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Christkindl or an earlier "Santa Claus"
Evidence for Christ going to other nations found in later legends about wandering Christ-child, or Christkind going around the earth during Christmas times. Click on picture for historical documentary auto playlist of evidences for Christ's world wide treks!
Legends of Christ's Appearing In Different Guises
Numerous legends, traditions, art works & early Christian writings tell how Christ went to other nations. In time, these became later stories about Christkind's = Christ-child's wanderings during Christmas seasons during the 10th to 21st centuries. See on You Tube: Christ As Cosmic Cruiser by clicking on this picture.
DT 1991, July 1992, Revised 1993, Updated March 2011
Spiritual Gifts Fade Out of the Early Christian Churches till No Prophets or Apostles Were Known
The great apostasy in the americas seemed to have been greater than the one in the old world areas amongst the Christian nations. We might have to give credit to the Christian nations for preserving as much of the basic elements of the gospel as they did. Many thanks should be given to the different early Christian scribes, copyists, artists, & honest recorders of the different traditions, writings, & doctrines. But no thanks to those who perverted & twisted the gospel for their own evil & twisted purposes. The great apostasy was not God's fault! But it came about as a result of rebellion, sin, & anti-Christ-movements & demonic forces.1 The early church had enjoyed the benefits for which the different spiritual gifts had to offer.2 But eventually, the spiritual gifts had faded out of the gospel picture, in, & during a period of time called "the great apostasy".
Paul names these different spiritual gifts when he wrote to the Corinthians: "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.... For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretations of tongues:..." (1 Cor. 12:1, 8-10, & 11-13). Paul goes on to point out the importance of all these gifts, but also points out, in chapters 13-14, that love or charity is the greatest of all gifts. And that the gifts are given to certain chosen ones, to keep the people from being led off into an extreme, in which they would think that every thing anyone presents is suppose to be of God. For he wrote: "If the whole church be come together into one place, & all speak with tongues, & there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, & there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; & so falling down on his face he will worship God, & report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be 2, or at the most 3, & that by course; & let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; & let him speak to himself, & to God....For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." (1 Cor. 14:23-28, & 33).
Another important spiritual gift was "discerning of spirits" (1 Cor.12:10). For "...the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor.2:14). It was important for the church to be able to "discern" the Spirit of the Lord, & the spirit of truth, as compared to the counterfeit spirit of Satan. They needed to be able to discern between the two, so that they would be able to detect false spirits, & false persons who may have been attempting to deceive them. For it seems that there were those who had been deceived, & so the leaders in the early church sought to combat the deceptions as best as they could. Being thus spiritually gifted, or equipped with these different spiritual gifts, they had a lot better chance to deal with the different problems that arose in the different branches of the church. But also they were more equipped to combat those, who with "cunning craftiness", had sought to deceive the people in the different areas of the church. Than they would have been, had they not had the different spiritual gifts. (Eph.4:11-32; 5:1-17; Rom.16:17-19; Acts 8:5-25).
James L. Barker cites Justin Martyr's Dialogue With Trypho, in which we read that: "One may see among us (the Christians) men & women who have received the gifts of the Spirit of God...there were no longer to be prophets in your (Jewish) race as in the past...For after him (Jesus) absolutely no prophet has come among you." And further on, "We have still among us, even until now, prophetic gifts, which should make you understand that" [that] "which your race formerly possessed has been transferred to us."3 Many of the early Christians believed that the Jewish religions had fallen into apostasy. And thus, it was time for the Christian dispensation. But what had passed over to the Christians, would not last too many centuries. Even some of the later Christians had noticed that the spiritual gifts were fading out of the church. And yet, others held on to different gifts as long as they could. If they had lost the gift, they certainly kept alive the tradition of that gift.
"It was chiefly the ignorant & common people that the artifices of the magicians found dupes. We see from the romance of Apuleius how much credit the magicians had among the people. In opposition to their false miracles, the church could show miracles which were true, & supernatural events such as had signalized the first days of missions were still repeated, though with less & less frequency. The clear & unanimous testimony of the Fathers of the 3rd & 4th centuries, leaves no room to doubt the continuance of miraculous power in the Church of that period. Irenaeus & Tertullian speak of miraculous cures effected by Christians, & even of persons being raised from the dead. "That some cast out devils," says Irenaeus, "is a matter that cannot be called in question, since it is attested by the experience of those who have been thus delivered, & are now in the Church. Others have the gift of foretelling the future, see visions, & speak prophetic words; others effect cures by laying their hands on the sick." (Irenaeus, Contr. Haeres. II, p.57). [The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol.1, pages 309 & 409, Irenaeus, A.D. 120-202.]
"Often," says the same Father, "the life of a man has been granted to the prayers of the faithful." (Ibid., II. p.31). "Tertullian relates that Septimus Severus was healed of a serious disease by a Christian, who following the practical directions of James, had prayed over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; & the grateful emperor gave him a home in the palace to the end of his life." (Tertullian, "Ad Scapulam," c.iv.) "Origen mentions miraculous cures wrought in the Church of his time. He says: "There are still among Christians, traces of that Holy Spirit who appeared in the form of a dove. They cast out devils, heal the sick & subject to the good pleasure of the Word, foresee the future. "...Thus the continuance of miracles in the Church of the first 3 centuries is guaranteed by the most authentic tradition. To those who admit the supernatural element in Christianity, the fact presents nothing abnormal. There was no deep gulf placed between the apostolic & following ages. The first era of the Church did not end with a sharp line of demarcation; miracles did not cease with the last of the apostles.
They were perpetuated for the very simple reason, that the circumstances which had called for them remained the same. They were designed to mark, in a visible manner, & by an impressive symbol, the extraordinary & supernatural character of Christianity; they were specially appropriate to the period of the Church's creation & formation, & had an important purpose yet to fulfil in the terrible struggle of the 2nd & 3rd centuries-- that great crisis of the moral world, when all the powers of darkness seemed abroad. It is perfectly conceivable that the miraculous element may again appear in parallel seasons of convulsion & final conflict between the kingdom of evil & the kingdom of good. There is, however, a notable diminution in the proportion of outward miracle or prodigy as the Church advances in years, & we have already marked its gradual decrease even in the apostolic age....The gradual cessation of miraculous powers is recognized by the Fathers. Origen asserts that only a few traces of the supernatural operation of the Divine Spirit remain."
The early Church was under the direction of Jesus, then it was passed on to the apostles & prophets, & other leaders, (Eph. 2:19-21; 4:10-14; 1 Cor. chap.12, etc.) The original intent of the early leaders was to also maintain the foundation that was set. If one of the apostles died or fell away, as with the case with Judas, then they would be replaced by another candidate. (Acts 1:24-6; 13:2-4).
Clement of Rome [A.D. 30-100], wrote that when different leaders should pass away, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol.1: chap.xliv.) Papias, [A.D. 70-155], is said to have been associated with Polycarp, in the friendship of St. John himself, and of others who had seen the Lord. Papias wrote: "...For I imagined that what was to be got from books was not so profitable to me as what came from the living and abiding voice." (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol.1, p.151, & 153, Intro. Note, & Fragments of Papias). He seemed to think that the greater source of spiritual truths came from living witnesses, rather than from books. Thus, living apostles' "living and abiding voice" took a higher priority over that which was written in books. Books however, helped preserved the words that had gone on before. What little bits of the words of Christ & the apostles & prophets that we do have, is really a small fragment of what must have been presented. (John 21:25; Acts 1:3, etc.) And if some of it had not been written down, we would not have been able to have known about these great truths that have been preserved to a certain extent, even unto our day, because of the written word. (See: The Articles of Faith, #8.)
The Clement of Alexandria, in the 2nd century A.D., was aware, like later Eusebius would, in the 4th century A.D., that the early apostles & "the blessed men of old possessed a marvelous power," but, by later centuries, that power was no longer in the church. So many things that were taught by the apostles were lost to the world. Clement was aware that some things had started to fade out of the gospel picture. For "...things there are which though not noted down still remained for a while, but they are now being lost. Some of these things are now completely extinguished, having faded away in the mind from sheer neglect & lack of exercise."4
"The signs of the Holy...showed themselves from the commencement of the ministry of Christ; they were multiplied after His ascension, & subsequently diminished. Some vestiges of them still remain among men." (Origen 1. p.36.) They "...attribute a power of healing to the simple reading of the holy books, & the invocation of the name of Jesus, they lower miracles to the rank of magic, & became believers in incantations & cabalistic formularies." (Origen, I p.461.) Justin speaks of the attempts of "heathen exorcists" in failing to cast out demons, & how through the name of Christ they, the Christians succeeded. Tertullian is also said to have said that the demons would not lie to a Christian when "any Christian will compel the spirit to confess honestly that he is a demon, even though he may have elsewhere falsely pretended to be a god...." (Tertullian, Apol., c. xxiii.) "...In short, miraculous gifts have not, at this era, disappeared from the Church, but they are of increasing rarity, more rare even than the Christians themselves suppose, incapable as they are, as yet, of discerning between the really miraculous, & miracles created by the imagination. It would be most unjust to confound the miracles of the Gospel with the pseudo-miracles born of heated brains. The mere comparison makes apparent the wide differences between them....the miracle has always a moral aspect; faith alone comes into operation; there is no approach to the incantation, or any mystic formulary.... The great apologists of Christianity are themselves sensible of this inferiority, & we shall find Origen treating miracles rather as the subjects of proof than as themselves adequate proof of any doctrine not otherwise verified, since such arguments can be brought forward in support of the false, no less than of the true."5
The early Church had insisted that there should be revelation in the church. Paul wrote that all the spiritual gifts were needed, & that some should not say that different gifts were not needed. (1 Cor. chap.12). Clement looked to the revelations in Christianity to help him answer some of the questions he had had for years, & which the Philosophies of his day had not given an answer to, & for which he could say was the truth. Later fathers attempted to hold on to the gifts as best as they could, one reason why Tertullian perhaps had later joined the Montanists was because they claimed the gift of prophecy was with them.
"During the first half of the second century, the role of prophecy experienced a number of gradual changes. By the end of the century, the church's experience with Montanism, & with the Gnostic sects in which prophecy played a prominent role, had left both prophecy & prophets largely discredited. For Ignatius (ca. 115), prophecy was a gift that he exercised in a congregational setting & that exposed congregational secrets (Philad. 7:1-2). In the Didache, prophets as well as apostles are depicted as itinerants (11-13), although some settled permanently (12.3-4). Christian communities were widely scattered but maintained communication through traveling Christians, including apostles, prophets, & teachers (cf. 3 John 5-8), to whom they offered hospitality. Some of these travelers were charlatans intent on fleecing the flock (Hermas, Mand. 11.12; Did. 11.6) & on freeloading (Did. 11.9; 12.1-4). Tests for determining the genuineness of the prophet (or apostle, or teacher) were therefore devised (1 John 4:1-3; Did. 11-12; Hermas, Mand. 11). A few prophetic figures of the early 2nd century, such as Ammia of Philadelphia (Eusebius, H.E. 5.17.3-4) and Quadratus (ibid., 3.37.1), were remembered as orthodox Christian prophets."
"Montanism, also called the "New Prophecy," was a prophetic & apocalyptic movement originating in Asia Minor in 156 or 172. Montanus, the prophetic founder of the movement, was joined by 2 prophetesses, Priscilla & Maximilla (Eusebius, H.E. 5.16.6-9; 6.20.3; Hippolytus, Haer. 7.19.1). Montanism was particularly dependent on the Gospel & Revelation of John. The movement espoused a rigorous ethic, placed a high value on martyrdom, & expected the imminent arrival of the great persecution & the descent of the heavenly Jerusalem at Pepuza, 70 miles east of Philadelphia. Although Montanism was a popular movement (Tertullian was a convert), it was strongly opposed by Christian heresiologists...."6
Tertullian, was born at Carthage, North Africa, 160 A.D., baptized 190 A.D., after the year 200 A.D., he joined the early Christian sect known as Montanism. (Apostasy to Restoration, by T. Edgar Lyon, Deseret Bk. Co. S.L.C., Ut., 1960, p.110-112.) Tertullian wrote concerning some of the things that was happening in the Christian sects of his day. For he suggested that the devil & his demons had set up counterfeit the spiritual gifts of God, "...they (the demons), "sometimes try to be regarded as the authors of what they report & they certainly sometimes are the authors of evil, but never of good. Even God's dispositions they picked up in the past from the words of the prophets, & today they gather them from the reading of the scripture they hear. Therefore, taking from them certain responses with regard to dates they set themselves up as diviners in thievish rivalry with the divine...."7 (See also: Mythologies, by Yves Bonnefoy, 1991, The Un. of Chicago Press, Vol.2, pages 661-2.)
Tertullian, & his fellow Montanus Christian friends, seemed to have believed that certain spiritual gifts were still in use. Such as the spirit of prophecy. During the following centuries, (2nd--3rd cent. A.D.), none of the original 12 apostles were around, (that we known of, or have record of), to help influence & help govern the early Churches. Their writings & teachings were preserved here & there by different early converts, & church leaders. But though the written word had great power, influence, & was very important in helping them keep alive different aspects of the gospel message & teachings. It still could not compare to the living word, if they,--Christ, prophets, & apostles, etc., would have been present with the scattered branches of the Church, in person. But, still the early Christians had to do the best that they could with what little bits of the apostolic traditions they had preserved in the different areas were the apostles had some influences at.
It may be that the Montanus Christian sect had preserved some of the spiritual gifts. If not, at least they believed that they had. Mosheim wrote that Montanus, was "...an obscure man, without any capacity or strength of judgment & who lived in a Phrygian village called Pepuza...." He claimed to be sent with a divine commission. (An Ecclesiastical History, by John Lawrence Mosheim, D.D., trans., by Archibald Maclaine, D.D., 1819, Lon., Vol.1, p.236-7.)
T. Edgar Lyon wrote that in the eastern portion of the Roman Empire, about 156 A.D., Montanus joined the Christian church. (Lyon, op. cit., p.98). Montanus later insisted that the Church had lost some of it's original elements, & thus was in need of being reformed "...by discarding its innovations of the last half century & return to the basic ideas of first century Christianity. But he failed to realize that there was no power within the church which could direct this movement & bring back to earth the divine authority which had been lost. He assumed, in his failure to understand this missing element, that the church could reform itself. Montanus listed three areas in which he saw need for reform, if the apostatizing church were to be worthy of the name Christian."
