America's Mormon Destiny

"Will The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ever succeed in taking over America, and eventually the world, as Joseph Smith prophesied? Brigham Young thought so, along with every other nineteenth century Mormon, especially the church's leadership. Throughout the twentieth century, and now into this twenty-first century, the belief has continued to be an integral part of Mormon teachings:

1912: 'Joseph Smith...predicted that the time would come, 'when the Constitution of our country would hang as it were by a thread, and that the Latter-day Saints above all other people in the world would come to the rescue' ' (LDS president, Joseph F Smith). Conference Report, October 1912

1928: 'The Prophet Joseph told us that he saw the day when even the Constitution of the United States would be torn and hang as by a thread... He saw the day when this people would be a balance of power to come to its defense' ' (LDS apostle,Melvin J. Ballard). Conference Report, October 1928. Ballard also stated: "I believe that it is the destiny of the Latter-day Saints to support the Constitution of the United States. The Prophet Joseph Smith is alleged to have said-and I believe he did say it-that the day would come when the Constitution would hang as by a thread. But he saw that the thread did not break, thank the Lord, and that the Latter-day Saints would become a balance of power, with others, to preserve that Constitution. If there is-and there is one part of the Constitution hanging as by a thread today-where do the Latter-day Saints belong? Their place is to rally to the support of that Constitution, and maintain it and defend it and support it by their lives and by their vote. Let us not disappoint God nor his prophet. Our place is fixed (Conference Report, April 1933)

1946: '[Joseph Smith] said if the Constitution of the United States were saved at all it must be done by this people. It will not be many years before these words come to pass. When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the 'Mormon Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it' '(Mark E. Peterson, LDS apostle). Conference Report, April 1946

1950: '[The Prophet] said the time would come when this Constitution would hang as by a thread, and this is true...'Now I tell you it is time the people of the United States were waking up with the understanding that if they don't save the Constitution from the dangers that threaten it, we will have a change of government' (Joseph Fielding Smith, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and future Mormon president). Conference Report, April 1950

1952: 'Joseph Smith...[said] the time would come when the Constitution would hang as by a thread and at that time when it was thus in jeopardy, the elders of this Church would step forth and save it from destruction. Why the elders of this Church?...'We alone know by revelation as to how the Constitution came into being, and we, alone, know by revelation the destiny of this nation' ' (Harold B. Lee, LDS apostle and future Mormon president). Conference Report, October 1952

1961: '[I]f I were to guess as to how the Constitution may 'hang by a thread' it would be because of the immense powers given to the President and his opportunity for their abuse. Let us...resolve that we will do all in our power to preserve these principles for our posterity. This is our duty as citizens of the United States, and pre-eminently our duty as Latter-day Saints' (Senator Wallace F. Bennett, R-Utah). BYU Speeches, February 15, 1961

1966: ' I gave the language and sources of the prophetic utterance made by the Prophet Joseph that the Constitution of the United States would hang by a single thread, but be saved by the elders of Israel. I hope you will read those sources so you will be will-informed as to this prophecy and be prepared to do your part in its fulfillment' (Ernest L Wilkinson, BYU president [1951-1971]. BYU Speeches, April 21, 1966

1975: 'Thank God for the Constitution. And may God bless the elders of Israel that when, as President John Taylor said, 'the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States, the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of earth and proclaiming liberty' ' (Ezra Taft Benson, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and future Mormon president). Jesus Christ-Gifts and Expectations, New Era, May 1975

1988: 'Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at that time 'this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction'(Ezra Taft Benson, LDS president). Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988), 619. Benson quoted the White Horse prophecy in numerous lectures and publications.

1995: 'LDS attachment to the Constitution has been further encouraged by an important oral tradition deriving from a statement attributed to Joseph Smith, according to which the Constitution would 'hang by a thread' and be rescued, if at all, only with the help of the Saints. Church President John Taylor seemed to go further when he prophesied, 'When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth.' ' Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Selections from Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1995, "The Church and Society," 122.

2000: '[LDS TV weatherman Thom Spencer] at a Republican rally...broke with tradition that a journalist should remain objective and spoke out at the rally because of a prophecy by Joseph Smith, who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints more than 150 years ago. Smith predicted that the time would come 'when the Constitution and government would hang by a brittle thread and be ready to fall into other hands, but this people, the latter-day saints, will step forth and save it' ' (Seattle Times, November 24, 2000)

But what would such a scenario mean for America? Continued freedom? Greater liberty and prosperity? Widespread pluralism? That is doubtful. The history of Mormonism is rife with nefarious deeds, corruption, vice, and intolerance. So far the fruits of Mormonism have included lust, greed, theft, fraud, violence, murder, religious fanaticism, bribery, and racism. Will Mormonism's future harvest be any different? That question, of course, will have to be answered in years to come.
Until then, all of us might to do well to simply be watchful, and heed the words of Jesus Christ, whom the Mormons claim to follow. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves," Jesus warned. "Ye shall know them by their fruits...[E]very good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit...Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them"(Matt. 7:1-20)'" (One Nations Under Gods, A History of the Mormon Church, Richard Abanes, Four Walls Eight Windows, 434-436, including footnotes.)

This whole article came from a very reliable and good book. It has great objective history that speaks for itself!