Mormon prophecy ?

Question

Is there an official list of prophesies written by Joseph Smith that came to pass? If so, where does one find it?

Answer 1

Joseph Smith's False Prophecies


Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons, claimed to be a prophet of God. Was he a prophet of the true and living God? There are two ways to find out. First, compare what he says to Scripture and if what the Prophet teaches contradict Scripture, then he is false. The second way is to examine any prophecies that he has made. If a single prophecy fails, then the person is a false prophet.
Please note that having several fulfilled prophecies and even a single false prophecy still means that the person is not a true prophet of God. The test for a prophet is not if he gets them most right, but all right. The Bible tells us...

"But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 "And you may say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ 22 "When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him," (Deut. 18:20-22). emphasis added.

We can see that the criteria of a true prophet is not failing when predicting the future. This is because God, who is outside of time and the creator of the universe, makes no mistakes when he tells us what will happen. Those prophets whom he has called will not make a mistake and prophesy the future, since to do so would mean the person is not speaking on God's behalf. Therefore, if anyone claims to be a prophet of God and speaks in the name of God and gives a prophecy that fails, then the person is not of God.
Did Joseph Smith make any prophecies? Yes he did. Here are just a few of his false prophecies.

False prophecies of Joseph Smith

1. History of the Church
1. Prophecy about Jesus return 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. He then gave a relation of some of the circumstances attending us while journeying to Zion--our trials, sufferings; and said God had not designed all this for nothing, but He had it in remembrance yet; and it was the will of God 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 nigh--even fifty-six years should wind up the scene." (History of the Church, Vol. 2:189) See context.
1. Jesus did not return within fifty-six years when 1891 arrived.
2. Doctrine and Covenants
1. Prophecy that the temple would be built in Missouri within Smith's Generation - "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,i 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... 31 Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed." (Doctrines and Covenants 84:2-5,31.) See context.
1. The Mormons were driven out of Jackson County in 1833. They were not gathered there in accordance to this prophecy dealing with building the temple.
2. The prophecy clearly states that the generation present when the prophecy was given would not pass away until the temple was built at the western boundaries of the state of Missouri which is in Independence. This clearly failed.
2. All Nations would be involved in the American Civil War - "Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls; 2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place. 3 For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations," (Doctrine and Covenants 87:1-3). See context
1. This is clearly another false prophecy since all nations did not get involved in the American Civil War.
3. Prophesy that the earth will tremble and the sun be hidden in "not many days": "For not many days hence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig-tree," (Doctrine and Covenants 88:87) See context
1. The sun hasn't yet been hidden nor has the moon hidden its face.
2. This prophecy was given on 12/27/1832. "Not many days hence"? Since the writing of this article on 6/22/06, it has been 63,364 days or 173 years, 5 months, 26 days. I think that 63,364 days is more than "not many days".
1. For reference to January 1, 2000 it was 61,000 days (even), or 167 years, 5 days.
3. Pearl of Great Price
1. Prophecy that Isaiah 11 was about to be fulfilled - "In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when “they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people,” but soon would come," (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith, History, verse 40). See context
1. Isaiah 11:6-9 says, "And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. 7 Also the cow and the bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea."
1. This has not yet been fulfilled. The wolf is not dwelling with the lamb, the calf and the lion are not together, nor are the cow and bear grazing together. The lion is not eating straw like an ox. Nursing children are not playing in the dens of cobras.

Answer 2

It is written in his personal journal, a few days before he was martyred, that he knew that if he was "taken" again (to jail) that he would be killed or he was not a prophet of God. That is amazing to me because he had been jailed SO many times on charges that had no foundation or truthfulness, and being inspired of the Lord, he KNEW he was going to be killed the next time he was jailed.
It is also interesting to note that 'prophecying' is determined as being of preacher of righteousness...there is a claim by some that since the bible states being a prophet MUST mean a person HAS to have prophecy fulfilled in order to be considered a prophet. Many of the things people try to say Joseph falsely "prophesied" about were merely warnings or things that were not actual prophecies...
He was and is a true prophet of God. I know it, I have a very strong testimony of that. Can I prove it to anyone? No, nor would I try to - a testimony is personal and is only gained through prayer, scripture study, more prayer, and through testament from the Holy Ghost. I am so thankful for Joseph and all that he did for us as church members. I love him and hope to meet him in the eternities.

Answer 3

Arthur_ld.. was right, you can read many of them in Doctrine and Covenants (like the civil war one).

