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Did Joseph Smith Prophesy of Baha'u'llah?

The Báb was martyred in 1850, and many of the Babis were killed, imprisoned. A few hundred were exiled to Baghdad, Iraq.

In 1863, in the Khark District of Baghdad, Baha'u'llah, wearing a glorious red robe, made His first annoucement to the followers of The Báb that He was "He Whom God Shall Make Manifest". Most of the Babis acceptd this, and called themselves no more "Bábís" (followers of The Gate of God) but "Bahá'ís" (followers of The Glory of God). However, if Joseph Smith was a "SEER" he "may" have prophesied of Baha'u'llah in the capacity of a Seer.

There is no official Bahá'í doctrine that says that Joseph Smith was a "Seer". But, Shoghi Effendi apparently believed that he was. Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957) was the Guardian of the Faith and the Interpreter of the Holy Writings. He is not considered to be a Prophet lesser or otherwise. But he was the "Guardian" and his teachings are considered infallible. He ruled the Faith until his death in 1957. Shoghi Effendi was NOT a Prophet! But, many Baha'is believe he was a Seer. He prophesied of the Holocaust and the Internet many years, or decades, before these things became realities. You can read more about these things in The Prophecies of Shoghi Effendi online.

Shoghi Effendi purportedly told Baha'is on several occassions that Joseph Smith was a "Seer":

"Joseph Smith was a Seer, not a Prophet; neither major nor minor. He had a high standard, but the Baha'is have a higher standard coupled with God's power that comes direct from God for this age." (Pilgrim notes of Ramona Browne, in Memories of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.117)

Shoghi Effendi died in London, England, in 1957. After his death, the Faith was ruled by nine "Hands of the Cause" (similar to apostles) called "The Custodians". Then, in 1963, the first Universal House of Justice was elected.

The Universal House of Justice is not a building, but a council of 9 rijals (Arabic: "distringuished gentlemen") who govern the Baha'i Faith worldwide. This council of nine elected men is referred to as "The House".

The "Members of The House" are not considered to be Prophets, nor are they are recognized as Seers. Yet, their collective decisions are believed to be "under the shadow of Baha'u'llah" and thus divinely-inspired. Individually they are merely Baha'is, but "The House" (collectively) is "under the shadow of Baha'u'llah". In regards to inquiries concerning Joseph Smith, they sent this reply:

"As for the status of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Faith, he is not considered by Baha'is to be a prophet, minor or otherwise. But of course he was a religious teacher sensitive to the spiritual currents flowing in the early 19th century directly from the appearance of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh and the Revelation of Their Messages of hope and Divine Guidance." (Lights of Guidance, p. 511)

4 For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.
9 Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression if thou art not aware, thou wilt fall." (D&C 4:4,9)

""And if a man take a wife and her mother it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you." (Leviticus 20:14)

In May of 1843, Joseph Smith preached:

"I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I." (History of the Church: 6:408)

After Joseph was killed, a member of the mob drew a large Bowie knife, and acted as if he intended to cut off the head of the Seer. At that instant, a light descended from the sky and struck the man holding the Bowie knife. He dropped the knife and was unable to walk or speak for some time afterwards. Mormons took it as a "sign" (miracle) from God that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet. Anti-Mormons took it as a "sign" from God that Joseph was a false prophet and that He had approved of his murder. Apparently the LORD allowed His fallen Seer to be killed, but He would not allow the body of His Seer to be mutilated and disrespected.

After the death of the Seer, the Church became divided into factions. The family of Joseph Smith followed James Strang, a Mormon who also claimed to be a Seer. His revelations are contained in The Book of the Law of the Lord. He was killed in 1856. Most of his followers then followed Joseph Smith III (eldest son of Joseph Smith), who founded The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church); now called Community of Christ with about 250,000 members worldwide.