"1. Revelation must not cease in the church.... Montanus maintained that in the church of Christ there would always be revelation. If it had ceased, it was because the church leaders had proved themselves unworthy of it. He contended that he was a prophet & had received revelation... 2. The church must return to the old discipline...." 3. He also "...Opposed the growth of the professional clergy...." "...These challenges were met by the churches usually conceding that at one time such things may have been in the church, but the passing of time had required change.... The clergy admitted that revelation had ceased. The church had already lost its divine authority.... As late as 565 A.D., Justinian was taking steps to suppress..." Montanism. "Latourette says that it was still surviving as a sect in the 8th century." (Lyon, ibid., p.98-101, & note 2 on p.101, A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Vol.II, p.436.)
Many of the ancient Christians did not regard the scriptures as being closed & final. For during the middle part of the 3rd century A.D., many Christians of that time were more than willing to accept the proposition that more inspired writings might be coming forth in due time. One of the first Christian martyrs said that "If there are ancient faith -promoting books, why can't there be modern ones... or why should the present have less authority than the past because of some superstitious veneration of mere antiquity?"8 The spiritual gifts & the scriptures that they produced (2 Tim. 3:16-17), was still being sought after in those early centuries.
Were there other branches of the early church, who claimed to still have the spiritual gifts of prophesying, besides those of the Montanists? Yes, for some of the early Fathers may have hinted to the Montanists movement as being evidence that there were still some who had maintain the divine powers. At that early time, Montanism had not yet been defined as a heresy. "...And even the wise prudence of Irenaeus shows anxiety not too hastily to denounce it; "seeing," as Eusebius affirms, "there were many other wonderful powers of divine grace yet exhibited, even at that time, in different churches." (The Ante-Nicene Fathers = TANF), vol.2: p.3, Intro. Note to The Pastor of Hermas.) The "visions" said to be contained in the writings of Hermas were considered evidences, by many early Christians, that "prophesyings" were still being done through inspired Christians, who had the gift. The Shepherd of Hermas has been dated by some, to be around the time of "A.D. 160." (TANF) 2: p.3, Intro. N. ibid., n.1, Date based on the "Muratorian Canon," see: Routh's Reliquiae, vol. i. p.389-434, Oxford, 1846. See also: Westcott, On the Canon of the New Testament, Cambridge, 1855.)
Others have dated the work differently. Hermas of Rome, is said to have compiled The Shepherd. His brother was said to be Bishop Pius, who was, at that time, sitting in the cathedra of the Roman Church, as Bishop of Rome. (TANF) 2: op. cit., p.3-4, n.5, Histoire de Pie VIII., p.xi. Paris, 1830. And: The Lost Books Of The Bible, p.197.) These writings were said to be a sort of "anti-Montanist" work, showing that there was still spiritual gifts among the Christians at Rome. Montanism is not named in Hermas' writings,
but the writings were considered to be "...a reminder of better "prophesyings," & by setting the pure spirit of the apostolic age over against the frenzied & pharisaical pretensions of the fanatics...." (TANF) 2: p.4, Intro. note. op. cit.) The book came to be respected by many Christians, & was almost considered scripture by some, & even quoted as such, by different ones like Irenaeus. While Tertullian scorned the work, perhaps because he had decided upon another prophetic path way to follow, or that which the Montanists had to offer. For him, that was were the spiritual gift of prophesying was at. (TANF) 2: p.5-7, Intro. n. & The Lost Books of The Bible, op. cit., p.197.)
The book was filled with symbolic allegory, & visions that were said to be genuine "prophesyings" during the apostolic age. The popularity of the book would grow, & it would even be read in the different areas of the early Church during the 2nd -- 4th centuries A.D. Some accepted such works as authoritative, for as they gathered on the day of the Lord for the sacramental meal. The words of Hermas were among those "inspired" writings that were read & considered. "...But the tongues were ceasing, as the apostles foretold; & they who professed to speak by the Spirit were beginning to be doubted. "Your fathers, where are they? & the prophets, do they live forever?" It was gratifying to the older men, & excited the curiosity of the young, when the reader stood up, & said, "Hear, then, the words of Hermas." (TANF) 2: p.6, Intro. n., And: Mormon Issues, #1, April, 1991, p.4, Bible So Many Versions, by Van Hale & Bill Forrest, with Don Bradley on the staff for this issue.)
There was some discussions as to whether or not Hermas' writings were inspired or not. Some of the early writers who had a high regard for these writings were Irenaeus who, (as mentioned earlier), "quotes it was Scripture," (Contra Haeres., iv., 20, 2.) Clement of Alexandria, (Strom., i., xxi. p.426.), seemed to accept it as divinely inspired. While Origen has his doubts, but gives as his opinion that it is "divinely inspired." (Ut supra.). Later, during Eusebius time, differences of opinions prevailed, as some accepted it as being inspired, while others opposed the claim that it had any "divine origin." Earlier, Tertullian designated it among the "apocryphal" works, but his words suggest that he was against it's anti-Montanistic opinions, for even "...his words, however, show that it was regarded in many churches as Scripture. (TANF) 2: p.6-7, Intro. n. see p.7, n.1, Tertullian's De Pudicitia, c. xx., also c. x; De Oratione, c. xvi.) Others were of the opinion that the work was fictional. Different versions of the book have survived, the book must have been in circulation at the time, or before Irenaeus' time, in order for him to have quoted it as scripture, thus it has been assigned to the time of the reign of Hadrian, or of Antoninus Pius. [The greek speaking eastern Churches had copies of it in circulation. But other manuscripts have given us minute differences to consider. There is the text of Hilgenfeld, based on the Sinatic Codex. Some of the other versions are as follows: The Vatican manuscript. The Palatine manuscript edited by Dressel, in Latin. The Leipzig, by Simonides from Athos. The text of Anger & Dindorf (Lips., 1856). There is a text of Tischendorf in Dressel. The Aethiopic version, edited, with a latin translation, by Antonius D'Abbadie. Leipzig, 1860. (TANF) 2: p.3-8, Intro. Note to The Pastor Of Hermas, Trans. by the Rev. F. Crombie, M.A.]
When the true spiritual gift began to fade out of the different branches of the early Church. What took their place? Was their just an empty void? It may be that in many cases, satanic counterfeits, & false spirits, & their counterfeit spiritual gifts may have eventually replaced the true divine spiritual gifts, during those later centuries in later Christianity, when the true spiritual gifts had faded out of the gospel picture, as a results of the great apostasy. The devil & his demons had caused confusion & trouble, even during the days of the Christ & the apostles, & the earliest Christians. [Matt.24:4-13, 23-24; John 16:1-4; 2 Thess.2:1-12; 2 Tim.2:18; 4:3-4; Rev.13:4-8; Acts 20:29-30; 1 Tim.1:6; 4:1; 2 Pet.2:1; Jude 17-18; Gal.1:6-8; Titus 1:10-15; 1 John 2:18-29, etc.] So why wouldn't they be able to do even greater damage during the dark ages of apostasy? Now this is not to say that satan & his demons had totally done away with the divine powers, & had won the battle. Yes they would have their days of retrogression. But the darkness would flee before the light of the latter days, when a new dispensation would come, in which the Lord would begin His work afresh through a time of restoration. (Acts 3:19-21, Eph.1:8-11.)
In later centuries, Basil had prayed that they would not lose the power of prophesying "the way the Jews did." Jerome wrote that with the lack of revelation, a number of pretenders had appeared. Methodius, like that of Basil, pities the Jews who were left with the scriptures alone to guide them. They do the best that they can, but have no revelation. He hoped that the Christians would not fall into the same conditions as that of the Jews, that they would always be able to have revelation. John Chrysostom, (one of the greek father), wrote that "If we no longer have revelation, we have something better, the bodies of the martyrs, which the demons fear." And yet Chrysostom had argued that the early leaders, the apostles, etc., had overcome the great minds of their times, not by the abilities to win debates & out argue the greeks, or others. But it was when they spoke by the divine gifts, then they over came the learned, etc., & the people listened. The victory was behind the spiritual gifts & not in their abilities to speak & argue well. For they were ignorant men, crude, & unrefined. In saying this, he said that this was not to put the apostles down, or was it out of lack of respect for them. But rather, it was to show that in their weaknesses as men, this became evidence for them, for they rose above their weaknesses, & over came their foes with the help of the spiritual gifts.9 (See also: 1 Cor.1:25-7; 2:6-16).
During the 5th century A.D., the missionary zeal of some of the Christians of that time obtained resulted in many conversion to the Christian faith. Or at least the different sect that had arisen during that time. Mosheim wrote that the "...miraculous influences of their religion, were the prevailing motives that induced the greatest part to renounce the service of their impotent gods." "How far these conversions were due to real miracles attending the ministry of these early preachers, is a matter extremely difficult to be determined. For though I am persuaded that pious men, who, in the midst of many dangers, & in the face of obstacles seemingly invincible, endeavoured to spread the light of Christianity through the barbarous nations, were sometimes accompanied with the more peculiar presence & succours of the Most High;..." [Note: [S] "There is remarkable passage, relating to the miracles of this century, in AEneas Gazeus' Dialogue concerning the Immortality of the Soul, &c. entitled, Theophrastus, p.78, 80, 81. edit. Barthii. See the controversy concerning the time when miracles ceased in the church, that was carried on some years ago, on occasion of Dr. Middleton's Free Inquiry, &c."] Mosheim goes on to write that he was "...equally convinced, that the greatest part of the prodigies, recorded in the histories of this age, are liable to the strongest suspicions of falsehood or imposture. The simplicity & ignorance of the generality in those times furnished the most favourable occasion for the exercise of fraud; & the impudence of impostors, in contriving false miracles, was artfully proportioned to the credulity of the vulgar;" [Note [t] "This is ingeniously confessed by the Benedictine monks, Histoire Litteraire de la France, tom. ii. p.33, and happily expressed by Livy, Hist. lib. xxiv. cap. x. sect. 6..."] "while the sagacious & the wise, who perceived these cheats, were obliged to silence by the
dangers that threatened their lives & fortunes, if they detected artifice" [Note [u] "Sulpitius Severus, Dial. i, p.438. Ep. i. p. 457. Dial. iii. cap. ii. p. 487."] "Thus does it generally happen in human life, that, when the discovery & profession of the truth is attended with danger, the prudent are silent, the multitude believe, & impostors triumph." (An Ecclesiastical History, Mosheim, op. cit., 1819, Vol.2, p.10-11, & notes s, t, u.)
During this century [5th c. A.D.], the spiritual gifts may have almost disappeared except for certain cases, & in different areas. What seems to have begun to replace these divine gifts was superstitions & beliefs in relic magic. Relics, such as the bones of martyrs, crosses, & other things, that were said to have divine powers over demons, etc. Mosheim wrote that a "...singular & irresistible efficacy was also attributed to the bones of martyrs, & to the figure of the cross, in defeating the attempts of Satan, removing all sorts of calamities, & in healing, not only the diseases of the body, but also those of the mind."10
With the prophetic gifts & officers gone, the churches of these later centuries were to face the challenge of sorting out the different dogmas that arose, through logic & reason. Even when the prophets & apostles, & different early leaders had been alive in the earliest days of the Church, they had to face the challenges of sorting out different issues, problems, & controversies that arose in the different areas of the Church, for that was part of their job.11 The primitive church had a hard enough time as it was, with different problems & controversies that arose among the members, & even between some of the apostles themselves. And then to add to those challenges & problems, the fact that false teacher & their teachings had begun to infiltrate into many of the branches of the church, & different counterfeit teachings & practices inspired by false spirits had also infiltrated the different branches. And all these added more challenges & problems for which the spiritually gifted leaders had to deal with. All of which the early leaders attempted to do, & did do by spiritual combat, as best as they could with the spiritual gifts that they had been given by Christ. (Eph.6:10-20). And it was a battle even for them! Now if it was a battle even for them, how much more of a battle would it have been for the later Christians who seemed to have lost most of the spiritual gifts by those later centuries?
During the 5th century A.D., the dogmas & controversies were not settled by divine words from an officer, leader or prophet & apostle that could have spoke the divine will of God on the different matters that had arisen. The Christians & their dogmatic views lacked the inspirational guides, & therefore logic & reason became the basis for their arguments. The "...theological notions that generally prevailed, were proved rather by the authorities & logical discussions of the ancient doctors, than by the unerring dictates of the divine word...." wrote Mosheim. (An Ecclesiastical History, Mosheim, ibid., Vol.2, p.44.) Many issues that arose were discussed in councils, in later centuries of Christianity. With no apostles or prophets & the spiritual gifts to help them settle things in an official manner with divine authority. For the different later Christians sought to resolve different issues as best as they could through polemical arguments, & creeds. In the later centuries that followed, the different councils rejected the earlier Christian doctrines, & so some of the doctrines & practices also began to fade out of the church. It wasn't until the many years later during this present dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times, that many things would be restored, and many things would be refreshed & repaired. Other truth have also been given to the world. The spiritual gifts have also been brought back as was predicted. (Acts 3:19-21; Eph.1:9-10; Rev.14:6-7; Isa.29, Ezk.37, Daniel chapter 7.) May the Holy Spirit witness to you, the reader, of these truths, & the restored truths, as you consider them prayerfully, is my prayer in Christ's name.
END NOTES:
1- Eph. 6:11-18; 1 John 2:18-19; Jude 4; 2 Pet. 2:1-2; 1 Pet. 3:15-16.
2- Mark 16:16-18; John 14:12-13; 1 Cor.12:1, 4-31; 14:1, 14; Acts 2:4-18; 10:44-46; 19:6; 1 Cor.14:2-28; 13:1; Matt.11:9-10; 21:26; Acts 2:16-17; Joel 2:28-29; 1 Cor.14:1-39; 1 Thess.5:19-20; Amos 3:7; Acts 9:1-12; 22:6-16; 26:12-18; 10:10; 17; 11:5; 18:9-10; 23:11; 27:23-24; Rev.1:1-11; Mark 16:18; Acts 3:2-8; 14:19-11; 28:8; Jas.5:14-15; Matt. 10:1; Mark 6:13; Acts 14:9, & compare Matt.8:10; 9:28-29; Mark 9:23; See also: Mk.6:5; 8:23-25; Luke 4:40; 13:11-13; Matt.19:13-15; Mark 10:16; 1 Tim.4:14; 2 Tim.1:16.)
3- (TANF) 1: p.10, chap.20, op. cit.
4- The Early Years of Christianity, by E. De Pressense, D.D., 1871, N.Y., p.14-19.
5- Sinch Cumorah, Dr. Huge Nibley, 1967, p.99, & n.11, Clem. of Alex., Stromatum, I, i, in J.P. Migne, Patrologia Graeca, VIII, 704-5.
6- Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, by Everett Ferguson, Ed., etc., 1990, Garland Pub. N.Y., & Lon., p.758-60. Bibliography: D. Hill, New Testament Prophecy (Atlanta: John Knox, 1970); J. Reiling, Hermas & Christian Prophecy: a Study of the 11th Mandate (Leiden: Brill, 1973); G. Dautzenberg, Urchristliche Prophetie: Ihre Erforchung, ihre Voraussetzungen im Judentum und ihre Struktur im ersten Korintherbrief (Stuttgart" Kohlhammer, 1975); U. B. Muller, Prophetie und Predigt im Neuen Formgeschichtliche Untersuchungen zur Prophetie (Gutersloh: Verlagshaus Gerd Mohn, 1975); J. Panagopoulos ed., Prophetic Vocations in the New Testament & Today (Leiden: Brill, 1977); M.E. Boring, Sayings of the Risen Jesus: Christian Prophecy in the Synoptic Tradition (Cambridge: Cam. UP, 1982); D.E. Aune, Prophecy in Early Christianity & the Ancient Mediterranean World (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983); H.K. Stander, "Prophets in the Early Church," Ekklesiastikos Pharos [Greek] 66-67 (1984-1985): 113-122.)
7- Fathers of the Church, (A Selection from the Writings of the Latin Fathers), Trans., by F.A. Wright, 1928, Lon. George Routledge & Sons, LTD, B.H., etc., p.37.
8- Sinch Cumorah, Nibley, op. cit., p.36-7, n.37 & 38. W. van Unnik, in Vigiliae Christianae, 3 (1949), p.1-4. & Martyrdom of Perpetua & Felicitas, in Patrologia Latina, 3:15.
9- Temple & Cosmos, op. cit., p.356, & The Homilies of S. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the 1st Ep. of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corth., Part I, Hom, I-XXIV., p.30-2, Pub. by John Henry Parker, J.G.F., & J. Rivington, Oxford, Lon. MDCCCXXXIX, see also 1 Cor. 1:24-28; & chap. 2.)
10- [Note [z] "Prudentius, Hymn xi. de Coronis, p.150, 151. Sulpitius Severus, Ep. i. p. 364. AEneas Gazaeus, in Theophrasto, p. 173."] (An Ecclesiastical History, Mosheim, op. cit., 1819, Vol. 2, p.39, see also note z.)
11- Acts 1:15-26; 8:5-40; 13:1-13; 19:1-15; 20:29-30; 28:3-5; Rom.10:1-18; 16:18; 1 Cor.1:11-27; 2:6-16; chap.s 12-14; 2 Cor.11:13-15; Gal.1:6-12; 2:1-14; Eph.2:19-21; Eph.3:3-5; 4:11-25; 2 Thess. chap.2; 1 Tim. 1:1-10; Heb.5:4; Jam.5:14-15; 1 Pet.3:15-16; 2 Pet.1:19-21; 2:1-4, 12-22; 1 John 2:8-29; Jude 4; & Rev. 19:10.
A Look at Prophecies & their Possible Coming to Pass
in Light of Historical Evidences & Current Events!
DT 3-14-2011
Are End Times of the "Last Days" Here Now?
Like a sudden earthquake, current & past events in recent decades have cause many of us to wonder about how fast & furious the predicted end times of the "last days," are rushing in upon us like the Tsunami waves, after the earthquake in Japan, 3-11-2011. We pray for the people effected by these events & the on going possible threats to nuke meltdowns & fallouts from exposed nuke plants in Japan, that are now being reported by certain radio hosts, like Alex Jones, 3-14-2011! Time seems to be running out, and the Holy Spirit confirms to us in tune with the witness of the spirit, that if we haven't got our lives in order, & haven't repented or changed our ways for the better, that it's now time to do so!
Prophecies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' (LDS/Mormon) Prophets & Apostles
Prophecies & Warnings of Earthquakes & Tsunamis*
Prophet, Joseph Smith Jr., at Kirtland, Ohio, 2-1831: Among other wake up calls to get the world to repent, the Lord calls upon the wicked of the world "by the voice of earthquakes... but ye [most the people of this world] would not!" [repent]. Doctrine & Covenants, 43:24-26; HC (History of Church), 1:154-156.
Prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr., at Kirland, Ohio, 3-7-1831, warns: "And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many desolations...." Doctrine & Covenants, 45:30-33; History of the Church, 1:158-163.
Prophet, Joseph Smith Jr., at Kirtland, Ohio, 12-27-1832; 12-27-28-1832; 1-3-1833: "For not many days hence... cometh the testimony of earthquakes... and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds." Doctrine and Covenants, 88:87-91, HC 1:302-312.
Prophet, Joseph Smith, 9-22-23-1832, again warns of very intense and powerful "earthquakes" to come. Doctrine and Covenants, 84:118; History of the Church, 1:286-295, Kirtland, Ohio.
Prophet, Joseph Smith Jr., 1-4-1833: Warns among other things that, an "earthquake will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land..." The Documentary History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 315-316.
Joseph Smith, again, 7-2-1839, warns of "earthquakes," among other events "will come" as with other judgments. The Documentary History of the Church, vol. 3, p. 390-391.
Brigham Young, 7-15-1860, among the judgments of God that will be poured out upon the wicked are "earthquakes." Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 123.
President Wilford Woodruff, 9-12-1875: Among other events, "...earthquake or storms... they are at the doors." Journal of Discourses, vol. 18, p.121.
Joseph F. Smith, who later became one of the prophets, warned back in 1877, of "earthquakes" too. Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, p. 192.
Patriarch, Charles D. Evans, Aug. 1894, had a prophetic dream in which he says he saw: "Earthquakes rent the earth in vast chasms, which engulfed multitudes; groanings and wailings filled the air; the shrieks of suffering were indescribably awful. Water wildly rushed in from the tumultuous ocean whose very roaring under the mad rage of the fierce cyclone..." The Contributor, vol. 15, No. 10, p. 638-641.
Apostle, Melvin Joseph Ballard (2-9-1873 to 7-30-1939). During General Conference, 1923: "The earthquakes, the sea heaving itself beyond its bounds, bringing such dire destruction as we have seen are the voice of God crying repentance to this generation..." Conference Report, Oct. 1923, p.31.
Joseph Fielding Smith, 1948, then Prophet, reminds us of earlier warnings about an "earthquake," that sounds like it would be a big one! Church History and Modern Revelation, Melchizedek Priesthood Course of Study, Published by the Council of the 12 Apostles, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1948, vol. 2, p. 141.
Apostle, Marion G. Romney, Oct. 1972, repeats the warnings about "earthquakes, also in divers places."**
A Christian, Dr. George G. Ritchie Jr., testified, 11-12-1989, that during his near death experience, 12-1-1943, Christ showed him different possible visions of the future, depending on how people live, good or bad. If people live badly, he warns, among other things, of "earthquakes," & "ever increasing natural disasters."***
Evidences of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds caused by earthquakes that cause massive waves, called "tsunamis." Asia's sea areas, 2004.
Notes* Gerald N. Lund, The Coming of the Lord, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft Inc., 1971), 38, 41-45, 63, 83, 86, 88, 163, 217. Luke 21:25; W. Cleon Skousen, The Cleansing of America, (Orem, Utah: Valor Publishing Group, LLC, 2010), p. 12, 18, 25, 52-53, 155-160.
Prophet, Brigham Young, 1860: "...When the testimony of the Elders ceases to be given, and the Lord says to them, "Come home; I will now preach my own sermons to the nations of the earth," all you now know can scarcely be called a preface to the sermon that will be preached with fire and sword, tempests, earthquakes, hail, rain, thunders and lightnings, and fearful destruction..." (Journal of Discourses, 8:123).
Along with earthquakes, "...cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of tempests..." etc., (Doctrine & Covenants, 88:88-91; cited by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, November 4, 1942, in Barratt Hall, published in: The Signs of the Times, A series of Discussions, Sponsored by the sisters of Lion House Social Center and given by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, each Wednesday from October 14, 1942, to November 18, 1942, (Independence, Jackson Co., Mo.: Press of Zion's Printing & Publishing Co., 1943), Lesson 4, The Predicted Judgments-- I., p. 88).
LDS Apostle, Elder Melvin J. Ballard, who served as an apostle between 1919 to 1939 warned: "God is speaking through the elements. The earthquakes, the sea heaving itself beyond its bounds, bringing in such dire destruction as we have seen are the voice of God crying repentance to this generation, a generation that only in part has heeded the warning voice of the servants of the Lord." (Conference Report, Oct. 1923, p. 31).
Logical, reasonable & spiritually tuned in people can see, hear & feel how that many of these prophetic warnings could come to pass when we take into account what happens in communities where these different types of natural disasters & other made made ones take place, like wars, etc. Communication & power lines are torn down, roads are blocked by fallen & scattered remains of that left of destroyed cities & towns. Stores are ransacked or wrecked; farming equipment destroyed, crops swept up by massive tornadoes; or flushed away by flood waters. People, animals & livestock are injured & killed, & all kinds of other issue arise. How will people get their basic needs met? Protection, food, water, shelter, energy, medical, etc. Crops wrecked could add elements that equals famines, or decreases in food supplies; farming equipment destroyed equals the lack of farming tools to harvest what might be left. Roaming gangs & mobs seeking to loot for their basic needs are not too unimaginable in light of increases in gangs & other murderous secret combinations activities, and opportunistic looters. The Apostle, Orson Pratt, March 9, 1879, prophetically warns how that the farmers, of which we rely upon to grow food for the masses, "...will leave their farms & they will flee before the ravaging armies from place to place..." Journal of Discourses, 20:151.
Other apostles & prophets have prophetically warned:
Prophet, Spencer W. Kimball warned, October 1974, General Conference: "Should the trucks fail to fill the shelves at the stores, many would go hungry."
And: April 1977 General Conference, he warns: "‘Your highways shall be desolate.' Can you think how the highways could be made desolate? Well,[this could happen] when fuel and power are limited, when there is none to use, when men will walk instead of ride."
H. Verlan Andersen, 11-6-1914 to 7-16-1992, of the 1st & 2nd Quorum of the 70, points out what would happen if these types of things were to happen to cause the food and fuel supplies to be halted: "...famine could and would stalk the land within a matter of weeks if violence interrupted the operation of this highly interdependent system of food production & distribution ...food markets would [be] empty within hours & people would be left to their own devices to provide themselves with sustenance." Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen,(1967 Press Publishing Co., paperback, (Heber City, Utah: Archive Publisher, reprint 2009, internet 1997, ISBN: 1-57636-043-1), chapter 10).
October 4, 1980, Saturday Afternoon session of General Conference, the Apostle, Ezra Taft Benson asks this chilling question: What might happen in your community or nation “...if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food?”
Ezra Taft Benson, during General Conference, Oct. 1980: "Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion."
Evidences & sources:
Globalist, "Herr Kissinger has declared that his goal is to create a "New World Order." Syndicated Washington columnist Paul Scott reveals: "It is Kissinger's belief, according to his aides, that by controlling food, one can control people, and by controlling energy, especially oil, one can control nations & their -financial systems. By placing food and oil under international control along with the world's monetary system, Kissinger is convinced a loosely knit world government operating, under the frame-work of the United Nations can become a reality before 1980." Gary Allen's The Rockefeller File, (1976), chapter 10: The People Planners.
October 4, 1980, Saturday Afternoon session of General Conference, the Apostle, Ezra Taft Benson, Prepare for the Days of Tribulation, see: Ensign, The Ensign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,(Salt Lake City, Utah: The Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1980), vol. 10,#11, pp. 32—34, see especially p. 32. Benson, The Ensign, Nov. 1980, p. 34.
Prophecies that Warn that the USA's Government & Constitution Would "Hang by a Thread!"1
There are different 1st, 2nd & 3rd hand accounts of these prophecies, that in time have been blended & circulated with another alleged "prophecy," as having been said by the prophet Joseph Smith, but of which is uncertain; called "the White Horse Prophecy." Some church leaders have charge the "white horse prophecy," elements added to other prophecies, are things Joseph Smith didn't say. Whereas the part about the Constitution hanging by a thread is a basic concept that is more acceptable & is backed up by witness statements, that Joseph Smith did present this basic concept, several times before his death. Thus, the "white horse" aspect belongs more to Mormon Apocryphal lore, than it would with more official statements.2 Hence, some aspects that seem to be more often accepted as the main basic themes in the prophecies of Joseph Smith & later prophets & apostles are the prophetic warnings that: 1. The USA's government would eventually become so corrupted that it would almost fall. 2. That the USA's constitution would come so close to falling, that it would hang by a thread, or hair. 3. Thus, upon seeing this about to happen, the Elders & perhaps different members in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, would seek to "help," with "others,"3 in up-holding the freedoms of the nation & world, in upholding the constitution from falling; if it's to be saved from falling at all!4
A discourse reported by Martha Jane Knowlton, July 19, 1940, Joseph Smith:"...the Enemy shall come as a thief in the night and scatter the servants abroad. When the seed of these 12 Olive trees are scattered abroad they will wake up the Nations of the whole Earth. Even this Nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the constitution is upon the brink of ruin this people will be the Staff up[on] which the Nation shall lean and they shall bear the constitution away from the very verge of destruction." (The Historians Corner, Brigham Young University Studies, Vol. 19, No. 3, p. 391-392).
May 6, 1843, 2nd hand(?) account of Joseph Smith's address, before the Nauvoo Legion, & before General Scott & part of his staff on the American Army were present. Thus, Levi Richards reports the reminiscent account of a discourse by Joseph Smith, as it was remember by James Burgess: ''...the time would come when the Constitution and Government would hang by a brittle thread and would be ready to fall into other hands but this people the Latter day Saints will step forth and save it."5
March 10, 1844(?), Joseph Smith: "Even this nation will be on the verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the Constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction."6
June 19, 1844, Joseph Smith: "You will live to see men arise in power in the Church who will seek to put down your friends and the friends of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Many will be hoisted because of their money and the worldly learning which they seem to be in possession of; any many who are the true followers of our Lord and Savior will be cast down because of their poverty. There will be two great political parties in this country. One will be called the Republican, and the other the Democrat party. These two parties will go to war and out of these two parties will spring another party which will be the Independent American Party. The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, "Let's divide up the lands of the United States", then the people of the U.S. will unite and swear by the blood of their fore-fathers, that the land shall not be divided. Then the country will go to war, and they will fight until one half of the U.S. army will give up, and the rest will continue to struggle. They will keep on until they are very ragged and discouraged, and almost ready to give up-- when the boys from the mountains will rush forth in time to save the American Army from defeat and ruin. And they will say, 'Brethren, we are glad you have come; give us men, henceforth, who can talk with God'. Then you will have friends, but you will save the country when it's liberty hangs by a hair, as it were."7
7-4-1854, Brigham Young, 2nd Prophet: "Will the Constitution be destroyed? No: it will be held inviolate by this people; and, so as Joseph Smith said, "The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction." It will be so." Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 15.
