“Prophecy preceeded conflict by 28 years,” Church News, June 19, 1993
On Christmas day in 1832, Joseph
Smith received a revelation prophesying the war between the Northern States and
the Southern States. The prophecy was made nearly three decades before the
first shots were fired in the Civil War.
In Jesus the Christ, Elder James
E. Talmage wrote concerning the prophecy: "Every student of United States
history is acquainted with the facts establishing a complete fulfillment of
this astounding prophecy. In 1861, more than 28 years after the foregoing
[Section 87T was recorded, and ten years after its publication in England, the
Civil War broke out, beginning in South Carolina. The ghastly records of that
fraticidal strife sadly support the prediction concerning the death and misery
of many souls' (D&C 87:1), though this constituted but a partial
fulfillment. It is known that slaves deserted the South and were marshaled in
the armies of the North, and that the Confederate States solicited aid of Great
Britain. (See verses 3-4.) While no open alliance between the Southern States
and the English government was effected, British influence gave indirect
assistance and substantial encouragement to the South. . . ."A careful
study of the Revelation and Prophecy on War, given, as stated, through the Prophet
Joseph Smith, December 25, 1832, makes plain that the conflict between North
and South in America was to be, as now we know it to have been, but the
beginning of a new era of strife and bloodshed. The Lord's words were definite
in predicting wars beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina'; and declared
further: `And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations,
beginning at this place.' (D&C 87:2.) The great World War, 1914-18,
embroiled, directly or indirectly, every nation of the earth. . . .
"The revelation cited, as
given through Joseph Smith, contained other predictions, some of which are yet
awaiting fulfillment. The evidence presented is sufficient to prove that Joseph
Smith is prominent among men by reason of his instrumentality in fulfilling
prophecies uttered by the Lord's representatives in former times, and that his
own place as a prophet is abundantly vindicated."
Further Reading:
Resources
on Joseph Smith's Prophecies
