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Mormonism
and
Prophesy
Consider prophesies made by Mormon leaders. God indicates that fulfilled prophesy is one of the tests as to whether those prophesying are speaking for God or not. If the prophesy does not come true, then the one making the prophesy is not speaking for God.
Deuteronomy 18:22 "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
1 John instructs us that there are false prophets in the world, and to test any prophecy claiming to be from God.
1 John 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
What was the punishment in the Old Testament for someone found guilty of making false prophesies?
Deuteronomy 18:20 "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die."
Deuteronomy 13:5 "That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you."
These verses show that the primary test God has established to determine whether or not a prophet is speaking for God is whether the prophesy comes to pass. If it doesn't happen, it is a failed prophesy and the prophet is clearly not speaking for God. The determination that a prophet is false does not change based upon one’s sincerity or dedication. It also doesn't change depending on whether one decides to “Bear their testimony” as Mormons suggest. Deuteronomy 18:20 also shows that in the Old Testament God commanded that any person who makes a false prophesy be put to death. This is because a false prophet draws people away from God, not toward Him. A very serious offense to God. As shown earlier, God is jealous for us because he has created us and wants the best for us. Being drawn away from God takes us away from His best for us.
So, does Joseph Smith Jr. claim to be a prophet of God and if so, do his prophesies prove him to speak for God or not?
Joseph Smith: Prophet to Our Generation Official LDS page
www.lds.org/general-conference/1981/10/joseph-smith-prophet-to-our-generation?lang=eng
Failed Prophesy - The following are two of the failed prophesies.
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The United States Government to be overthrown in a few years
“I prophecy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there will not be so much as a potsherd left for their wickedness in permitting the murder of men, women and children, and the wholesale plunder and extermination of thousands of her citizens to go unpunished.”
History of the Church, Vol. 5, page 394
https://byustudies.byu.edu/history-of-the-church
Summary of Vol.5 in the introduction references the year 1842
https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx
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The Coming of the Lord
“President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called, because God had commanded it; and it was made known to him by vision and by the Holy Spirit. . . . it was the will of God that they should be ordained to the ministry and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh - even fifty six years should wind up the scene.”
History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 182
https://byustudies.byu.edu/history-of-the-church
Summary of Vol.2 in the introduction references the year 1837
https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx
Sites showing failed prophesies
https://carm.org/false-prophecies-of-joseph-smith
http://saintsalive.com/testing-the-prophecies-of-joseph-smith/
http://mit.irr.org/failed-prophecies-of-joseph-smith
www.utlm.org/onlineresources/falseprophecies.htm
Again, I have no criticism of Mormons and their sincerity and dedication. I am concerned about the eternal destination of all persons and any false teachings which would draw us away from God and the true way of salvation He has provided.
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