Praying About the Book of Mormon - Is it Biblical?

[spn82756]

Mormanism is the easiest religion to prove false. Proven By God in the Bible, by science and by history.

jw’s and islam are close seconds.

 

[ParkerD]

Actually, if you read back, you’ll see I said the same thing. I apologize if the confusion is on the way I stated it. My point was, why would Christ take away a valid priesthood because of sinful men and then give it to other sinful men later as Mormons claim?

ProdigalSon1,
God is in charge of His priesthood. He did not give the priesthood to men so He could go on vacation and leave mankind alone so they could do whatever they wanted with His authority.

The Book of Mormon discloses that a group of people who came to the New World had the priesthood also, and understood the law of sacrifice and that it would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His infinite atonement. The Book of Mormon also describes how one receives the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit and that by doing that, anyone can receive communication from God, but it is based on righteousness and their sincerity and faith in Christ.

The Holy Spirit is not forced onto people–not one person on earth, ever. It is a gift to be received, neither a right to be assumed one has nor a force that supposedly guides a group if the individuals in the group are not listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit or are not receiving them because of personal unrighteousness. The loss of the power of the priesthood was due to the loss of personal righteousness of the people who had at one point received the priesthood, and their loss of the Holy Spirit that was absolutely necessary to guide the church–necessary on an individual basis.

If you have read the article thoroughly discussing Joseph Smith and plural marriage that was listed as a link earlier by someone, then you learned that most of the cases of supposedly “plural marriages” had to do with sealings that were understood to mean the families would be bonded together in a relationship in heaven, and had nothing to do with a physical relationship on earth, period. But you had to read the article.

The sequence of being able to receive a witness from the Holy Spirit regarding the Book of Mormon and thus whether Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God who continued to receive guidance from God through the Holy Spirit, so that God who is in charge could reveal His will and not have men do whatever they wanted and say they “had the Spirit”, is that one would be obliged to read the Book of Mormon honestly and sincerely with no preconceived answer in their mind and heart, have love for all men including people of long ago all over the world and including the House of Israel long ago, have love for the Bible as a true record about God’s dealings with humankind and God’s covenant promises to humankind, have faith in Christ and His atonement, have humility and patience and a desire to really do what God wants one to do and be willing to do it even if it means “leaving father and mother” or “brothers and sisters” or “friends”, then with all that in place–pray about what one has read whether it is from God.

Otherwise, posting on this thread is a waste of time and the time would be better spent reading the Bible and treasuring up its message of love and peace and salvation through Christ, the Lord Omnipotent whose Second Coming is indeed coming, perhaps in our lifetime.

Peace to all, and have a good day.

 

[TheosisM]

I don’t think that the early christians were saying the trindentine mass during the early church. And most likely, it was not all said in latin but in the language of the people involved. I can not say that the early christian service resembled the Mass as catholic knew it before vatican II. I also have this understanding that the early service was also a communal event of love and fellowship where members could fellowship and experience the joy of each others company,especially during the time of persecution. Also, since many of the members were poor, I can not see the early christians going through a lot of pomp in priestly clothing.

The trindentine mass evolved and it evolved for a reason.

You’re not getting it: No one is saying that the early Christians were saying the Tridentine Mass, let alone Mass in Latin! Why would any Catholic argue that, when the Tridentine Mass is not even the most ancient Mass in the Catholic Church (you do realize that “Tridentine” comes from the Counci of Trent, from the 1500s, and the Missal is specifically from 1570, then another from 1962). The Tridentine Mass was not the only Mass “as catholic (sic) knew it before vatican II”. What Catholics are saying is that the form of the Mass, whether it’s the Mass of Paul VI, Tridentine Mass, or Divine Liturgy, has a form that finds strong parallels in ancient Christianity, as well as Jewish temple worship. We’re not talking about the language used, or colors of robes or how ornate churches are. That’s not the argument, so please stop arguing a straw man that has been explained previously.

Also, please give sources the that you are using for your understanding of the ancient Christian services.