Most Mormons followed Brigham Young, the senior Apostle, who led the Mormons to Utah. He founded Salt Lake City and hundreds of other cities and towns. His successors are the Presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: also known as "the Mormon Church" or "the LDS Church" with over 14 million members worldwide by the year 2010.

Again, Prophets are "infallible" Revelators, but Seers are as "fallible" as any other human being.

Baha'is cannot recognize Joseph Smith as a "Prophet". But they "may" recognize him as a Seer! Shoghi Effendi did, but he did not mandate that the Baha'is believe this too, or he would have said so in one of his Directives (epistles). He never did. Only the "Directives of the Guardian" (his personal letters and letters written by his secretaries on his behalf but signed by him) are "binding" upon the Believers.

Things that Bahá'ís "heard" him say are called "Pilgrim's Notes". They can be published and shared, but they are not considered "authoritative" and thus Baha'is are not required to believe what they say.

For example, a good friend of Joseph Smith named George Hinkle claimed that Joseph Smith told him that Muhammad was "a Prophet and a good man". This is second-hand "hearsay". Thus, Mormons are not required to believe it. The same is true with things Baha'is "heard" Shoghi Effendi say. Baha'is "may" believe that Joseph Smith was a Seer who prophesied of Baha'u'llah in the capacity of a Seer, or they may not believe it. The choice is theirs.

Did Joseph Smith prophesy (praw-fess-sai) of Baha'u'llah in the capacity of a Seer?

I personally believe he did! Here is the "proof" of my personal belief that Joseph Smith prophesied (praw-fess-side) of Baha'u'llah:

In 1840 Joseph Smith sent Orson Hyde (one of his apostles) to the Holy Land to dedicate the land for the return of the Jews. When Orson Hyde returned to Nauvoo Illinois (at that time a Mormon city) he told Joseph Smith of the fabulous white wines he had drank in the Holy Land. Drinking wine was not forbidden for Mormons in Joseph Smith's day. Only "strong drink" (i.e. liquors such as whiskey etc.) was forbidden at that time.

Joseph Smith then prophesied (praw-fess-side) that "IF" he be allowed to live he would "drink white wine" with Hyde in the Holy Land. (Diary of Joseph Smith, Jan. 20, 1843, LDS Church Archives). This prophecy was never published in the Doctrine and Covenants; the Revelations of Joseph Smith with a few additions by his Utah successors.

In 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph Smith owned a red brick store. On the second story, Joseph Smith had his private offices. There, he established a secret organization within the Church he called "The Holy Order". The Holy Order consisted of 9 men; Joseph Smith and his closest friends in the Church. These 9 men were called "The Anointed Quorum"; which ruled the Holy Order. Eventually, the Holy Order grew to about 70 men and women.Joseph Smith designated the second story of his red-brick store in Nauvoo, Illinois, as "The Order Lodge".

In 1843, Joseph Smith introduced a secret Masonic-like ritual for the Holy Order called "The Endowment Ceremony". Joseph also referred to it as "Celestial Masonry". It was a secret rite that most Mormons never knew about. It was revealed only to members of The Holy Order. The rite was somewhat as follows:

*Men and women were taken into separate rooms and washed with water and anointed with olive oil, and dressed in all white clothing.

*They were taken into a room where the Garden of Eden story was reenacted by actors (no nudity).

*They were taught certain grips and gestures called "signs and tokens" and given oaths never to reveal the signs and tokens even under pain of death.

*They were taken to an altar and taught to pray in a circle and learned three Hebrew secret words.

*They were taken to a white veil, and there they had to repeat the "signs and tokens" they learned.

*Once they repeated the signs and tokens they were let into a small "Celestial Room"--symbolic of the Celestial Kingdom, where a man with a crown sat upon a throne. This room represented the Kingdom of the Father.

What was Joseph Smith preparing his Holy Order for? According to George J. Adams (the Bishop of Nauvoo and close friend of Joseph Smith), the Seer was preparing them for the coming of "The Son of Man" Who would appear in the Holy Land (Palestine) wearing red gardments, in the year 1891.

