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A few of the fulfilled prophecies of Joseph Smith are here presented for the reader’s consideration. They will be discussed under the following titles in the order indicated:

1. Prophecy on War.

2. On Saints to the Mountains.

3. Name for Good and Evil.

4. Knowledge of Record to Every Nation.

5. Anson Call.

6. Like a Lamb to the Slaughter.

7. Orson Hyde

8. Prophecy to Dan Jones.

9. Prophecy to Judge Stephen A. Douglas.

(1)

PROPHECY ON WAR

On December 25, 1832, twenty-eight years before the Civil War, while the Christian world was celebrating the birth of Christ and singing “Peace on earth, Goodwill to Men,” Joseph Smith received a revelation on, and prophesied of imminent war, evening naming the state in which the rebellion would commence. The revelation is as follows:

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; And the time will com that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place. For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations. (Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 87:1-3)

The highlights of the revelation are: (1) Wars to come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina. (2) South Divided against the North (Civil War). (3) South will call on Great Britain and other nations to aid it. (4) Great Britain to call on other nations to defend themselves against other nations. (5) War to be poured out upon all nations.

The fulfillment of the above numbered highlights of the revelation may readily be recognized: (1) The Civil War was one of the most tragic wars this world has seen. It was caused by the attempt of the Southern States to establish an independent government, South Carolina being the first state to secede. The first gun was fired, January 9, 1861, by the batteries in Charleston harbor, which prevented the steamship “Star of the West” from delivering supplies to Fort Sumter. The beginning of the war, however, is officially dated from April 12, when fort Sumter was bombarded. (2) The Civil War is evidence that the “South was divided against the North.” (3) The Southern States did ask Great Britain and other nations to help them. (4) Great Britain called on France and the United States to help defend herself against Germany in both world wars. (5) War has been “poured out” upon many nations in recent years, and the end is not yet.

This revelation on war was received twenty-eight years before the Civil War, and missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints distributed printed copies of it twelve years before hostilities began.

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Many other prophecies of Joseph Smith which have already been fulfilled, might be added to the foregoing list, but those listed simply testify to Joseph’s prophetic gift. Whether men reverse or revile the name of Joseph Smith, millions will yet acclaim him the great prophet of the nineteenth century. The Bible informs us:

And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. (Ezekiel 2:5)