These are prophecies that were given to us to know that we are in the last days. These fulfilled prophecies are put loosely into a semblance of order,thus not to be taken as fulfilled in order.
Resources Used:
"The Coming of the Lord" by Gerald N. Lund (Bishop, Stake Pres, Mission Pres, Quorum of the 70)
"65 Signs of the Times" by David J. Ridges (CES, BYU CEW, Bishop, Patriarch)
Scriptures, History, Modern Revelation
FULFILLED PROPHECIES:
1. The Discovery of America and the Establishment of America
Nephi, a prominent Prophet of the Book of Mormon, prophesied the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus and the ensuing colonization by the pilgrims and the colonists that followed. This is found in 1 Nephi 13:12-19, 1 Nephi 22:7, 3 Nephi 21:4
2. A Land Choice Above All Others
As early as several thousand years before the birth of Christ, America was designated as a land to be preferred above all others. The lord promised it both to the Jaredites at the time of the Tower of Babel, then much later, to the Nephites. Christ promised that all who lived there in the "promised land," would have an abundance of wealth, food, knowledge, and be kept safe from other nations. But Christ also warned that if those in the promised land ever grew wicked, that they would lose the privilege of living there and be destroyed.
Both the Jaredites and the Nephite peoples over many hundreds of years grew so wicked that they were both completely and utterly destroyed with war and civil war. This is also a parallelism for our day. America will also be destroyed by civil war and by other nations.
3. The Name of Joseph Smith Will be Spoken of for Good and Evil in all Nations
Joseph of Egypt prophesied that in the last days, a "seer" would be raised up by the Lord to restore the gospel. He also prophesied that his name would also be "Joseph" and he that his father would also be named "Joseph."
When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, he told Joseph that "his name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people." JSH 1:33.
Remember that Joseph Smith was an obscure, New York, backwoods farm boy of 17 years old. Nevertheless, to this modern day and time, 200 years later, Joseph Smith continues to be both praised and vilified throughout the world at an ever increasing frequency.
4. The Restoration of the True Church of Jesus Christ
The Apostle Paul spoke of the great apostasy that would come before Christ would return again, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3. Later, the Apostle Peter prophesied that the restoration of the true church of Jesus Christ would happen in the last days before the Second Coming, in Acts 3:19-21.
5. The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon
This event was pivotal in signaling the dispensation of the fullness of times. This event started the 4 Harvests as signs of the last days. Ezekiel referred to the Bible as the "stick of Judah" and the Book of Mormon as the "stick of Joseph." In Ezekiel 37:15-19 he says that in the last days, these two sticks will and put them together "and they shall be one in mine hand."
In 1830 The Book of Mormon was officially published. Now we have our "quad" scriptures which is one large book that combines both the Bible and the Book of Mormon together in one hand, as well as the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants.
6. The Wickedness of This Generation
Presidents Joseph Smith, John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff all prophesied that the latter-day generations would be so wicked that they would be destroyed in the last days. Joseph Smith said this about that future generation, "This generation is as corrupt as the generation of the Jews that crucified Christ; and if He were here today, and should preach the same doctrine He did then, they would put Him to death."
John Taylor said, "the wickedness committed today in the Christian world in 24-hours is greater than would have been committed in a 100 years at the ratio of 50 years ago." This quote is now 149 years old!
7. The Civil War Prophecy
In December of 1832, Joseph Smith prophesied the coming of the Civil War. It's very long but he said:
"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 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 and Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations."
Everything he said came to pass. It started with South Carolina, which rebelled and fired against Fort Sumter. The Civil War, still today, has the most casualties out of any war America has ever seen. The Terms of Surrender was signed by the Confederate General, Robert E. Lee on April 9, 1865. This decree effectively ended the war.
8. Judge Stephen A. Douglass, No Presidency
President Benson said in a talk about Joseph Smith, "In another prophecy, one of the most remarkable pronounced on the head of one man, Joseph Smith said to a young judge named Stephen A. Douglas, in the presence of several others:
“Judge, you will aspire to the presidency of the United States; and if ever you turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints, you will feel the weight of the hand of Almighty upon you; and you will live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you; for the conversation of this day will stick to you through life.” History of the Church, 5:394.
