The following comes from George Q. Cannon, "Enduring to the End," October 5, 1890, in Collected Discourses, 2:120-22. Here, Cannon did not interpret Joseph’s words in D&C 130:15 to be a prophecy that the Second Coming would take place in 1890/91 (note that this sermon is from October 1890!):
Before I sit down there is one subject that I have felt I
wanted to speak about. I think it of some importance to us as Latter-day
Saints. It was referred to yesterday by two or three of the brethren. It is in
relation to the events of 1891, and connected with the coming of the Lord. It
was intimated by Brother Roberts that some people thought that such an event
might perhaps happen, and he was anxious that the Saints should not be
disappointed if nothing did occur during that year that would fulfil
expectation, because a great many anticipations have been indulged in connected
with that year, and I believe there has been altogether too much agitation upon
this subject. I have seen a great many times in our history when sanguine men
have attached a great deal of importance to certain dates. I remember when 1888
was coming in, I heard on all sides that there was something remarkable
connected with that year. I fully endorse what Elder Thatcher said yesterday
upon this point—that 1890 has been as important a year as we have ever
witnessed. And I believe it will be so with every year. I do not think it is
wise for us to fix our minds too much upon any year as bringing to pass some
very wonderful things. Perhaps it will
be so. I do not question that; for every year comes to us freighted with great
and wonderful changes. It is not one year alone; but all the years between us
and the coming of our Lord will be big with events. They will be crowded with
stupendous occurrences. God has thus spoken. Judgments will be poured out upon
the inhabitants of the earth, and will increase until the Lord Himself shall
come.
I took occasion to have the sermon that Brother Joseph
preached hunted up, and I will read a little from it to show you what he said
upon this very subject, and to show you also that we need not expect that 1891
will bring any such thing as the coming of the Lord. It was said yesterday that
no man knoweth the day nor the hour. This is true. But I will tell you what men
can know. They can know that such and such a time is not the time. Men can
prophesy that 1891 is not the year. Although they cannot tell you the day nor
the hour, they can tell you that He will not come this year or next year,
according to the words of God already given. There are several revelations
which speak plainly upon this point, allusion to some of which was made
yesterday by the brethren who spoke. There are a great many events to take
place that have not yet occurred; and the Savior will not come until they do
take place. Be assured of this, and be not concerned in your minds and agitated
on these matters, because it is easy to understand that there are many things
yet to be fulfilled before that grand and glorious event will come. Yet, as he
has told us, He will come as a thief in the night. He will come when the
inhabitants of the earth are unprepared for him.
Joseph said:
I was once praying earnestly upon this subject [that is,
concerning the coming of the Son of Man] and a voice said unto me, "My
son, if thou livest until thou are 85 years of age, thou shalt see the face of
the Son of Man."
This was what the voice said to Joseph:
If thou livest until thou are 85 years of age thou shalt see
the face of the Son of Man.
He continues:
I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this, and I
took the liberty of concluding that if I did live to that time He would make
His appearance. But I do not say whether He will make His appearance, or I
shall go where He is. I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, and let it be
written, the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of heaven till I am 85
years old.
Now, at the time Joseph made this prophecy, Miller, of the
Millerites, was making predictions about the coming of the Son of Man—about the
years 1842-34. In these years, as you who have been kept informed will doubtless
know, there was great excitement throughout the United States about the coming
of the Son of Man, and Joseph prophesied that He would not come for the next
forty years.
He goes on and says:
The coming of the Son of Man never will be, never can be,
till the judgments spoken of for this hour are poured out, which judgments are
commenced. It is not the design of the Almighty to come upon the earth and
crush it and grind it to powder; but He will reveal it to His servants, the
Prophets. Judah must return. Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the Temple, and
water come out from under the Temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed.
It will take some time to build the walls of the city and Temple, etc., and all
this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance. There will be
wars and rumor of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath,
and the sun turned into darkness, and the moon to blood; earthquakes in divers
places, the seas heaving themselves beyond their bounds. Then will appear the
grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world say? They will
say it is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of Man will come at the sign of
the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning coming
out of the east.
Now, the Prophet explains this in connection with his
statement as to what the voice had said to him. He did not assert that Jesus
would come in the clouds of heaven even if he lived to be eighty-five; but he
was told that he should see Him, and he qualified it, so that there need be no
misapprehension upon this subject.
I might read to you many revelations in this Book of Doctrine
and Covenants (having the book in his hand) upon the same subject, in which the
Lord plainly says that certain things shall take place.
And again, verily I say unto you that the Son of Man cometh
not in the form of a woman, neither of a man traveling on the earth. Wherefore
be not deceived, but continue in steadfastness, looking forth for the heavens
to be shaken and the earth to tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man, and
for the valleys to be exalted, and for the mountains to be made low, and for
the rough places to become smooth; and all this when the angel shall sound his
trumpet. But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish
in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose; Zion shall
flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled
unto the place which I have appointed.
These are the words of God concerning the coming of the Son
of Man. These revelations give unto us with great clearness the signs that
shall precede His coming. Therefore, do not let us get unsettled in our minds.
I feel it important that this Conference should not separate without having it
clearly stated to you that you need not look for the coming of the Son of Man
either this year or next. Though we cannot prophesy the day or the hour, we can
prophesy some things concerning His coming, that is, that will take place
before His coming. God has not left us in doubt upon these points. If you have
time, read the 29th section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and the 45th
section, and the 88th section. Therefore, Latter-day Saints, go ahead and
perform your duties carefully, consistently, and with a determination to do
that which God requires at your hands. Do not look for some great cataclysm to
occur, which will show all the world that this is the Kingdom of God. Perhaps
such a thing will occur; but I will tell you what I have observed during my
life—that God works in natural ways. His purposes come around seemingly
perfectly natural—so natural that the world cannot see the hand of God in them.
It requires faith and the Spirit of God to show these things.
Further
Reading:
Did Joseph Smith Predict that the Second Coming would happen in 1890/91?
