Prophecies of Joseph Smith, Jr.

Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, is viewed as a prophet in the tradition of the ancient prophets recorded in the Bible by members of the Latter Day Saint movement. This article examines some of the prophecies attributed to him.

Faithful Latter Day Saints see no contradiction in the prophecies listed here. Prophecies are believed to be revelations from God and will be fulfilled according to God's will. Revelation or prophecy does not negate free agency of each individual or in other words, no one is compelled to to obey or follow (e.g. a prophecy could state that a person should serve a mission, but the prophecy does not compel him or her to do so; s/he is free to accept or reject this calling).

Prophecies published in the Doctrine and Covenants

This is a list of prophecies taken from different versions of the Doctrine and Covenants.

The Prophecy of the Civil War

[lds|Doctrine and Covenants|dc|87] first transcribed in 1832, predicted war between the northern states and the southern states beginning in South Carolina, and that (quotes from first published version in 1851) war will be "poured out on all nations", and that nations will be fighting against other nations, and that "slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war", and that war will end with "plague, and earthquake" culminating in the "full end of all nations". Critics claim that, although this prophecy was partially fulfilled, the portions regarding earthquakes, multi-nation warfare, plagues, and slaves rising "up against their masters" did not come true.cite book
title=One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church
publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press
year=2003
isbn=1568582838
pages=267-269
first=Richard|last=Abanes] Tekton Apologetics Ministries also notes that due to the arms buildup sanctioned by the Nullification Convention as part of the Nullification Crisis in 1832, Joseph Smith could have predicted a military conflict in South Carolina. [ [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/josproph.html Prophecies of Joseph Smith: a critical look ] ] The LDS Church teaches that this prophecy applies to a broader span of time and interpret it to mean that the rebellion of South Carolina and the American Civil War "marked the beginning of the era of war that will last until the Savior returns. . . ," which would include earthquakes, multi-nation warfare, and plagues. [cite web| url = http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/dc-in/dc-in-081.htm#87| title = Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Section 87| accessdate = 2008-01-09]

The building of a temple in Missouri

In The Doctrine and Covenants, sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Covenant 84|verse=3|range=-5, Smith prophesied that a temple would be built "in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri", "which temple shall be reared in this generation." Previous to this revelation (3 August 1831) Joseph Smith and others had placed stones to mark two of the corners where the temple would be built.

In The Doctrine and Covenants, sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Covenant 124|verse=49|range=-51 the project was postponed.

Most Latter Day Saint adherents generally believe that the temple will eventually be constructed on the site prepared, based on additional statements by Smith. For more information regarding the relevant events and controversy following this prophecy, please see the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), whose headquarters now resides on the grounds of the temple's predicted location. Also see the Community of Christ, whose headquarters and a temple are across the street from the Temple Lot site.

Elijah's prophecy to be fulfilled

That the prophesy of Elijah would be fulfilled, in that the hearts of the children be turned to their fathers. (The Doctrine and Covenants, sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Covenant 2|verse=2)

Smith and Oliver Cowdery claimed that Elijah returned and gave them priesthood keys in April 1836. They said Elijah was one of several heavenly messengers sent to the Kirtland Temple. (The Doctrine and Covenants, sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Covenant 110|verse=13|range=-15)

United Order everlasting until return of Jesus

The Doctrine and Covenants, sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Covenant 104|verse=1 says that the United Order was "commanded to be organized and established, to be a united order, and an everlasting order for the benefit of my church, and for the salvation of men until I come--With promise immutable and unchangeable, that inasmuch as those whom I commanded were faithful they should be blessed with a multiplicity of blessings; But inasmuch as they were not faithful they were nigh unto cursing." The LDS church does not currently practice a communal living system generally among its general membership. However various Mormon Fundamentalist groups do.Fact|date=February 2007

Prophecy date: April 23, 1834

An Ensign article [ [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1986.htm/ensign%20june%201986.htm/i%20have%20a%20question.htm?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0#LPTOC4 Church Publications (HTML) ] ] provides the LDS explanation of the revelation made by Smith.

