The following are prophecies made by Joseph Smith. Each prophecy is followed by a question or questions regarding whether the prophecy came to pass. D&C is Doctrine and Covenants and "Hist." is History of the Church.
Stipulation: The meaning of the word "generation" is defined by Webster as "all persons born about the same time; the average in which children are ready to replace their parents... about 30 years." The Bible defines a generation as 35 to 40 years (e.g. Job 42:16), The Book of Mormon says that a generation is 110 years (4 Nephi 18). Remember this stipulation for future posts.
The prophecies will be shown in chronological order, and will be numbered consecutive from post to post. Today I will give eight.
1. D&C Section 57 (July 1831): This section says that Independence is the place for the city of Zion, and is "appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints." Verse 5 says it is to be an "everlasting inheritance".
Is Independence the gathering place today? Is it the city of "Zion"? Has it been an "everlasting inheritance? The answer to all three questions is, “no.” The prophecy failed to come to pass.
2. D&C Section 84:1-5, 31 (Sep. 1832): "A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun.... Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem. Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased. Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city of New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation. For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house...which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation, upon the consecrated spot as I have appointed...."
Was New Jerusalem built during that generation? Was the temple built at the temple lot during that generation? The answer to both questions is, “no.” The prophecy failed to come to pass.
3. D&C Section 87 (25 Dec 1832): This is the famous "Civil War Prophecy." At the time of this writing the newspapers were writing about the impending outbreak of civil war and the Army was on alert. So to make such a “prophecy” was just to repeat what many of the papers were saying.
1. Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls; 2. And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place. 3. For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations. 4. And is shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war. 5. And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation. 6. And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations; 7. That the cry of the saints, and of the blood of the saints, shall cease to come up into the ears of the Lord of the Sabaoth, from the earth, to be avenged of their enemies.
Did the Civil War "shortly come to pass?" Did all nations get involved in the U.S. Civil War? Was war "poured out upon all nations?" Did the slaves rise up against their masters? Were there earthquake and plague and famine during the Civil War and until the "full end of all nations?" The answer to all these questions is, “no.” The prophecy failed to come to pass.
4. D&C Section 88: 87-88 (27 Dec 1832): For not many days hence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig-tree.
More than 66,000 days have passed since that prophecy was given. By any standard this is more than "not many days." Did this prophecy come to pass? No, it failed.
5. Hist. Vol. 1, pp. 315-316. On January 4, 1833 Joseph Smith said, "And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation; pestilence, hail, famine and earthquake will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country. ...therefore, 'Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgement is come.' ...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." (This is also recorded in Teachings, pp. 17-18)
Did these things come to pass in that generation? Have they come to pass at all? The answer to both questions is, “no.” The prophecy failed to come to pass.
6. Hist. Vol. 1, p. 455. In a letter to "the Exiled Saints in Missouri," Joseph Smith wrote: Therefore, this is my counsel, that you retain your lands, even unto the utmost, and employ every lawful means to seek redress of your enemies; and pray to God day and night to return you in peace and safety to the lands of your inheritance; and when the judge fail you, appeal unto the executive; and when the executive fail you; appeal to the president; and when the president fail you, and all things also fail you but God alone, and you continue to weary Him with your importunings, as the poor woman did the unjust judge. He will not fail you to execute judgement upon your enemies, and to avenge His own elect that cry unto Him day and night. Behold, He will not fail you. He will come with ten thousand of his saints, and all His adversaries shall be destroyed with the breath of His lips.
Did any of this come to pass? Did the Mormons retain their lands in Missouri? Did their god ever destroy their enemies? The answer to all three questions is, “no.” The prophecy failed.
7. D&C Section 97:19 (Aug. 2, 1833): "And the nations of the earth shall honor her, and shall say, Surely Zion is the city of our God, and surely Zion cannot fall, neither be moved out her place, for God is there, and the hand of the Lord is there..."
On July 20, 1833, the LDS newspaper presses were destroyed and leading LDS officials tarred and feathered, then run out of town. When Joseph received this revelation he was in Kirtland, OH. Did God not know that Zion was already "moved out of her place?" Did not Zion fall? Yes, Zion fell, and a god who didn’t know that Zion had fallen is obviously a false god, making Joseph Smith a prophet of a false god.
8. D&C Section 100:13 (Oct 12, 1833): “And now I give unto you a word concerning Zion. Zion shall be redeemed, although she is chastened for a little season.”
Since 181 years have come to pass after this prophecy, would this not be much more than "a little season?" Zion was never redeemed; how is this accounted for? It can only be accounted for by a failed prophecy.
How many failed/false prophecies does it take to make a false prophet? One. Here we have eight failed prophecies by Joseph Smith. Would not eight false prophecies then make Smith a false prophet?
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