All three of the major "sects" have had prophetic failures, and all three have used the same reasonings and rationalizations to explain their prophetic "disappointment". The most outstanding example of this from Mormonism is presented for your edification. Many of the reasonings will be familiar to students of Witness failed prophecies.
Firstly, the prediction, it is that Zion would be built and established in Jackson County, Missouri, within a generation. The prophecy was uttered by Gods mouthpiece, Joseph Smith, In july 1831, and is recorded in the key Mormon Doctrinal collection, the "Doctrines and Covenants" .
Doctrine and Covenants 57 states: ..."Hearken oh ye elders of my church....who have assembled yourselves together, according to my commandments, in this land which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints. Wherefore, this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion......Behold, the place which is now called Independence is the centre place, and a spot for the temple is lying Westward, upon a lot which is not far from the courthouse. Wherefore it is wisdom that the land should be purchased by the saints, and also every tract lying Westward"....
The thing to note here is that the city of Zion is certainly a literal city, to be built by the saints. Doctrine and Covenants 57 continues on to dispense duties in building and gathering money to buy land, to various of the churches key men. So it is a literal city, why, certain plots of land are specifically pointed out as locations to be directly obtained at the Lords command.
Doctrine and Covenants 84, uttered in Sreptember 1832 states: ...."Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord,in the Western Boundaries of the state of Missouri......For verily this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it"...
However, there came over time to be a big problem. The residents of Independence and, in fact, of the state of Missouri, rose up in military force against the Mormon onslaught and bitter battle ensued. Battle which the Mormons ended up losing to the point of being run out of Missouri under military attack from the Army.
What did God have to say about this apparent contradiction between prophecy and reality? Well Doctrine and Covenants 84 sets the stage for where blame for Gods word not coming to pass is to be apportioned :
..." And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant...and the former commandments which I have given them....That they may bring forth fruit meet for their fathers kingdom, otherwise there remain a scourge and judgement to be poured out upon the children of Zion. For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land?"....
yep , its the fault of the sheep. actually, a lot of revelation was coming forth at that time. The "Word of Wisdom , priesthood revelation, and revelations pertaining to the Celestial Kingdom. Fact was, the church needed purifying of bad practises, and aspects of true worship needed to be re inaugurated. Practises that had been lost since apostolic times. In a parallel to the witnesses in 1917, the Mormons were under condemnation for moral backsliding, and engaging in false practises. Like the 1917 Witnesses, re revelations of "pure worship" had to be recieved before the children were worthy of their inheritance.
Brigham Young said about this:
..."I see men and women, a few of them, who were driven from the central stake of Zion in Jackson County, Missouri....look at the beautiful land that the Lord would have given them if all had been faithfull in keeping his commandments ....through the selfishness of some, which is idolatry, through their covetousness, and the lustfull desire of their minds, they were cast out"... (DBY 113)
Just like the WT was "cast out" into "exile" in 1917 for celebrating Christmas, and removing pages from the "Finished Mystery" book. False, unworthy practises had to be expelled from the church before God could find them worthy of His coming again.
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