2-18-1855, Brigham Young: "...when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call the "Mormon" Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it." Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 182.
1858, Orson Hyde:"...Joseph in his lifetime declared that the Elders of this Church should step forth at a particular time when the Constitution should be in danger, and rescue it, and save it. This may be so; but I do not recollect that he said exactly so. I believe he said something like this–that the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and said he, If the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the Elders of this Church. I believe this is about the language, as nearly as I can recollect it. The question is whether it will be saved at all, or not. I do not know that it matters to us whether it is or not: the Lord will provide for and take care of his people, if we do every duty, and fear and honour him, and keep his commandments; and he will not leave us without a Constitution." Journal of Discourses 6:151-152.8
1868, Brigham Young: "How long will it be before the words of the prophet Joseph will be fulfilled? He said if the Constitution of the United States were saved at all it must be done by this people. It will not be many years before these words come to pass." Journal of Discourses, 12:204.
1871, Joseph Smith Jr., was heard by Eliza R. Snow, (who reports about this in 1871), that the Prophet warned about how: "The time will come when the government of these United States will be so nearly overthrown through its corruption, that the Constitution will hand as it were by a single hair, and the latter-day Saints- the Elders of Israel- will step forward to its rescue and save it."9
1879, Prophet, John Taylor: "...the day is not far distant when this nation will be shaken from centre to circumference.... When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations." Journal of Discourses, 21:8.
1881, Prophet, John Taylor: "...when men begin to tear away with impunity one plank after another from our Constitution, by and by we shall find that we are struggling with the wreck and ruin of the system which the forefathers of this nation sought to establish in the interests of humanity." Journal of Discourses, 22:143.
1882, Aug 20, John Taylor: "...if other people can afford to trample under foot the sacred institutions of this country, we cannot. And if other people trample upon the Constitution and pull it to pieces, we will gather together the pieces and rally around the old flag, or what is left of it, and proclaim liberty to the world, as Joseph Smith said we would." Journal of Discourses, vol. 23, p. 239.
1884, Prophet, John Taylor: "By and by, you will find they will tear the Constitution to shreds, as they have begun now; they won't have to begin; they have started long ago to rend the Constitution of our country in pieces..." Journal of Discourses, 26:39.
1896, George Q. Cannon: "...It is not at all probable that the encroachments which we have been led to expect will be made upon the Constitution will be of a very startling character to begin with. They may be of a very insidious character, and will require close scrutiny to discern their danger...." The Juvenile Instructor Magazine, 31:522-4.
1898-1902, John J. Roberts, of Paradise Utah: Joseph Smith is alleged to have said: "You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed. It will hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber."10
1912, Joseph F. Smith, 6th Prophet: "Now, these are the commandments of God, the principles contained in these commandments of the great Eternal are the principles that underly the Constitution of our country, and all just laws. Joseph Smith, the prophet, was inspired to affirm and ratify this truth, and he further predicted that the time would come, when the Constitution of our country would hang as it were by a thread, and that the Latter-day Saints, above all other people in the world, would come to the rescue of that great and glorious palladium of our liberty. Oct. Conference Report, 1912, p. 8-11; Gospel Doctrine, p. 403.
1922, Charles W. Nibley: "...I believe as the Prophet Joseph has written, that the day would come when there would be so much of disorder, of secret combinations taking the law into their own hands, tramping upon Constitutional rights and the liberties of the people, that the Constitution would hang as by a thread. Yes, but it will still hang, and there will be enough of good people, many who may not belong to our Church at all, people who have respect for law and for order, and for Constitutional rights, who will rally around with us and save the Constitution. I have never read that that thread would be cut. It will hang..." Conference Report, October 1922, p. 40. emphasis added.
1928, Apostle, Melvin J. Ballard: “The Prophet Joseph told us that he saw the day when even the Constitution of the United States would be torn and hang as by a thread. But, thank the Lord, the thread did not break. He saw the day when this people would be a balance of power to come to its defense. The Book of Mormon prophecies concerning the future of America have been referred to in our hearing during this conference, wherein it is stated that this nation, though it becomes a mighty nation, still it can stand in security here only as it serves the God of this land. That conception was in the hearts of the men who founded America.” Conference Report, October 1928, p. 108-09, emphasis added.
1933, Apostle, Melvin J. Ballard: “I believe that it is the destiny of the Latter-day Saints to support the Constitution of the United States. The Prophet Joseph Smith is alleged to have said--and I believe he did say it--that the day would come when the Constitution would hang as by a thread. But he saw that the thread did not break, thank the Lord, and that the Latter-day Saints would become a balance of power, with others, to preserve that Constitution. If there is--and there is one part of the Constitution hanging as by a thread today--where do the Latter-day Saints belong? Their place is to rally to the support of that Constitution, and maintain it and defend it and support it by their lives and by their vote. Let us not disappoint God nor his prophet. Our place is fixed.” Conference Report, April 1933, p. 127.
Oct. 1938, Melvin J. Ballard: "I am not afraid of any foreign foe disturbing this nation. Our perils will all come from within. It is true the Prophet saw even the Constitution hanging as by a thread, but, thank the Lord, he never saw the thread break...." Conference Report, 10/38:106.
April 1942, Harold B. Lee: "But beyond all that, the Latter-day Saints have a responsibility, that may be better understood when we recall the prophecy of Joseph Smith who declared that "the time would come when (the destiny and) the Constitution of these United States would hang as it were by a thread, and that this people, the sons of Zion, would rise up and save it from threatened destruction." Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.15; Conference Report, April 1942, p. 87; Ether 2:12.
1942, Apostle J. Reuben Clark: “You and I have heard all our lives that the time may come when the Constitution may hang by a thread. I do not know whether it is a thread, or a small rope by which it now hangs, but I do know that whether it shall live or die is now in the balance.” Conference Report, October 1942, p. 58.
April 1946, Mark E. Petersen: "How long will it be before the words of the prophet Joseph will be fulfilled? He said if the Constitution of the United States were saved at all it must be done by this people. It will not be many years before these words come to pass. When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the "Mormon Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it." Conference Report, April 1946, p. 171; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 7:15, p. 360-361.
April 1948, Ezra Taft Benson: "...according to his contemporaries, he [Joseph Smith] foresaw the time when the destiny of the nation would be in danger and would hang as by a thread. Thank God he did not see the thread break. He also indicated the important part that this people should yet play in standing for the principles embodied in these sacred documents-- the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution." Conference Report, April 1948, p. 85, emphasis.
April 1949, Clifford E. Young, cites Brigham Young about the Constitution hanging by a thread, and then adds, when "...we have reached that point is it not possible that to us will those who are not of us look for guidance and we will be held up as a people who are pointing an economic way that will mean for the economic and spiritual salvation and blessing of our people." Conference Report, April 1949, p. 75-76; Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 18, 1855, emphasis added.
April 1950, Joseph Fielding Smith: "The statement has been made that the Prophet said the time would come when this Constitution would hang as by a thread, and this is true.... it is time the people of the United States were waking up with the understanding that if they don't save the Constitution from the dangers that threaten it. we will have a change of government." Conference Report, April 1950, p. 159.
October 1952, Harold B. Lee: "It was Joseph Smith who has been quoted as having said that the time would come when the Constitution would hang as by a thread..." Conference Report, October 1952, p. 18.
1956, Joseph Fielding Smith: “CONSTITUTION TO HANG BY A THREAD. The statement has been made that the Prophet said the time would come when this Constitution would hang as by a thread, and this is true...." Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p. 326, emphasis added.
2-15-1961, Senator Wallace F. Bennett: "... if I were to guess as to how the Constitution may 'hang by a thread' it would be because of the immense powers given to the President and his opportunity for their abuse. Let us... resolve that we will do all in our power to preserve these principles for our posterity. This is our duty as citizens of the United States, and pre-eminently our duty as Latter-day Saints."Brigham Young University Speeches, February 15, 1961, p. 13.
5-24-1961, Ezra Taft Benson: "We have heard that the Prophet Joseph said something about the time when the Constitution would be in danger. We do not know just what turn that will take. He also said something about the Elders of Israel rising to the challenge and helping to save the Constitution of this land.... Our young people-- as they mature and develop and take their positions in industry, in the professions, and in agriculture clear across this land-- might represent the balance of power in a time of crisis, when they will stand up and defend those eternal principles upon which this Constitution has been established." BYU, 5-24-1961.
1961, October, Ezra Taft Benson: “… the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by destroying the Constitution. Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at that time ‘this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction…. It is my conviction that the elders of Israel, widely spread over the nation will at that crucial time successfully rally the righteous of our country and provide the necessary balance of strength to save the institutions of constitutional government.” Conference Report, October 1961, p. 70.
April 1963, Ezra Taft Benson: “The Prophet Joseph Smith said the time would come when the Constitution would hang as it were by a thread. Modern-day prophets for the last thirty years have been warning us that we have been rapidly moving in that direction. Fortunately, the Prophet Joseph Smith saw the part the elders of Israel would play in this crisis.” Conference Report, April 1963, p. 113.
April 24, 1963, Judge, Joseph E. Nelson: "Our government is an organization which was to, and since has, enacted, judged and enforced law through and by legislative, judicial and executive departments. It is encumbent on the American people to steadfastly maintain the historic balance of power by the three branches of government if our political system is to be preserved. If this is not done then the thread by which it has been predicted the Constitution will hang will be clipped and our form of government will disappear...." Brigham Young University Speeches, April 24, 1963, p. 3.11
2-18-1964, Dr. Ernest L. Wilkinson: "...I am concerned that we have in effect abandoned the Monroe Doctrine as our safeguard for ultimate protection of this hemisphere, and that as a result we are threatened with Communism not only in Cuba but in South America and now in Africa as well. If the Constitution is to hang by a thread in this country, I want to be one to help to preserve it.” Brigham Young University Speeches, 2-18-1964, p. 9.
4-21-1966, Dr. Ernest L. Wilkinson: "Now what has happened in our country during the time we have been plunging toward socialism? Are we actually at that point where the Constitution may be hanging by a single thread and we need to step in to save it?" Brigham Young University Speeches, 4-21-1966, p. 9.
During the Vietnam war, Ezra Taft Benson warned that Joseph Smith's prophecy about the constitution hanging by a thread was very near & that the Prophet at that time, also felt this was so too. BYU Devotional talk: Vietnam - Victory Or Surrender,
1988, Prophet, Ezra Taft Benson: “Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at that time ‘this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.’... [Then] the Elders of Israel [i.e., LDS leaders], widely spread over the nation, will at that crucial time successfully rally the righteous of our country and provide the necessary balance of strength to save the institutions of constitutional government.” Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 1988, p. 619.
Notes to: Prophecies that Warn that the USA's Government & Constitution Would "Hang by a Thread!
2- 1979, Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 835; President Joseph F. Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1918, p. 58.George A. Smith Papers, Church Archives, Box 7, Folder 5, January 21, 1841, says Joseph Smith warned “The government is fallen and needs redeeming. It is guilty of Blood and cannot stand as it now is but will come so near desolation as to hang as it were by a single hair!"
Brigham Young, 2nd Prophet: "How long will it be before the words of the prophet Joseph will be fulfilled? He said if the Constitution of the United States were saved at all it must be done by this people. It will not be many years before these words come to pass. Journal of Discourses, 12:204. "When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the "Mormon" Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it." Journal of Discourses, 2:182. "I expect to see the day when the Elders of Israel will protect and sustain civil and religious liberty and every Constitutional right bequeathed to us by our fathers, and spread these rights abroad in connection with the Gospel for the salvation of all nations. I shall see this whether I live or die." Journal of Discourses, 11:262. "Will the Constitution be destroyed? No; it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, "The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread. At this critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction." It will be so." Journal of Discourses, 7:15. (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 360-361 & p. 469). Brigham Young: "When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the "Mormon" Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it." And: "Will the Constitution be destroyed? No; it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, "The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread..."Discourses of Brigham Young, 2:182; Journal of Discourses, 7:15, p. 360-361 & 469.
Joseph F. Smith, 6th Prophet: "...Joseph Smith... predicted that the time would come, when the Constitution of our country would hang as it were by a thread, and that the Latter-day Saints, above all other people in the world, would come to the rescue..." Gospel Doctrine, p. 403; Conference Report, April 1950, p. 159; Journal of Discourses, 6:152, Joseph F. Smith notes the confusion that was going on concerning what Joseph Smith said & offers Elder Orson Hyde's interpretation as being correct, that the time could come when the constitution "would be in danger."
Ezra Taft Benson: "The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by destroying the Constitution. Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread..." Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 618-619.
Ezra Taft Benson, 1970's, then an Apostle, repeats the warning given by the Prophet Joseph Smith, that the nation would be in trouble of being overthrown, that the "constitution would hang by a thread." LDS Apostle, Ezra Taft Benson, Vietnam - Victory Or Surrender,(Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University/Electronic Media Department, Recording Operations Section/Room E-366 HFAC; BYU Devotional address given during the Vietnam war, tape K1389.
3-Ezra Taft Benson: "We will help to save this nation, because this nation can only be preserved on the basis of righteous living." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 618-619, "The Greatest Leadership," Brigham Young University, Student Leadership Conference, Sun Valley, Idaho, September 1959). Charles W. Nibley, Conference Report, October 1922, p. 40.
4- Different LDS leaders & authors had written about the different versions of these prophecies & their basic themes & the on going prophetic wake up call for the church & world to wake up to real threats to freedom; & threats to the USA's government from evil factions infiltrating & destroying it from with in; of it becoming corrupted, & the nation becoming corrupted. Plus how factions in government would & are seeking to destroy & do away with the bill of rights, constitution & national sovereignty in order to replace it with a "one world government," "New World Order." See: Jerome Horowitz, The Elders of Israel and The Constitution, (SLC Ut: Parliament Publishers, 1970), p. 1, making references to the prophecy mentioned and repeated by later apostles & prophets: Brigham Young, Orson Hyde, John Taylor Ezra Taft Benson. (see: Bension, BYU Devotional talk: Vietnam: Victory or Surrender? Also: Journal of Discourses, vols. 7:15; 6:152; 12:204; 21:8 & 31-32; 22:143-144; 26:38-39; Preston Nibley, "What of Joseph Smith's Prophecy that the Constitution Would Hang by a Thread," (SLC: Deseret News, Church News Section, Dec. 15, 1948; Richard Vetterli, The Constitution By A Thread, (SLC: Paramount Publishers, 1967). Jerreld L. Newquist, Prophets, Principles and National Survival, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1964); Gerald N. Lund, The Coming Of The Lord, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1971), p. 56-68, etc. Gerald N. Lund, The Coming of the Lord, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft Inc., 1971), 56-60; Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.1, 1992.