 

[RebeccaJ]

I also have this understanding that the early service was also a communal event of love and fellowship where members could fellowship and experience the joy of each others company,especially during the time of persecution. Also, since many of the members were poor, I can not see the early christians going through a lot of pomp in priestly clothing.

Sounds like a Unitarian Universalist service.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

ProdigalSon1,
God is in charge of His priesthood. He did not give the priesthood to men so He could go on vacation and leave mankind alone so they could do whatever they wanted with His authority.

The Book of Mormon discloses that a group of people who came to the New World had the priesthood also, and understood the law of sacrifice and that it would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His infinite atonement. The Book of Mormon also describes how one receives the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit and that by doing that, anyone can receive communication from God, but it is based on righteousness and their sincerity and faith in Christ.

Yet no archeological evidence can be found ANYWHERE. But archeologist in the Holy Land have uncovered evidences much older than the New Testament era. Where are the ‘golden plates’ so that they maybe inspected by others? Mormons claim, only the priesthood was lost and there were holy people, Holy Spirit guided, that cannot view and inspect. Convenient or suspect?

The Holy Spirit is not forced onto people–not one person on earth, ever. It is a gift to be received, neither a right to be assumed one has nor a force that supposedly guides a group if the individuals in the group are not listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit or are not receiving them because of personal unrighteousness. The loss of the power of the priesthood was due to the loss of personal righteousness of the people who had at one point received the priesthood, and their loss of the Holy Spirit that was absolutely necessary to guide the church–necessary on an individual basis.

If you have read the article thoroughly discussing Joseph Smith and plural marriage that was listed as a link earlier by someone, then you learned that most of the cases of supposedly “plural marriages” had to do with sealings that were understood to mean the families would be bonded together in a relationship in heaven, and had nothing to do with a physical relationship on earth, period. But you had to read the article.

The sequence of being able to receive a witness from the Holy Spirit regarding the Book of Mormon and thus whether Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God who continued to receive guidance from God through the Holy Spirit, so that God who is in charge could reveal His will and not have men do whatever they wanted and say they “had the Spirit”, is that one would be obliged to read the Book of Mormon honestly and sincerely with no preconceived answer in their mind and heart, have love for all men including people of long ago all over the world and including the House of Israel long ago, have love for the Bible as a true record about God’s dealings with humankind and God’s covenant promises to humankind, have faith in Christ and His atonement, have humility and patience and a desire to really do what God wants one to do and be willing to do it even if it means “leaving father and mother” or “brothers and sisters” or “friends”, then with all that in place–pray about what one has read whether it is from God.

Otherwise, posting on this thread is a waste of time and the time would be better spent reading the Bible and treasuring up its message of love and peace and salvation through Christ, the Lord Omnipotent whose Second Coming is indeed coming, perhaps in our lifetime.

Peace to all, and have a good day.

Looking at specific areas of Mormon scriptures, specifically the Doctrine and Covenants, we find many ‘prophecies’ of Joseph Smith that have to have multiple explanations of how it’s ‘possible’ for those prophecies to happen still. To the discerning mind, they are false prophecies. One false prophecy makes a false prophet.

Since they are in topic of this discussion, I’d be more than happy to present some of those ‘prophecies’ from the ‘Mormon scriptures’. One in particular that I’ve brought up to several Mormons in the past, brought just as many different explanations of the prophecy.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

According to the Mormon Doctrine and Covenants 84:1-5, Joseph Smith prophesied a temple, to be known as the city of the New Jerusalem, would be built in the Western boundaries of the state of Missouri. I have underlined parts of this passage, below, for emphasis.

1 A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted their voices on high.
2 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.
3 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.
4 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city 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.
5 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

It is clearly a prophecy, ‘…spoken by the mouth of his prophets…’

We know Joseph Smith was killed by a mob, with a gun in his own hand, one he fired at his attackers. His hand will not be dedicating this Temple.

