George Q. Cannon
April 21, 1867:
We
are living in a very eventful period; the events now transpiring in the nations
have been predicted to us years and years ago. We were almost as familiar with
them before they came to pass as we are now. Scarcely an event has befallen our
nation but what we had an intimation of long before it transpired. I recollect
very well that in the fall of 1860, while going to England, we were invited at
Omaha to preach the gospel to the people of that city. A good many of the
leading citizens procured the Court-house for us, and br. Pratt preached. By
request, I read the revelation given through Joseph Smith, on the 25th of
December, 1832, respecting the secession of the Southern States. It created a
great sensation, the election of Abraham Lincoln having just been consummated,
and it being well known that there was a great deal of feeling in the South in
relation to it. A great many persons came forward and examined the book from
which the revelation was read to see the date, to satisfy themselves that it
was not a thing of recent manufacture. The revelation was in the Pearl of Great
Price, which was published 1851. And when the people saw this they were struck
with surprise, and were more especially impressed when, in the course of a few
hours afterwards, the news reached Omaha that South Carolina had passed the
Ordinance of Secession. There was a direct confirmation of the words of the
Prophet Joseph spoken twenty-eight years previously. But who in that
congregation were prepared to receive that prediction as one that had emanated
from Heaven? We understood and were prepared for it. It made no difference to
us whether South Carolina had then seceded, or whether secession had been
deferred for years, we knew that the words of God must be fulfilled, and that
the words which He had spoken by the mouth of His servant would come to pass.
There
are a great many who have been stirred up to reflection by recent events, which
have been mapped out, as it were, before the Saints of God through the spirit
of inspiration and prophecy, which our Heavenly Father has poured out upon His
servants and people; and if we continue to be diligent, humble, and faithful,
there never will be a time from this time forward, so long as the earth
endures, that we will be destitute of the knowledge necessary to guide us.
There never has been a time since we came to these valleys that we have been
ignorant of the course that we should take. It is true that many invidious remarks
are made by those not of us upon the men who preside over us. They do not know
how it is that President Young has been able to lead us through every
difficulty as he has done. They imagine that it is all attributable to his
superior wisdom and smartness, and that what we term revelation and the spirit
of prophecy are the concoction of his brain or the fabrication of those who are
immediately associated with him. But we who, from the organization of the
Church. until the present, have been led by the spirit of inspiration, know
that it is nothing of the kind, but that God our Heavenly Father does actually
make known His mind and will to His servants in these days as He did anciently.
(JOD 12:41)
November 2, 1879:
In
1860, Brothers Orson Pratt, Erastus Snow, myself, and others, were going on
missions, and we arrived at Omaha in the month of November of that year. A
deputation of the leading citizens of that city came to our camp and tendered
to us the use of the Court House, as they wished to hear our principles. The
invitation was accepted, and Elder Pratt preached to them. During the service,
there was read the revelation to which I have referred —the revelation
concerning the division between the South and the North. The reason probably,
for reading it was that when we reached Omaha, the news came that trouble was
alreading brewing, and several States were threatening to secede from the
Union. Its reading made considerable impression upon the people. A good many
had never heard of it before, and quite a number were struck with the
remarkable character of the prophecy. It might have been expected, naturally
speaking and looking at it as men naturally do, that the reading of such a
revelation, at such a time, when the crisis was approaching, would have had the
effect to direct men's attention to it, and they would be led to investigate
its truth and the doctrines of the Church
and the foundation we had for our belief. But if there were any
converted in that audience I am not aware of it. Good seed was sown, but we did
not remain to see what effect it produced. The revelation being so remarkable,
and the events then transpiring being so corroborative of its truth, one might
naturally think, as there were present on that occasion the leading and
thinking portion of that community, that a great number would have been
impressed with the probability of its truth, and would have investigated and
joined the Church. You doubtless remember it was for a good while doubtful
whether the rebellion should commence at South Carolina or not. I was in
England at the time, and was engaged in publishing the Millennial Star,
and took a great deal of notice of the American papers, and I well remember
that to all human appearances it seemed for a while as though the trouble would
break out at Fort Pickens, Florida. But the word of God had been spoken
concerning that event, and consequently it had to be fulfilled as predicted,
and the war did commence at South Carolina. It was fulfilled, as you all know,
to the very letter, Fort Sumter being the place where the rebellion broke out.
Now,
I allude to that, in connection with this subject, to show you that not only is
the world mistaken in its views respecting the fulfillment of the predictions
of the prophets, but even Latter-day Saints have doubtless, in many instances,
entertained erroneous views respecting the fulfillment of revelation and
prophecies of the Bible. I have no doubt there are many here to-night, who have
had some experience in this, and can look back at times in their own lives,
when they have thought: "Surely when these things which the prophets have
foretold are brought to pass, the people will be convinced. My friends who now
ridicule me will then be convinced, and they will be forced to confess that I
did right in embracing the Gospel."
