. . .

Test No. 2 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, no 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.” p.30

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 rigid, unyielding, and illogical criterion I will demonstrate from the Bible that Moses, Jeremiah, Jesus, and Paul all fail in their attempts to measure up to Decker’s great expectations.

First we will consider Moses, the great law giver who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament.

Moses in Gen. 17:1-14 states that God gave Abraham an everlasting covenant and 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 foreskin 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, chapter four and Galatians, chapter five, 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. (Numbers 25:10-14 and Exodus 40:12-15). Yet Paul says that the priesthood was changed. (Hebrews 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 and private interpretation, then Paul or 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’s prediction of the seventy years of captivity did not come to pass. It was less than seventy years. Jeremiah also predicted 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, and 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), and yet the very next king was Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim. See 1 Chron. 3:16 and Jer. 37:1. There are others, but according to Decker, one mistake and you are out, so Jeremiah is out.

Jesus prophesied that the only sign he would give the Pharisees concerning his resurrection would be the sign of Jonah, “for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt. 12:39-40). If Christians can make this prophecy work, the 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 Joseph Smith was human, and I believe he was, he was in good company. Lest someone misunderstand, I accept Moses and 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 four prophecies which he claims are false:

In the first 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 and 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 and his people. (Jer. 15:4).

Decker’s interpretation of Joseph Smith’s prophecy on war is forced and 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 sceptre 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 sceptre. 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.

War did begin in South Carolina and many lives were lost. Other nations did become involved in war and as time passed, many more nations became engaged until Great Britain did call upon other nations in World War I, and then war was poured out upon all nations. World War II followed closely upon the heels of World War I, and today the nations of the earth are preparing on a greater scale than ever before for World War III. Then, “after many days,” (an expression in scripture to represent an undetermined amount of time), slaves shall rise up against their masters. This does not refer to the Negro slaves of the South during the Civil War, but to oppressed peoples from all over the world. These are those who are in political and economic slavery. It does not take a great deal of imagination in our own day to recognize the reality of this. Then the Lord will do what he has prophesied from the beginning. He will gather his remnant of Israel, Babylon shall marshal her forces, and then the last great battles will be fought as prophesied by John, Ezekiel, the Lord and many other Biblical prophets; until the “consumption decreed has made a full end of all nations.” See also Jer. 47:28 and 51:20.

The prophecy concludes with the coming of the Lord, and the justice the earth deserves is meted out.

The flow of this prophecy on war is broken by Decker’s interpretation, but the fulfillment is remarkable when it is observed as a general prophecy on war and not just a Civil War prophecy, as Decker attempts to make us believe. In its total perspective, this prophecy is equal in dimension and spirit to any of the Bible.

“THE GREASE SPOT PROPHECY” p. 34

Mr. Decker would profit greatly from Peter’s advice that prophecy is not of private interpretation. (II Peter 1:20). If I were to use Decker’s tactics on Christianity I can honestly say I would not be a Christian.

Let’s analyze the prophecy. Joseph Smith said, if Congress does not bring justice to the Saints, “they shall be broken up as a government.” “They” refers to Congress. Congress would be broken up as a government. In other words, those in office not voting in favor of the Saints would be broken up, or removed from office; not that the government of the United States, which Joseph considered to be inspired of God, would cease to exist. When Joseph says there won’t be so much as a grease spot left, he does not mean the government of the United States; the “them” refers to the individual congressmen who will be removed from power.

B.H. Roberts, a Latter-day Saint historian, made this comment in reference to this prophecy:

“This prediction doubtless has reference to the party in power; to the ‘government’ considered as the administration; not to the ‘government’ considered as the country; but the administration party, the Democratic Party, which had controlled the destiny of the country for forty years. It is a matter of history that a few years later the party then in power lost control of the national government, followed by the terrible conflict of the Civil War. The party against which the above prediction was made so far lost its influence that it did not again return to power to a quarter of a century; and when it did return to power it was with such modified views as to many great questions of government, that it could scarcely be regarded as the same party except in name.” D.H.C. 6:116

I might add that it was the 28th Congress that was in office when Joseph Smith made this prophecy. Of the 296 that served during this Congress, 177 were Democrats and 111 were Whigs. The 28th Congress ended on March 3, 1845. 86 Democrats lost their seat in government and 59 Whigs, plus 6 others, for a total of 151 Congressmen that did not return to government for the 29th Congress. At the end of the 29th Congress, 50 Democrats, 27 Whigs, and 2 others that were in office during the 28th and 29th Congress lost their seats in Congress. Thus, at the beginning of the 30th Congress in March of 1847, 230 of the original 296 were no longer in power. This amounts to 78 percent of Congress. By 1849, 88 percent of the 28th Congress were no longer in office and by 1851, just 8 years after Joseph’s prophecy, 94 percent were gone.