On August 27th, 1843, Joseph Smith declared:

"The Holy Ghost is now [1843] in a state of probation which if he should perform in righteousness he may pass through the same or a similar course of things that the Son has." (Joseph Smith, The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 245; Sabbath address, 27 August 1843)

A meeting of the Holy Order in the Order Lodge

All members of the Holy Order were Mormons, but most Mormons were never members of the Holy Order. In fact, most Mormons knew nothing about the Holy Order. Brigham Young was a member of the Holy Order, but not a member of the Anointed Quorum. He was probably never informed of Joseph's plans to take the Order to Palestine so that Joseph could "see the face of the Son of Man" in 1891 (D&C 130:15).

According to George Adams, the Bishop of Nauvoo, close friend of Joseph Smith, and senior member of the Anointed Quroum next to Joseph Smith, the Seer planned to take the Holy Order with him to Palestine; there to build a colony and await the coming of the Son of Man, Who would appear in the Holy Land in the year 1891, wearing red apparel.

After the assassination of Joseph Smith in June of 1844, George Adams, not Brigham Young, became the head of the Anointed Quorum, and thus the entire Holy Order. George Adams tried to take the Holy Order to the Holy Land as Joseph Smith wished, but Brigham Young excommunicated Adams and those who wanted to go to Palestine as planned. They did eventually go to Palestine, but most left a few years afterwards because life was too difficult for them there. But, about 20 families stayed; eventually settling in the small Arab village of Haifa, next to Mount Carmel. Had Joseph Smith been allowed to live, he would have been among them.

In 1846, Brigham Young dissolved the Holy Order, and excommunicated any member of the Order who wanted to go to Palestine. He changed the Endowment Ceremony (adding many things to it), and made the ceremony mandatory for all Mormons who wanted to go on missions or get married. He told the Mormons that the Endowment was to help them enter into the Celestial Kingdom (the highest heaven) after they died, that the "signs and tokens" were necessary to pass-by Sentinel-Angels on one's journey to the Celestial Kingdom after death.

Mormon Temples are not houses of worship. They are places were sacred ordinances are performed: such as Endowment Ceremonies, Sealings (marriages for eternity), and Baptisms for the Dead (the living are baptized in the name of a dead person so that dead person may join the Church in the Spirit-World).

In the years 1920, 1950, and 1990, Mormon Church leaders removed various "additions" to the Endowment Ceremony that Brigham Young added to it in 1846; without explanation. Latter-day Saints (Mormons) consider the Endowment Ceremony to be very sacred, and not to be discussed in any detail outside of the Celestial Rooms inside Mormon Temples. The "signs and tokens" are considered most sacred, and not to be discussed at all. Various exposé's of the secret Mormon Endowment Ceremony can be found on the Internet, but not all are accurate, and some are very inaccurate and misleading. The Church now has hundreds of temples around the world. The most preeminent is the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. It faces East, the direction in which Mormons believe Jesus will come "suddenly" (without forewarning) to His Temple.

Haifa in 1891
Joseph Smith planned to take the Holy Order with him to Palestine, and await the coming of the Son of Man, Who would appear in the Holy Land in red apparel when Joseph Smith was 85 years old (1891). But, because he sinned in regards to polygamy (marrying mothers and their own daughters) Joseph Smith was not allowed to live and see the Face of the Son of Man in the Holy Land in 1891. Joseph was assassinated at Hancock County Jail, Carthage, Illinois, on June 27th, 1844, by an angry mob of Anti-Mormons. Joseph fell from the second story window of the Carthage Jail, like a shaft of lightening. A member of the mob then tried to cut off his head with a Bowie knife, but a light from heaven rendered the ruffian motionless and prevented this from happening.

