White Horse Prophecy

While this conversation was going on we stood by his south wicket gate in a triangle. Turning to me, [Joseph] said, "I want to tell you something of the future. I will speak in a parable like unto John the Revelator. You will go to the Rocky Mountains, and you will be a great and mighty people established there, which I will call the White Horse of peace and safety." When the Prophet said, "You will see it," I said, "Where will you be at that time?" He said, "I shall never go there. Your enemies will continue to follow you with persecutions, and they will make obnoxious laws against you in Congress to destroy the White Horse, but you will have a friend or two to defend you and throw out the worst parts of the law so they will not hurt you so much. You must continue to petition Congress all the time, but they will treat you like strangers and aliens and they will not give you your rights but will govern you with strangers and commissioners. You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed. It will hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber." At that time the Prophet’s countenance became sad, because as he said, "I love the Constitution; it was made by the inspiration of God; and it will be preserved and saved by the efforts of the White Horse, and by the Red Horse who will combine in its defense. The White Horse will find the mountains full of minerals and they will become rich (at this time, it must be remembered, the precious metals were not known to exist in either the Rocky Mountains or California). You will see silver piled up in the streets. You will see the gold shoveled up like sand. Gold will be of little value then, even in a mercantile capacity; for the people of the world will have something else to do in seeking for salvation. The time will come when the banks of every nation will fall and only two places will be safe where people can deposit their gold and treasure. This place will be the White Horse and England’s vaults. A terrible revolution will take place in the land of America, such as has never been seen before; for the land will be left without a Supreme Government, and every specie of wickedness will be practiced rampantly in the land. Father will be against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother. The most terrible scenes of bloodshed, murder and rape that have ever been imagined or looked upon will take place. People will be taken from the earth and there will be peace and love only in the Rocky Mountains. This will cause many hundreds of thousands of the honest in heart of the world to gather there, not because they would be Saints, but for safety and because they will be so numerous that you will be in danger of famine, but not for want of seed, time and harvest, but because of so many to be fed. Many will come with bundles under their arms to escape the calamities for there will be no escape except only by escaping and fleeing to Zion..."

One of the most controversial prophecies said to be given by Joseph Smith was the "White Horse Prophecy." Supposedly received in 1843, it states the United States will be in great turmoil and only the White Horse, often interpreted to represent Latter day saints, can save it. The prophecy is often used in political discussion, with people thinking that LDS politicians will save America. Is this prophecy true? Did Joseph Smith predict the collapse of America?

Probably not. Historians and church leaders alike dispute the authenticity of the prophecy, as there are no first-hand accounts and the only proofs on Smith giving it are second hand at best. The text above is one example of this. It was written in 1902 by an elder of the church after he heard it from someone else.

Despite its rather dubious nature when it comes to authenticity, it is very popular, a staple in LDS culture along with Edras Eagle. (We will get to that someday.) It can be fun to think about latter-day saints saving the country, but to say Joseph Smith predicted it using this prophecy is sketchy to say the least.

I hope you are all having a great fourth of July if you are in America. If you want more info on this Prophecy and its history, check out these articles by Mormonr and FAIR.

White Horse Prophecy

The White Horse prophecy - FAIR


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