Now, this Temple has not been built unto this day. In fact, the ‘lot’ is not even owned by the LDS Church. It is owned by another ‘sect’ of Mormons that claim there was an apostasy of Mormons who split away from the one true ‘restored’ Church. Now, forgetting the legalities of who owns the lot and the possibility that ownership might change, where is that generation who would not pass until this came to pass? This was over 160 years ago? A Biblical generation is around 40 years…

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

The ‘keys’ that the Mormons claim they now hold, according to Doctrines and Covenants 112, Joseph Smith would be holding those ‘keys’ when the Lord returns. Now His hand was to be over him, but again, we know that Joseph Smith died at the Carthage Jail, with a gun in his hand. How many of the early Church martyrs died with weapons in their hands?

15 Exalt not yourselves; rebel not against my servant Joseph; for verily I say unto you, I am with him, and my hand shall be over him; and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward, shall not be taken from him till I come

.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

In D&C 3:4 (given in 1828), we find this: “For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him…”

Joseph Smith gave a speech in May 1844, Smith proclaimed this: “I have more to boast of than any man ever had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a church together since the days of Adam.…Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”

Just 30 days from making that boast, on June 27, 1844; Joseph Smith was shot in Carthage jail.

 

[ParkerD]

Yet no archeological evidence can be found ANYWHERE. But archeologist in the Holy Land have uncovered evidences much older than the New Testament era. Where are the ‘golden plates’ so that they maybe inspected by others? Mormons claim, only the priesthood was lost and there were holy people, Holy Spirit guided, that cannot view and inspect. Convenient or suspect?

Looking at specific areas of Mormon scriptures, specifically the Doctrine and Covenants, we find many ‘prophecies’ of Joseph Smith that have to have multiple explanations of how it’s ‘possible’ for those prophecies to happen still. To the discerning mind, they are false prophecies. One false prophecy makes a false prophet.

Since they are in topic of this discussion, I’d be more than happy to present some of those ‘prophecies’ from the ‘Mormon scriptures’. One in particular that I’ve brought up to several Mormons in the past, brought just as many different explanations of the prophecy.

ProdigalSon1,
How inconvenient of the Lord to require that the Holy Spirit be obtained by faith, eh? It is very clear to me why that is, but evidently not clear to one such as yourself.

 

[ParkerD]

According to the Mormon Doctrine and Covenants 84:1-5, Joseph Smith prophesied a temple, to be known as the city of the New Jerusalem, would be built in the Western boundaries of the state of Missouri. I have underlined parts of this passage, below, for emphasis.

It is clearly a prophecy, ‘…spoken by the mouth of his prophets…’

We know Joseph Smith was killed by a mob, with a gun in his own hand, one he fired at his attackers. His hand will not be dedicating this Temple.

Now, this Temple has not been built unto this day. In fact, the ‘lot’ is not even owned by the LDS Church. It is owned by another ‘sect’ of Mormons that claim there was an apostasy of Mormons who split away from the one true ‘restored’ Church. Now, forgetting the legalities of who owns the lot and the possibility that ownership might change, where is that generation who would not pass until this came to pass? This was over 160 years ago? A Biblical generation is around 40 years…

ProdigalSon1,
The city of the New Jerusalem was to begin being built at that time and in that place. The temple described was to be “built in this generation” and was indeed built in Nauvoo, Illinois and the work that the saints needed to do there was done before they left for their own protection and safety. The work that was prophesied was completed, and the New Jerusalem is being built–a slow and patient process that continues to this day and has spread to Zion places around the world, especially where there are holy temples of God. Zion flourishes upon the hills, and the word of the Lord goes out from Zion.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

ProdigalSon1,
How inconvenient of the Lord to require that the Holy Spirit be obtained by faith, eh? It is very clear to me why that is, but evidently not clear to one such as yourself.

Question:

How do you discern that the “burning” or spirit you receive after praying over the Book of Mormon is the Holy Spirit instead of the Devil masquerading as an angel of light?

 

[ParkerD]

The ‘keys’ that the Mormons claim they now hold, according to Doctrines and Covenants 112, Joseph Smith would be holding those ‘keys’ when the Lord returns. Now His hand was to be over him, but again, we know that Joseph Smith died at the Carthage Jail, with a gun in his hand. How many of the early Church martyrs died with weapons in their hands?