According to George J. Adams (former Bishop of Nauvoo), Joseph Smith wanted the Holy Order to go to Palestine to await the coming of "The Son of Man" in 1891. But, according to Adams, Brigham Young refused to allow this. Adams then joined with James Strang, along with Emma Smith (Joseph's Widow), Lucy Smith (Joseph's mother) and William Smith (Joseph's remaining living brother). The sisters of Joseph Smith also followed Strang, who was assassinated in 1856. Then George J. Adams took a number of members of the Holy Order to Palestine. But considitions were horrendous, and most (including Adams) returned. However, about twenty Holy Order members stayed and settled among the German Templar Colony in Haifa at the foot of Mount Carmel.

In 1860, a Lutheran minister in Germany named Christoph Hofmann was told by the Spirit that Christ was returning soon, on Mount Carmel, and to raise a "spiritual Temple" of Christians to meet Him. So Hofmann and others formed a "Society of the Temple" and founded a colony in 1868 in Haifa, Palestine, at the foot of Mount Carmel. From the sea to the foot of Mount Carmel they built "The Way of the Lord" (now Gen Gurion Street), and over the doors and windows of their red-roofed homes they wrote "Die Herr Ist Nahe" ("The Lord is Near"). About twenty members of the Holy Order joined them.

The Shrine of The Báb on the Sacred Spot on Mount Carmel overlooking the German Templar Colony

Joseph Smith made plans for living and dying. He planned to make his brother Hyrum President of the Church, and travel to the Holy Land with his Holy Order, to await the coming of the Son of Man, in red apparel, in the year 1891.

It is clear that Joseph Smith never intended to make the Endowment Ceremony mandatory for all Latter-day Saints. He taught it only to the Holy Order; whom he planned to take with him to Palestine "if" he be allowed to live. He wasn't. The Endowment had nothing to do with the Afterlife, but contained "types and shadows" of the coming of the Son of Man in 1891.

Baha'u'llah (baw-haw-ohL-LAW) was a religious prisoner. He was exiled first to Baghdad in 1853, then to Turkey, then finally to the prison-city of Akka, Palestine, in 1868. For many years, in Akka, He lived in a room whose windows and door was covered in white veils. Because of assassination attemps, anyone who wanted to visit Him had to know certain secret words and gestures. They were told to wash and anoint themselves, and to wear white (a symbol of purity) if possible, before entering the "Celestial Room" of Baha'u'llah; Who wore a taj (Dervish crown), and red robes.

The Celestial Room of Baha'u'llah (Akka, Palestine, 1890)

"The Voice of the Son of Man is calling aloud from the sacred veil: 'Here am I, here am I, O God, My God!' The Father hath come, and that which ye were promised in the Kingdom of God is fulfilled." (The Words of Bahá'u'lláh, p.104)

"Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face and hear the Voice, of the Promised One." (Gleanings 10:vii)

"He Who is the King of Kings hath appeared, arrayed in His most wonderous glory, and is summoning you unto Himself, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting." (Gleanings 211:cv)

"All glory be to this Day, the Day which the fragrances of mercy have been wafted over all created things, a Day so blessed that past ages and centuries can never hope to rival it, a Day in which the Contenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned towards His holy seat. Thereupon the voice of all created things, and beyond them those of the Concourse on high, were heard calling aloud: "Haste Thee, O Carmel, for lo, the light of the Countenance of God, the Ruler of the Kingdom of Names and Fashioner of the heavens, hath been lifted upon thee.'***CALL OUT TO ZION, O Carmel, and announce the joyful tidings: He that was hidden from mortal eyes is come!" (Bahá'u'lláh--The Word Made Flesh, p.64)

Dear Mormon Seeker of Truth, you ask "Why was I never told about this aspect of Mormon history?" The answer is simple: because Church leaders DO NOT want YOU to know about it! We think you should know.