Word of Wisdom related conspiracies

In the Word of Wisdom (a code of health), Smith prophesied that there are now and will be conspiring men in the last days (The Doctrine and Covenants, sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Covenant 89|verse=4). :In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days...The Word of Wisdom prohibits the use of tobacco. In 2004 the justice department began a suit against tobacco company executives "for allegedly conspiring to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking." [Multi-Billion Dollar Tobacco Suit Begins http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3928531]

Patten would perform a mission journey in 1839

In The Doctrine and Covenants, sourcetext|source=The Doctrine and Covenants|book=Covenant 114|verse=1, Smith prophesied that Captain David W. Patten (one of the Twelve Apostles) would perform a mission journey in the company of 11 others (presumably the 11 other Apostles) "next spring" (that being, the spring of 1839).

Patten died October 25, 1838, prior to such a mission as a mortal person.

The following was written by Smith in October, 1838::In the pursuit, one of the mob fled from behind a tree, wheeled, and shot Captain Patten, who instantly fell, mortally wounded, having received a large ball in his bowels. ... Captain Patten was carried some of the way in a litter, but it caused so much distress that he begged to be left by the way side. He was carried into Brother Winchester's, three miles from the city of Far West, where he died that night. ... Brother David Patten was a very worthy man, beloved by all good men who knew him. He was one of the Twelve Apostles, and died as he had lived, a man of God, and strong in the faith of a glorious resurrection ... (Smith 1902 3:171)

The LDS belief is that "the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead." (Doctrine and Covenants 138:57)

Oliver Granger's name to be held in sacred remembrance forever

In 1838, after most of the Latter Day Saints had left Kirtland and settled in Far West, Missouri, Oliver Granger was asked by the First Presidency to return to Kirtland to be the church's agent in settling outstanding church debts and selling property the Latter Day Saints owned in Ohio. This calling was extended to Granger in a revelation given to Joseph Smith on July 8, 1838, which is today printed as the 117th section of the LDS Church's edition of the "Doctrine and Covenants". [The revelation is not included in the edition printed by the Community of Christ.] The portion of the revelation addressed to Granger reads as follows:

And again, I say unto you, I remember my servant Oliver Granger; behold, verily I say unto him that his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord. Therefore, let him contend earnestly for the redemption of the First Presidency of my Church, saith the Lord; and when he falls he shall rise again, for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase, saith the Lord. Therefore, let him come up hither speedily, unto the land of Zion; and in the due time he shall be made a merchant unto my name, saith the Lord, for the benefit of my people. Therefore let no man despise my servant Oliver Granger, but let the blessings of my people be on him forever and ever. [ [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/117/12-15#12 Doctrine and Covenants 117:12-15] .]

Some critics of Joseph Smith and the Latter Day Saint movement have pointed to Smith's revelation to Granger as an example of a "false prophecy"; the critics allege that even though Smith's revelation stated that Granger's name would be held "in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever", most Mormons are unfamiliar with Granger's name or his activities. [See, e.g., David Henke, [http://www.watchman.org/lds/david2.htm "Beware of False Prophets"] , "The Watchman Expositor", vol. 6, no. 9, 1989; Ed Decker and William Schnoebelen, [http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/falseprophetjs.htm "Upon this Prophet I will Build My Church"] , 1991.] A Latter-day Saint apologist has responded to these charges by stating that "the words 'sacred remembrance' most likely refer to the fact that the "Lord" would remember him. After all, the verse begins with the Lord saying, 'I remember my servant Oliver Granger.'" [John A. Tvedtnes, [http://www.fairlds.org/Bible/Nature_of_Prophets_and_Prophecy.html "The Nature of Prophets and Prophecy"] , fairlds.org.] Another Latter-day Saint apologist has written:

"Detractors ... imply that the Doctrine and Covenants says everyone will remember him. That is not what the revelation says. As long as we have the Doctrine and Covenants, Oliver Granger's name will be there, and therefore this declaration is fulfilled. The Bible student will find an interesting parallel in Matt. 26:13. Here the Savior states that wherever the gospel is preached, the act of the woman anointing him will be as a memorial to her. Last time the gospel was preached, did anyone tell the story about this woman? Not likely. But this doesn't detract from the truthfulness of the statement in the Bible any more than it would have regarding the Doctrine and Covenants, if that had been what D & C 117 had said. Her act was preserved in the Bible, and therefore this prophecy is fulfilled." [Stephen R. Gibson, [http://www.lightplanet.com/response/answers/olivergranger.htm "Is Oliver Granger's Name Forgotten?"] .]