.

ProdigalSon1,
How many of the church martyrs would have stood meekly by while their brother and friends were being massacred by a mob? Shame on them if they would have stood meekly by watching. Joseph Smith was a man of action–not a passive bystander when his brother and friends were being mobbed by men who had been allowed into a jail thus breaking the laws and any heart of justice that anyone has. It is an abhorrent act that they did. It is sickening to the soul of anyone with a sense of the dignity of humankind and the protection of the Constitution of the United States, including judicial protection.

Joseph Smith still holds those keys, and is using them in his role in the spirit world where there is a far greater work going on with far more people than in this world.

The Lord will indeed return to the earth triumphantly, and His words and promises will all be fulfilled.

 

[ParkerD]

Question:

How do you discern that the “burning” or spirit you receive after praying over the Book of Mormon is the Holy Spirit instead of the Devil masquerading as an angel of light?

FabiusMaximus,

I’ll respond to your question in two parts that are something I had already posted:

The sequence of being able to receive a witness from the Holy Spirit regarding the Book of Mormon and thus whether Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God who continued to receive guidance from God through the Holy Spirit, so that God who is in charge could reveal His will and not have men do whatever they wanted and say they “had the Spirit”, is that one would be obliged to read the Book of Mormon honestly and sincerely with no preconceived answer in their mind and heart, have love for all men including people of long ago all over the world and including the House of Israel long ago, have love for the Bible as a true record about God’s dealings with humankind and God’s covenant promises to humankind, have faith in Christ and His atonement, have humility and patience and a desire to really do what God wants one to do and be willing to do it even if it means “leaving father and mother” or “brothers and sisters” or “friends”, then with all that in place–pray about what one has read whether it is from God.

Otherwise, posting on this thread is a waste of time and the time would be better spent reading the Bible and treasuring up its message of love and peace and salvation through Christ, the Lord Omnipotent whose Second Coming is indeed coming, perhaps in our lifetime.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

ProdigalSon1,
The city of the New Jerusalem was to begin being built at that time and in that place. The temple described was to be “built in this generation” and was indeed built in Nauvoo, Illinois and the work that the saints needed to do there was done before they left for their own protection and safety. The work that was prophesied was completed, and the New Jerusalem is being built–a slow and patient process that continues to this day and has spread to Zion places around the world, especially where there are holy temples of God. Zion flourishes upon the hills, and the word of the Lord goes out from Zion.

That is a new explanation. That makes about 4 different explanations now.

Church of Christ Temple Lot

In 1929 the Church undertook the building of the temple, and excavated the basement area. Some who had returned in 1867 were among those driven from Independence in 1833, and so they knew where the “spot” was located. In this excavation, the laborers turned up the stone placed by Joseph in marking the northeast corner of the temple, having thereupon an original inscription. About a month later, they turned up a second stone approximately 90 feet to the south, also inscribed, indicating the southeast corner. Revelation to at least three in the Church gave the length of the temple as twice the width. Work was halted because of the depression, and eventually the hole was filled.

In retrospect, we feel the spiritual status of the church in general was less than required for this holy project; but at least the spot is definitely fixed. We will wait for further revelation from God in this, with the continued gathering of the pure in heart.

The thought has developed that we are custodians of the Temple Lot. We feel, as an extension to this, that it is not simply a physical custody, but that the Church of Christ has a spiritual custody of the Kingdom of God, and that this is implied in the revelation which states: “…the city New Jerusalem shall be built, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple…”

For this purpose, and especially because of the fundamentally scriptural stance we have assumed, even by discarding innovations mentioned, the Lord saw fit to give us this custody. We hope and pray to yet qualify more fully as a nucleus for the gathering of the saints in the establishment of Zion. Additionally, as stated before: we are a remnant of the Church as it was in 1830, having the same name, the same doctrine, and the apostolic form of government as originally intended; and we have been neither disorganized nor reorganized.

I found my notes from the first few Mormons I discussed this subject with, below are the results that I recorded about those discussions.