“It was Joseph Smith who has been quoted as having said that the time would come when the Constitution would hang as by a thread and at that time when it was thus in jeopardy, the elders of this Church would step forth and save it from destruction. Why the elders of this Church? Would it be sacrilegious to paraphrase the words of the Apostle Peter, and say that the Constitution of the United States could be saved by the elders of his Church because this Church and this Church alone has the words of eternal life? We alone know by revelation as to how the Constitution came into being, and we, alone, know by revelation the destiny of this nation. The preservation of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ can be guaranteed upon no other basis than upon a sincere faith and testimony of the divinity of these teachings.” Prophet, Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, October 1952, p.18.
1987, President Ezra Taft Benson: “For the past two centuries, those who do not prize freedom have chipped away at every major clause of our Constitution until today we face a crises of great dimensions.” (The Constitution--A Glorious Standard, Ensign, Sept. 1987, p. 10; see also: The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 612).
April 9, 1882, the 3rd prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, President John Taylor, prophesied: "...We shall not have recourse to the dynamite of the Russian nihilists, the secret plans and machinations of the communists... nor any ether secret or illegal combination; but we will expect to possess and maintain our rights, but to obtain them in a legal, peaceful, and constitutional manner. . . . Already the monarchs of the earth are trembling from conspiracies among their own people.... and the spirit of insubordination, misrule, lynching, and mobocracy of every kind is beginning to ride rampant through the land. Already combinations are being entered into which are very ominous for the future prosperity, welfare, and happiness of this great republic." Journal of Discourses, vol. 23, p. 62.
LDS Apostle Orson F. Whitney, Saturday Night Thoughts, p. 60-61, wrote: "...If tradition can be relied upon, Joseph Smith prophesied that the Elders of Israel would save this Nation in the hour of its extremest peril. At a time when anarchy would threaten the life of the Government, and the Constitution be hanging as by a thread..." (emphasis added).
5- James Burgess Notebook, Church Archives- Ehat & Cook, Words of Joseph Smith, May 6, 1843, Note, p. 279. James Burgess Journal, 1818-1904, Church Archives, vol. 1- found in loose sermons. Joseph Smith is reported to have warned about the constitution being in trouble, while addressing the Nauvoo Legion, May 1843, while they were several miles east of Nauvoo.
6- Ensign, Jun. 1976: Joseph Smith Papers, LDS Church Historical Archives, Box 1, March 10, 1844. D. Michael Stewart, "I Have a Question," Ensign, June 1976, 64-65; The Historians Corner, Brigham Young University Studies, Vol. 19, No. 3, p. 391-392; Smith, Joseph. “Howard and Martha Coray Notebook, 19 July 1840″. The Words of Joseph Smith: The Contemporary Accounts of the Nauvoo Discourses of the Prophet Joseph. Comp. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook. Orem, Utah: Grandin Book, 1991. 415-418
9- Eliza R. Snow, in a Pioneer Day celebration in Ogden in 1871, relates her own version of this prophecy by the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr., (Journal History, MSF 143 #28, July 24, 1871).
10-John J. Roberts, Reminiscences and Diaries 1898-1902, Microfilm Manuscript. Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. 2nd hand account, as told by Edwin Rushton, 1843.
11-Jerreld L. Newquist, Prophets, Principles and National Survival,(Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1964); Gerald N. Lund, The Coming Of The Lord, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1971), p. 78, 80, 85, 92-105, 224-226. Numerous talks by prophets & apostles warned that if secret combinations' factions get agents in the three branches of government: The Legislative, Judicial & Executive branches, that the Constitution would be in trouble of being changed & corrupted. "We must always remember that despotism and tyranny, with all their attendant tragedies to the people, as in Russia today, come to nations because one man, or a small group of men, seize and exercise by themselves the three great divisions of government,-- the legislative, the executive, and the judicial." Lund, p. 78, 94-98, cites J. Reuben Clark, The Church News Section of The Deseret News Newspaper, 11-29-1952). Clark, under the heading, "Inroads Upon Constitution," warns, by giving a historical example, that the Roman Civil Law retrogressed to tyranny when the three branches were placed under one place, for "...the head of the state had all governmental powers, in their totality-- legislative, executive, and judicial. This is the lex regia concept. I repeat, this makes despotism possible, -- then and now." See also: Mark R. Levin, Men In Black, How The Supreme Court Is Destroying America, (Washington D.C.: Regnery Publishing, Inc., An Eagle Publishing Co., 2005); Thomas P. Kilgannon, Diplomatic Divorce, Why America Should End Its Love Affair With The United Nations, (Macon, GA: Stroud & Hall Publishers, 2006); Jerome R. Corsi, PH.D., America For Sale, Fighting the New World Order, Surviving A Global Depression, And Preserving USA Sovereignty, (New York, London, Toronto, Sydney: Threshold Editions, 2009).
Joseph Fielding Smith, The Signs of the Times, A Series of Discussions Sponsored by the sisters of the Lion House Social Center & Given by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith,
each Wednesday night from October 14, 1942, to November 18, 1942, (Independence, Jackson Co., Mo.: Press of Zion's Printing & Publishing Co., 1943). Rare book. On line.
Duane S. Crowther, Prophecy - Key to the Future, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1962), cites many early LDS apostles' & prophets' prophecies, & then adds his own interpretations to events in history & how they could relate to those prophecies. (Often found in the Deseret Industries book section for real cheap).
Gerald N. Lund, The Coming of the Lord, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1971), same thing as above.
Anthony E. Larsen, The Prophecy Trilogy, 1: And the Moon Shall Turn to Blood, (Crown Summit Books, 1981); 2: And The Earth Shall Reel To & Fro,(Orem, Utah: Zedek Books, 1983); 3: There Shall Be a New Heaven and a New Earth. See: Amazon Books
Vicki Alder, The Signs of the Last Days, A Scriptural Guide to the Future, (Sandy, Utah: Wellspring Publishing, 1990).
Hoyt W. Brewster Jr., Behold I Come Quickly, The Last Days & Beyond, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1994).
David J. Ridges, 65 Signs of the Times - Leading Up to the Second Coming, (Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, Inc., 2009).
An early anti-Christian named Rabbi Joseph Kimchi, wrote a book against the Christians entitled: "Book of Covenant." His son, Rabbi David Kimchi, also followed his example & wrote "Answer to the Christians." In it, he claimed that not even one of the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. According to the "evidences" presented by Kimchi, this is some of the reasons why the different Jewish sects still looked for the coming Messiah. For in the "man" called Jesus Christ, they did not see him as the promised Messiah predicted by the Prophets.1
The early Christian Father, Justin Martyr, AD 103-165, pointed out to the Jew Trypho, that Jesus had fulfilled the prophetic promises concerning the coming of the Messiah.2 Origen, AD 185-254, in Origen Against Celsus, or Contra Celsus, also responded to the early anti-Christian, Celsus, by giving evidences concerning how Christ fulfilled the different prophetic promises.3 Celsus used the early anti-Christian arguments of the Jews against the early Christians to make his own polemical book, On The True Doctrine, during the 2nd century AD. Origen response to Celsus also includes a response to the Jews: "And I remember on one occasion, at a disputation held with certain Jews who were reputed learned men, having employed the following argument in the presence of many judges: "Tell me, sirs," I said, "since there are two individuals who have visited the human race, regarding whom are related marvellous works surpassing human power -- Moses, viz., your own legislator, who wrote about himself, and Jesus our teacher, who has left no writings regarding Himself, but to whom testimony is borne by the disciples in the Gospels-- what are the grounds for deciding that Moses is to be believed as speaking the truth, although the Egyptians slander him as a sorcerer, and as appearing to have wrought his mighty works by jugglery, while Jesus is not to be believed because you are His accusers? And yet there are nations which bear testimony in favour of both: the Jews to Moses; and the Christians, who do not deny the prophetic mission of Moses, but proving from that very source the truth of the statement regarding Jesus, accept as true the miraculous circumstances related of Him by His disciples. Now, if ye ask us for the reasons of our faith in Jesus, give yours first for believing in Moses, who lived before Him, and then we shall give you ours for accepting the latter. But if you draw back, and shirk a demonstration then we, following your own example, decline for the present to offer any demonstration likewise. Nevertheless, admit that ye have no proof to offer for Moses, and then listen to our defense of Jesus derived from the law and the prophets. And now observe what is almost incredible! It is shown from the declarations concerning Jesus, contained in the law and the prophets, that both Moses and the prophets were truly prophets of God.""4
Perhaps we "Latter-day Saints" (Mormons) might respond in a similar way to Modern critics, the Christian anti-Mormons. "...What are the grounds for deciding that Moses" (and Paul & Christ etc), "is to be believed as speaking the truth, although the Egyptians slander him" (Moses) "as a sorcerer, and as appearing to have wrought his mighty works by jugglery,..." (As with also Jesus who's enemies accused Him of being possessed of a devil, (Matt.11:18) & casting out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the devils,5 And who was accused of being "a magician" or sorcerer.6 While Joseph Smith "...is not to be believed because you" (Christian anti-Mormons, etc.) are his accusers? "And yet there are nations which bear testimony in favour of both: the Jew to Moses; and the Christians, who do not deny the prophetic mission of Moses,..." (But also the modern Mormons & Christians who accept now the prophetic promises of the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ). But there are also other nations that not only bear testimony of Moses, Jesus Christ the Messiah, but of the latter-day Prophet Joseph Smith). Thus also as the ancients "...proving from the very source the truth of the statement regarding Jesus, accept as true the miraculous circumstances related of Him by His disciples...." (But also concerning Christ's other servants who were predicted would come in the latter days to help in the restoration).
"...Now, if ye ask us" (Mormons) "for the reasons of our faith in Jesus..." (as to Jesus being the Messiah of the whole world, having also gone to all the different parts of the world to preach the gospel, & to different realms of the spirits. But also of our faith in the modern restoration & the Prophet Joseph Smith, etc.) Give "...yours" (you Christian anti-Mormons) "first for believing in Moses" (and Paul & the other Apostles & Jesus Christ the Son of God, of which we also believe), "and then we shall give you ours for accepting the latter..." (day prophets also predicted, such as "Joseph the Restorer" etc.) "But if you draw back, and shirk a demonstration, then we, following your example, decline for the present to offer any demonstration likewise. Nevertheless, admit that ye have no proof to offer for Moses" (Peter, Paul, & Christ, etc.) "and then listen to our defense of Jesus" (Peter, Paul & John, & Joseph Smith, etc.) "derived from the law and the prophets." (But also from historical writings, art works, legends, documents, monuments, prophetic traditions & writings, Near Death Experiences, archeology, early Christian writings & art works, ancient Americas' writings & art works, legends, rites, & prophetic traditions, etc. & other evidences from around the world from many nations. And the spiritual evidences through prayer & the Holy Spirit). "And now observe what is almost incredible! It is shown from the declarations concerning Jesus, contained in the law and the prophets, that both Moses and the prophets were truly prophets of God." (But also from the declarations, & other evidences that Jesus is the Christ the Promised Messiah for the whole world, etc. & Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God & a servant of Jesus Christ!).
Jewish writings & legends tell us of predictions concerning the "latter times". Jacob, as did later Joseph (who was sold into Egypt, Gen.37) gathered their families & descendants together towards the end of their lives' for the traditional family councils & blessings, (Gen.49).
In the Testament of Benjamin we read: "And there shall arise in the latter days one beloved of the Lord, of the tribe of Judah and Levi, a doer of His good pleasure in his mouth, with new knowledge enlightening the Gentiles. Until the consummation of the age shall he be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all. And he shall be inscribed in the holy books, both his work and his word, and he shall be a chosen one of God for ever. And through them he shall go to and fro as Jacob my father, saying: He shall fill up that which lacketh of thy tribe...."7 In another version of this Testament,8 we read: "And one shall rise up from my seed in the latter times, beloved of the Lord, hearing upon the earth His voice, enlightening with new knowledge all the Gentiles, bursting in upon Israel for salvation with light of knowledge, and tearing it away from it like a wolf, and giving it to the synagogue of the Gentiles. And until the consummation of the ages shall be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all;...and he shall be inscribed in the holy books, both his work and his word, & he shall be a chosen one of God for ever; and because of him my father Jacob instructed me, saying, He shall fill up that which lacketh of thy tribe."
Other sources & ancient documents speak of the traditions that was passed down amongst the different Jewish sects & branches of families concerning this "restorer" who would come in the "latter-times" or latter days.9
The modern Christian anti-Mormons have set standards & conditions in which they will allow for prophetic predictions in Mormon Publications to come to pass, but of which standards they would not dare place the Bible under. In some cases the critics also fail to acknowledge that some predictions are "conditional" or "iffy." In that the prophetic outcome has different ways in which it could be fulfilled based on different things. Such as "if" the people will repent then this event will happen, & the other will not happen. Or "if" the people will not repent, then this will happen & the other will not. Jonah chap.1-4 is a good example of this. Some critics claim that if a prophecy does not come to pass (when they say it should have, in the exact way that they say it should have), & even if there is one unfulfilled prophecy, it would "proof" that the one giving the prediction is not of God or is a "false Prophet". The critics use Deut. 18:20-22 in a literal way as part of their standard.10
Would the critics own bible that they claim to believe in be able to pass this strict & very biased double standard. If Joseph Smith did not help bring about the beginnings of the refreshing & restoration of many ancient truths, as the predicted modern day "Joseph the Restorer." And if Jesus Christ did not appear in the latter days in the dispensation of the fullness of times,11 in order so that this prophet "Joseph the restorer" could hear "...upon the earth His voice, enlightening with new knowledge all the Gentiles, bursting in upon Israel for salvation with the light of knowledge..."12
If that predicted angel did not come with the "everlasting gospel" (Rev.14:6-7). If the predicted books did not come forth, as well as the ordinances, & if other ancient doctrines were not restored. Then how can today's modern Christian anti-Mormons hope that their own Bible can pass their own strict standards & test? For would that not mean that there are different prophecies that have not come to pass? How shall they expect for more scriptures (that is predicted would be restored) if they have closed the canon? How can Acts 3:19-21 be fulfilled? Do we have all that God has ever spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets since the world began? If so, were is the book or prophetic writings of Enoch in the Bible? (Jude 3 & 14). Were are some of the other books mentioned?13
Mormons only claim that we have a start on the fulfillment of this prediction, that what we have now are only just "sneak previews" of the coming attractions, (Isa.28:9-11) according to the biblical process. For God is testing the world to see how the different nations will react to what little He has caused to be given through His Son Jesus Christ. For there are other writings to come forth in what ever time frame the Gods have chosen.14 Writings from all over the world! In the east, west, north, & south etc. The early Christian also believed that the knowledge of Christ was preach in different parts of the world, etc.15
With this new restored evidences of & for Christ, we "Latter-day Saints" can now can say as Origen the early Christian did. Hear oh ye modern Christians (and critics) alike! "...Listen to our defence of Jesus derived from the law and the prophets." And also from the voices of those "crying from the dust" in other lands.16 And from the voices of your own early Christian roots & writings, & scriptures, etc. "And now observe what is almost incredible! It is shown from the declarations concerning Jesus, contained in the law and the prophets, that both Moses & the prophets were truly prophets of God."17 But also that Joseph Smith was & is a true Prophet! Because many of their predictions have come to pass, & are still coming to pass! Thus also showing to the world more of Christ's dealings with different nations of the world! And how the knowledge of Christ was spread throughout the world! So that others could be "saved wherever they were"!18
Some of the critics test for a prophet is very narrow minded. And the bible would not be able to pass the same test. What would happen to the Book of Jonah if it was considered under the Christian anti-Mormon test? Poor Jonah wouldn't his book have to be kick out, & he considered a "false prophet" because he gave predictions that didn't come to pass? (Jonah 1-4) What would or might be done with the writings of Jeremiah? (Jn.3:1-10 & Jer.18:5-18). We must realize that the Prophets are only given "peeks" as the endless & vast horizons of knowledge that the Gods have. But that the Gods will some day give to those who are worthy & who have proven themselves, (or to those who would not abuse the higher knowledge for evil purposes, but will use the higher knowledge for good), the endless horizons of the heavens, and the knowledge contain therein.19 Thus we should keep in mind that prophecies are not a perfect understanding of all things to come, but are only "in part", as Paul says (1 Cor.13).
