in Egypt. Through revelation and wisdom he prepared the land for famine and preserved the family of Jacob during a time of desperate need.

However, Latter day Saint scripture adds another dimension to Joseph’s prophetic role. According to the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 50, Joseph did not look only to the immediate future of his people. He also saw far down the corridors of time. In this vision he spoke of a latter-day seer who would arise from among his own descendants. That seer would bear Joseph’s name. His mission would involve bringing forth the word of God and helping restore truth obscured over the centuries.

The prophecy becomes even more specific. The future seer’s father would also be named Joseph. The Lord would raise him up to perform a work of great value for the house of Israel. His words would bring people to the knowledge of the covenants made with their fathers. Those familiar with the life of Joseph Smith cannot miss the striking parallels.

The Book of Mormon strengthens this prophetic connection in a remarkable way. In 2 Nephi 3, the prophet Lehi gathers his sons and speaks directly to his youngest son, who is also named Joseph. In this intimate setting Lehi recalls the prophecy of Joseph of Egypt. The ancient patriarch, Lehi explains, foresaw a latter-day seer among his descendants. This seer would bring forth long hidden sacred records.

The passage then moves from prediction to purpose. The records brought forth by this latter-day Joseph would work together with the Bible to establish the truth of God’s word. They would restore plain and precious lost teachings. They would also help convince scattered Israel of the covenants made with their fathers. This is not a vague forecast. The prophecy identifies lineage, mission, and even name. It describes a seer whose work would center on scripture, revelation, and the gathering of Israel.

Joseph Smith’s life aligns closely with this description. Born in 1805 to Joseph Smith Sr., he emerged from a family line identified in Latter-day Saint patriarchal blessings with the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph of Egypt. Through divine guidance he translated the Book of Mormon from ancient plates and published it in 1830. Latter-day Saints view this moment as the opening chapter of the Restoration.

The connection between the two Josephs becomes even more meaningful when their roles are considered side by side. Joseph of Egypt preserved physical life during a season of famine. By preparing the storehouses of Egypt, he ensured his family and many others survived a devastating crisis.

Joseph Smith entered a different kind of famine. The spiritual landscape of the nineteenth century included deep religious yearning but also widespread confusion about doctrine, authority, and revelation. Through the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of priesthood authority, Joseph Smith helped reopen channels of revelation we see as essential to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Another shared element in their stories involves adversity. Joseph of Egypt endured betrayal by those closest to him. He faced slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment before his calling became widely known. Joseph Smith encountered relentless opposition during his ministry. Mobs drove him and his followers from their homes more than once. The hardships of his life formed part of the larger narrative surrounding the Restoration. These parallels do not suggest identical experiences. But they do reveal a pattern in which God prepares chosen servants through trial before placing them in positions of sacred responsibility.

The prophecy in 2 Nephi 3 also emphasizes the gathering of Israel. Joseph of Egypt preserved the house of Jacob in his generation. Joseph Smith taught extensively about the gathering of Israel in the latter days. Missionary work, temple covenants, and renewed attention to the promises made to Abraham have all become central elements of Latter- day Saint belief and practice.

Seen through this lens, the prophecy concerning the latter-day Joseph forms more than an interesting historical detail. It places the Restoration within a much longer sacred narrative. The covenant promises made to the ancient patriarchs continue to unfold in later generations.

For Latter day Saints, the connection between Joseph of Egypt and Joseph Smith illustrates how prophecy and fulfillment can span vast stretches of time. A patriarch in ancient Egypt looked forward to a future servant who would help restore God’s word. Centuries later, a young man in rural New York stepped into the role and began a work which continues to shape the faith of millions.

This prophetic thread invites a deeper appreciation for the unity of scripture. The Old Testament, the Book of Mormon, and modern revelation do not stand as isolated witnesses. They join together in telling a single unfolding story of covenant and redemption.

When those passages are read together, the voice of Joseph of Egypt reaches across the centuries with quiet certainty. The Lord would raise up a seer named Joseph. Through him sacred records would come forth and the knowledge of God’s covenants would expand again among His people.