No
doubt there are some in this audience to-night who have had these ideas, and
certainly there are good reasons for entertaining them. But experience has
taught us that, while there may be a few who, when they have seen the
predictions fulfilled, have acknowledged that our course is right, in the
majority of cases throughout the earth where the Gospel has been preached, the
fulfillment of the predictions of the prophets has not had the effect to
convince the people of the truth of the ministry God has given unto us. (JOD
21:265-66)
July 3, 1881:
Although
the Prophet Joseph Smith, during his lifetime was brought upwards of forty
times before tribunals, upon one pretext or another, in every instance when he
hall a fair trial he was acquitted none of the accusations were ever
substantiated against him. And when at last he surrendered himself, after
receiving the pledge of the governor of the State that he should be
protected—he having pledged his own honor, and the honor of the State to that
effect—those who were his persecutors, who claimed to have grounds of charge
against him, were well aware that the treason of which they accused him, could
not be sustained; and because of this they said, "he is likely to be
acquitted again and escape us; but if the law cannot reach him, powder and ball
can." With blackened faces, banded together and led by a preacher, they
made an attack upon the jail, and the few men left there to take charge of it,
fired upon them with blank cartridges to make a show of resistance in order to
cover up the bloody deed, as one done without their connivance.
The
last time the Prophet addressed the people he predicted that peace should he
taken from the earth, and that terrible calamities would come upon its
inhabitants, and particularly upon our own nation. He predicted what the
results would be of the spirit of mobocracy which then raged, and which had
caused our expulsion from our homes, if
allowed to prevail. Already, the prediction had been recorded by him, twelve
years previous to his death, that there would be a rebel lion break out in
South Carolina, and a fratricidal war commence between the South and the North.
The revelation upon this subject had been written; it had been published. It
was well known to the great bulk of the Latter-day Saints years previous to
this. I, when quite a child heard it, and looked for its fulfilment until it
came to pass. And this was the case with the body of the people who were
familiar with the predictions which had been uttered by the Prophet Joseph
Smith.
If
the voice of this man could have been heard and his warnings listened to, the
evils which have fallen upon, our nation might have been averted. To many,
doubtless, such a statement as this may seem presumptuous, because of the views.
they entertain respecting this Prophet. But whether it be admitted that he is a
Prophet or not, it can, not be denied by any one who is familiar with the tone
of his teachings, with the character of his expostulations and warnings, with
the manner in which he protested against the spirit of mobocracy, it cannot, I
say, be denied by any of these, that if his counsels had been followed, many of
the evils which have afflicted the nation might have been averted. (JOD 22:135)
November 20, 1881:
"And
it shall come to pass, among the wicked, that every man that will not take his
sword against his neighbor, must needs flee unto Zion for safety. And there
shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the
only people that shall not be at war one with another."
This
revelation was given on the 7th of March 1831. We have already beheld and are
now beholding its fulfilment: the righteous are being gathered and they are
coming with songs of everlasting joy: and this was given before there was a
gathering place, and only eleven months after the Church was organized. And it
is a remarkable fact that to-day—I do not say it out of any improper
feeling—our hands as a people, by a singular providence, are free from the
blood of our fellow-men. We were driven out of this land. Our enemies were not
content to let us remain in the States, on the land that we had purchased, they
would not permit us to occupy the homes we had built, but compelled us to
leave, and we came to the Rocky Mountains. And when the civil war broke out
President Lincoln sent a communication to Governor Young, asking him if he
could send troops to guard the continental highway and preserve it from the
attacks of Indians. He responded by sending out companies of cavalry. They
spent the time in guarding the mail route against the indians, and thus, as I
have said, our hands to-day as a people, are free from the blood of our
fellow-citizens by this singular providence, through the acts of our enemies.
