By Sandra Tanner
[click prophecies to view their source]
1. Saints to gather in Independence, Missouri;
build a temple
Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) 84
No such temple was ever built, and the LDS Church no longer teaches that the gathering will occur.
- Changing World of Mormonism, p. 420
- Mormon Claims Answered, p. 58
- Mormonism—Shadow or Reality? p. 192.
2. Civil War prophecy
D&C 87
England and other nations did not join in the U.S. Civil War, as prophesied.
- Changing World of Mormonism, p. 424
- Mormon Claims Answered, p. 59
- Mormonism—Shadow or Reality? pp. 190-191, 195H
3. Zion (Independence, Missouri) can not fall
D&C 97:19
The Mormons were driven out of Missouri.
4. Mormon army to redeem Zion (Independence, Missouri)
D&C 103
This mission was unsuccessful. God seems unsure about how large an army to raise (verses 30-34).
- Mormonism—Shadow or Reality? pp. 193-194.
5. United Order
D&C 104
Commanded as an everlasting order (verse 1); dissolved and reorganized (verses 48 and 53).
6. Riches of Salem to pay church debt
D&C 111
No riches were found and debts were not paid.
7. Apostle Patten to go on a mission in Spring 1839
D&C 114
Patten was shot in October 1838. Wouldn’t God have known he was going to die before the next spring?
8. New gathering place and temple in Far West, Missouri
D&C 115
LDS were driven out and never built a temple.
9. Build a temple in Nauvoo and a house for the Smiths
D&C 124
The temple and house were not completed.
10. Three grand keys to test messengers
D&C 129
There is no known reference where any LDS Church leader ever used this test. Does God give meaningless revelations?
11. Christ to return in 1890-1891 period
D&C 130:14-15
12. U.S. government must redress wrongs or be destroyed
History of the Church, vol. 5, p. 394;
vol. 6, p. 116;
Millennial Star, vol. 22, p. 455
- Mormonism—Shadow or Reality? p. 192
More information on Smith’s false prophecies can be found at:
https://mit.irr.org/category/prophecy
Reference Sources:
- Doctrine and Covenants, (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
- Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980).
- Online version: The Changing World of Mormonism
- PDF version: The Changing World of Mormonism
- Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Mormonism—Shadow or Reality? (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 5th ed., 1987, reformatted, 2008).
- Marvin W. Cowan, Mormon Claims Answered, (Salt Lake City: Utah Christian Publications, 1997).
- Online version: Mormon Claims Answered
- PDF version: Mormon Claims Answered
- Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Deseret Book, 1975).
- Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). (Also available online at BYU Library, Digital Collections)