Stephen A. Douglas did aspire to the presidency of the United States. He did have opportunity to defend the Church. But in a political speech in 1857, he viciously attacked the Church as “a loathsome, disgusting ulcer in the body politic” and recommended that Congress cut it out.
Some have asserted that no one had better prospects for the presidency than did Douglas, but when the results of the election were tallied, he received only twelve electoral votes. The election victory went to an obscure backwoodsman by the name of Abraham Lincoln.
A few months after the election, Mr. Douglas died a broken man in the prime of life."
9. The Church Will be Established in the Tops of the Mountains
In Isaiah 2:2-3, he prophesied that in the last days the church would be established in the tops of the mountains and that people throughout the world would come unto it. After much persecution, mobs and murder that drove the early Saints out from several different States, they took out west to Utah. In 1853, the Salt Lake Temple was built. Temples are often referred in the scriptures as "mountains". It took the Saints 40 years to build. Today the Salt Lake City Temple is a very popular tourist attraction for people and Saints all over the world.
10. The Church Will be Brought Out of Obscurity
In Daniel 2:35, Daniel prophesies that the church in the last days will go forth to fill the whole earth and Christ repeats this message at the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants in D&C 1:30. Here Christ says that the church will be brought forth out of obscurity and darkness.
Today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide church! We have almost 17 million members, 225 operating, under construction and announced temples as of 2020 and about 80 thousand missionaries in the field. The church works a world-wide humanitarian production that's faster in their response than the Red Cross, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir famously sings around the world, and we have our own TV station, shows, radio and movies. It is safe to say the church has been brought out of obscurity.
11. The Church Will Grow to Fill the Whole Earth
Daniel again prophesied in Daniel 2:35 that the stone that was cut without hands, went forth and broke the statue from the King's dream, then it became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. As stated before, the church is now a world-wide organization!
12. The Prophet Elijah Will Come to Restore the Keys of Sealing
We learn in D&C 110:11-16 that Elijah the Prophet came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple and restored the keys of sealing. Elijah tells them that this restoration was prophesied by Malachi (Malachi 4:4-6).
13. Slaves Will Rise Up Against Their Masters
Joseph Smith prophesied on December 25, 1832, as contained in D&C 87:4, that says, "And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war." This is clearly a fulfillment from the Civil War that wouldn't come for many more years, when the black slaves who were able to escape to the North, joined the Union Army and became an important part of history as they fought together against the Confederate Armies and secured their freedom.
This is also thought to be a parallelism (will happen again) in the end days by Elder Joseph L. Wirthlin.
14. All Will Hear the Gospel in Their Own Tongue
In D&C 90:10-11, the Lord reveals to Joseph Smith, "that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language." Today we have about 112 different language translations of the Book of Mormon!
15. There Will be Extreme Widespread Selfishness and Lack of Caring
The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy prophesying of different evils and the bad conditions that will be widespread in the last days. 2Timothy 3:2 says, "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy."
This disease is incredibly rampant today. False news abounds, people puffed up in pride, the lack of charity towards the poor, the secret combinations, the greedy politicians, the different political parties that hate each-other.
How blessed we are to have the church, the Relief Society, Ministering, the Prophet and Apostles and all different parts that make up a loving and charitable people. This will be our shield from the "Satan-sponsored emotional and spiritual ravages of the last days," as said by author David J. Ridges.
16. The Jews Will Return to Jerusalem
In D&C 133:13, it says, "And let them who be of Judah flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountains of the Lord's house." Then in D&C 45:25, "But they shall be gathered again; but they shall remain until the Gentiles be fulfilled."
On October 24, 1841, Elder Orson Hyde took a special trip to Jerusalem and blessed the land with many blessings, in particular, that Jerusalem would be blessed to see it's rightful heirs posses it the land again. Not many years later, sponsored by Great Britain in the United Nations, the Jews became a nation in 1948. This was also known as the Balfour Declaration. This was the start of the Jewish migration back to Jerusalem.
Something to note here, this is only in reference to the tribe of Judah. The Lost 10 Tribes, or the rest of Israel will not be gathered until after the New Jerusalem is built. However, unbeknownst to the Jews at this time, 70 years later, President Trump will fulfill yet another prophesy about Israel.
17. Jerusalem Will Be a "Cup of Trembling" to Those Who Attempt to Fight Against it
Zechariah 12:2 says, "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem."
