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Failed Prophecies of Joseph Smith
Institute for Religious Studies ^

Posted on 02/03/2003 6:49:48 PM PST by A.J.Armitage

Joseph Smith bore many titles in his lifetime, Elder, Seer, President, Mayor, even Lieutenant General, but he is probably best known as the Prophet. And prophesy he did, often with great passion, invoking the powers of heaven and the name of God. What follows are seven prophecies of Joseph Smith, notable for their specificity and appeal to divine authority. These are taken from official Mormon sources — either the Latter-day Saint scriptures or the History of the Church (HC), a seven volume history published under the authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). Each are given in context and cited directly from the original source. Where they are known, subsequent historical events relevant to the prophecy are noted.

Prophecy # 1 — The Coming of the Lord

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 prophecy was spoken by Joseph Smith in 1835, and recorded by Oliver Cowdery. The fifty-six years were passed by 1891.

Prophecy # 2 — David W. Patten to go on a mission

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)

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.

Prophecy # 3 — The United States Government
to be overthrown in a few years

I prophecy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of Missouri and punish the 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 (History of the Church, Vol. 5, page 394).

Joseph Smith made this prophecy in May 6, 1843. However, the United States Government did not redress any of the wrongs committed against the Mormons in Missouri, and now over 150 years later, the U.S. Government still stands.

Prophecy # 4 — Congress to be broken up as a government

While discussing the petition to Congress, I prophesied, by virtue of the holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government, and God shall damn them, and there shall be nothing left of them — not even a grease spot. (Millennial Star, Vol. 22, p. 455. See also History of the Church (HC), vol. 6, p. 116, though when this prediction was incorporated into the official history, Mormon Church leaders decided to leave out the "grease spot" part.)

The petition was not heard nor was protection granted (Deseret News, Vol. 1, p. 59). Yet, Congress was never broken up and continues to function to this day. It is interesting that the compilers of History of the Church, added an editorial note in an attempt to soften or explain this prophecy. They state that: "This prediction doubtless has reference to the party in power; to the ‘government’ considered as the administration;" (note, p. 116). According to the note in HC, this means the Democratic Party, which was in control at the time. However, the prediction is that "Congress shall be broken up as a government" and Congress is made up of representatives from both parties. The Saints were making an appeal to the General Government, not to the Democratic Party, a point made by a summary statement in the left margin beside this prophecy as it is recorded in HC.

Prophecy #5 —Finding Treasure in Salem, Massachusetts

This prophecy is recorded in Doctrine & Covenants Section 111. The introduction to this prophecy, found at the beginning of Section 111 states:

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Salem, Massachusetts, August 6, 1836. HC 2:465-466. At this time the leaders of the [LDS] Church were heavily in debt due to their labors in the ministry.

1. I, the Lord your God, am not displeased with your coming this journey, notwithstanding your follies.

2. I have much treasure in this city for you, for the benefit of Zion, and many people in this city, whom I will gather out in due time for the benefit of Zion, through your instrumentality.

3. Therefore, it is expedient that you should form acquaintance with men in this city, as you shall be led, and as it shall be given you.

4. And it shall come to pass in due time that I will give this city into your hands, that you shall have power over it, insomuch that they shall not discover your secret parts; and its wealth pertaining to gold and silver shall be yours.

5. Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them.

No treasure was ever discovered, nor did Salem ever fell into the hands of the Mormons.

Prophecy #6 — Pestilence, Hail, Famine & Earthquake
to Destroy the Wicked

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 earthquake 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. The people of the Lord, those who have complied with the requirements of the new covenant, have already commenced gathering together to Zion, which is in the state of Missouri; therefore I declare unto you the warning which the Lord has commanded to declare unto this generation, remembering that the eyes of my Maker are upon me, and that to him I am accountable for every word I say, wishing nothing worse to my fellow-men than their eternal salvation; therefore, "Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come." Repent ye, repent ye, and embrace the everlasting covenant and flee to Zion, before the overflowing scourge overtake you, for 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 (History of the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 315-316).

Such a widespread destruction of the wicked of that generation never occurred.

Prophecy # 7 — Temple to be Built in Zion, Missouri

This prophecy comes directly from Doctrine & Covenants Section 84, the introduction of which states:

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, September 22 and 23, 1832. HC 1:286-295.

1. A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted their voices on high.

2. Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem.

3. Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.

4. Verily, this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation.

5. For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house.

The Mormons were forced to flee Missouri due to persecution and a temple was never built on the "temple lot" in the lifetime of Joseph Smith or within the generation of his contemporaries.

Testing Prophetic Claims

Over the last 200 years a number of people have claimed to be religious prophets with special spiritual authority from God. These include Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses), Ellen G. White (Seventh-day Adventists), Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science), and Joseph Smith (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Each started an organization which claimed to be the one true Christian Church, each had unique teachings, and each appealed to the Bible to some degree as their basis for spiritual authority. Yet, each "prophet’s" teachings contradict those of the others.