The LORD inspired Joseph Smith to take certain symbols from the Masonic Lodge, and create a ceremony that contained "types and shadows" which pointed directly to Baha'u'llah, the Son of Man and Holy Ghost Incarnate, Who appeared upon Mount Carmel, in 1891, in red robes. Had Joseph Smith lived, he would have seen the Face of the Son of Man.

On the the 6th of April, 1843, Joseph Smith declared:

There are those of the rising generation who shall not taste death til Christ comes." (Joseph Smith, General Conference, 6 April 1843, quoted in The Words of Joseph Smith, p.179)

"And the Lord shall be red in his apparel like him that treadeth the wine vat,..." (D&C 133:48, RLDS D&C 108:9c)

"The Holy Ghost is now [1843] in a state of probation which if he should perform in righteousness he may pass through the same or a similar course of things that the Son has." (Joseph Smith, The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 245; Sabbath address, 27 August 1843)

Joseph Smith never claimed to be the Holy Ghost incarnate (although some "Fundamentalist" Mormons claim it for him). But Baha'u'llah (1817-1892), the founding Prophet of the Baha'i Faith, did claim to be the Holy Ghost Incarnate--the Spirit of Truth!

In 1843 a Baptist named William Miller said he had calculated Bible prophecies and came to the conclusion that Christ would return in the year 1843 (he made a recalculation later and put it at 1844). Joseph Smith also heard of the claims of Miller, and decided to inquire of the LORD about this. A Voice told him that if he lived until he was 85 years of age he would "see the Face of the Son of Man" (D&C 130). Joseph Smith would turn 85 on Dec. 23, 1890. For all but 9 days, he would be 85 years old in the year 1891.

That was not all! He would make several other prophecies that would point to the year 1891.

On April 6th, 1843, Joseph Smith made the following prophecy:

"I was once praying earnestly upon the subject, and a voice said unto me, My son, if thou livest till thou art 85 years of age, thou shalt see the Face of the Son of Man--I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this & took the liberty to conclude that if I did live till that time He would make His appearance or I shall go where He is--I prophesy in the name of the Lord God--& let it be written, that the Son of Man will not come in the heavens till I am 85 years old, 48 years hence or about 1890." (Diary of Joseph Smith, April 6, 1843, quoted in The Revelations of Joseph Smith, p.345)

On February 14th, 1835, Joseph Smith gave a speech in Kirland, Ohio, before "Zion's Camp"; a Mormon militia that was going to Missouri to defend Mormons living there from Missouri mobs who believed that the Mormons were trying to free their black slaves. The speech was recorded by Franklin D. Richards; then the personal secretary of Joseph Smith. In this speech, Joseph Smith claimed that the Holy Spirit showed him in vision that the coming of the Lord would be "56 years hence" from 1835 (1891). In the History of the Church for February 14, 1835 (reported by his secretary Franklin D. Richards) it says:

"President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called, because God commanded it; and it was made known to him by vision and by the Holy Spirit***and it was the will of God that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh--even fifty-six years should wind-up the scene." (D.H.C. 2:182)

The early "Brethren" (Mormon leaders) believed that Christ would come and establish His Kingdom in the year 1891; based upon the 1835 and 1843 prophecies of Joseph Smith. A few questions for the Reader:

Q1. When will the Holy Ghost, Who is a Spirit-Man, come down to Earth to get a body?

Q2. Will the Holy Ghost perform some great Divine Mission on Earth, or merely come to Earth to get a body and work at some ordinary job or career?

Q3. Will the Holy Ghost be some great Prophet, or just an ordinary human being like everybody else?

Q4. Was Joseph Smith the incarnation of the Holy Ghost, or will the Holy Ghost be some other Man?

Q5. Do the 1891 prophecies of Joseph Smith (i.e. the Son of Man would come in the year 1891 in red apparel), have to do with the Second Coming of Jesus, or with the coming Incarnation (embodiment) of the Holy Ghost?