A search on the official LDS web page for Granger reveals over 100 entries mostly referring to his actions, and his story is also included in the recent church publication "Our Heritage". [lds.org] Or|date=August 2008

Prophecies published in Times and Seasons

Wicked of that generation swept from earth, preparation for the lost 10 tribes return from north

In the Times and Seasons 5:21 [ [http://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v5n21.htm Times and Seasons Volume 5, Number 21 ] ] , November 15, 1844, Joseph Smith published a letter predicting::And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away, before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation; pestilence, hail, famine, and earthquakes will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country.

:there are those now living upon the earth whose eyes shall not be closed in death until they see all these things, which I have spoken, fulfilled.

Prophecies published in other LDS Church writings

United States government overthrown and wasted

After meeting with Stephen A. Douglas, Smith prophesied::I prophesy in the name of the Lord of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the saints in the state of Missouri and punish crimes committed by her officers, that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there will not be so much as a potsherd left, for their wickedness in permitting the murder of men, women and children and the wholesale plunder and extermination of thousands of her citizens to go unpunished, thereby perpetrating a foul and corroding blot upon the fair fame of this great republic, the very thought of which would have caused the high-minded and patriotic framers of the Constitution of the United States to hide their faces with shame. (Smith 1902 5:394) [ [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_prophecies.shtml#douglas LDS FAQ: Fulfilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet ] ]

mith and companions not killed in Liberty Jail

That he and his companions would not be killed in Liberty Jail, despite evidence that his captors intended to kill him. Joseph said on the morning after their capture after the 1838 Mormon War that "the word of the Lord came to me last night that ... whatever we may suffer during this captivity, not one of our lives shall be taken" (Dona Hill, Joseph Smith: The First Mormon, Doubleday and Company, Garden City, NY, 1977, p. 244).

mith will not return to Missouri

That although he was captured by Missouri agents in Illinois, he would not step foot in Missouri dead or alive. (Smith 1902 5:216)

LDS settle in Rocky Mountains

Joseph Smith said the following in August 1842:

"I prophesied that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains, many would apostatize, others would be put to death by our persecutors or lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease, and some of you will live to go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains." (Documentary History of the Church 5:85)

mith spoken of for good and evil

That his name would be known for good or bad among "all people.":He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people (Joseph Smith — History 1:33)

tephen A. Douglas to run for president

That Stephen A. Douglas, a prominent politician at the time, would run for the presidency. He also predicted that if Stephen Douglas slandered the Church then he would feel the weight of the hand of the Almighty upon him. (Smith 1902 5:394) [ [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_prophecies.shtml#douglas LDS FAQ: Fulfilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet ] ] Smith was himself a presidential candidate at the time of his death.

Jackson County, Missouri to be destroyed

The destruction of Jackson County, Missouri, after his death. (B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:538)

takes established in Boston and New York

"In the great cities, as Boston, New York, etc., there shall be stakes" (Smith 1902 6:319)

Joseph and Hyrum Smith to die if re-captured

That he and his brother Hyrum Smith would die if they were re-captured. On June 22, 1844, five days before his death, he wrote: "I told Stephen Markham that if I and Hyrum were ever taken again we should be massacred, or I was not a prophet of God" (Smith 1902 6:546).

Dr. Richards will not have hole in garment

He also predicted that Willard Richards would escape unharmed despite being in a shower of bullets.

:"Dr. Richards' escape was miraculous; he being a very large man, and in the midst of a shower of balls, yet he stood unscathed, with the exception of a ball which grazed the tip end of the lower part of his left ear. His escape fulfilled literally a prophecy which Joseph made over a year previously, that the time would come that the balls would fly around him like hail, and he should see his friends fall on the right and on the left, but that there should not be a hole in his garment" (Smith 1902 6:619)

Dan Jones to visit Wales

That Dan Jones, one of those who stayed with him in Carthage, would survive and see Wales.

:Soon after Dr. Richards retired to the bed ... and when all were apparently fast asleep, Joseph whispered to Dan Jones, "are you afraid to die?" Dan said, "Has that time come, think you? Engaged in such a cause I do not think that death would have many terrors." Joseph replied, "You will yet see Wales, and fulfill the mission appointed you before you die" (Smith 1902 6:601)

Orrin Porter Rockwell protected from enemies

On December 25, 1843, Joseph announced, "I prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that you -- Orrin Porter Rockwell -- so long as ye shall remain loyal and true to thy faith, need fear no enemy. Cut not thy hair and no bullet or blade can harm thee." There is no known record of his having been injured by his many enemies after this day, despite a long life filled with violence.

Book of Abraham

Smith stated that he translated the Book of Abraham from papyrus rolls. [B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 2:236] Although it is accepted that Smith bought the papyri from an Irishman named Michael Chandler in 1835, these hieroglyphics were not able to be translated at the time until the discovery of the Rosetta stone. The originals were thought by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to have been destroyed in a Chicago fire, yet turned up in one of the vault rooms of the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. In November of 1967 the Deseret News of Salt Lake City reported the rediscovery of the papyri. An evangelical apologetics ministry made the claim that the papyri did not correspond to Joseph Smith's translation, and thus claim Smith's translation was invalid. [ [http://www.carm.org/lds/ldspapyri.htm Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry] ]
John Gee responded to this claim by pointing out that, among other things, the recovered papyri do not represent all of the papyri that were translated as the "Book of Abraham," which, according to historical accounts, covered the floor of Smith's basement when fully unrolled, and that the pictoral presentations were incomplete and thus the interpretation of them could not be wholly determined one way or the other [ John Gee. "A Guide to the Joseph Smith Papyri." Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2001. Pp. 63–64 ] . Hugh Nibley, Ph.D., also supported the authenticity of Smith's translation in his own numerous works, till his death in 2005 [ Hugh Nibley, "Abraham in Egypt." 1981, Deseret Book Company.] [Hugh Nibley Review of John Gee's "A Guide to the Joseph Smith Papryi." http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=388;] .

Other explanations for the discrepancy are that a different section of the papyrus contained the Book of Abraham or the definition of "translation" may not mean a literal translation. [ [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=a8c1d7630a27b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1] Citation
last = Rhodes
first = Michael
title = I Have A Question
journal = Ensign
pages = 51
date=July 1988
year = 1988 ]

Unfulfilled/indeterminate prophesies

Coming of the Lord within 56 years

:"President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called, because God had commanded it; and it was made known to him by vision and by the Holy Spirit. . . . it was the will of God that they should be ordained to the ministry and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh — even fifty six years "should" wind up the scene. [History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 182] [This was uttered in 1835, and 56 years was completed in 1891]

It should be noted that Joseph Smith did not preface this statement with "Thus sayeth the Lord," as he generally did when he claimed to be quoting the Lord. Latter-day Saints generally assume he was stating his opinion, on the basis of an earlier, recorded revelation:

Doctrine & Covenants 130:14-17 states::I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: "Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter." I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.

Joseph Smith, Jr., died at the age of 38, and so the terms of the revelation were not fulfilled.

While some consider this prophecy, uses of words and phrases such as "should", "without being able to decide", and "I believe" demonstrate this to be opinion, interpolation, and conjecture that can not be taken as prophecy.

Alleged false prophecies

Abanes, the Tanners, and the Institute for Religious Research contend that Joseph Smith could not be a genuine prophet because they believe dozens of statements he allegedly made that they interpret as prophecies did not come true, including the following:

* A prophecy documented in the History of the Church that Christ would return to the Earth in 1891. [History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 182]
*David Patten was commanded to "settle up all his business as soon as he possibly can...that he may perform a mission unto me next spring...to testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto all the world." (D&C 114:1)Failed Prophecies of Joseph Smith - Copyright © 1997 Institute for Religious Research - retrieved from the internet on 2/21/08 at the following link: http://www.irr.org/mit/jsfalpro.html] David Patten died before he could perform the mission. Notwithstanding, apologists Steven R. Gibson and Jeff Lindsay agree that this was a mission call or a commandment, not a prophecy. [ [http://www.lightplanet.com/response/answers/patten.htm Did Joseph Smith falsely prophecy about David Patten? ] ] [ [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_prophets.shtml#patten Mormon/LDS Answers: Questions about LDS Prophets and the Mormons ] ]
*The breakup of the United States Congress as a government for the wrongs committed on the Saints in Missouri [The Institute for Religious Research cites the following instances of this prophesy (1)History of the Church, Vol. 5, p. 394; (2)Millennial Star, Vol. 22, p. 455, and (3)History of the Church (HC), Vol. 6, p. 116 - See Failed Prophecies of Joseph Smith - Copyright © 1997 Institute for Religious Research - retrieved from the internet on 2/21/08 at the following link: http://www.irr.org/mit/jsfalpro.html]
*Bloodshed, pestilence, hail, famine & earthquake to destroy the wicked in the U.S. within the life time of some of those alive in 1833. [History of the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 315-316]
* The finding of treasure in Salem, Massachusetts (D&C 111)
* Saints would gather in Independence, Mo. and build a Temple (D&C 84). Although a temple site was purchased and dedicated, and the cornerstones were laid, due to persecution, the Saints were forced from their homes, and the temple was never completed. until 1997. see http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/stlouis/. See also Temple Lot
* The Prophecy of Wars, [lds|Doctrine and Covenants|dc|87] first transcribed in 1832, predicted war between the northern states and the southern states beginning in South Carolina, and that (quotes from first published version in 1851) war will be "poured out on all nations", and that nations will be fighting against other nations, and that "slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war", and that war will end with "plague, and earthquake" culminating in the "full end of all nations". Critics claim that, although this prophecy was partially fulfilled, the portions regarding earthquakes, multi-nation warfare, plagues, and slaves rising "up against their masters" did not come true.cite book
title=One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church
publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press
year=2003
isbn=1568582838
pages=267-269
first=Richard|last=Abanes] Tekton Apologetics Ministries also notes that due to the arms buildup sanctioned by the Nullification Convention as part of the Nullification Crisis in 1832, Joseph Smith could have predicted a military conflict in South Carolina. [ [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/josproph.html Prophecies of Joseph Smith: a critical look ] ] The LDS Church teaches that this prophecy applies to a broader span of time and interpret it to mean that the rebellion of South Carolina and the American Civil War "marked the beginning of the era of war that will last until the Savior returns. . . ," which would include earthquakes, multi-nation warfare, and plagues. [cite web| url = http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/dc-in/dc-in-081.htm#87| title = Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Section 87| accessdate = 2008-01-09]

ee also

* One Mighty and Strong

Notes

References

Favorable to Joseph Smith, Jr.

* [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/contents Doctrine and Covenants] from [http://lds.org Official Church Website]
*Joseph Smith, Jr. (1902) "History of the Church" 7 volumes; Deseret Book Company; ISBN 0-87579-486-6 (1902 Boxed Set, Paperback, 1991) [http://deseretbook.com/store/product?product_id=100015096 Current edition only available at Deseretbook.com] (Note: this book is of mixed authorship, having been only 40% complete at the time of Smith's death.)
* [http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=insights&id=237 "World of Abraham"] from [http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=insights&id=237 FARMS Conference]
* [http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/tagm/tagm36.html "Samples Of Prophecies Of Joseph Smith That Have Been Fulfilled"] from FAIR
* [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_prophecies.shtml Fulfilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith] from JeffLindsay.com
* [http://www.shields-research.org/General/LDS_Leaders/1stPres/Joseph_Smith/JSProph.htm Joseph Smith Prophecies] from Shields-Research.org

Unfavorable to Joseph Smith, Jr.

* [http://trialsofascension.net/mormon/prophecies.html "False Prophecies by Joseph"] from [http://trialsofascension.net/mormon.html 20 Truths about Mormonism]
* [http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/falseprophetjs.htm The False Prophet, Joseph Smith "And It Didn't Come to Pass..."] from [http://www.saintsalive.com/ Saints Alive]
* [http://www.carm.org/lds/ldspapyri.htm Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry]
* [http://www.irr.org/mit/Books/BHOH/bhoh1.html Larson, Charles M., by his own hand upon papyrus, Institute for Religious Research, Grand Rapids, Mich. 1992]