Mormon Prophecy ...Prophetic claims of Joseph Smith
The Mormon church’s entire foundation rests upon the validity of founder and 1st president of the LDS church, Joseph Smith, and his claim to be a prophetic mouthpiece for God. But was he? According to biblical scripture a true prophet of God is never wrong in his prophetic nature. The test stands in the book of Deuteronomy 18:20-22 which states,
"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
THE PROPHETIC CLAIMS OF JOSEPH SMITH
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THE PROPHECY
On September 1, 1842, Joseph Smith stated, “…for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.” (Doctrine and Covenants, 127:2)
THE OUTCOME
The last phrase “for the Lord God hath spoken it,” indicates that this is prophecy. Here, Smith has prophesied that God would allow him to “triumph” over all his enemies. Less than two years later, these same enemies stormed the Carthage, Illinois jail where Smith was imprisoned and shot him dead. Smith tried to fight back, shooting 3 of his assailants and killing 2 with a pistol smuggled in to him, but his “enemies” triumphed. This is a false prophecy. By the biblical test, we have already shown Smith to be a false prophet. For arguments' sake, however, let’s explore some more.
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THE PROPHECY
Joseph Smith was also interested in the second coming of Jesus Christ. So much so, that he tried to peg Christ’s return to a particular year – 1891. Smith said, “It is the will of the Lord that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was night – even fifty-six years, should wind up the scene.” (The History of the Church, Vol. II, page 182).
THE OUTCOME
Zion here refers to Jackson County, Missouri – not to Israel. Given the context in which this was said, the fifty-six year time frame would place the return of Jesus on or before February 14, 1891. Many Mormon periodicals demonstrated that zealous Mormons were anxiously awaiting the fulfillment of that prophecy. February 14, 1891 came and went with no second coming.
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THE PROPHECY
Sept 22-23, 1832. D&C 84:114-115. New York, Albany and Boston will be destroyed if they reject the gospel. The "hour of their judgment is nigh..."
THE OUTCOME
Newell K. Whitney and Joseph Smith went to New York, Albany, and Boston and preached there. These cities did not accept the gospel. They have not been destroyed.
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THE PROPHECY
Dec 25, 1832. D&C 87. Prophecy of the rebellion of South Carolina, war between the states. The South will call on Great Britain for aid, and as a result war will be poured out upon all nations; slaves will revolt; the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; famine, plague, earthquake, thunder, lightning, and a full end of all nations will result.
THE OUTCOME
This prophecy is the one most often cited by Mormons to prove Joseph Smith's prophetic power. However, most Mormons are unaware of the political situation in America at the time it was made. In November 1832 South Carolina had declared its power to "nullify" any federal act, and President Jackson was prepared to go to war to enforce federal authority. Most people expected war. Thus the "prophecy" did no more than reflect commonly held opinion. Even when the South did finally revolt, in 1861, although Great Britain came to its assistance, other elements of the prophecy were not fulfilled: slaves did not rise up, war was not poured out upon all nations, there was no world- wide famine, plague, earthquake, etc., and there was no resulting "end of all nations." Morris, PJS, contends that World War I, the associated famines, the 1918 influenza epidemic, fulfill this prophecy. But these are not as a result of the American Civil War.
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THE PROPHECY
April 28, 1842. Joseph Smith gives the sisters of the Relief Society "and the Elders" the keys of the kingdom "that they may be able to detect everything false." [Quinn p. 634].
THE OUTCOME
by the 1980s the Elders no longer had these keys, since they were unable to detect the forgeries foisted on them by Mark Hofmann, but rather esteemed him an authority on rare Mormon documents, paying him thousands of dollars for his forgeries. The church leaders learned of his deception from the secular authorities, when he was arrested for murders he had committed in furthering his schemes against the church.
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THE PROPHECY
Verily, thus saith the Lord: It is wisdom in my servant David W. Patten, that he settle up all his business as soon as he possibly can, and make a disposition of his merchandise, that he may perform a mission unto me next spring, in company with others, even twelve including himself, to testify of my name and bear glad tidings unto the world. (Doctrine & Covenants 114:1)
THE OUTCOME
This prophecy was made on April 17, 1838. David W. Patten died in October of 1838 and thus never went on a mission the following spring. By seeing that that the term, "Verily, thus saith the Lord" it is clear that this fits the LDS model for official prophecy.
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Remember, it only takes one false prophecy to confirm that someone is a false prophet.
