Book Review: Prophecies of Joseph Smith and Their Fulfillment

 Prophecies of Joseph Smith and Their Fulfillment, Nephi Lowell Morris, SLC, Utah, Deseret Book Company, 1920.

This book deals with seven prophesies of Joseph Smith and their fulfillment.  The first deals with predictions of war, not only the Civil War but after.  This is in D&C 87 in which is prophesied a war in the U.S. starting in South Carolina and then a general world war.  Both prophesies of war came to pass in the Civil war and WWI.  The prediction of war further came to pass with WWII but this was after this book was written.

Joseph Smith prophesied that the CHurch would bec ome a great body in the Rocky Mountains.  This took place under the direction of Brigham Young.  The Mormon "kingdom" extended from Canada to Mexico.

Joseph Smith prophesied that America was not the "new world" but actually the cradle of civilization.  Joseph Smith told of the place of the Garden of Eden and Adam Ondi Ahman where Adam and Eve dwelt after being expelled from the Garden of Eden.  Over time sciencce is proving this to be the case.

Joseph Smith talked with and made a prophesy regarding Stephen A. Douglas.  He said he would do well in politics, but if he ever turned against the Saints his political career would be over.  Such was the case.  Douglas spoke against the Mormons.  Despite being the Democrat candidate for president in 1860, the southern Democrats nominated their own man.  Abraham Lincoln won.  Shortly after this Douglas became ill and passed away.

The coming forth of the Book of Mormon id s fulfillment of prophecy.  It also contains many prophecies, specifically that it would be a land of liberty with no outside kings.  Such was the case in the Revolutionary War.  God strengthened those seeking freedom.  A similar thing happened with Mexico and the French who wanted to take over.  The Mexicans were able to reject them.  The Monroe Doctrine reinforces this prophesy.  

Orson Hyde would visit Jerusalem and dedicated Israel for the return of thmisA  Jews.   October 24, 1841 Orson Hyde dedicated Israel for the return of the Jews.  Only after this did England take over government control from Turkey.  This facilitated the return of the Jews.

Joseph Smith proclaimed that the birth of Jesus was the first part of April.  Biblical scholars now agree with this date.  The Book of Mormon reveals that his crucifixion has at 33 years and 3 days. This too seems to be accurate.

Joseph Smith prophesied that Jackson County was under condemnation and they would undergo and expulsion similar to the way the expelled the Mormons.  This happened in 1863 with the declaration of order 11 by General Thomas Ewing Jr.  Jackson County and two other counties were completely cleared out excdept for by Kansas City.  Houses were burned, crops destroyed.  People did not return until after the war.  Even so, most residents did not return.  Because of this, this piece of historyn is mostly forgotten.

Joseph Smith made prophecies which were fulfilled.  These predictions were more than based on logic but on having insight from God.  Joseph Smith was a prophet.

 

Documentary Review: Civil War: America Divided: Two Nations

This documentary does a good job of explaining just how divided the country was before the Civil War.  The Mexican American War proved a training ground for Civil War officers.  However it resulted in a dilemma, What to do with the territory gained as a result of the war.  This territory covers California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, most of New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming.  Should the territories by slave or free.  Kansas was one of the places where this decision turned bloody.  John Brown took advantage of the situation to carry out bloody murders.  However Southern sympathizers, many from Missouri, performed their own acts of bloodshed.  John Brown found he took his act too far when he attacked the arsenal at harper's Ferry.  He was captured and hung.  two of his sons died in their capture.  The election of 1860 was really a two part election.  Abraham Lincoln  (Republican) and Stephen Douglas (Democrat) competed in the North.  John Bell (Constitutional Union) and John Breckinridge (Southern Democrat) campaigned in the South.  Lincoln won by taking the entire North.  He was not even on the ballot in many Southern states.
His election spurred the South to action, and many states seceded even before Lincoln took office.  The stage was set for war.