Vol. 6, No. 9, 1989

Articles on Mormonism

David Henke

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves," (Matthew 7:15).

You will never meet anyone who will say, "I am a false prophet, follow me." He will present himself as a true prophet, and he will appear to be true. But, you must search deeper and examine his "fruit," that is, his prophecies and teachings. The best method of discerning the truth is by a critical examination, because the truth will stand the strongest test, but error will be exposed.

This thought was expressed by Joseph Fielding Smith in Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, page 188. He said, "Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.

"If Joseph Smith was a deceiver, who willfully attempted to mislead the people, then he should be refuted, and his doctrines shown to be false, for the doctrines of an impostor cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth. If his claims and declarations were built upon fraud and deceit, there would appear many errors and contradictions, which would be easy to detect. The doctrines of false teachers will not stand the test when tried buy the accepted standards of measurement, the scriptures."

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world," (1 John 4:1).

Have These Prophecies Come To Pass?

Doctrine and Covenants 84:1-5, 31: The prophecy, given Sept. 1832, says a temple would be built on the temple lot in Jackson County, Missouri "in this generation." A century and a half has passed and yet no temple has been built. Compare the prophecy with comments about it in these Journal of Discourses volumes; Vol. 10, page 344; Vol. 11, page 269; Vol. 13, page 138 and 362; and Vol. 17, page 111.

Doctrine and Covenants 87:1-6: This prophecy was given Christmas Day, 1832, and proclaimed that a civil war would break out between the Northern and Southern states and that war would be "poured out upon all nations." However, war was not poured out upon all nations. Six months prior to this prophecy President Andrew Jackson expected hostilities to break out over South Carolina's rejection of a tariff act by Congress. The President even put the army on alert. A good history book will establish the facts.

Doctrine and Covenants 97:19: The prophecy says that "Zion cannot fall, neither be moved out of her place...." But, Zion was moved from Jackson County, Missouri. D&C 101:17-21 says "...there is none other place appointed than that which I have appointed;..." Salt Lake City cannot be Zion.

Doctrine and Covenants 114:1: This prophecy, given in 1838 by Joseph Smith, says that David W. Patten, one of the twelve apostles, was to perform a mission in the Spring of 1839. However, the History of the Church, Vol. 3, Page 175, tell us that David W. Patten died in October of 1838! His mission could not be performed in the spirit world, as some Mormons say, because the prophecy states that he will accompany the eleven other apostles "...into all the world."

Doctrine and Covenants 117:12: The prophecy says that the name of Oliver Granger would be held "in sacred remem brance from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord." But, who is Oliver Granger? Why have most Mormons never heard of him?

Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, page 219: Heber C. Kimball said on September 6, 1856, that, "The Church and kingdom to which we belong will become the kingdom of our God and his Christ, and brother Brigham Young will become President of the United States... and I am Vice-President, and brother Wells is the Secretary of the Interior -- yes, and of all the armies in the flesh... You may think I am joking; but I am perfectly willing that brother Long should write every word of it; for I can see it just as naturally as I can see the earth and the productions thereof."

History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 182: Joseph Smith said in 1835, "...it was the will of God that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh -- even fifty-six years should wind up the scene." Jesus did not come in 1891!

"IF THE THING FOLLOW NOT, NOR COME TO PASS, THAT IS THE THING WHICH THE LORD HATH NOT SPOKEN." (Deut. 18:20-21).