Latter Day Saint (Mormon) Prophecies

    "Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled." (-D&C, Section 1:37 --dated November 1, 1831)

Joseph Smith was told in a vision that he was to herald the return of Christ. Explicit statements recorded in the "Doctrine and Covenants" unmistakably state that the Promised One, whose coming Joseph Smith had come to herald, was already alive on the earth at the time that he was having these visions.

In 1831 Joseph Smith was told: "I am in your midst and ye cannot see me; But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent." -D&C, section 38:7 --dated Jan 2, 1831

"I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildest upon this rock shall never fail. And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am." -D&C, section 50:44 --dated May 1831

Both of these prophecies were received in 1831. Can you see what they are saying?

The Messiah was alive on earth at the very same time that these revelations were being received by Joseph Smith!

Have you noticed the similarities between 1831 and two thousand years ago? Two thousand years ago, another people were also anxiously awaiting the coming of their Messiah. Little did the Jews of that day realize, but their Messiah was alive on the earth too. He was right in their midst and they couldn't see him.

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) appeared unto a people who, despite the fact that they were earnestly waiting for him to come... still they rejected Him as an impostor and they eventually conspired to kill Him. The Jewish people killed their own Messiah.

At the beginning of the Gospel of John, referring to the inability of the Jewish people to recognize the fact that their Messiah had already come, there is a passage which reads: "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not..." -John 1:5

In the Doctrine and Covenants, we can read that Joseph Smith similarly warned that, like the Jews of 2000 years ago, his followers too were in great danger of repeating these same mistakes of the past. Joseph Smith predicted that the Messiah's followers, this time in our day, again will not "see" His coming.

Joseph Smith wrote: "When the time of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel..." -D&C, section 45:29

A more complete commentary on the "time of the Gentiles" can be found in the " Time Prophecies" link found on the side.

Briefly, the "time of the Gentiles" prophecies from the Bible repeatedly pinpoint the year 1844 AD. In other words, according to this authoritative Mormon prophecy "a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness" in the year 1844. What happened in 1844?             ( Also you can also look Time Prophecies link from the Bible later.)

Joseph Smith's visions and prophecies are recorded in a book titled "The Doctrine and Covenants." This book contains prophecies which explicitly foretell the coming of two Messianic figures who were to appear in rapid succession--- one right after the other. The first of these two Messianic figures is called the "one mighty and strong" and is considered to be a forerunner like John the Baptist. The second of the two Messianic figures is called the "Son of Man".

For the sake of brevity in this presentation I would like to focus on only two of Joseph Smith's prophecies from "The Doctrine and Covenants". The first is found in Section 85, the second is from Section 130.

"And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send ONE MIGHTY AND STRONG, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God...

While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning..." -D&C, section 85:7&8

Let's take a closer look at the various elements of this passage. The "man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth hid hand to steady the ark of God...

was Joseph Smith." As prophesied, Joseph Smith actually did "fall by the shaft of death" "as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning... ." Joseph Smith was shot and killed on June 27, 1844.

1844 is the exact same year foretold in the "Times of the Gentiles" prophecies from the Bible. In other words, according to these Mormon prophecies, "a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness" and "ONE MIGHTY AND STRONG" will appear in the year 1844... the same year that Joseph Smith was shot. The official commentaries of the Mormon Church identify the "ONE MIGHTY AND STRONG", as an Elijah figure.... as a forerunner like John the Baptist.

Joseph Smith said that his prophecies "are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled." -D&C, Section 1

Joseph Smith's "ONE MIGHTY AND STRONG" prophecy was amazingly accurate. The Elijah figure did arise in the East in the same year that Joseph Smith was shot... in 1844.

The "ONE MIGHTY AND STRONG" assumed the title of the Bab... a name which when translated into English means the "Gate". The Bab stated that he was the forerunner of the great "Son of Man"... the world uniting Messiah whom, he said, was soon to appear.

The Bab wrote: "I am one of the sustaining Pillars of the Primal Word of God. Whosoever hath recognized Me... hath attained all that is good and seemly."
	House of Worship New Dehli India

"Well is it with him who fixeth his gaze upon the Order of Baha'u'llah (the Son of Man), and rendereth thanks unto his Lord. For he will assuredly be made manifest. God hath indeed irrevocably ordained it..." - THE BAB- Tablet to the Shah, GPB p.25

In Section 130 of Joseph Smith's book the "Doctrine and Covenants" he predicted: "When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that [i.e. He will not be an invisible, intangible spirit]... And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, thereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.