**The first Mormon responded by saying, the generation had not passed because one of the prophets had “translated”. Please note, this prophesy was made 160+ years ago.

When I pointed out that this temple was to be dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, who died by gunshot, this particular Mormon quit responding to me. This is when the second Mormon told me, “It’s not a prophesy, but a commandment.” I explained, his Church’s passage, clearly states, “A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith” and “Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church…as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets…” Now, the second Mormon told me I wasn’t worth wasting time on and he wasn’t going to respond to my posts anymore. The third Mormon threw up a long drawn out smoke screen that didn’t even address the temple was to be dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith. Staying on track, we pointed out that he failed to address the dedication of the temple. He came back with, “Hands don’t dedicate, mouths do.” When this point was “debated”, he stated he wasn’t going to respond to me anymore.**

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

ProdigalSon1,
How many of the church martyrs would have stood meekly by while their brother and friends were being massacred by a mob? Shame on them if they would have stood meekly by watching. Joseph Smith was a man of action–not a passive bystander when his brother and friends were being mobbed by men who had been allowed into a jail thus breaking the laws and any heart of justice that anyone has. It is an abhorrent act that they did. It is sickening to the soul of anyone with a sense of the dignity of humankind and the protection of the Constitution of the United States, including judicial protection.

Joseph Smith still holds those keys, and is using them in his role in the spirit world where there is a far greater work going on with far more people than in this world.

The Lord will indeed return to the earth triumphantly, and His words and promises will all be fulfilled.

All of the early Church martyrs…

Joseph Smith is not holding any keys, in my opinion and if he is, they are not on earth with anyone. Seems to be a problem for the Mormon Church claiming they hold them…

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

In 1843, Smith predicted that if the US would not redress the wrongs suffered by the mormons in the state of Missouri, then “in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted” (History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.394).

President Smith, in concluding his remarks, said that if the government, which received into its coffers the money of citizens for its public lands, while its officials are rolling in luxury at the expense of its public treasury, cannot protect such citizens in their lives and property, it is an old granny anyhow; and 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 in permitting the murder of men, women and children, and the wholesale plunder and extermination of thousands of her citizens to go unpunished, thereby perpetrating a foul and corroding blot upon the fair fame of this great republic, the very thought of which would have caused the high-minded and patriotic framers of the Constitution of the United States to hide their faces with shame. Judge, you will aspire to the presidency of the United States; and if ever you turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints, you will feel the weight of the hand of Almighty upon you; and you will live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you; for the conversation of this day will stick to you through life.

 

[ParkerD]

Question:

How do you discern that the “burning” or spirit you receive after praying over the Book of Mormon is the Holy Spirit instead of the Devil masquerading as an angel of light?

FabiusMaximus,
Here also is an answer that applies to figuring out if any supposed “burning” or inspiration or “miracle” is sent by God:

Moroni 7 gives a clear picture about the answer to that question. Does what is perceived as “from God” “invite and entice to do good continually”, and to love God, and to serve him" (7:13), and “to persuade to believe in Christ” (v. 16), and to “exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, …lay hold upon every good thing;” (v. 25) and “that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof;” “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.” (v. 33-34)

So one can evaluate the circumstance by the above criteria, to see whether an experience or a claimed “miracle” is sourced from God and Christ and the Holy Ghost. Does it lead toward Christ and repentance and covenant-making and faith and doing good continually and giving place in their heart for the Holy Ghost? If so, then it is of God, because it leads to obtaining faith and the power of Christ’s redemption.

If it leads to unbelief, contention, judging others without compassion or without a sense of the importance of freedom of the soul, then it is not from God.

 

[RebeccaJ]

All of the early Church martyrs…

To expand on this a bit, Christian martyrs act as Jesus acts…

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”

Without violence, willingly dying for Christ.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

To expand on this a bit, Christian martyrs act as Jesus acts…

Without violence, willingly dying for Christ.

Many martyrs followed Christ’s example of His sacrifice and died with no violence on their part.