"Israel, today, has become a formidable military power, striking quickly and decisively against any who provoke its wrath," says David J. Ridges. Zachariah 12:3, 9 says that it will also Jerusalem a "burdensome stone" for all people, and those that try to take it will be "cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." The the Lord promises Israel that whoever goes against her will be destroyed.
Israel is a tiny country surrounded by far larger, hostile ones. It's interesting to see how strong such a small country can be to be able to DAILY keep away the hostile countries and groups at bay. The most famous instance of this power would be the "6 Day War" in 1967.
This prophecy has been fulfilled but is still true for Israel today.
18. Genealogical Research and Interest Will Spread as Never Before
We all know Malachi's words in Malachi 4:5-6, "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers..."
Back in 1997, it was reported in American Demographics that 64 million Americans were writing their own family history and tree while another 100 million were actively searching for their ancestors. According to Time magazine, Genealogy was the second most popular hobby, second only to pornography. Today, a general google search will yield (not all) that America's number one hobby today is Genealogy.
Either way, Genealogy has definitely risen to the popular ranks and interest world-wide. During the Millennium reign, the great mission of the world will be Genealogical and Temple work!
19. Wars and Rumors of Wars Will Become Normal Life
In the latter-days, violence and war will be so common place that people aren't shocked any more by violence or distant wars. It will be just another day. People will go about their daily lives and only notice particularly spectacular war news or news that affects them that will matter. This is another large sign that we're in the last days.
Matthew 24:6 says that we will hear of wars and rumors of wars. In D&C 45:26 and JS-Matt 23, this is reaffirmed. Today there are many wars, unofficial wars and ongoing conflicts. There are at least 10 official wars, 8 active and violent military conflicts as recognized by the USA as well as other violent conflicts involving at least 64 other countries and 576 militias and separatist groups.
20. The Capital of Israel is Moved Back to Jerusalem
This fulfillment of prophecy was completed by President Trump in 2017. This prophecy is more complicated and steeped in thousands of years of religious and political conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Historically, Jerusalem became the capital of Israel by decree of King David 3,000 years ago, based on his understanding of God’s own choice. It has remained Israel’s capital ever since, and though other nations conquered and settled in the Land of Israel, none ever declared Jerusalem as their capital.
After the Balfour Declaration which allowed for the Jews to finally return home to Israel in 1948, the U.N. recognized Israel as a member state but placed Jerusalem in international control. The next year, most countries built their embassy's in Jerusalem anyways and the Israelis were allowed to live in Jerusalem- the western part only which didn't include the Temple Mount. However, in 1967, during the 6-Day War when Israel took over the eastern side of Jerusalem in an Israeli-Palestinian conflict (both sides accused the other of shooting first,) Israel claimed all of Jerusalem would be under their jurisdiction, law and administration. This was condemned by the U.N. and by other states.
In 1980, Israel tried to make Jerusalem their capital (as it was in ancient times) but was not accepted and the U.N. called for embassies from all countries to be removed and moved to Tel Aviv as a way to snub Israel.
Now, politically, the United States has been the only country to give Israel support and acknowledgement for Jerusalem. President Clinton, George Bush both had promised to move the US embassy to Jerusalem with the “Jerusalem Embassy Act,” passed by Congress in 1995 with the goal to have it moved by 1999. Both Clinton and Bush broke that promise but kept up a good relation with Israel. When President Obama came to office in 2009, it was the start of an 8 year, unprecedented history of the USA, in denouncing Israel and anti-semitism that came from his presidency.
In 2017 came President Trump. With it, Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced his intention to move the U.S. Embassy on December 6, 2017, 22 years after a promise made by America. A year later, the U.S. Embassy was officially moved to Jerusalem, thus giving legitimacy to Israel's Biblical city.
Why is this important? Israel cannot keep all of their commandments without a Temple. Israel cannot re-build the Temple in Jerusalem without first obtaining the holy city of Jerusalem back under their claim. The Lord claimed Jerusalem for His Temple in the last-days as revealed by Joseph Smith, but the Jews have also been commanded to build a temple in Exodus 25:8. Thus, the moving of the American embassy and officially recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, is the next step fulfillment of latter-day prophecy when Joseph Smith said, "Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea by healed[...] all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance." Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 286.
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