I prophesy, in the name of the Lord God, that the commencement of the difficulties which will cause much bloodshed previous to the coming of the Son of Man will be in South Carolina. It may probably arise through the slave question. This a voice declared to me, while I was praying earnestly on the subject, December 25th, 1832.

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... The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit... ." -D&C 130

As we begin to examine this section, notice that Joseph Smith clearly makes a distinction between "flesh" and "spirit". The "Son of Man" who is to appear is not a "spirit", he will have "a body of flesh and bones as tangible as [any other] man's..."

In other words, the Messiah will not come as an invisible, intangible spirit. Instead, he will appear in the same manner that all of God's other chosen Spokesmen have appeared throughout history. He will be "a man like ourselves" and that he will have "a body of flesh and bones... ."

The other half of the prophecy from Section 130 of the Doctrine and Covenants promised that Joseph Smith would "see the face of the Son of Man" if he lived to be 85 years old. In a remarkable passage, Baha'u'llah seems to answer this promise. He wrote:

"Verily I say, this is the day in which mankind can behold the Face and hear the Voice of the Promised One. The call of God hath been raised, and the light of His countenance hath been lifted up upon men. It behooveth every man to blot out the trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze, with an open and unbiased mind, on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs of His Mission, and the tokens of His Glory." --- Baha'u'llah

Joseph Smith was promised that he would "see the face of the Son of Man" if he lived to be 85 years old. Joseph Smith would have been 85 years old in the year 1890. It was in the year 1890 that the first people from from Europe and America journeyed all the way to Israel to meet Baha'u'llah.

Joseph Smith continues in this passage by also promising that the Messiah will come with a "new name". He wrote: "And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, thereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word"

  In other words, the Messiah's name will not be Jesus. This "new name" prophecy is repeated several times in the Bible.

For example, the great Hebrew Prophet Isaiah wrote: "thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name."            -Isaiah 62

And again Isaiah warned: "ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for he Lord God shall slay thee and call his servants by another name. "-Isaiah 65

Many Christians have concluded that the redeemer's new name is Jesus. This very well might have been possible if it weren't for the fact that Jesus did not appear in the "last days" at a time when the Jews began to return to Israel, as foretold by Isaiah, and also if for the fact that Jesus also promised that he too will return with a new name.

Jesus promised: "Him that overcometh... I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. "-Revelation 3:12

Therefore, the Son of Man will come with a new name "which no one knows except Himself" and he will come wearing a red robe. The red robe prophecy is repeated by Joseph Smith in section 133: "Who is this man that cometh down from God in heaven with dyed garments... And the Lord shall be red in His apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in a wine vat... ."

The third of Jesus' "new name" prophecies is from Revelation 2:17: "The one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one overcoming, I will give him to eat from the hidden manna. And I will give to him a white stone, and on the stone a new name having been written, which no one knows except the one receiving it."

New Name

The second prophecy is from Section 130 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Here Joseph Smith prophesied:

"When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that he is a man like ourselves... And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, thereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. I prophesy, in the name of the Lord God, that the commencement of the difficulties which will cause much bloodshed previous to the coming of the Son of Man will be in South Carolina. It may probably arise through the slave question. This a voice declared to me, while I was praying earnestly on the subject, December 25th, 1832. 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... The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit..."-D&C 130

SUMMARY OF PROMISES:

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1- "For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world--a light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not... And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, as light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel; But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men." -D&C 45

According to Joseph Smith's prophecies, the forerunner... "the one mighty and strong" should have appeared in 1844. The "Son of Man"... "the Savior" should have appeared shortly after the beginning of the civil war (1860). Joseph Smith advises his followers to be awake and searching. He warns that the coming of the "Son of Man" would be like "a light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not". He hints that the Savior is: "in your midst and ye cannot see me"... "they receive [Him] not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men." And then, even more explicitly, Joseph Smith is promised that if lives until the year 1890 he will meet the "Son of Man".

Section 85 contains two significant prophecies:

2- THE DEATH OF JOSEPH SMITH

The "man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God" was Joseph Smith. As prophesied in this passage, Joseph Smith actually did "fall by the shaft of death" "as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning..."

Joseph Smith was shot and killed on June 27, 1844.

3- FORERUNNER TO APPEAR IN 1844

The second half of this prophecy infers that when Joseph Smith is shot, the "one mighty and strong" will appear. Once again, Joseph Smith was shot in 1844. Church commentaries identify the "one mighty and strong", as an Elijah figure.... as a forerunner like John the Baptist. In other words, this prophecy predicts that a forerunner will appear in the year 1844.

