Is it true that Joseph Smith prophesied that Christ would return to earth in 1891? (History of the Church, vol. 2, page 182) Doesn’t the Bible teach that if a prophet utters a false prophecy, he’s not a real prophet at all?
2 Responses to “Is it true that Joseph Smith prophesied that Christ would re…”
Miguel Castro
2008-10-30 05:04:52
You need to research this "prophecy" more carefully. First, the History of the Church is not canonized in Mormonism. Second, the record states that someone reported that Joseph prophesied Christ's second coming, but we don't have Joseph's own record. Many statements have been ascribed to Joseph that modern scholars believe he never actually uttered. Third, even if the record is correct and Joseph did make such a statement, the same record suggests that he did not use the prophetic language he usually used when speaking prophetically, suggesting that Joseph was merely expressing his opinion. Indeed, such an opinion could have been based on Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-17, a conditional prophecy whose conditions were never satisfied.
That aside, the Bible does not say that a single "false prophecy" disqualifies a prophet. I could name several unfulfilled prophecies made by Old-Testament prophets. For example, the prophet Ezekiel prophesied that Tyrus would be destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar (Ezekiel 26), but that city was instead destroyed by Alexander the Great. And yet I believe Ezekiel was a prophet, and I suspect you do as well.
Pamela Dean
2009-07-21 22:58:28
The webmaster makes some very valid points. It is also interesting that in the passage mentioned it actually uses the word 'should' instead of 'will' - "Fifty-six years should wind up the scene". This would imply that if the Lord's conditions were followed this event would come to pass... And conversely, if the were not followed, the second coming would not occur at that time.
That aside, the Bible does not say that a single "false prophecy" disqualifies a prophet. I could name several unfulfilled prophecies made by Old-Testament prophets. For example, the prophet Ezekiel prophesied that Tyrus would be destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar (Ezekiel 26), but that city was instead destroyed by Alexander the Great. And yet I believe Ezekiel was a prophet, and I suspect you do as well.