The anti-Mormon "Christian" test for a prophet seems not to consider the nature & basic elements of prophecies, as mentioned above. [Anti-Mormon] Ed Decker's test for a true prophet is not even reasonable & is a "...case of suicidal literalism. By interpreting Deut. 18:20-22 in a very literal and all inclusive way, Decker concludes: "A true prophet of God cannot utter a single false prophecy, not one! At no time can he give out a "Thus saith the Lord" and have it not come to pass...If even one single one of these prophecies failed to come to pass, the scriptures call Joseph Smith a false prophet." (To Moroni With Love by Ed Decker, p.30). Carver wrote in response to this: "Likewise, this would also be true if Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, John, or any other person claiming to be a prophet makes a statement or prophecy that does not come to pass. By this ridged, unyielding, & illogical criterion I will demonstrate from the Bible that Moses, Jeremiah, Jesus, & Paul all fail in their attempts to measure up to Decker's great expectations."
"First we will consider Moses, the great law given who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament. Moses in Gen. 17:1-14 states that God gave Abraham an everlasting covenant & that the token of that covenant was circumcision; which was also to be everlasting. Verse 14 indicates that any "man child whose flesh of his forskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." This is perfectly clear, but Paul rejects the everlasting quality of this covenant and indicates in Romans chap.4 & Gal. chap.5, that circumcision availeth nothing. The covenant was not to be everlasting as predicted by Moses in his writings about Abraham. Moses said it was an everlasting covenant, Paul said it was not. Who was right? Moses also predicted that the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood was to be an everlasting priesthood. (Num. 25:10-14 & Ex.40:12-15). Yet Paul says that the priesthood was changed. (Heb. 7:12) If the Levitical Priesthood was to be everlasting, why was the priesthood changed? Where is the Levitical Priesthood today? In Judaism or Christianity? If one is locked into Decker's literalism & private interpretation, then Paul & Moses must be denounced as a false prophet."
"According to Decker's "rule of thumb", Jeremiah also fails as a prophet. Jeremiah was so upset that his predictions weren't coming to pass that he called God a liar. (Jer. 15:18). If one is an extreme literalist, Jeremiah also prediction that King Zedekiah would die in peace and that odours would be burned for him. (Jer.34:4-5). Instead, Zedekiah had his eyes put out, his children slaughtered, & he died in a Babylonian prison. On another occasion Jeremiah prophesied that King Jehoiakim "shall have none to sit upon the throne of David," (Jer.36:30), & yet the very next king was Jeconiah, the son of Jehoikim. See I Chron. 3:16 & Jer. 37:1. There are others, but according to Decker, one mistake you are out, so Jeremish is out." "Jesus prophesied that the only sign he would give to the Pharisees concerning his resurrection would be the sign of Jonah, "for as Jonah was 3 days & 3 nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth." (Matt.12:39-40). If Christians can make this prophecy work, then Good Friday has to be changed to Good Thursday, however, since the Jewish day begins at sundown, make that Good Wednesday Evening. It seems that Decker's literalism could leave us with very few prophets to worry about. I don't mind valid criticism of Joseph Smith, but I do dislike double standards. If Smith was human, and I believe he was, he was in good company. Lest someone misunderstand, I accept Moses & Jeremiah as prophets, and Jesus as the Christ; however, I do not accept the idea that prophets cannot make mistakes. Even Paul admitted to uncertainty at times when after giving counsel to prospective missionaries on the subject of marriage he said, "I think also that I have the spirit of God." (1 Cor. 7:40). And yet, I believe that most prophecies, if properly understood, are supportive of the above prophets we have considered."
"Next, Decker takes Joseph Smith to task on 4 prophecies which he claims are false: In the lst two, as if he had never read Biblical prophecy, Decker insists upon an immediate fulfillment. Unless Joseph Smith's prophecies are immediately fulfilled, they are considered false. Yet there is Biblical precedent to show that some prophecies require more time than was expected to receive fulfillment. Isaiah's prophecy about a virgin conceiving & giving birth to a son whose name would be Immanuel was not completely fulfilled until approximately 700 years had passed away. (Isa.7:14). It was given to be a sign to King Ahaz, but its fulfillment would not take place until the birth of Christ. Isaiah would not last long with Decker. A time lag is noticeable in Jeremiah, who prophesied that the sins of King Manasseh would result in the destruction of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was not destroyed for a number of years after the death of King Manasseh & his people. (Jer.15:4.) Decker's interpretation of Joseph Smith's prophecy on war is forced & allows for little time interval. If we forced Biblical prophecy in a similar manner to Decker's handling of Section 87, it would prove to be false also. Take for example, Jacob's prophecy about the sceptre of Judah. He said that "the septre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come: and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." (Gen.49:10). Interpreting this prophecy in Decker's manner, Shiloh, which is Christ, came approximately 4 B.C. Zedekiah was the last King of Judah holding the septre. He died about 575 B.C. Thus, the lawgiver departed from Judah about 600 years before the coming of Shiloh. Conclusion--Jacob is a false prophet. Wrong! The interpretation is incorrect as is the interpretation Decker places on the prophecy on war. Now let us look at this prophecy on war with the same kind of justice we give the Bible."20
The Tanners & other "Christian" anti-Mormons have used the same sort of logic, & standards on some of the prophecies of Joseph Smith as Decker did. The Tanners point out different claims that Joseph Smith is reported to have made. They declare that he is a false prophet because some of the things that he claimed was from God, did not turn out as was predicted. They point to remarks made by David Whitmer,21 & other sources that admit that Joseph Smith made a mistake with regard to selling the copy-right to the Book of Mormon, to help in it's publication 1829-30. Hiram Page & Oliver Cowdery failed to sale the copy-right to the book & thus our critics claim that Joseph Smith must be a false prophet for this. Joseph explained that "Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of man: and some revelations are of the devil." (Whitmer, Ibid. p.30- 31). Certainly Peter's false notions may have been enough for ones like Decker & the Tanners to declare him a false Prophet (had Decker & the Tanners perhaps lived in the time of Celsus). For at first we are told that God had revealed unto him (Peter) that Jesus was the Christ, but he refused to believe that Christ should suffer for the sins of the world, & he may have even tried to talk Jesus out of it, but Jesus rebuked him for "savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matt.16:15-23).
The late 19th cent. anti-Christian & occultic writer Blavatsky wrote in her book: Isis Unveiled 1877 (Vol.2 p.127) Concerning a "prophecy" that has been declared to be a "forgery." It's was concerning Peter who the Catholics claim was their first "Pope." Christ is reported to have said unto Peter: "...Verily, I say unto thee, Peter, thou shalt deny me throughout the coming ages, & never stop until thou shalt be old, and shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another gird thee and carry the whither thou wouldest not." Blavatsky fails to give us any further information concerning this so-called prediction. The critics take a very "iffy" prophecy out of context in order to charge that it is "evidence" against Smith. The "prophecy" is concerning the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.22 They abuse a source in the most unfair way.
The Tanners quote from History of the Church, Vol.2 p.182. I shall quote here in part a portion that they have put in CAP. LETTERS. & have underlined. "...THE COMING OF THE LORD, which was nigh- EVEN FIFTY-SIX YEARS SHOULD WIND UP THE SCENE." With all the research that the Tanners have done, it is strange that they should fail to acknowledge Doctrine & Covenants Section 130:14-17. Decker also fails to mention the full historical situation from which this so-called prediction came from. The D&C explains the situation, showing us how "iffy" this prediction is. I shall quote a portion here as follows: "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 85 years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, & 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 & thus see his face. I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time."23
As we can see from this, we have a very "iffy" type of prediction here that has a number of different conditions & possible outcomes to it. In talking with different critics, I have noticed that they only quoted parts of this section as follows: "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 85 years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man;..." I then would point out to them that they needed to read the rest of the scripture to get the proper interpretation. Carver also noticed this with Decker's abuse of the source, he wrote: "...Once again it is the same tune, only the lyrics are a verse or two short. It is true that Joseph Smith did lean toward 1890..." But Decker "...did not consider this to be infallible. As a matter of fact he (Joseph) "was quite confused about the date, as he relates, but Decker forgets...." Carver tells us that Joseph commented on this revelation as follows: "I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this; & I took the liberty to conclude that if I did live to that time, He would make His appearance. But I do not say whether He will make His appearance or I shall go where He is. D.H.C. 5:336." "Decker calls this an "exact prophecy." Who is he trying to fool? Joseph Smith never considered it to be such; why should Mr. Decker?24
In the early Christian church many of the early saints saw the different events of their times as being the fulfillment of "the signs of the times" & pre-judged incorrectly the time of Christ's 2nd coming, for they thought that it was the "last days" & that Christ would soon come. (M&PITEC) Frend, op. cit.) EvenJohn thought that they were living in the "last time" because of the predictions concerning the coming the "anti-Christ." There must have been some who were going around performing a counterfeit "anointing" like unto the anointing performed by the Christians, because John warns against them & charges them with being of that anti-Christ which had been predicted. "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that anti-christ shall come, even now are there many anti-Christs; whereby we know that it is the last time."25
John was not correct when he pre-judged the situations of his time to be the "signs of the times" or that it was "the last time" before the second coming. Because, even after 100s of years Christ has not come yet. That is still in the future, & now in our day in time, here in the 1990s we have been saying along with our modern Christian friends, that these are the "last days." That Christ is soon to appear, but who knows when?! Many have attempted to place exact dates on that time, but no one is said to know the exact time. But was John therefore a false prophet because he thought that Christ was soon to come? Of course not! Each generation of Christians have read the different events of their times as being the "signs of the times". During the 2nd World War, i.e. Hitler was thought to be the Anti-Christ, & it has been that way with other historic figures who brought about great wars etc. Some Christians in early times thought that Christ would come in the year 200 & were disappointed when he did not come. (Martyrdom & Persecution In the Early Church, Frend). Now many religious people wonder if Christ will come in the year 2000, but who really knows, only the Father is said to know the exact hour.
Garretson tells us that: "The Apocalypse of St. John is of the same character as the books of the Sibyls." (Note mine: Sibyls was a series of books used by the Early Fathers as proof text, in some cases. But this source was no longer used when a prediction that was made in it didn't come true. Thus later Fathers after 190 AD no longer used it as a source to help them in defense of Christianity as they had earlier.26
Garretson continues: "The impression & belief was quite general with the Christians of the 2nd century that the prophecy of St. John, of the approaching end of the world, & the second coming of Jesus, was to be fulfilled at the end of that century. It was because this prophecy was not fulfilled that the Greek bishops of the churches of Asia, the representatives of the 7 Churches, to which the Apocalypse is addressed, met in council at Laodicea in A.D. 360, & discredited this gospel & voted it out of the canon. The Latin, or Roman Church, however, continued the book in the canon & neither undertakes to explain, nor deny, the failure of the prophecy."27
The Tanners point out that in 1890 some members of the Church were disappointed when the so called "prediction" did not come to pass.28 Other sources are mentioned by them as well. For some reason they passed by the part in the D&C which shows how uncertain the prediction was. The Prophet, Harold B. Lee,29 explained how some revelations are "iffy". "...I sat in a class in Sunday School in my own ward one day, & the teacher was the son of a patriarch. He said he used to take down the blessings of his father, and he noticed that his father gave what he called "iffy" blessings. He would give a blessing, but it was predicated on "if you will not do this" or "if you will cease doing that." And he said, "I watched these men to whom my father gave the `iffy' blessings, and I saw that many of them did not heed the warning that my father as a patriarch had given, and the blessing were never received because they did not comply." You know, that started me thinking. I went back into the Doctrine & Covenants & began to read the "iffy" revelations that have been given to various brethren in the Church. If you want to have an exercise in something that will startle you, read some of the warnings that were given through the Prophet Joseph Smith to Thomas B. Marsh, Martin Harris, some of the Whitmer brothers, William E, McLellin---warnings which, had they heeded, some would not have fallen by the wayside. But because they did not heed, & they didn't clear up their lives, they fell by the wayside, & some had to be dropped from membership in the Church."30
We should keep in mind also, that blessings are not official predictions, but are based on different conditions. and as pointed out by Lee, such things are somewhat "iffy." The Tanners quote from some blessings in their book, almost as if such blessings are suppose to be some kind of an official prophecy, when they are not, but are personal. The Tanners also point to a portion from John Whitmer's History,31 in which Joseph Smith is reported to have ordained Lyman Wight a High Priest. The spirit is said to have fell upon Lyman, "...and he prophesied concerning the coming of Christ. He said that there were some in the congregation that SHOULD LIVE UNTIL THE SAVIOR SHOULD DESCEND FROM HEAVEN with a shout, with the holy angels with Him." Other similar types of quotes are pointed to in the Tanners book, (MSOR?), op. cit., p.188. their point being, to show that these things did not come true, for after all these years now here in 1991, all of the people who were at alive at the time of this so-called prediction are now dead, and the 2nd coming has not happened. Do the Tanners have a good point? What do they hope that we should do with this information? What judgment should be passed on Lyman or others who gave such things? What ever conclusion & judgment that the critics or the Tanners hope that people might reach. Wouldn't that same judgment also have to be placed on the bible that the Tanners claim to believe in? Can Paul pass this same test? The Tanners also point out some changes that have been made in the wording of some "blessings" comparing the History of the Church, Vol.2, p.188-9 & 191 with The Millennial Star, Vol.15, p.206. (MSOR?), op. cit., p.188). Here they may have a valid point. So why don't we be honest with ourselves and give it to them. But lets also see if their logic, tactics, & scriptures that they claim to believe in can pass their own tests.
