List of prophecies of Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, is viewed by adherents of the Latter Day Saint movement as a prophet in the tradition of the ancient prophets recorded in the Bible. During his life, Smith made several prophecies, many documented in the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of scripture in several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. There is much dispute surrounding the known and alleged prophecies of Smith. Some critics contend that Smith could not be a genuine prophet because they claim that some of his prophecies did not come true. Latter Day Saint adherents have responded to these claims by putting forth the following six arguments: -some prophecies that critics claim have failed have actually been fulfilled; -some of Smith's statements have been mischaracterized as "prophecies"; -some prophetic statements ascribed to Smith have not been verified as legitimate by either Latter Day Saint or non–Latter Day Saint historians; -some prophecies should be interpreted metaphorically, not literally; -some legitimate prophecies were conditional and did not happen because the conditions precedent to those prophesies were not satisfied; and -some legitimate prophecies remain unfulfilled but are expected to be fulfilled in the future. Prophecies from 1823 to 1830: -Smith spoken of for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues: Smith wrote that in 1823, an angel visited him and made prophetic statements regarding Smith's future. "He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people." Smith recorded the incident in 1838. -Jesus comes to the temple: "I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will suddenly come to my temple. Even so. Amen." -Copyright sale: Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery were to find a buyer for copyright of the Book of Mormon in Canada. -Gather in one place: The Latter Day Saints shall be gathered in one place "against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked" -Hour is nigh: The "hour is nigh and day soon at hand" when Jesus will return. Prophecies from 1831 to 1832- -Land purchase: The Latter Day Saints were to gather riches and purchase a place of refuge and safety, where the wicked would not come, and the wicked would refuse to battle the Saints. -Zion in Missouri: Missouri is named as the place for the "City of Zion"; the land will be purchased for "an everlasting inheritance". -Zion in this generation: Zion and its temple will be built at Independence, Missouri, "in this generation". -New York destroyed: New York and Boston will be destroyed if they reject the gospel. The "hour of their judgement is nigh". -Civil War: there will be a war between the northern states and the southern states beginning in South Carolina; the southern states will call upon Great Britain for assistance; that after this, war will be "poured out on all nations"; and that "slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war". Prophecies from 1833 to 1834- -Current generation: "Not many years shall pass away" before the wicked "of this generation" will be swept off the face of the earth; and "there are those now living upon the earth whose eyes shall not be closed in death until they see all these things, which I have spoken, fulfilled". -Zion built here: Promise that if the Saints are obedient in building a temple, then the City of Zion will prosper and become glorious, and that Zion cannot "be moved" out of its place. -Stars fall from heaven: According to Philo Dibble, while preaching in Kirtland, Ohio, Smith said, "Forty days shall not pass and the stars shall fall from heaven." -Enemies not destroyed: If the Saints were not successful in legal action against their enemies in Missouri, God would avenge them and all their adversaries would be destroyed. -United Order: The United Order would be "everlasting", and "immutable and unchangeable" to benefit the church until Jesus comes. -Missouri victory: Speaking through Smith, God says regarding Missouri: "I will fight your battles ... the destroyer I have sent forth to destroy and lay waste mine enemies; and not many years hence they shall not be left to pollute mine heritage, and to blaspheme my name upon the lands which I have consecrated for the gathering together of my saints". -Zion in Missouri: The Latter Day Saints should be ready to move into Jackson County, Missouri, on September 11, 1836, "the appointed time for the redemption of Zion" Prophecies from 1835 to 1839- -Wind up in 56 Years "The coming of the Lord, which is nigh—even fifty-six years should wind up the scene." -Wealth from Salem: Smith would receive "wealth pertaining to gold and silver" in Salem, Massachusetts. -Marsh exalted: Apostle Thomas B. Marsh would be "exalted" and would preach "unto the ends of the earth ... among ... many nations". -Oliver Granger: "And again, I say unto you, I remember my servant Oliver Granger; behold, verily I say unto him that his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord." -During this captivity in Liberty Jail, not one of our lives shall be taken: Smith said on the morning after their capture after the 1838 Mormon War that "the word of the Lord came to me last night that ... whatever we may suffer during this captivity, not one of our lives shall be taken". -Enemies punished: While in prison, God stated through Smith that "cursed are all those that shall lift up the heel against mine anointed", that Smith's enemies would be taken "in their own craftiness", and that "not many years hence ... they and their posterity shall be swept from under heaven, saith God, that not one of them is left to stand by the wall". Prophecies from 1840 to 1844- -Orson Hyde's Dedicatory Prayer At the Request of Joseph Smith: On October 24, 1841, Orson Hyde dedicated the Holy Land for the return of Judah and the House of Israel generally at the request of Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith said "In due time thou shalt go to Jerusalem, the land of thy fathers, and be a watchman unto the house of Israel; and by thy hands shall the Most High do a great work, which shall prepare the way and greatly facilitate the gathering together of that people." During the 1840 April church conference, Joseph Smith commissioned Elder Hyde to go to Palestine and there dedicate that land for the return of the Jewish people. Jews "Have been scattered abroad among the Gentiles for a long period; and in our estimation, the time of the commencement of their return to the Holy Land has already arrived." The Orson Hyde Memorial Garden is a dedicated space to this prophecy in Jerusalem. -Relief Society: "I now prophecy that before ten years shall roll around, the queens of the earth shall come and pay their respects to this society" spoken at a Relief Society meeting. -Saint to settle in Rocky Mountains: "I prophesied that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains, many would apostatize, others would be put to death by our persecutors or lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease, and some of you will live to go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains." -Smith will not return to Missouri : When Smith was captured by Missouri agents in Illinois, he stated that he would not set foot in Missouri again either dead or alive. -Rising Generation: "There are those of the rising generation who shall not taste death till Christ comes." -White Horse Prophecy : A lengthy discourse in which Smith reportedly said, "You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed. It will hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber ... and it will be preserved and saved by the efforts of the White Horse"; and that the temple in Jackson County, Missouri, "will be built in this generation." -Government Overthrown: "I prophesy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there will not be so much as a potsherd left for their wickedness." -Stephen A. Douglas to run for president: Smith stated that Stephen A. Douglas would run for the presidency of the United States. Smith also predicted that if Douglas slandered the Latter Day Saints then he would feel the weight of the hand of the Almighty upon him. -Stakes established in Boston and New York: "In the great cities, as Boston, New York, etc., there shall be stakes" -Government broken up: "While discussing the petition to Congress, I prophesied, by virtue of the holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government, and God shall damn them. And there shall nothing be left of them—not even a grease spot." -Orrin Porter Rockwell protected from enemies: "I prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that you—Orrin Porter Rockwell—so long as ye shall remain loyal and true to thy faith, need fear no enemy. Cut not thy hair and no bullet or blade can harm thee." -Son David: Smith prophesied that his unborn child will be named David and will be "church president and king over Israel". -Dr. Richards will not have hole in garment: Shortly before his imprisonment in Carthage Jail, Smith told Willard Richards that the time would come that the balls would fly around him like hail, and he should see his friends fall on the right and on the left, but that there should not be a hole in his garment. -Joseph and Hyrum Smith to die if re-captured: Five days before his death, Smith wrote: "I told Stephen Markham that if I and Hyrum were ever taken again we should be massacred, or I was not a prophet of God" -Dan Jones to serve a mission to Wales: This is commonly referred to as Smith's "last prophecy" and took place in Carthage Jail the night before Smith was killed. "Soon after Dr. Richards retired to the bed ... and when all were apparently fast asleep, Joseph whispered to Dan Jones, 'are you afraid to die?' Dan said, 'Has that time come, think you? Engaged in such a cause I do not think that death would have many terrors.' Joseph replied, 'You will yet see Wales, and fulfill the mission appointed you before you die.'"