“Elder Cyrus H. Wheelock came in to see us, and when he was about leaving drew a small pistol, a six-shooter, from his pocket, remarking at the same time, ‘Would any of you like to have this?’ Brother Joseph immediately replied, ‘Yes, give it to me,’ whereupon he took the pistol, and put it in his pantaloons pocket.”

“I shall never forget the deep feeling of sympathy and regard manifested in the countenance of Brother Joseph as he drew nigh to Hyrum, and, leaning over him, exclaimed, ‘Oh! my poor, dear brother Hyrum!’ He, however, instantly arose, and with a firm, quick step, and a determined expression of countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six-shooter left by Brother Wheelock from his pocket, opened the door slightly, and snapped the pistol six successive times; only three of the barrels, however, were discharged. I afterwards understood that two or three were wounded by these discharges, two of whom, I am informed, died.”

“I had in my hands a large, strong hickory stick, brought there by Brother Markham, and left by him, which I had seized as soon as I saw the mob approach; and while Brother Joseph was firing the pistol, I stood close behind him. As soon as he had discharged it he stepped back, and I immediately took his place next to the door, while he occupied the one I had done while he was shooting.”

“Brother Richards, at this time, had a knotty walking-stick in his hands belonging to me, and stood next to Brother Joseph, a little farther from the door, in an oblique direction, apparently to avoid the rake of the fire from the door. The firing of Brother Joseph made our assailants pause for a moment; very soon after, however, they pushed the door some distance open, and protruded and discharged their guns into the room, when I parried them off with my stick, giving another direction to the balls.”

“It certainly was a terrible scene: streams of fire as thick as my arm passed by me as these men fired, and, unarmed as we were, it looked like certain death. I remember feeling as though my time had come, but I do not know when, in any critical position, I was more calm, unruffled, energetic, and acted with more promptness and decision. It certainly was far from pleasant to be so near the muzzles of those firearms as they belched forth their liquid flames and deadly balls. While I was engaged in parrying the guns, Brother Joseph said, ‘That’s right, Brother Taylor, parry them off as well as you can.’ These were the last words I ever heard him speak on earth.”

• Official History of the Church, Vol. 7, p.100-103

Reporter John Hay, of the Atlantic Monthly identified three men who were shot by Joseph Smith: John Wills in the arm, William Vorhees in the shoulder, and William Gallagher in the face. Hay was a son of Charles Hay, a surgeon of the Carthage militia and apparently a member of the mob.

“Smith had two loaded six-barrelled revolvers in his room. How a man on trial for capital offences came to be supplied with such luxuries is a mystery that perhaps only one man could fully have solved; and as General Deming, the Jack-Mormon sheriff, died soon after, and left no explanation of the matter, investigation is effectually baffled. But the four shots which I have chronicled, and two which had no billet, exhausted one pistol, and the enemy gave Smith no time to use the other. Severely wounded as he was, he ran to the window, which was open to receive the fresh June air, and half leaped, half fell, into the jail yard below.”

John Hay, “The Mormon Prophet’s Tragedy,” Atlantic Monthly (December 1869) 671-678

 

[ParkerD]

In 1843, Smith predicted that if the US would not redress the wrongs suffered by the Mormons in the state of Missouri, then “in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted” (History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.394).

ProdigalSon1,
I feel fine about answering this post also. (A few haven’t been worth answering, plus I have seen the benefits of an “ignore” list, albeit with only two names).

God partly redressed the wrongs, by the fact that the saints were able to flourish in Nauvoo for a brief period and then later in the West, and by the fact that Governor Boggs died an untimely death and was the primary officer responsible for the illegal acts being allowed and unpunished within the state of Missouri. We don’t know what happened to the others, but every injustice done in this world without repentance including restitution, will be punished either here or hereafter by the Judge of all.

A “few years” in our time is not necessarily a “few years” in the Lord’s timetable. I don’t know whether sufficient redressing of wrongs (which included the taking of property–particularly improved property) has been done in the eyes of God, but if not this prophecy may yet be fulfilled in that the United States government has its hands full right now and will probably have its hands full with a host of problems until He comes to reign whose right it is to reign.