History has now provided the name that prophecy anticipated.

How Can the Measles Outbreak Be Contained?

Families are stronger when they are healthy, and immunizations tend to help individuals stay healthy. For decades, there were few measles outbreaks because parents had their children immunized. Then parents began questioning the effectiveness of immunizations.

I found an article published at the Deseret News to be interesting and educational, and I encourage all parents to read it. Dr. Nathan Money is a board-certified, hospital-based pediatrician in Utah and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Thus, he should be qualified to share his thoughts on the topic of measles and immunization. 

In 2025, the United States had its worst measles outbreak in decades, including the first children to die from measles in 20 years. It’s 2026, and measles cases seem to only be getting worse: 2026 cases have already reached 50% of 2025’s total cases in just two months. Utah has been a hotbed for measles cases, accounting for nearly 1 in 3 of all cases in the United States, with most cases occurring in the southwestern counties.

The recent outbreak is likely a direct result of declining measles immunization rates. Improving immunization rates against measles will be vital to reversing its spread in our community. Recent models suggest that if measles immunization rates decrease 10%, the United States will see an estimated 11 million cases of measles over the next 25 years (an average of 440,000 cases per year). In contrast, if we can increase immunization rates by 5%, there will be only 5,800 cases over that same time frame (an average of around 200 cases per year).

Measles is far more than a rash and fever – it is pneumonia in a previously healthy child, brain swelling in an intensive care unit and anxiety for families who thought it was gone. At its core, measles prevention is about protecting children, especially those who are too young or too medically vulnerable to be fully protected themselves.

As a hospital-based pediatrician in Utah, I want to help keep children safe, healthy and out of the hospital. Below are 10 important questions Utah parents should get answered about measles recognition and prevention.

Is measles really that dangerous for children?

Yes. Measles can be very dangerous and even life threatening, especially in infants. It is extremely contagious, and many children with measles are hospitalized due to complications. Of those, 1 in 1,000 dies.

What are the first signs and symptoms of measles?

The first signs of measles include a fever, runny nose, cough and red eyes. A few days later, a red rash can appear that starts on the head and spreads downward.

My child was exposed; when might I see symptoms?

Measles symptoms usually take one to two weeks to start after exposure…. If your child is immunized, the chances of them getting measles are very low.

How contagious is the measles virus?

Measles is extremely contagious; it can spread through the air and survive for two hours in a room after a person with measles has left it. A person with measles will spread it to 90% of unimmunized people they have contact with. Those with measles should quarantine until at least four days after the appearance of their rash.

I think my child has measles, what should I do?

If you suspect your child has measles – especially if they have been exposed recently – you should call your health care provider for guidance….

Please call the facility before you go to notify them … and wear a mask….

My child has measles. What complications should I watch for?

Two important complications of measles are pneumonia (1 in 20) and brain swelling (encephalitis, 1 in 1000). Many cases of measles can safely recover at home, but you should seek immediate medical attention if your child is struggling to breathe or has altered mental status or seizures.

When should my child be immunized, and how effective is immunization?

Measles immunizations are usually given when children are one and four years old….

The MMR immunization is 97% effective at preventing infection – only 4% of cases in 2025 were in immunized people. If your child is immunized and still gets measles, they will have a milder case and are less likely to have complications….

What is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)?

SSPE is a complication of measles that can occur years after infection. One in 600 infants that get measles will have this complication, which is usually fatal….

Is the MMR vaccine associated with autism?

No. Several large studies have been done to investigate this and immunized children have never shown an increased risk of autism.

How do the complications from the MMR vaccine compare to measles complications?

 … The MMR vaccination carries some side effects, but they pale in comparison to potential measles complications.

Estimated risks for the MMR vaccine compared to risk of measles complications

MMR Vaccine Side Effects

Fever, rash (1 in 10)

Swollen lymph nodes (1 in 10)

Joint pain (1 in 200)

Febrile seizure (1 in 3,000)

Anaphylaxis (1 in 700,000)

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) (1 in 40,000)