You are factually incorrect in asserting there were no caveats given in Jonah’s addressing the Ninevites. THey were told that if they humbled themselves from the greatest to the lowest and sincerely repented that they might be spared.
I don’t know about you, but if a guy comes walking up from the seashore bleached by gastric juices, clothes in tatters, smelling like whale barf...pointing his finger and telling me “Repennnnnnnnnnt...!”
I’d repent in a hurry - as the people of Nineveh did. That was the most successful revival preached in the entire Old Testament!
It is also not correct to contend that my meaning was “No” prophecies” ever made by Smith came to pass
I argue “No prophecies of consequence...” and I stand one hundred percent by that.
“Prophecies” given concerning the growth of a church can serve (and have served) as imperatives for a church and its people to make certain they are fulfilled. Self-fulfilling prophecies that aggrandize the mormon church, or are highlighted in order to lend it undeserved credibility and status - simply are not prophecies, period. Prophecy in the Bible was always intended by the Holy Spirit to highlight the workings of G_d , to glorify his name. Predictions about the mormon church were not so intended, but were an outpouring of the egomania of Smith and his close associates
Even so, although the LDS organization has reached many nations and tongues, they have not reached “all” - and a great deal of what they have accomplished has been done “piggybacking” on real, proper Orthodox (protestant or catholic) Christianity and its name and fame.
They are doing that still today - offering copies of the KJV Bible, masquerading as being just like every other church (”We’re Christians too - we’re your neighbors...”), deceiving others and never telling the casual listener that the KJV they offer is the JST - Joseph Smith Translation (as if Smith had the ability, knowledge, or right to conduct a translation, or call himself a translator of anything whatsoever.)
Study the nature of what things constitute a prophecy or prediction of a future event, and you will find that narrows the field - regardles of whether Smith himself may have defined some of his own pronouncements as such, there is a certain lack of risk in some sorts of predictions.
It is one thing to look at Israel during Christ’s time and prophesy that Jerusalem would fall, and the Temple would be destroyed - even though they were under the thumb of Rome - and quite another to “predict” the same fate 45 years later when conditions were markedly different (Jerusalem fell in 79 AD to Titus).
Similarly, when there was so much religious freedom and general latitude on the American frontier -it was not a stretch to expect the church might make it beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Do you know that the Babylonian plundering of Tyre never happened?
Similarly, do you know of what Christ was speaking when He said “This generation shall not pass...”? Because I am absolutely certain of this - the Son of G_d had something specific in mind, and as sure as he is seated at the right hand of the Father, it will come to pass precisely as He spoke it.
It is not for you or I to question Christ in such manner - but for Him to question us.
A.A.C.
Bzzzzt so sorry.
No copy of the KJV Bible that is in my home has the JST in it. All of my copies of the KJV, except the large leather bound heirloom display KJV I have were printed by the LDS Church. No copy of the KJV I have handed out in conjunction with the BoM has contained the JST.
Love it when people claim they deceive, when they themselves in the same sentence do the same.
Here's some PROPHECY:
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THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS SECTION 132
51–57, Emma Smith is counseled (commanded) to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.
51 Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to aprove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice.
52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, areceive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.
53 For I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many things; for he hath been afaithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will strengthen him.
55 But if she will not abide this commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all things for her, even as he hath said; and I will bless him and multiply him and give unto him an ahundredfold in this world, of fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, wives and children, and crowns of beternal lives in the eternal worlds.
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