Some others off the top of my head:

He said the church would fill the earth (to a then membership of about 30 people) - now there are over 12 and a half million members all over the world.

He said temples would dot the earth (when there was one - which got burned down) now there are 124 in different countries all over the world.

He told Willard Richards that bullets would fly all around him but not a stitch of his clothing would be harmed. When Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum, were murdered - Willard Richards was in the room - everyone in the room was either killed or wounded by all the bullets flying around. But Willard Richards (who actually was a big, fat guy) only had part of his ear lobe hit.

Anyway, as others have said, no list will "prove" he was a prophet, that's a very personal finding between you and God alone...but D&C is a good enough place to start.

Answer 4

Actually, there are quite a few. Look at the Doctrine and Covenants for several of them. One of them was the civil war. He didn't just prophecy that it would come, but where it started and the reason for it. This was quite a while before it came. There are many others as well. You can go to the website lds.org and search for Joseph Smith Prophecy to find some of them.

Answer 5

I'm a Mormon, and I don't really concern myself with that, other then those prophesies which he intended to be made known to all mankind, i.e., made scripture. Those you can find in the Doctrine and Covenants. You can get a copy of those from any missionary or read them off of the church website (lds.org). I stick to the scriptures and the core doctrines because those are what are most important and significant, including, most important, creating a strong relationship with your Savior, Jesus Christ. Good luck.

Answer 6

Many prophecies of Joseph Smith are recorded. May I illustrate with two examples?

1. Joseph Smith prophesied concerning the American Civil War (see D&C 87) and foretold that the Saints would become a mighty people in the Rocky Mountains. In 1832, he prophesied that the southern states and northern states of the United States of America would shortly be divided in civil war, that this war would be the beginning of world wars which would eventually involve all nations and result in the death and misery of many souls. Specifically, he said that the great Civil War would begin with a rebellion in South Carolina (See D&C 87). This prophecy was published to the world in 1851.

The Civil War began with the secession of South Carolina from the Union, and other states followed. When Lincoln sent provisions to the Union forces at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, the Confederate forces opened fire on the fort. Since that fateful day in 1861, the world has seen as a result of warfare the death and misery of many souls.

2. In another prophecy, one of the most remarkable pronounced on the head of one man, Joseph Smith said to a young judge named Stephen A. Douglas, in the presence of several others:

“Judge, you will aspire to the presidency of the United States; and if ever you turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints, you will feel the weight of the hand of Almighty upon you; and you will live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you; for the conversation of this day will stick to you through life” (History of the Church, 5:394).

Stephen A. Douglas did aspire to the presidency of the United States. He did have opportunity to defend the Church. But in a political speech in 1857, he viciously attacked the Church as “a loathsome, disgusting ulcer in the body politic” and recommended that Congress cut it out.

Some have asserted that no one had better prospects for the presidency than did Douglas, but when the results of the election were tallied, he received only twelve electoral votes. The election victory went to an obscure backwoodsman by the name of Abraham Lincoln.

Now I want to leave you with my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Living God. Many say he was a fraud, but they are wrong. I know that he was for real. I say these things in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Answer 7

Did Joseph Smith utter false prophecies?

Most of the "false prophecies" that critics attribute to Joseph Smith are not prophecies at all, but commandments that were not obeyed either because the Latter-day Saints were not faithful or because their enemies prevented them from doing so. For example, though the Lord commanded the Saints to build a temple in Independence, they were expelled from Jackson County and later from the state of Missouri. After the Saints had settled at Nauvoo, Illinois, the Lord told the prophet Joseph Smith:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings." (D&C 124:49-?*)

There are similar statements in the Bible. For example, the prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah, "Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live" (2 Kings 20:1). But after the king pleaded with the Lord, the prophet delivered a new message, saying that 15 years would be added to his life. The Lord told Moses that he would destroy the Israelites and make of Moses a greater nation than they. When Moses protested that this would be wrong, the Lord changed his mind (Numbers 14:11-20).

Answer 8

You might want to ask a Mormon. There is a Morman website, just do a yahoo search for Morman and you should be ablt to find the official website.

Answer 9

how many years betwen Joseph Smith and jesus this is a prophecy?

Answer 10

Yes I have that list..here it is.

1.........
2.........
3.........
4.........
In short not one thing he prophesied of was fulfilled.. Jim

Oh BTW who is Oliver Granger? Smith prophesied that he would be help in fond remembrance by the church..