Mormon Prophets: Last Days Prophecies

The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations received by modern prophets, with revelations to Joseph Smith, first prophet of the restoration, comprising the majority.  Many of these revelations have to do with the revealing of doctrine necessary for the reestablishment of Christ’s primitive church, with its power and authority to function as the Kingdom of God on earth.  Some of these revelations contain prophecies and God’s wisdom for preparing for the events of the “last days” before Christ’s Second Coming.  The last days were ushered in by Joseph Smith’s “First Vision,” which occured in 1820.

The Mormon Health Law

A photo of the Mormon Prophet, Thomas Monson, at the pulpit. The health laws of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are, perhaps, the most noticeable thing about the Church and its members.  Mormons don’t use alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, or recreational drugs (or abuse prescription drugs).  The Lord proscribed the use of these substances, not only because they are unhealthy, but because they are addictive.  In order for one to enjoy the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, a person must keep him- or herself clean, and in order to hear those promptings and respond, one must be free of limiting addictions.  At the opening of the revelation of the “Word of Wisdom,” as the Mormon law of health is called, the Lord said the following:

Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation— (Doctrine and Covenants 89:4, emphasis added).

Since 1820 have there been any conspiring men trying to make a buck by selling us substances that are addictive or harmful?  The cost of the damaging effects of alcohol and tobacco upon people all over the world have been astronomical.  Things have only gotten worse over the years, as selling harmful substances has become bigger and bigger business.

War to Be Poured Out Upon all Nations

We have the Book of Revelation to warn us about the wars of the Last Days.  We have prophecies especially about Armageddon.  But the Doctrine and Covenants, being more contemporary, predicts war globally, beginning in America.  In Section 130 of the Doctrine and Covenants is recorded a revelation received by Joseph Smith in 1843.   At the time he received this revelation, there was no inkling whatsoever that the slave question might lead to war:

I prophesy, in the name of the Lord God, that the commencement of the difficulties which will cause much bloodshed previous to the coming of the Son of Man will be in South Carolina (v 12).

This was an additional revelation to one Joseph received in 1831, which said, in part:

Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land (v 29, Section 38).

Ye hear of wars in foreign lands; but, behold, I say unto you, they are nigh, even at your doors, and not many years hence ye shall hear of wars in your own lands.

Wherefore I, the Lord, have said, gather ye out from the eastern lands, assemble ye yourselves together ye elders of my church; go ye forth into the western countries, call upon the inhabitants to repent, and inasmuch as they do repent, build up churches unto me (v 63, 64, Section 45).

The Latter-day Saints escaped the Civil War by moving west years before it started.  In 1832, Section 87 was recorded.  It says the following:

Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;

And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.   For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.

And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.   And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.

And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations (vs 1-6).

Other prophecies of future wars are found in the Doctrine and Covenants:  Sections 45;  38; 87; 63; 98; 76.

The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ would be Taken to Every Nation, Tongue, and Kindred

In the revelation recorded in Section 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants, is recorded the prediction that the gospel would be taken to every nation, tongue, and kindred by Mormon missionaries.  The gospel was restored and the LDS Church formally organized in 1830 with just six members.  By mid-2012, there were over 14.4 million members worldwide.

And now, verily saith the Lord, that these things might be known among you, O inhabitants of the earth, I have sent forth mine angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, who hath appeared unto some and hath committed it unto man, who shall appear unto manythat dwell on the earth.

And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.   And the servants of God shall go forth, saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come;  And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters—(D&C 133:36-39).

Much later, in 1974, Prophet Spencer W. Kimball stated,

The Lord has blessed the world with many Early Bird satellites. They are stationed high in the heavens, relaying broadcast signals back to almost every corner of the earth’s surface. Today there are 67 earth receiving stations operating in 50 countries of the world. Certainly these satellites are only the genesis of what is in store for the future of worldwide broadcasting.

With the Lord providing these miracles of communication, and with the increased efforts and devotion of our missionaries and all of us, and all others who are “sent,” surely the divine injunction will come to pass: “For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth—the gospel must be preached unto every creature. …” (D&C 58:64.)

Section 133 also prophesies the following:

  • That the gospel will be taken first to the Gentiles and then to the Jews.
  • That the earth will return to its original geographical state with the waters driven north and one landmass.
  • That there will be two great religious centers, Zion and Jerusalem (which are two different places).  Zion is also called the New Jerusalem.
  • The Lord will remember His covenant with Israel and regather them.
  • The Ten Lost Tribes will return from the North Countries.
  • The Second Coming will burn the wicked, change the face of the earth, and deliver the righteous from their graves.

Other sections of the Doctrine and Covenants that deal with the future (other than predictions of the Saints going to the west) include Section 29:

1–8, Christ gathers his elect; 9–11, His coming ushers in the Millennium; 12–13, The Twelve will judge all Israel; 14–21, Signs, plagues, and desolations will precede the Second Coming; 22–28, The last resurrection and final judgment follow the Millennium; 29–35, All things are spiritual unto the Lord; 36–39, The devil and his hosts were cast out of heaven to tempt man; 40–45, The Fall and Atonement bring salvation; 46–50, Little children are redeemed through the Atonement.

Section 45:

1–5, Christ is our advocate with the Father; 6–10, The gospel is a messenger to prepare the way before the Lord; 11–15, Enoch and his brethren were received by the Lord unto himself; 16–23, Christ revealed signs of his coming as given on the Mount of Olives; 24–38, The gospel will be restored, the times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled, and a desolating sickness will cover the land; 39–47, Signs, wonders, and the Resurrection are to attend the Second Coming; 48–53, Christ will stand on the Mount of Olives, and the Jews will see the wounds in his hands and feet; 54–59, The Lord will reign during the Millennium; 60–62

Section 63:

1–6, A day of wrath will come upon the wicked; 7–12, Signs come by faith; 13–19, The adulterous in heart will deny the faith and be cast into the lake of fire; 20, The faithful will receive an inheritance upon the transfigured earth; 21, A full account of the events on the Mount of Transfiguration has not yet been revealed; 22–23, The obedient receive the mysteries of the kingdom; 24–31, Inheritances in Zion are to be purchased; 32–35, The Lord decrees wars, and the wicked slay the wicked; 36–48, The Saints are to gather to Zion and provide moneys to build it up; 49–54, Blessings are assured the faithful at the Second Coming, in the Resurrection, and during the Millennium; 55–58, This is a day of warning; 59–66, The Lord’s name is taken in vain by those who use it without authority.

Copyright © 2024 Mormon Beliefs. All Rights Reserved.
This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org.