Genesis 46 - 50

Mormon wrote -

"O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!
5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!
6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide." (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:4 - 6)

Joseph was a great example of one that did give ear to the Lord's counsel and walk in wisdoms path.

I'm not much of an historian, but I understand at one period of time, the Pharoah and Egypt may have been the greatest of nations. I wonder if the development of their greatness may have been the direct results of Joseph's willing to follow the counsel of the Lord. Joseph interpreted Pharoah's dreams that -

"Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land..." (Old Testament Genesis 41:29 - 30)

"...for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass." (Old Testament Genesis 41:32)

Following the inspiration of the Lord, Joseph counsels Pharoah -

"let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine." (Old Testament Genesis 41:33 - 36)

And Pharoah followed the counsel of the Lord and -

"...Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" (Old Testament Genesis 41:38)

And Pharoah chose Joseph saying -

"...Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art..." (Old Testament Genesis 41:39)

Pharoah recognized the blessings of following the counsel of the Lord for after the seven years of plentiful, the seven years of famine began and -

"...there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine." (Old Testament Genesis 47:13)

And having thus prepared -

"...Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house." (Old Testament Genesis 47:14)

"And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.
16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.
17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year." (Old Testament Genesis 47:15 - 17)

And then after that year the people pleaded -

"...We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:
19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die..." (Old Testament Genesis 47:18 - 19)

So what did Joseph do for Pharoah -

"Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's." (Old Testament Genesis 47:20)

And to the people Joseph informs them -

"...I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.
24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.
25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.
26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part..." (Old Testament Genesis 47:23 - 26)

I believe the people had been aware of the Lord's counsel to prepare for the seven years of famine but they did -

"...set at naught his counsels, and they [would] not that he should be their guide." (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:6)

But Pharaoh who opted to walk in wisdom's path, he was blessed beyond measure.