How can we test a person like Joseph Smith who claims to be a prophet?

Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15 that many false prophets would come, and several other places warn us about false prophets and spiritual deception (2 Corinthians 11:4-15; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1 and Jude 3-16). We should not be surprised, therefore, to discover that there are false prophets in the world today.

A specific biblical test. The Bible, in Deuteronomy chapters 13 and 18, provides 2 tests for anyone claiming to be a prophet and speak for God. If the person fails either test given by God, then we can know for sure they are a false prophet and we are to reject their teaching. Here we will focus on the test found in Deuteronomy 18:21-22 which reads as follows:

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.

Here the God of Israel tells his people how they can keep from being deceived by someone claiming to be a prophet — if even one of the prophet’s prophecies do not come true he is a false prophet. What was the punishment if a prophet did speak a false prophecy? According to verse 20 the prophet was to die. So God takes the area of false prophecy very seriously.

Joseph Smith's false prophecies in the name of the Lord constitute one of the single greatest objections to his claim to be a latter-day prophet of God.


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To: drstevej

Woof!

"I see the ****, but where's the sack???

61 posted on 02/06/2003 1:05:11 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: A.J.Armitage
Your real master, Satan, is well pleased.

John 8:31-59
 31.  To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
 32.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
 33.  They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants  and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
 34.  Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
 35.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
 36.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
 37.  I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
 38.  I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father. "
 39.  "Abraham is our father," they answered.   "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would  do the things Abraham did.
 40.  As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.
 41.  You are doing the things your own father does."   "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."
 42.  Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.
 43.  Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
 44.  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
 45.  Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
 46.  Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?
 47.  He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
 48.  The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"
 49.  "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
 50.  I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.
 51.  I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
 52.  At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.
 53.  Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
 54.  Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.
 55.  Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.
 56.  Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
 57.  "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
 58.  "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
 59.  At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

62 posted on 02/06/2003 1:10:39 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: Illbay
Better a hypocrite than a demon-spawn.

"By choosing the lesser of two evils, you are STILL choosing evil!"
--Jesse Ventura

63 posted on 02/06/2003 1:13:55 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: Illbay
...it's in our scriptures after all--and it bears no resemblence to what you posted.

Well... post it then, and PROVE he lies!

64 posted on 02/06/2003 1:15:05 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: drstevej
Only the false prophets and apostles, an endeavor which the real Jesus commends...

Yeah, you and Torquemada would have been the bestest of buddies on that score. Following that being that can clothe himself as an angel of light, you and your ilk have helped deluge the earth in blood and horror.

And in the end, your hands dripping with blood, you find that "Jesus commends" you!

If that isn't the most satanic devilry, I don't know what can be.

Nice self help religion you have there.

Meantime, drstevej and his brethren-in-spirit "help" unbelievers to the cleansing fires of absolution kindled for the heretic (as they define it--might making right, and all).

I think I'll stick to perfecting myself, thank you.

Your blood-bath doesn't do much for me.

65 posted on 02/06/2003 1:16:12 PM PST by Illbay
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Comment #66 Removed by Moderator

To: Wrigley
It isn't pretty when you see how hard the devil will fight when confronted.

No, it isn't pretty. Rather, the "banality of evil" is what it is: Not pretty, not flashy, just ever-thirsting for the blood of the Saints.

You and your kind are constrained ONLY by law. In those places and in those eras where the law turns a blind eye--such as in frontier America in the 1830s--or actively abets it--Spain just after the Moorish occupation--you and your kind actively and enthusiastically feed the flames with the bodies of those unfortunate enough not to be able to stomach your wicked orthodoxy.

I know you. Very well. Good people everywhere know you, and we can tell you by your stench.

67 posted on 02/06/2003 1:20:02 PM PST by Illbay
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To: Elsie
What's that smell?
 
 
 
 
Could it be?
 
 
 
 
 
No!  It is!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
It's ABUSE!

68 posted on 02/06/2003 1:21:29 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: Elsie
(I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)

HAH! Puny little minds, that can only believe what the nice, safe "orthodoxy" tells them to believe. "Let's make up even MORE manuscripts, and THEN we'll feel even better!"

Religion as a B-movie starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.

Tiny, miniscule little minds. All the more dangerous for being filled with malevolence.

69 posted on 02/06/2003 1:22:34 PM PST by Illbay
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To: Illbay
Let's make up even MORE manuscripts, and THEN we'll feel even better!

Ok, since this is what you are trusting in........


Hurry up and post the REAL LDS scripture so we can see his lies.
70 posted on 02/06/2003 1:28:53 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: Illbay
The child psychologists of today tell us to just leave the room when a little one is having a tantrum, for it is just attention that they crave........
71 posted on 02/06/2003 1:30:54 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: Illbay; Wrigley; scripter
***I think I'll stick to perfecting myself, thank you.***

Spoken like a Pharisee.

***Yeah, you and Torquemada would have been the bestest of buddies ***

Actually, you are the one that suggested that our deaths would solve your problems.

