Criticism of Mormonism/Books/The Changing World of Mormonism/Chapter 14

Chapter 13

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Jerald and Sandra Tanner

Chapter 15

Claims made in Chapter 14: False Prophecy

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
417	Joseph Smith gave many false prophecies.	None of the examples mentioned by the Tanners—or many others raised by other critics—withstand examination. Joseph Smith prophesies	[ATTENTION!]
417	Joseph Smith received a false revelation to go to Canada and sell the Book of Mormon copyright.	History unclear or in error Did Joseph Smith attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright?	David Whitmer, An Address To All Believers In Christ, 1887, pp.30-31 B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, vol. 1, p.165"
418-419	In 1835 Joseph Smith prophesied that the Lord would come in "fifty-six years," or when Joseph was 85 years old.	The author's claim is false: Joseph Smith prophesied the Second Coming to be in 1890	History of the Church 5:336 Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966, p.76 Daily journal of Abraham H. Cannon, October 14, 1886, BYU Library History of the Church 2:188
420-421	Joseph prophesied that a temple in Missouri would be built "in this generation."	Independence temple to be built "in this generation"	Doctrine and Covenants 84:2-5, 31 George A. Smith, Journal of Discourses 10:344 Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses 13:138, 362; 14:275; 17:111, 292 Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966, p.74"
424	Joseph's "Civil War prophecy" could have been deduced from the news at the time.	The author's claim is false: No one else was predicting a civil war, and contemporary opinion ridiculed the idea as soon as the Mormons began to spread it. Civil War prophecy Attitude of Saints to Civil War prophecy	The Evening and the Morning Star, vol. 1, issue 8