The Book of Mormon prophecies
were uttered centuries before the events occurred, and the events that
fulfilled the prophecies were of such a character that no human foresight or
judgment “unaided by divine inspiration or revelation could have foretold them.”
Let us begin by citing the
following prophecy uttered between 600 and 592 B.C.:
“Nevertheless, thou beholdest
that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up
by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is
choice above all other lands.” (I Nephi 13:30.)
“The Lord God will raise up a
mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land.” (I
Nephi 22:7.)
This was spoken between 588 and
570 B.C.
The Nephite prophet in vision,
saw by an excellent spirit that the United States would be founded by the
Almighty and become a mighty nation of acknowledged preeminence in the world.
The Lord has not in modern times
forgotten the prophecies of His servants, nor His own promises concerning this
mighty nation. True to its inspired destiny the mission our unconquerable republic
is battling mightily to preserve “government of the people, by the people, for
the people.”
. . .
The Nephite prophet, speaking
some time between 559 and 545 B.C. said:
“For after the book of which I
have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up
against unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which
are written.” (II Nephi 30:3.)
Since the organization of the
Church in 1830, countless thousands have, with joy and gladness of heart,
obeyed the Gospel; they have sincerely and earnestly avowed a belief in the
divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon and accepted it as one of the
authoritative guides in faith and doctrine.
“And it shall come to pass that
the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ.” (II Nephi
30:7.)
This prophecy was uttered six
hundred years before the birth of the Savior.
It is estimated by careful
statisticians that upwards of 224,000 Jews during the nineteenth century
entered the Christian churches of Europe and America.
. . .
It has been the ardent hope and
faith of the prophets of God that the Jews, not only by degrees, but as a
nation, shall accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Redeemer.
We are justified in laying stress
upon the fact that what the prophets foretold has to the present time been
fulfilled.
“And the blood of the saints
shall cry from the ground against them.” (II Nephi 28:10. This was said between
B.C. 559 and 545.)
From the day that the blood of
righteous Abel was shed, many men and women who have thought differently from
their neighbors concerning religious belief have had to lay down their lives as
proof of the sincerity of their convictions.
The innocent blood of the Prophet
Joseph Smith, and that of his brother, Hyrum Smith, testifies to the
fulfillment of this prophecy. They sealed their testimony with their blood.
In the path of expulsion from
homes, milestones changed into headstones. The great souls who were victims of
unlawful and cruel deeds died for the word of God. They could not bend their
conscience. Their blood cries from the ground up to heaven “through every blue
gate of the sky.” Yes, this prophecy has been fulfilled in blood and tears.
. . .
“And because my words shall hiss
forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible,
and there cannot be any more Bible.” (II Nephi 29:3. Between B.C. 559 and 545.)
Every missionary can bear
testimony to the fulfillment of this prophecy made upwards of five centuries
before Christ. To those who opposed the Book of Mormon it was the last word.
But the claims of the Book of Mormon cannot be dismissed so lightly. (Charles
A. Callis, “Book of Mormon Prophecies Fulfilled,” in Fundamentals of Religion:
A Series of Radio Addresses [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1945], 102-103,
107, 108-10)
Further Reading:
