In his journal for April 20, 1874, David Osborn recorded his reminiscence of Joseph Smith’s teachings concerning seeing Jesus if he were to live to 85 years of age (cf. D&C 130:15):
In one of his discourses at
Nauvoo he said at one time he inquired of the Lord how long or how many years
it would be till He would come? He said the answer he received was this:
"My servant, Joseph, if you live to be eighty five years old, you shall
see my face." In reading his history I find that at the dedication of the
Temple at Kirtland, which was in the year 1835, he prophesied the 56 years more
would bring the winding up scene of this generation. Which will bring this
important event to take place in the year '90 or '91. (David Osborn, Journal,
April 20, 1874, in Personal Journal of David Osborn, c. 1964, [36], Church
History Library, MS 23445, copy in my possession)
Did Osborn believe that the Second Coming (Parousia)
would occur in 1890/91? It appears that his understanding of Joseph Smith’s
teachings and the “winding up scene of this generation” was not the Second
Coming. For example, on April 3, 1891(!) we read the following:
Again I have thought if I had my
life to live over again I could improve in another direction. Our errand or
chief purpose in coming to this world, was to get a tabernacle of flesh and
also to raise up a posterity. Well, I raised up a few children from Cynthia, my
first wife, and have never regretted it, but when I lost her why did I not get
a wife that was likely to bring me a few more? A question which I can not
answer to my own satisfaction. So it seems that I have failed in improving on
the talents with which I have been entrusted, and as it is only our privilege
to pass through this life but one time, it is too late to make amends. But it
may be that provisions may be made to receive wives and increase in the
Millennium by proxy. I will wait and see for I did hear Joseph say that our
future Kingdom or exaltation depended to a certain extent on the number of our
posterity. (David Osborn, Journal, April 3, 1891, in Personal Journal of David
Osborn, c. 1964, [92])
Here, Osborn speaks of “the Millennium” being a then-future
event as of April 1891, and says that he will “wait and see” concerning proxy provision
for wives and posterity.
Earlier, in an entry for November 20, 1880, Osborn wrote the
following:
I have received no reply to a
very lengthy letter I addressed to S. B. Harrah, my cousin, in Indiana. In this
letter I again bore my humble testimony concerning the Latterday work,
appealing to the scriptures in proof of the second coming of the Savior and the
great events to precede it. (David Osborn, Journal, November 20, 1880, in Personal
Journal of David Osborn, c. 1964, [57])
What is odd is that he would appeal to Scripture to teach
about the truth of the Second Coming, but not make reference to the fact that
Jesus would return in ~10 years time (unless Osborn did not believe Joseph
Smith was teaching the Parousia would take place in 1890/91).
Elsewhere, during a High Priest’s theological class study
held December 17, 1883, there is a discussion of the Second Coming, but no
reference to it taking place in ~7-8 years time:
Last fall we had 6 or 7 Elders
more ordained into the High Priests Quorum by our President Br. Roskelly. We
were counseled by him to change the order of our meetings into a Theological
Class, taking up at each meeting a certain subject or principle of the Gospel
to investigate. We have spoken on the following subjects: Faith Repentence and
Baptism, The Gift and Office of the Holy Spirit, The Gathering of the House of
Israel, The Second Coming of the Savior with all His Saints, The Restitution of
all Things Spoken by the Ancient Prophets. I am now engaged in getting the
Genealogy of the High Priests in our ward for our President to put on the
record of the Cache Valley Stake of Zion. I have written and sent off several
letters inquiring for the names and Genealogy of my kindred but get no answer.
I have not visited my children at Three Mile or Bear Lake Valley for the past
season, it seems a long time since we were together. (David Osborn, Journal, December
17, 1883, in Personal Journal of David Osborn, c. 1964, [71])
It appears that Osborn did not interpret Joseph Smith as
teaching that the Second Coming/Parousia would take place in 1890/91.
Further Reading:
Resources
on Joseph Smith’s Prophecies (e.g., Did
Joseph Smith Predict that the Second Coming would happen in 1890/91?)