It becomes apparent that the grease spot that was left was not very big. The 6 percent that remained in office may not have voted against the Saints anyway. Nonetheless, as the sins of Manasseh were slow in bringing justice, the Civil War may have been punishment enough for a modern day Israel.

The Lord has said, “And behold, I, the Lord declare unto you, and my words are sure and shall not fail . . . all things must come to pass in their time.” (Doctrine & Covenants 64:31-32)

JESUS’ RETURN pp. 34-35

Once again it is the same tune, only the lyrics are again a verse or two short. It is true that Joseph Smith did lean towards 1890 — the prophecy quoted by Decker was given in 1834 — as a possible date for the return of the Lord, but he did not consider this to be infallible. As a matter of fact he was quite confused about the date, as he relates, but Decker forgets. Joseph Smith received the revelation pertaining to the 56 years, or 1890, in the following manner:

“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 eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and 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 and thus see his face.

I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.”

Doctrine & Covenants 130:14-17

Since Joseph was born in 1805, this would have made the year when he would see the Savior as 1890, the same year as his 56 years prophecy. In his Journal History, Joseph commented on this revelation as follows:

“I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this; and 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?

“WHO IS OLIVER GRANGER?” pp. 35-36

Decker calls this prophecy silly, of no importance, and false, unless three out of four Mormons can have a fond remembrance of Oliver Granger. He seems to think importance is determined by publicity.

“Oliver Granger was a man of faith and business ability — two qualities which form a rare combination. He characterized the Kirtland Camp as the greatest undertaking since the organization of the Church, and he firmly believed that God would bless that endeavor. When the prophet fled from Kirtland, he appointed Granger his business agent, and so well did he perform this duty that he was commended by businessmen. At a conference held at Quincy, May 4th to 6th, 1839, he was appointed to return to Kirtland and take charge of the Temple and Church there. This makes the concluding verses of the Revelation perfectly clear. His is to be held in remembrance for his faithful services as a man of business, having sanctified his talent to the service of the Lord.” Smith and Sjodahl, Doctrine and Covenant Commentary, p. 746

If, however, Oliver Granger is suffering from lack of recognition, the prophecy has now been fulfilled by the wide distribution of “To Moroni With Love”. Oliver Granger should become a household name, not only among the Latter-day Saints, but other Christians as well.

In spite of Decker’s nonsense, Oliver Granger’s name has been held in sacred remembrance. LDS historians and Granger’s descendants have held his name sacred, if other Latter-day Saints have not. Oliver Granger died in 1841 in the service of the Lord. But most important is the fact that his name has been held in sacred remembrance by the Lord. That is more important than a great number of mortals remembering his works.

Historically, Squanto’s name has been held in sacred honor also, but can three our of four Americans tell you who he is? His befriending of the Pilgrims will always be remembered, but probably not by great numbers. How many Christians can identify Lebbeus Thaddeus, yet his name is held in sacred remembrance as an apostle of the Lord. It seems that Decker is trying to squeeze the Lord’s word so much that he is strangling the truth and straining at a gnat.

By the way, my scriptures do have a little note I had written in them extolling the virtues of Oliver Granger. This was before any comment from Decker. Perhaps I am one of the four who remember Oliver Granger, but at least his name is held in sacred remembrance.

“THE MORMON APOSTASY NOT SCRIPTURAL” pp. 36

Latter-day Saints believe that the Church was built upon the Petra and not the Petros, and that the gates of hell — Hades, meaning the grave — shall not prevail against it, but that belief does not preclude an apostasy, and certainly the scriptures do in fact speak of an apostasy.

The Apostle Paul said, that day — Second Coming — shall not come, except there be a falling away first. (II Thess. 2:3) The Greek word for “falling away” is apostasia, which is the same word used by the Savior in Matt. 5:31 for “bill of divorce.” To translate “apostasia” as “falling away” is a little weak. What Paul was saying was that before the Second Coming a divorce would take place with the Church and the people and the Church would be taken away. That this was already happening in Paul’s day is clear from the fact that he says, “the mystery of iniquity doth already work”, verse 7; and by the time of John’s epistle, the last hour for the Church to be upon the earth had arrived:

“Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the anti-christ is coming even now many anti-christs have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18, New International Version)

The Epistles of Peter indicates the great trials that faced the Church and the short time there was left to perform their work. With the anti-christ prevailing, the Church did not survive long upon the earth. Thus the restoration spoken of by Paul was necessary before the earth would be ready for the return of Christ.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21).

. . .