I would like to bare you my testimony of the following:

I. The Holy Ghost has already come down to get a body! He was born in Persian (Iran) in the year 1817, and died in 1892 in the Holy Land. He was a direct descendant of King David of Israel and King Cyrus of Persia.

II. He was not an ordinary man, but the Holy Ghost Incarnate. He was the One Who inspired the Prophets and Seers.III. He was born with the name Mirza Húsein-Ali Núri (Arabic: "Prince Beauty Exalted of Light"). He had Núr ("Light") as a "covering" (sur-name). He took the name-title of BAHÁ'U'LLÁH (baw-haw-ohL-LAW); which in Arabic means "The Glory of God".

IV. He announced to the world-at-large that He was the promised "Son of Man" in the year 1891, wearing red apparel, on the northern slopes of Mount Carmel, in Palestine (now Israel).

V. His Eldest Son, 'Abdu'l-Baha (awb-dull baw-HAW), Whom many considered to be the reincarnation of Jesus, appeared in Salt Lake City in September of 1912, and knocked on the East Door of the Salt Lake Temple; wearing the glorious red robe of His Father.

The Baha'i Faith is the Millennial Kingdom of God on Earth in embryo. It will not be "born" until after "The Calamity"; an epic worldwide event wherein a third of all Mankind will perish.

Early Mormon apostles believed the Millennial Kingdom would be established, somehwere on this planet, in the year 1891 They referred to it as "THE KINGDOM".

In 1891, in General Conference, Elder Charles W. Penrose (a Mormon apostle) said:

"Did not all the Prophets of old look forward to such a time, and did not our Savior send His disciples to proclaim that THE KINGDOM was at hand? He gave a great many parables concerning THE KINGDOM. He compared it, among other things, to a grain of mustard seed that grew and became the greatest tree on earth. That is, commencing with a small beginning, but, like all God's works, gradually growing and developing until fully complete. The prophet Daniel saw it as the 'little stone', cut out of the mountain without hands, which smote the great image and shattered its remnants to the four winds, and then became a great mountain and filled the whole earth, which is our birthplace according to the flesh and our future home and heaven. The earth fulfills the law of its creation and shall therefore be glorified and become a fit dwelling place for the sanctified, fit for the Presence of God and clothed with His glory. The Church and THE KINGDOM are not identical, although they are closely connected. In the Church is the Gospel of the Kingdom. It is a preparation for that Divine Government. IT will not be fully established until Christ comes, who is the King. As members of the Church we are commanded to be subject to the governments under which we live, as long as they exist, for 'the powers that be are ordained of God,' but we are approaching a time when all things on earth must give way to the HEAVENLY KINGDOM. The kingdom of this world are to become the KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS CHRIST. Let us prepare ourselves for the events that are coming, and when we pray: 'Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,' do our part in the work to prepare for its advent." (Collected Discourses 2:188-9, emphasis added)

"Before another General Conference shall be reached we shall have entered upon the year 1891. In the Book of Doctrines and Covenants, section 130, Joseph Smith was promised that if he lived until 1891, he would see the face of the Son of Man. On February 14th, 1835, at a meeting where certain Elders, they were told by Joseph that they were called to go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, before the coming of Christ, even 56 years should wind-up the scene. 1835 plus 56 years also brings us to the year 1891! These circumstances have called the Saints to believe that some great epoch will open at that time--the year following the present [1891]. My faith in the matter is whatever the Lord has in mind to accomplish in that year will be performed. It may be something, however, that would scarcely create a ripple. The organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of the greatest events in the history of the world. It was organized with six members, and but little was known concerning it even in the neighborhood where it occurred, at the time. It may be that the greatness of what shall occur in 1891 will not be comprehended until succeeding years." (Collected Discourses 2:105-6)

Joseph Smith prophecied in the name of the LORD that the Son of Man would UNVEIL HIS FACE in the years 1891! IF even one of Joseph Smith's prophecies were false then he MUST be dismissed as a FALSE PROPHET and the Church false as well! There is no middle-ground! No excuses or explain-aways can be accepted!