Paul in writing to the Thessalonians: "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as them that have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, & with the trump of God: & the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive & remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thess.4:13-17) If we were to use the same sort of tactics & logic that anti-Mormon "Christians" have with the different sayings in Mormon Publications, what would happen to Paul's claims here? We might ask: `did any one in Paul's day remain, were they still alive? Paul may have thought that Christ would return soon, but He didn't know the exact date. He may have even thought that some of the saints who were alive at that time, would even "remain" or would still be alive ("...we which are alive & remain unto the coming of the Lord...") & would see the day of rapture, & would be caught up to meet God. Or his words may be symbolic of a future generation of believers. (Which many Christian believe today that they are that "future generation"! or at least, if it is not the present one of saved Christians who will ascend to heaven during what they call "the rapture", then it is a future one.) If we were to take Paul's words to mean that he was speaking of the saints of his time, would that mean that he is a false apostle because no one that we know of has remained, or alive? Under the critics standards this might be the case. Or can we allow for Paul to believe that Christ 2nd coming was soon at hand, or sometime in his generation, even if he might have been wrong? James also seemed to believe that the 2nd coming of Christ "draweth nigh" or was near (James 5:8). But now it has been almost 2000 + years! Under the critics tactics & approach of taking things out of context, perhaps Luke 21:22, 27-8 & 32 could be made to sound as if the "generation" for which the signs of the times were to be fulfilled in, was the generation at the time of Luke, because he wrote that Christ said "...this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." We can see from these examples that the Bible that the critics claim to believe in would not be able to pass their own test, & tactics. When it comes to the different prophecies that have clearly come to pass. The critics seem to either want to ignore or side step the issues & evidences. Or they attempt to discredit it, i.e. by saying that the basic themes of the prediction was common knowledge because of some situation that was to later develop into what many people knew would happen. Thus our critics ask things like: "How could it really be a prophecy if people already knew about the situation as common knowledge." Or the revelation was derived from, "...the views of his time...." "Far from being evidences of Smith's divine calling, the most famous prophecies which he made are evidences that he can copy views of his time."32 "...The fact that Joseph Smith predicted a civil war is not too remarkable. Many people believed there would be a civil war before it actually took place...." (MSOR?) op. cit., p.190-1. The Tanners however do acknowledge at the bottom of p.190 2nd col. that the rebellion of South Carolina "...did not end in war, but the Civil War did start some years over trouble in South Carolina." So the war did start!
In some cases the critics fail to acknowledge any evidences concerning the fulfillment of different prophecies. Some critics attempt to discredit the "Civil War" prophecies by saying that the "war" didn't spread over many nations, thus, the critics charge, "it must be a false prophecy"! What the critics fail to acknowledge or see, is, that the wording in the prophecy shows that it is an on going prediction about "the wars" PLURAL meaning that it is a prophecy about more than just one war! While the Tanners may acknowledge that "...the Civil War did start..." (MSOR?) ibid. p.190. They turn around & say: "It is interesting to note that verse 3 of Joseph Smith's revelation concerning the Civil War did NOT come to pass. In verse 3 we read: "...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." War was certainly NOT poured out on ALL nations at that time as Joseph Smith predicted." (MSOR?) ibid. p.191 bottom of lst col. to the top of the 2nd. The Tanners must have seen the wording of the prediction, because they have it in their book: "Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass,..." (ibid. p.190). Notice again the wording is "wars", plural!, not just one war, but perhaps many! Why did the critics fail to acknowledge this portion of the prediction? The same wording repeatedly appears in the different original hand written accounts given by different ones who wrote down the report of the prediction which has been dated Dec.25, 1832. Every account that I have looked at does contain some differences between the others. (Which is something that we should expect, for they had no tape recorders in those days & other inventions that help record the exact words that people say. Just as we have differences in the wording as given in the different Gospel accounts of Christ sayings & sermons in the New Testament). But everyone that I looked at indicated that the prophecy was concerning the "wars" (plural!) that were to shortly come to pass! D&C 87. These original hand written documents can be seen on Micro Film in the LDS Archives Library.33
Nephi Lowell Morris presents much evidence in defense of the Prophet Joseph Smith's prophecies. In the Millennial Star, vol.13, July 15, 1851 an advertisement for the Pearl of Great Price mentions the publication of a revelation given Dec. 1832 "...which has never before appeared in print."34 Morris points out that "...This Revelation...made known the coming of a series of wars, of which the War of the Rebellion was to be the beginning. In naming South Carolina as the beginning place of the first of the series of wars it becomes remarkably specific...." (Morris ibid. p.16-17). In his book Morris show evidences for the wording in the different predictions. The prediction on "wars" is thus shown to be a valid & true prediction.35 The Civil War did start in the area Joseph Smith had claimed it would. And other wars have spread out to other nations, such as the 1st & 2nd World Wars, etc. Joseph Smith's predictions have come true & are in the process of coming true. Another prophecy that came true is concerning many of the saints moving out to an area in the midst of the "Rocky Mountains" & what would happen along the way, what would happen after they had built a settlement there. Morris shows different publications of the prophecy.36 On p.72- 3 of Morris's book we see a photo copy of an original hand written document of "Anson Call's Journal..." that was "...commenced in 1839..." This diary records the prophecy of Joseph Smith's great prediction concerning the move west, etc. And He provide evidences that shows that the prediction is a valid & true prophecy. (Morris ibid. p.52-105).
The Tanners question the prophecy, suggesting that because the prediction is written in smaller writing in between the dates Friday 5 & Saturday 6, as it appears in "Joseph Smith's Manuscript History." Book D-1, p.1362. That someone must have, (as they charge) "crammed" it onto the original paper. (A photo copy of this page is said to have been given to the Tanners by Wesley P. Walters of Marissa, Illinois, located at the Visitor Center in Nauvoo, Illinois. (MSOR?) ibid. p.133-135). This they say: "...would seem to indicate that it as added sometime after the page had originally been written." The Tanners charge that in the "Joseph Smith's Manuscript History" book D-1, p.1362, "...INTERPOLATIONS..." have been made. The same sorts of problems & charges are made in early to later Christianity, perhaps another parallel to consider in & of itself. For Josephus writings & historical books were said to have been tampered with. Garretson tells us that: "We have now to consider the references to Jesus,--the incidents of His life & His resurrection-- which purports to have been written by Josephus. This reference has been held, by many scholars & critics, to be an interpolation. Edward Gibbon states in his history of the "Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire," that the paragraph in question is an interpolation & that it was not in the works of Josephus until after the council of Nicaea. Here is the disputed paragraph, in full: "Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call Him a man, for He was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as received the truth with pleasure. He drew over to Him both many of the Jews & many Gentiles. He was Christ; & when Pilate at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned Him to the cross, those that loved Him at the first did not forsake Him, for He appeared to them again on the third day, as the Divine prophets had foretold these & 10,000 other wonderful things concerning Him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from Him, are not extinct at this day."..." "That this reference to Jesus was not in the works of Josephus in the time of Origen, A.D. 185-254, may be safely inferred from the fact that Origen was familiar with the works of Josephus & all the Jewish histories down to his time...." Years later "...In Eusebius (Eccles. Hist. Book 1, Chap.II), is an account of the martyrdom of James taken from Josephus; we also find there the paragraph touching Jesus which we have been considering. This is the first notice we have of the much disputed paragraph....Eusebius wrote this about A.D. 330, five years after the council of Nicaea, & the inference is that this paragraph was interpolated in the work of Josephus shortly after the council referred to, for the purpose of supporting the doctrines affirmed by that council. A certain person, a presbyter of the Christian Church at Rome, named Caius, was charged with having made this interpolation, as we shall presently see. This theory has support in the fact that the Greek text of several of the gospels was changed at about this time and evidently for the same purpose.
Even the apostle's creed was changed about this time, or a little later. The creed as we have it now, & as it has been written & used since the latter part of the 5th century, contains doctrine which is not found in the creed as originally written & used prior to the 5th century...." St. Ambrose, A.D. 360 also quotes from this portion in Josephus as proof text in response to the Jews. Later Johan Malela, Chronology, A.D. 850 misquotes & "falsified" Josephus, Garretson tells us. Then from Photius, A.D. 860, a bishop of the Eastern Church at Constantinople acknowledged the addition as it was made "...by one Gaius, a presbyter..." (p.57), On p. 55 of Garretson's book, the spelling of this man's name is "Caius" while on p.57 it is spelled "Gaius" (Which one is the right? Is this just a simple mistake in Garretson's book?) Garretson shows that later writers quote, misquote & even misuse this questionable portion in later copies of Josephus. He mentions "...Sudias, A.D. 980..." & "...Theophylact, in Joan, A.D. 1080..." Garretson also points out that Clement of Alexandria A.D. 193-211 never cites the questionable paragraph from Josephus even though had often refers to the works of Josephus. So also with Tertullian, A.D. 150-220.[37]
Origen's responded to Celsus (who claimed the gospels, history etc. had been altered), may be also a response that we might want to give to the Tanners & other modern [AM] critics, for Origen said that "...such an allegation is no charge against the Christian system, but against those who dared so to trifle with the Gospels...." or any other historical source, etc. So also in the case with the charges made by the Tanners (that "...INTERPOLATIONS..." have been made in Mormon history), we might say, as Origen did. Please don't charge the Mormon Church as a whole for this claim, but if it be a justifiable charge, or if your claims be proven to be true, "...such an allegation is no charge against..." (the Mormon) "system, but against those who dared so to trifle with..."38
While making this charge & claim, the Tanners then passed by evidences that would show that their charges are biased. They knew about Morris's book because in their 1987 ed. of (MSOR?) p.135, op. cit., they used his book as a reference, thus twisting again sources that contain evidences for their rival's case, into "evidences" against their rival. For they pass by the evidences that Morris gives, in silence. They quote him as follows: "It is interesting to note that the Mormon writer Nephi Morris wrote a book on the "Prophecies of Joseph Smith" in 1920. The Church leaders allowed him to published a photograph of the prophecy as printed in the Deseret News for Nov. 7, 1855, but he apparently had no access to the original manuscript. He stated: "It was published in its regular order as the History of the Church appeared in that paper. We have NOT had access to the original record as kept by the Prophet, contain this remarkable prophecy."39
This is were they stop quoting, but Morris goes on to say: "We have, however, irrefutable evidence which fixes the date of the prophecy some years before the Saints even started west. As evidence of the highest value we refer to the diary of Anson Call, who was present at the time the prophecy was made. We submit an extract from the diary, which was placed in the hands of the writer by the courtesy of Mr. Israel Call, of Bountiful, Utah, a son of the pioneer of Davis County. This diary of Anson Call was commenced at Nauvoo, in 1839, and appears to have been composed in intervals, and not written up daily as is the practice of a few diarists. Consequently, intervening events should be verified as to accuracy of dates. In this way we may account for an error in the date of the record of the incident under consideration. Anson Call has the event under date of 1843. On August 6th, 1843, Joseph Smith was in Nauvoo, &, though indisposed, attended meetings, as it was Sunday. The record of the event, as made by Mr. Call, conforms so faithfully in every detail, excepting the date, that there exists no doubt as to the identity of the one event in both records. The entry of Mr. Call is as follows:" ""On the 14th of July [1843], in company with about 50 or 100 of the brethren, we crossed the river to Montrose to be present at the installment of a lodge of the Masonic order, viz: `The Rising Sun.' Whilst together Joseph, who was with us, told us of many things that should transpire in the mountains. After drinking a draught of ice-water, he said brethren this water tastes much like the crystal streams that are running in the Rocky Mountains which some of you will participate of. There are some of those standing here that will perform a great work in that land-- pointing to Shadrack Roundy and a number of others whom I have forgotten. There is Anson, he shall go and assist in building cities from one end of the country to the other, and shall perform as great work as has ever been done by man so that the nations of the earth shall be astonished, and many of them will be gathered in that land and assisting in building cities and temples and Israel shall be made to rejoice, but before you see this day you will pass through the scenes that are but little understood by you. This people shall be made to mourn. Multitudes will die, many will apostatize.""40