 

Section 130 contains several significant prophecies:

4- THE CIVIL WAR

"I prophesy, in the name of the Lord God, that the commencement of the difficulties which will cause much bloodshed previous to the coming of the Son of Man will be in South Carolina. It may probably arise through the slave question."

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On December 25th, 1832, Joseph Smith first prophesied that the American civil war, which was fought over the "slave question", will begin in "South Carolina." The civil war began in South Carolina in the year 1860. The "slave question" was crystallized in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the 'Emancipation Proclamation' freeing the slaves. Notice that Joseph Smith foretold these events over thirty years before they happened. And this is not even the most important part of this prophecy. Joseph Smith was just setting the stage for what could be one of the most significant events in human history. Joseph Smith predicted that the "coming of the Son of Man" would become a reality shortly after the beginning of the civil war. Baha'u'llah wrote: "The time fore-ordained unto the people and kindreds of the earth is now come. The promises of God as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all been fulfilled..." The "One Mighty and Strong", the forerunner, like John the Baptist, appeared in 1844... the same year that Joseph Smith was shot. He assumed the title of the Bab [Gate] and announced that he was the Gate through which the Promised One would appear. 1A-THE SAVIOR WILL BE "A MAN LIKE OURSELVES" "When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that he is a man like ourselves..." The Savior... the Son of Man will have "a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's". This prophecy is self evident. The Son of Man will appear in exactly the same way that all of the other Prophets or "Manifestations of God" have appeared throughout history. He will not appear as some unidentifiable, intangible spirit.

        1B- RED ROBE PROPHECY
Only three sections later Joseph Smith also prophesies: "And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people, and shall reign over all flesh... And it shall be said: Who is this that cometh down from God in heaven with dyed garments... And the Lord will be red in his apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat. And so great shall be the glory of his presence that the sun shall hide his face in shame..." -D&C 133

"We shall see that he is a man like ourselves"... the "Son of Man" will have "a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's..." The Son of Man will appear in exactly the same way that all of the other Prophets or "Manifestations of God" have appeared throughout history. He will not appear as some unidentifiable, intangible spirit... "the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people". These passages even identify the color of his clothes when he appears: "the Lord will be red in his apparel". They even give us a clue as to what his "new name" might be: "so great shall be the glory of his presence..."

1B- THE COMING OF THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM... THE NEW NAME PROPHECY
Those who choose to come "into the celestial kingdom" will be given a "white stone" "thereon is a new name written". Evidently, not everyone will choose to come into the "celestial kingdom." Either that, or perhaps what this passage is saying is that not everyone will recognize the coming of the Son of Man with a "new name" and thereby, because of their lack of understanding, will deprive themselves of the opportunity to enter the Son of Man's "celestial kingdom". Those who do enter the "celestial kingdom"... shall be given a "new name."

    Baha'u'llah, the "Son of Man"... first publicly announced his mission to humanity in 1863. He was a man just like all of God's other "Manifestations". And he frequently wore a red robe. Each and every one of these events were explicitly foretold in Mormon prophecy by Joseph Smith.

The prophecies of Joseph Smith foretold the coming of both the "Son of Man" and of His "celestial kingdom." Is Baha'u'llah truly the "Son of Man" whose appearance was foretold by Joseph Smith? Is the name Baha'u'llah... the "new name" foretold by Joseph Smith? Is Baha'u'llah's kingdom truly the "celestial kingdom" foretold by Joseph Smith? These are questions of extreme importance.

Those who seek the truth in this matter may want to consider the following statements from Baha'u'llah:

Also you can find Baha'i center Tel no in your area telephone directory and contact them.

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Site address < http://www.dayofgod.net > 

NOTE: For Latter Day Saints who would like to hear more of this story you may want to read the book "So Great A Cause!" by Kenneth Stephens, a former Mormon and Institute Director. This book is currently out of print but your local librarian should be able to find you a copy through inter-library loan.

Please also note : The Baha'i Faith is an independent world religion and is not connected with the Mormon Church. The Baha'i Faith refers to Joseph Smith as "a religious teacher sensitive to the spiritual currents flowing in the early 19th century... ."
-From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, February 7, 1977   The Author Joel Smith is a member of the Baha'i Faith living in USA. The opinions expressed in this article constitute his own personal understanding and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Baha'i Faith or  the view of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's.