While accepting the traditional LDS view that Ezek 37 is, in part, a prophecy of the Book of Mormon, Lowell L. Bennion correctly noted that the text is speaking of more than this; instead, it is prophesying of the future restoration of the two kingdoms:
In Ezekiel 37, a vision of this prophet is recorded wherein he saw a valley full of dry bones and then saw flesh and sinews come upon them: “Breath came into them, and they lived.” (Ezekiel 37:10). Verses 1-14 of this passage have been used to prove the resurrection. It is probably not Ezekiel’s purpose in this passage to establish the doctrine of individual resurrection. It is quote obvious, if one reads the entire book of Ezekiel, that the prophet is talking about the restoration of Israel as a nation, as a people, with dry bones as a symbol of their captivity. The resurrection can be established much more clearly and abundantly and the New Testament or Book of Mormon. (Note Alma 40, Luke 24, and 1 Corinthians 15.)
Latter-day Saints should also read the rest of chapter 37 with Ezekiel’s purpose in mind. Verse 15-28 tell the oft-repeated account of the prophet being commanded to write upon two sticks, one for Judah and one for Joseph, Judah being interpreted as the Bible and Joseph as the Book of Mormon. If we read the entire passage in the context of the total book of Ezekiel, we find that the prophet is predicting not only the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. If we read the entire passage in the context of the total book of Ezekiel, we find that the prophet is predicting not only the coming forth of two books or records, but also the restoration and reunion of the two nations—Israel and Judah. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are records of Judah and Joseph, respectively, and the coming forth of these two records heralds the eventual reunion of the two nations and should someday even contribute to Israel’s unification. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon fits into this large hope and faith of the prophet Ezekiel. Latter0day Saints often ignore Ezekiel’s great interest in unifying Israel and Judah. (Lowell L. Bennion, “Scriptures: Values and Limitations,” in The Best of Lowell L. Bennion: Selected Writings 1928-1988, ed. Eugene England [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988], 204-5)