Why did the Tanners refuse to acknowledge the rest of the book by Morris? Why did they pass by the evidences that he gives? They do the same sort of things with an "anonymous" historian's response to their book (MSOR?). Again the Tanners pass by some evidences that are given by this historian.41 The write concerning the "Rocky Mountain Prophecy" issue. They mention the situation in their updated portion of the 1987 ed. of (MSOR?) p.142B-C, ibid. But fail to acknowledge the evidences that are presented. This is one of the contentions that this historian had against their book (MSOR?). He wrote: "The failure to cite well-known evidence that challenges their conclusions occurs repeatedly in the Tanners's analysis of the 7-volume History of the Church. For example it is implied (pages 134- 35) that the prophecy about the Mormons moving to the Rocky Mountains (HC 5:85) was a falsification added to the history after the Mormons were actually in the Great Basin. However, in 1964 (eight years before this edition of (Shadow-Reality)" (Note mine: There 1972 ed.) "Stanley B. Kimball published a bibliography of sources for the Nauvoo history of Mormonism (of which the Tanners should have been aware)"42 "where he noted that the Oliver H. Olney Papers written in 1842-40 at Yale University, "recorded the early plans of Joseph Smith to move west...."43 "If the Tanners did not trust that description, they or their widely scattered friends could have the versified, anti-Mormon manuscript by Olney, dated July 2, 1842:" "As a company is now a forming / In to the wilderness to go / As far west as the Rocky mountains,...if this was not the secret whispering/ Amongst certain ones of the Church of L.D.S. / And could be easily proven if man could speak."44
"The Tanners are aware that the History of the Church was compiled from a variety of sources (many of which were only loaned to Church historians, to be returned once they had extracted pertinent information), and that the exact source for the account of Joseph Smith's prophecy of August 6, 1842 is not clear. Olney recorded the rumors about the move west in July, and someone else recorded the prophecy in August...."45
Morris goes on to present evidences for the other prophecies of Joseph Smith, i.e., the prophecy regarding Stephen A. Douglas, made on May 18 1843, recorded by William Clayton who was present on the occasion. 4 years before the fulfillment of the prediction, The Deseret News published the prophecy in 1856, under the date "Wednesday, September 21, 1856." Morris gives us a photo copy of the new paper, but it is difficult to read, on p.113, but the enlarged portion on p.115 show us the prophecy. In short: Douglas would attempt to gain the rank of Pres. of the U.S., but if he was to ever turn his hand against the Joseph or the LDS people he would "...feel the weight of the hand of Almighty God upon" him, he would live to see & know the true of this, & would remember the conversation that he had with Joseph Smith. Douglas did attempt to win the election years later, & he did have a chance to come to the defense of the LDS people, but he turned against them in a speech delivered at Springfield, Illinois, June 12, 1857.(Missouri Republican). He accused the LDS people of having to take "horrible oaths" etc. calling the LDS people a "...pestiferous, disgusting cancer which is gnawing into the very vitals of the body politic...." And he suggested that it be "cut out."46
Another prophecy that is worth noting is one repeated by different LDS Leaders. We may have seen this warning come true, (in part, thinking that there might still yet be others to come), when Mark Hofmann was exposed. (See: Ezra Taft Benson quoting Harold B. Lee). Benson repeated a warning given by Lee concerning those who professed to be members of the Church, but who would be plotting & trying to lead the people not to follow the leadership that the Lord has set up to preside in the Church. Mark Hofmann & perhaps even the so-called defender of the faith, Darrick T. Evenson, may be some of these "inroads" pre-warned about in prophecy.47
In early Christianity, Origen also defended prophecies made by Christ, concerning those who would betray him & deny Him.48 Plus other predictions (ibid. p.446 etc). In early Christianity the different defenders of the faith used a number of different sources in their defense against the Jews, Greeks, pagans, & early anti-Christians. Portions of the "Sibylline" book series were used, i.e. by the Fathers of the Church from Justin Martyr down to Lactantius, "...and the Sibylline oracles were used in support of Christianity until A.D. 195, at which time, it had been prophesied, Rome should be ruined. Inasmuch as the predicted ruin did not come, the theologians thereafter ceased to employ the Sibyls in support of Christian doctrine."49
The [EAC] Porphyry, (2nd half of the 3rd century AD), wrote a book (his 12th) against the book of Daniel. He claimed that the predictions in it were not predictions but reflections of the history of the time. He claimed that it had been written in the 2nd century B.C.E., where as the Christians had dated it back to 6th century B.C.E.[50]
Conclusion: Prophecies in light of the testimony of history, shows us that there are different events that researchers like to point to in order to suggest that the prophecies have come to pass. All throughout early to later Christian history, different ones have set different times for the prophecies that Christ's 2nd coming would come to past, 200 AD, 1500 AD, the year 2000 for examples, were some of the dates Christians have set as being the suspected year when many believed Christ would return. Other events, such as wars, floods, earthquakes, & other natural disasters, have been looked upon as "the signs of the times," down through the centuries. Adolf Hitler's was believed to have been "the anti-Christ," during the 1930-40's, but also, so was Martin Luther, during the 16th century, if, that is, you belonged to the Catholic church. Whereas the Pope was believed to be the prophesied "anti-Christ," if you were a Lutheran, or in another reformation movement.51
While critics reject the historical evidences, that apologetics produces, there still are evidences to consider here in regards to the restored gospel & restored spiritual gifts. This evidences increases as world events play out and offer many confirmations of beliefs that are challenged at times. For "...while the wicked fear and tremble at surrounding judgments, the Saints will watch and pray; and waiting the final event in patience, will look calmly on the passing scenery of a corrupted world, and view transpiring events as confirmation of their faith in the holy gospel which they profess, and rejoice more and more, as multiplied signs shall confirm the approach of the millennial day."52
END NOTES TO: CRITICS CHARGED THAT THEIR RIVALS' PROPHECIES HAVEN'T COME TO PASS
1Israelis, Jews, & Jesus, by Pinchas Lapide 1979, p.88-90. Pub. by Doubleday, Garden City, NY. 2The Ante-Nicene Fathers, = ANF, Vol.1 p.199-201, 207, 212-242. 3 ANF Vol.4 p.410-11, bk.1 chap.33-5 & p.418-20 bk.1 chap.li-lv. 4 Ibid., 4: p.415, bk.1 chap.xlv. Origen Against Celsus = OAC. 5 Matt.12:24-26 & ANF Vol.4 p.406-7, OAC bk.1 chap.25. 6 ANF 4: p.412-3, bk.1 chap.38 & p.426-7 chap. lxvii-lxviii, & p.437 bk.2 chap.14 etc. 7The Lost Books of the Bible & The Forgotten Books of Eden, The 1st Book of Adam & Eve, p.269, The Testament of the 12 Patriarchs, The Testament of Benjamin (The 12th Son of Jacob & Rachel), chap.2 ver. 26-29. 8 ANF 8: p.35-38, The Testament of Benjamin, p.37:11. 9 See: #7-10, 22, 35, 42-3. Also: Acts 3:19-21; & ANF Vol.4 p.528 bk.4 chap.lxix, (OAC); Rev.14:6-7; Isa. 29; 54:16-17; Ezk.37; Amos 3:7; 5:15-20; Isa.2:1-4 Micah 4:1-2; Dan.7:13-18, etc. 10To Moroni With Love, by Ed Decker, p.34-5 etc. Answering An Ex- Mormon Critic, by James A Carver, pub. by Mormon Miscellaneous, response series #5, March 1983 p.7-13 etc. The Ensign, Jan. 1973, H.B. Lee, p.107-8. 11The Lost Books of the Bible, Hermas, Sim.9:109-111, p.247-55. 12 ANF Vol.8 p.37 verse 11. 13 Isa.29 & Ezk.12:14-16; 37:15-22; Ex.24:4 & 7; Num.21:14; Josh.10:13; 2 Sam.1:18; 1 Sam.10:25; 1 Kings 11:41; 1 Chron.29:29; 2 Chron.9:29; 12:15 & 13: 22; 20:34; 26:22?! Missing letters of some of the Apostles: 1 Cor.5:9; Eph.3:3; Col.4:16?! 14The Book of Mormon, 2 Ne.29:3-14. 15 ANF Vol.2, p.490-1, Clement of Alex; America Before Columbus, Vol.1 p.205, 208-9, 222, 424-6, 433-4, 440, 575-6, etc. Ps.18:5; Rom.10:18; John 10:16; Isa.55:3-13; 56:7-8, etc. See also the references in #7-10). 16 Isa.29 & Book of Mormon, 2 Ne.33. 17 ANF Vol.4 p.415, (OAC). 18 ANF Vol.2 p.490-1. 19 1 Cor.13; Amos 3:7; Prov.30:1-6; Rom.8:15-18; 1 Cor.1:26-27; chap.2; Isa. 64:4; Eph.4:11- 14. etc.
20Answering An Ex-Mormon Critic, by James A Carver, Mormon Miscellaneous response series #5, March 1983, p.7-10. 21An Address To All Believers In Christ, Richmond Missouri, 1887, p.30-1, & B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.1, pp.164-165. 22 Jerald & Sandra Tanner, Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? = MSOR?, 1987 edition, p.187-8; To Moroni With Love, Decker p.34-5. 23 Doctrine & Covenants = D&C section 130:14-17. 24 Decker, To Moroni With Love, p.34-5; & Answering An Ex-Mormon Critic, by Carver, p.12-13. 25 1 John 2:18 & also verses 20-29 & 3:1-3, only verse 18 has been given here. 26 A.S. Garretson, Primitive Christianity and Early Criticism, (Boston: Sherman, French & Company, 1912), p. 103. 27 Ibid., Garretson, p.103-4, see also p.12. 28Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966 p.76 & The Journal of Oliver Boardman Huntington, Vol.2 p.128-9, cited in MSOR? p.187. 29 Harold B. Lee's General Conference talk was published in the Jan. 1973 Ensign, p.107-8. 30The Ensign Jan, 1973, Harold B. Lee p.107-8. 31 John Whitmer's History, Chapter 5; also found in History of the Church, Vol.1, p.176. 32 [AM] Mormon Claims Examined, by Larry S. Jonas, p.52, as cited in (MSOR?) 1987 Ed. p.190. 33 Call slip # MS F 490 Roll 1, Kirtland Revelation Book, ca. 1831-1834. LDS CHURCH LIBRARY, Salt Lake City, Utah. 34Prophecies of Joseph Smith, by Nephi Lowell Morris, a copy of the title page of the Pearl of Great Price, as published in Liverpool Eng. 1851, (with the preface dating it July 11th 1851) by Franklin D. Richards, & on p.35 the prophecy. (Prophecies of Joseph Smith, Morris, op. cit., p.7-9). In Orson Pratt's monthly periodical "The Seer" Vol.II, No.4 April, 1854, in Wash. DC, the prediction was reprinted. (Morris, ibid. p.10-11). 35 Morris, ibid., p.1-51. A photo copy of an original hand written account of the prediction is seen on p.41, & is from Vol. 1 "A" Manuscript History of the Church p.244-5.
36 The History of the Church, Aug.6, 1842, see also The Deseret News, Nov. 7, 1855, cited by Morris,
ibid., p.52-57. 37 Garretson, op. cit., p.50-8. 38 Joseph Smith's Manuscript History, Book D-1 p.1362. 39Prophecies of Joseph Smith and Their Fulfillment, p.63. 40 Morris, op. cit., p.64-5. 41Jerald & Sandra Tanner's Distorted View of Mormonism: A Response to Mormonism--Shadow or Reality? p. 15. And in their response to this tract in: Answering Dr. Clandestine: A Response to the Anonymous LDS Historian, p.29-30. 42 To be fair here, it may be that the Tanners were not aware of it prior to their 1972 ed. and later ones, but they have to be aware of these sources now, because this historian gives them, and they have failed to acknowledge them. 43 Response to (MSOR?), op. cit., n.7. "Stanley B. Kimball, Sources of Mormon History in Illinois, 1839-48: An Annotated Catalog of the microfilm Collection at Southern Illinois Un. (Carbondale-Edwardsville, Ill., 1964) 24, in the expanded edition pub. in 1966, this entry was on p.25. 44 Response ibid. n.8. "Oliver H. Olney Papers, Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, New Haven, Conn." 45 Jerald & Sandra Tanner's Distorted View of Mormonism: A Response to (MSOR?) by a Latter-day Saint Historian, reprinted by Mormon Miscellaneous, tract series by Bill Forrest & Van Hale. p.7-8 notes on p.27.
46 Senator Douglas' advice to Joseph Smith through Orson Hyde, p.59. On Sept.2, 1857 the Deseret News reprinted & answered the speech, Albert Carrington was the editor. Morris, op. cit., gives us more photo copies to consider on p.118-9. Other dates given for additional publications of this situation are found in: The Millennial Star No.9, Vol.XXI. Sat. Feb.26, 1859. And after the fulfillment: The Deseret New (A letter from Orson Hyde to Douglas) Ephraim, Utah Territory, Nov. 27, 1860. (Morris, op. cit., p.122-3). Morris give additional evidences for prophecies & their fulfillment, as does also Duaine Crowther in his books, op. cit. 47The Ensign May, 1982 p.62-4. Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus, by Ezra Taft Benson, then of the 12 Apostles, report of the April 1982 General Conference. Compare: Hofmann's Confession, Office of SLC Attorney David E. Yocom, Mark Hofmann Interviews conducted at Ut. State Prison between Feb. 11 & May 27, 1987, Vol.1-3, op. cit. 48 ANF Vol.4 p.435-442. 49 Garretson, op. cit., p.103-4 see also p.12. 50 Robert L. Wilken, The Christians As The Romans Saw Them, (Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1984), p.127, 129, 137-143.
51 Bruce L. Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, (Nashville, Dallas, Mexico City, etc., Thomas Nelson, World Publishing, 1995), p. 65: Sometime between 156 to 172, the early Christian sect, the Montanus, Asia Minor, attracted such early Christian writers as Tertullian. Montanus had two prophetesses, Prisca and Maximilla, who went about prophesying in the name of the Spirit, "fortelling the speedy second coming of Christ. That in itself was not extraordinary. But these new prophets, in contrast to prophets in biblical times, spoke in a state of ecstasy, as though their personalities were suspended while the Paraclete spoke in them. Montanus was convinced that he and his prophetesses were the God-given instruments of revelation..." See also: W. H. C. Frend, Martyrdom & Persecution In The Early Church, (Garden City, New York: Anchor Books Doubleday & Company, 1967). Before the year 2000, I remember a number of people of different Christ believing sects that thought that Christ would return by the year 2000. See also: Edward McNall Burns, Western Civilizations, Their History and Their Culture, (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., Inc., 1941, 5th edition, 1958), p. 422-457; Will Durant, The Story of Civilization: 6, The Reformation, A History of European Civilization from Wyclif to Calvin: 1300-1564, (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1957).
Martin Luther, 16th century: "Nevertheless, since few know this glory of baptism and the blessedness of Christian liberty, and cannot know them because of the tyranny of the pope, I for one will walk away from it all and redeem my conscience by bringing this charge against the pope and all his papists: Unless they will abolish their laws and traditions, and restore to Christ's churches their liberty and have it taught among them, they are guilty of all the souls that perish under this miserable captivity, and the papacy is truly the kingdom of Babylon, yes, the kingdom of the real Antichrist! For who is " the man of sin" and "the son of perdition" but he that with his doctrines and his laws increases sins and the perdition of souls in the Church, while he sits in the Church as if he were God? All this the papal tyranny has fulfilled, and more than fulfilled, these many centuries. It has extinguished faith, obscured the sacraments and oppressed the Gospel." (A Prelude by MartinLuther on the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, Page 536, chapter 3).
Calvin and Luther saw the Antichrist as both the papacy and Islam: The papacy was the Western Antichrist and Islam the Eastern Antichrist. Calvin refered to them as the two "horns" and Luther called them the two "legs" of the Antichrist. (Luther's Works, Weimer ed., 53, 394f).
52 Gerald N. Lund, The Coming of the Lord, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft Inc., 1971), p. 16, note 8, "Fifth General Epistle of the Presidency of the Church," issued April 7, 1851, found in Millennial Star, Vol. 13, p. 210, July 15, 1851, italics & emphasis added.