Had we remained in the State of Illinois, or in Missouri, we should have been
compelled—unless we had chosen to occupy a very anomalous position—to have
taken sides in this fratricidal war, a war which Joseph Smith in the year 1832,
predicted would take place. The revelation was printed in 1850—though known to
the church long before—stating that the war should commence between the north
and south, at South Carolina. I suppose there is not a boy who has been brought
up in this community who did not know of the revelation years before it was
published, and, still longer, before it was fulfilled. I know I was taught
concerning this revelation, when a boy, and I knew the time would come when
there would be a bloody war between the north and south and that it would
commence in South Carolina. Did it
commence there? Yes. Joseph Smith predicted it 28 years before it occurred. And
in the manner to which I have alluded, we were driven out and occupied a
position where, though we did not go to the war, our loyalty to the Union could
not be questioned, for we responded to every call that was made upon us. Though
we deplored the war, and did all we could by our preaching, counsels and
warnings to avert it, we were true to our obligations; and yet at the same time
—though we have men among us who took part in the war—as a people our hands are
clean from the blood of our fellow-men. Our Church has not been divided into a
church north and a church south. It is a church that belongs to the whole
people of the north and of the south, and there are no sectional heart-burnings
in our midst. God in his providence had made this a place of refuge from the
north and from the south. They can come here without heart-burnings and without
prejudice; no civil broils, no disunion; they have nothing to remember or
forget connected with us. It is a church that is adapted to all. The black man
is welcome, and he is entitled to the rites of the Gospel, though the Lord has
shown that to his race the Priesthood is forbidden. The red man, and the yellow
man and every man of every race and of every kindred and of every tongue, has a
light in this Church and will be received into it and have place in it, just as
sure as God has spoken. And we shall be preserved from future broils and
disunion when they break out; we shall stand in places where we can maintain
our loyalty and our truthfulness and our honor, and at the same time not
interfere with the rights of any human being.
I
have talked longer than I intended to. It is probably the last opportunity I
will have of addressing you for some little time. I expect to leave for
Washington before another Sunday comes. I desire earnestly in my heart that I
may have your faith and prayers. I have felt greatly strengthened by the knowledge
that I have had your faith, your confidence, and your prayers, and I go out now
hoping I shall still have these, for they are more valuable to me than anything
else. I should go weak indeed if I did not have the faith and prayers and
confidence of my brethren and sisters. I do not believe there is another
representative in the world, it may be said—and certainly not in our nation—who
has more cause for thanksgiving in this respect than I have. I know I am backed
and sustained by my entire constituency; I know I have their love and
affection; I know their hearts go with me, and their feelings and affections
are always towards me; I know in almost every household prayers are offered in
my behalf; it gives me strength; and when I am assailed and when our people are
assailed and our Territory, it gives me strength to know we are united, and
that when I am in Washington, though I may be alone—which I am in one sense of
the word—I have an influence and a power attending me, in consequence of this,
that others do not have. God has preserved us, and he will preserve us and
overrule evil for good. I feel hopeful and cheerful: this is a blessing God has
given unto me. In the midst of the darkest hours I have always felt exceedingly
cheerful: fear has been taken away from me. (JOD 23:104-5)
John Taylor
October 25, 1863:
These
things ought to be a warning to us. We comfort our souls some times on the
fulfillment of the prophesies of God. We say "Mormonism" must be true
because Joseph Smith prophesied thus and so concerning a division, of this
nation, and that the calamities which are now causing it to mourn should
commence in South Carolina. That is true, he did prophecy that, and did
foretell the events that have since transpired, and did tell where the
commencement of those difficulties should originate. Well, if this is true, are
not other things true. If it is true that the Lord has revealed a certain
amount of truth in relation to these matters, is it not as true that He has
revealed other truths in which we are as individuals interested; and if is is
true that God has commenced to deal with other nations as He is doing with this
until war and desolation shall spread through the earth, it is just as true
that we ought to be very careful what we are doing to secure the favor of God
and to fulfill our destiny upon the earth in a manner which Will meet his
designs. The Lord has commenced to accomplish His purposes, and to build up His
kingdom, and He will do it, for His designs cannot be thwarted; will perform
His great decrees whether all of us, or part of us, or none of us engage in the
work—or are faithful in it or not; that to Him is a matter of very little
consequence; He has a certain work to accomplish, and that work will be
accomplished. (JOD 10:278)
Brigham Young
August 31, 1862:
In
a correspondence between Mr. Greeley, of New York, and the President, Mr.
Lincoln declared it was his intention to do everything in his power that he
thought would save the Union. This was very just and correct in him, but has
his course invariably tended to save the Union? Time will show. There is no man
can see, unless he sees by the gift and power of revelation, that every move
that has been made by the Government has been made to fulfil the sayings of
Joseph Smith the Prophet, and all earth and hell cannot help it. The wedge to
divide the Union was entered in South Carolina, and all the power of the
Government could not prevent it. The Lord spoke, to Joseph Smith, on the 25th
day of December, 1832, 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. The days will come that war will be poured out upon all nations,
beginning at that 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 thus war shall be poured out upon all nations," &c. The wickedness
of the wicked is onward and downward, while the righteousness of the righteous
is onward and upward. Light and darkness, or in other words, right and wrong
are with us, and men choose darkness rather than light, wrong rather than
right. This is their condemnation. They despise the truth and those who will
declare it. (JOD 9:367)
Further Reading on D&C 87: