The Josephites were one of the ancient groups mentioned among the inhabitants of the Promised Land as chronicled in the Book of Mormon. They were the descendants of Joseph, who was the youngest son of the prophet Lehi. From the time of Jacob, the brother of Nephi and Joseph, the Josephites were normally included among and referred to as Nephites. Jacob made a clear distinction between those who were followers of Nephi, whom he called Nephites—which included the Jacobites, Josephites, and Zoramites—and their opponents, whom he referred to as Lamanites (Jacob 1:13-14). This nomenclature underscored a political and religious division rather than a strict genealogical lineage.
The Josephites, as part of the larger Nephite community, were involved in the societal and religious developments that marked the Nephite history. Although not a prominent force as an individual entity within the narrative, their inclusion within the Nephite designation indicated their alliance with the political and religious order established by Nephi and his successors. During the turbulent periods of war and internal strife, they were counted alongside their fellow Nephites, as well as other groups like the Jacobites and Zoramites (Mormon 1:8). Their faith and commitment to the Nephite cause were evident when they were included among the true believers in Christ towards the end of the Nephite civilization (4 Nephi 1:36-37).
Overall, the Josephites, although not frequently singled out, were an integral part of the Nephite identity and shared in their collective faith, struggles, and destiny as recorded in the Book of Mormon.