The following is taken from:
Isaac
Decker, Statement, September 21, 1870, MS 4187, Church History Library:
S. L. City, Sep. 21,
1870.
^Destruction of the
Gentiles.^
Statement made by Isaac Decker.
In 1836, Soon after the dedication of the Kirtland Temple,
and while the brethren were holding meetings from house to house, breaking
bread, consecrating and drinking wine and prophesying, I attended one of the
meetings where Jos. Smith; Martin Harris and John Smith were present. Martin
said there would not be a living Gentile on the earth in ^four^ 4 years.
Joseph reproved him and said, "Bro. Martin you are too fast; after
messages are sent with lightning speed from the east to the west sea and an
iron track from one side of the world to the other, with iron carriages drawn
by iron horses snorting fire & smoke, with less speed than the messages
were carried, then, it may do to talk about the time for the destruction of the
Gentiles. But before that takes place they will make wonderful improvements in machinery
of every kind, especially implements of husbandry for the working of the land
& raising grain, saving a great deal of labor to the saints in building up
the kingdom. The Lord will inspire the Gentiles to do this, but they will not acknowledge
his hand in it, nor give him the glory, but will take the glory to themselves,
and when their destruction comes the wicked will slay the wicked; the saints
will not destroy the Gentiles, they will be divided among themselves and
destroy one another. But the time is with the Lord. The benefits of all their
ingenuity & inventions will be the means of advancing the building up of
Zion with greater speed. The Lord will have the glory."
(signed) Isaac Decker