***Following that being that can clothe himself as an angel of light***

Is your reference to the Personages that appeared in the light to Joseph, the treasure digger?
72 posted on 02/06/2003 1:32:44 PM PST by drstevej
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To: Elsie
Go to the Mormon Apologetics websites and you'll find the answers. Oh, but you knew that; you know EXACTLY where to go to find the truth.

But being steeped in vile slander yourselves, you're not so much interested in where YOU can go to find the truth, but where you can go to find someone you can BLIND to the truth.

That is the way of it. The wicked are, paradoxically, always more interested in making sure that others behave themselves. The righteous are concerned about their own misbehavior (I believe it was you who enthused about the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican?)

In short, "Mormons" are mostly hard-working, God-fearing people who look after themselves, their families, fellow members, and fellow-creatures.

You and your type, on the other hand, mostly look for opportunties to destroy (as if you could) the happiness of good people like that.

You are such pitiful wretches; the more I think of it the sadder it makes me.

73 posted on 02/06/2003 1:33:06 PM PST by Illbay
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To: drstevej
Don't fret. The moment you drop dead, others will rise to take your places.

That's the way of wickedness. You never run out, you just make more.

74 posted on 02/06/2003 1:35:06 PM PST by Illbay
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To: Illbay
I'm even more confused than usual here: are you saying that Jesus Christ, as revealed in the true Word of God, the Torah and the New Testament, is not the Son of God and the ONLY way into heaven?
75 posted on 02/06/2003 1:39:24 PM PST by JesseShurun
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To: Illbay

I think I'll stick to perfecting myself, thank you.

Your blood-bath doesn't do much for me.

65 posted on 02/06/2003 4:16 PM EST by Illbay


You may avoid the bloodbath if you wish, but for me, I will wallow in it!!
 
Hebrews 9:14
 14.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,  so that we may serve the living God!
 
Hebrews 9:22
 22.  In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.


Go ahead of me, please, and perfect YOURSELF.  I'll have to wait on the Lord for mine......
 

Matthew 8:2-3
 2.  A man with leprosy  came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
 3.  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured  of his leprosy.
 
Matthew 15:11-12
 11.  What goes into a man's mouth does not make him `unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him `unclean.'"
 12.  Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" (how about his fingertips, too?)
 
Matthew 15:18-19
 18.  But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man `unclean.'
 19.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
 
John 15:3
 3.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
 
Acts 11:9
 9.  "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, `Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'
 
Ephesians 5:25-27
 25.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
 26.  to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
 27.  and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

76 posted on 02/06/2003 1:46:31 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: Illbay
You and your type, on the other hand, mostly look for opportunties to destroy ......

But THIS time, we're giving YOU an opportunity to enlighten: Just post the REAL prophecy yourself - right here - for all to see, and SHOW how the above is a lie.


I do not force people to go chasing all over to find the stuff I want them to see, it's right here in plain view.
Read 'em and weep: match the raise or fold: your call........
77 posted on 02/06/2003 1:50:49 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: Elsie
(From here-->  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/837401/posts)

 


The development came as Iraq rejected as "outrageous and unconvincing" the report to the U.N. by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell that it was hiding banned weapons, saying it would send a letter to the U.N. Security Council rebutting the allegations point by point.

Al-Sa'adi accused Powell repeatedly of "quoting out of context" and "conveniently omitting" details.

The Iraqi adviser said that the recordings of conversations between Iraqi military officers played by Powell were "fabrications unworthy of a superpower."

"I will not grace them with any more comments. They were below the level of a superpower. One can... fabricate anything in this regard and they are no evidence at all, al-Saadi said.

"Without any convincing evidence the allegations were more outrageous," he added.

"We have military secrets connected with our right to self-defense, nothing more," al-Saadi said.

He denied Iraq was hiding weapons of mass destruction and said thousands of pages of paper taken from an Iraqi scientists home had been made available to U.N. inspectors some time previously.

He said that missiles identified by Powell in one part of the report were missiles, but much smaller than the ones alleged and not prohibited.

He said Powell's speech Wednesday was for ordinary Americans to gear them up for a war.

"The purpose of the show that went on at the Security council was mainly for home consumption for the uninformed," he said.

"This is the message that was being told to the world and to the American public opinion," said al-Saadi.



Dang!  I wonder where THIS guy learned to rebutt the USA position??????

 

He sounds almost like a certain ***bay or Restless on THIS thread.....

78 posted on 02/06/2003 2:03:21 PM PST by Elsie (I trust in Jesus.... THOUSANDS OF EXISTING MANUSCRIPTS speak of Him!)
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To: Illbay
where the law turns a blind eye--such as in frontier America in the 1830s

Don't forget about that wagon train that was massacred at Mountain Meadows. Ah, Mormon hypocrisy. Less filling.

79 posted on 02/06/2003 2:58:34 PM PST by Wrigley
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To: Elsie
Your abusive word is gone:)
80 posted on 02/06/2003 3:32:36 PM PST by restornu
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