Jehovah told Moses that if a prophet appears and prophesies a thing, and that thing come not to pass, then the LORD did NOT send that man, and he is a FALSE PROPHET! The LORD said:

"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you need not be afraid of him" (Deuteronomy 18:22)

In 1886, Mormon apostle Moses Thatcher declared before a gathering of Mormons in the Salt Lake Tabernacle:

"Our deliverance will be within 5 years; the time indicated by Joseph's [Feb. 14, 1832] prophecy will be February 14, 1891." (Salt Lake Tribune, 10 April 1886)

In 1887, the LDS Church printed and distributed a book by Elder Robert Smith (a 2nd cousin of Joseph Smith), to be "used by teachers in Sunday Schools" (it was an official Church publication). Elder Robert Smith wrote:

"Now, we will prove by the prophet Joseph Smith that the same year, 1891, is the commencement of the reign of righteousness. In Section 130, Doctrine and Covenants, Joseph was told that if he lived to be 85 years old he would live to see the scene wound up or the Redeemer on the earth. He was born December 23rd, 1805, and if we give him the 85 years, we could not count the year 1805, we should have to count 1806, as the year 1805 was mostly gone before he was born, therefore, we have 1806 and 85, making 1891; again in the year 1835 Joseph was told positively that 56 years would wind up the scene, which we believe was the reign of iniquity and transgression: 56 and 1835 are 1891. Thus we have abundant proof that that year will begin the reign of righteousness, and God's people be acknowledged, for the earth is to be given to them. He has said: 'Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'" (A Series of Lectures on the Fulfillment of Prophecy, 1887, pp.39-40)

On January 1st 1891, Wilford Woodruff (the 4th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) wrote in is diary:

"Jan 1, 1891. This is New Year's Day, and the year that has been looked upon by many as one of the more important years in the world." (Jounal of Wilford Woodruff, Jan. 1, 1891)

What happened?

When Jesus failed to appear in the sky over Salt Lake City in 1891, riding upon a cloud, the Mormons said: "The Lord has delayed His coming!"

Truly did Jesus say, "that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming." (Matt. 14:48)

Truly did the LORD say unto Joseph the Seer: "...and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth." (D&C 45:26)

There are over 7 MILLION people on earth today that believe that Christ did NOT delay His coming, but came on schedule.

The LORD said to Joseph the Seer:

"Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for HE WILL UNVEIL HIS FACE UNTO YOU, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will." (D&C sec. 88:68)

"Ye were also in the beginning with THE FATHER; that which is Spirit, even THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH." (D&C 93:23)

"The COMFORTER is the promise which I give unto you of ETERNAL LIFE, even THE GLORY which I spake concerning the ten virgins." (D&C 45:56)

"...the Church of the Firstborn are those who have received the fulness of THE FATHER." (D&C 76:70)

"There are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even THE GLORY OF GOD, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical." (D&C 76:70)

The COMFORTER Whose advent all the Scriptures have promised is now come that He may reveal unto you all knowledge and wisdom. Seek Him over the entire surface of the earth, haply ye may find Him." (Words of Bahá'u'lláh pp.104-5)

"Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can BEHOLD THE FACE, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One." (Gleanings 10:vii)

"Verily, He who is THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH is come to guide you unto all truth. He speaketh not as prompted by His own self, but as bidden by Him Who is All-Knowing, the All-Wise." (Lawh-i-Aqdas 11:4-5)

"Say, O followers of the Son! Lo! THE FATHER is come, and that which ye were promised in the KINGDOM is fulfilled." (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh p.12)

"The Voice of THE SON OF MAN is calling aloud from the sacred veil: 'Here am I, here am I, O God, My God!' THE FATHER is come!" (Words of Bahá'u'lláh p.104)

All just mere coincidence?

Continued in 5 of 5