On p. 191 of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? (5th ed.; Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1987, 2008), the Tanners, when addressing D&C 87, argue that
Heber C. Kimball, a member of
the First Presidency, in a sermon delivered April 14, 1861, predicted that the
Civil War would destroy the nation:
In this country the North and
the South will exert themselves against each other, and ere long the whole face
of the United States will be in commotion, fighting one against another, and
they will destroy their nationality. (Journal of Discourses, vol.
9, p. 55)
This is not the case. First, let
us quote a bit more of Kimball’s sermon:
There
are many good books for you to read, and that are full of good instruction.
Here are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants. You
will see many revelations in the last named book that are already fulfilled,
and there are others that are still in the future. The Almighty through his
Prophets foretold that the nation would make war upon this people, and that he
would come out of his hiding place, and pour out his judgments upon those that
rebel against him, and who persecuted his people, and set themselves against
his house. Then it shall go forth like a mighty whirlwind upon the face of the
whole earth.
In
this country the North and the South will exert themselves against each other,
and ere long the whole face of the United States will be in commotion, fighting
one against another, and they will destroy their nationality. They have never
done anything for this people, and I don't believe they ever will. I have never
prayed for the destruction of this Government, but I know that dissolution,
sorrow, weeping, and distress are in store for the inhabitants of the United
States, because of their conduct towards the people of God. Then the judgments
will go forth to the nations of the earth. I have an understanding of these
things, and I sincerely hope that you comprehend as clearly as I do. If you do,
you will strive to prepare for those things that are Coming upon the earth in
these last days.
I
would like you all to become like a vine, or like unto a tree, every limb,
branch, twig, fibre, and leaf to be connected one with the other.
Now,
in regard to the Spirit of prophecy, I will say that we may all prophesy, if we
will wait till we are sure we are right. Brethren; God bless you with the gifts
of the Spirit, and may peace be with you all, and may the blessingsof heaven
rest upon these mountains and valleys for the benefit of the faithful Saints.
When
I look around, I see many things that I do not like; I do not like to think of
circumstances that have taken place within the last few days. I do not like the
idea of having thieves in our midst, but we certainly have them, and I pray God
Almighty to root them out of the earth, and to let them go into forgetfulness,
and let all Israel say Amen. (The congregation responded Amen.) (JOD 9:54-55)
Heber’s sermon was given only two
dates after the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War. HE is speaking of the promised
fulfillment of prophecies, which would include some of the prophecies in
D&C 87 (the so-called Civil War Prophecy). However, the use of “nationality”
does not mean that the nation would be destroyed by the Civil War. This is
how Webster’s
1828 Dictionary defines the term:
National character; also, the quality of being
national, or strongly attached to ones own nation.
Notice the definitions of “the
quality of being national” and “strongly attached to one’s own nation.” With
the outbreak of the Civil War just two days prior, Heber was correct: it would result
in the destruction of the attachment the southern states would have to their own
nation, not just with their then-future defeat in 1865, but even during
reconstruction. Heber was correct, and the Tanners are misreading him.
Heber cannot be talking about the
dissolution of the US, as he would have been more than aware of Joseph
Smith’s teachings of the indissolubility of the US Constitution.
Further Reading: