FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Question: Did Joseph Smith give a false prophecy by claiming that queens would pay respect to the Relief Society within ten years?
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This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Criticism
- A record exists of Joseph prophesying that queens would pay their respects to the Relief Society within ten years of its formation. That no queens did so is held up as a sign of false prophecy.
Source(s) of the criticism
- Richard Abanes, One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church (New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 2003), 464, 617 n. 23 ( Index of claims )
- D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power (Signature Books, 1994), 634.
Response
The prophecy
Such a record exists, although critics generally do not cite the entire text. Abanes, One Nation, for example, cites only: "I now prophecy that before ten years shall roll around, the queens of the earth shall come and pay their respects to this Society." Abanes then notes, "No queens have ever fulfilled this prophecy.".
Here is the prophecy in context, with several key phrases highlighted:
- Females, if they are pure and innocent can come into the presence of God, for what is more pleasing to God than innocence; you must be innocent or you cannot come up before God. If we would come before God let us be pure ourselves. The devil has great power-- he will so transform things as to make one gape at those who are doing the will of God-- You need not be teasing men for their deeds, but let the weight of innocence be felt which is more mighty than a millstone hung about the neck. Not war, not jangle, not contradiction, but meekness, love purity, these are the things that should magnify us. Action must be brough[t] to light—iniquity must be purged out—then the vail will be rent and the blessings of heaven will flow down-- they will roll down like the Mississippi river. This Society shall have power to command Queens in their midst-- I now deliver it as a prophecy that before ten years shall roll around, the queens of the earth shall come and pay their respects to this Society-- they shall come with their millions and shall contribute of their abundance for the relief of the poor-- If you will be pure, nothing can hinder.
- After this instruction, you will be responsible for your own sins. It is an honor to save yourselves-- all are responsible to save themselves.[1]
According to Joseph's own words, the prophecy is clearly conditional on the continuing righteousness of the Relief Society.
Fulfillment of the prophecy
There are several schools of thought regarding this prophecy: 1) that it has been fulfilled and 2) that fulfillment has been delayed. We do not take a position on this issue, but present the various arguments here.
Was the prophecy fulfilled?
Was the fulfillment of the prophecy delayed?
If the prophecy remained unfilled, then it would be because the conditions set forth were not met. There is some evidence to support this position.
For example, it is known that Joseph received considerable trouble from his wife, Emma, as head of the Relief Society. Emma would not support plural marriage, and used the Relief Society to attempt to thwart Joseph's teaching of the doctrine. Joseph states, point blank, that "iniquity must be purged out," which implies that it has to be there to begin with? One might ask, "Were there no apostates who were also members of the Relief Society?"
Brigham was not pleased about what the Relief Society leadership had done to oppose Joseph and to oppose plural marriage, and the associated difficulties which the Relief Society and their "witch hunts" for impurity caused. (Joseph spoke to them about this; you can read about the difficulties in Newell and Avery, even if their account is somewhat biased against Joseph.)
Following the death of Joseph Smith, the Relief Society as an organization went on "hiatus." This "hiatus" had a lot to do with that, in historical context. (Note Joseph's line to the sisters: "You need not be teasing men for their deeds, but let the weight of innocence be felt which is more mighty than a millstone hung about the neck."--i.e., quit acting as the witch-hunt committee. He spoke on this more than once; it was an on-going problem, and much of it was driven by Emma.
Conclusion
It is telling that critics omit the qualifier as they try to discredit Joseph.
Endnotes
- [note] Joseph Smith, "Observations Respecting the Priesthood," A Sermon Delivered on 28 April 1842, from the Minutes of the Nauvoo [Illinois] Relief Society, original in LDS Church Archives; reproduced in The Essential Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1995), 162-163. Compare with edited versions of these remarks in Joseph Smith, Jr., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected by Joseph Fielding Smith, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1976), 227. off-site and History of the Church, 4:605–606. Volume 4 link
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- Gilbert W. Scharffs, The Truth about ‘The God Makers’ (Salt Lake City, Utah: Publishers Press, 1989; republished by Bookcraft, 1994), chapter 15. Full text FAIR link ISBN 088494963X. off-site