SpencerMarsh at 02:19, 29 June 2026

2026-06-29T02:19:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:19, 29 June 2026
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	<small>[[Prophets and Church leaders]] \| [[Other Questions About Prophets and Church Leaders\|Other Questions]] \| <span style="color:#7BB375">Oliver Cowdery</span>		<small>[[Prophets and Church leaders]] \| [[Other Questions About Prophets and Church Leaders\|Other Questions]] \| <span style="color:#7BB375">Oliver Cowdery</span></small>
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	{{Summary1}} Critics sometimes argue that several blessings pronounced by Oliver Cowdery contained false prophecies because some promised events did not occur during the recipients' lifetimes. The blessings given to Orson Hyde, Lyman Johnson, and William Smith, like many patriarchal and personal blessings, contain conditional promises, symbolic language, or prophecies whose fulfillment may extend beyond mortality. Later published versions of some blessings were edited for clarity without changing their essential meaning. These blessings do not provide convincing evidence of failed prophecy when ~~they are~~ read in their historical, doctrinal, and literary context.		{{Summary1}} Critics sometimes argue that several blessings pronounced by Oliver Cowdery contained false prophecies because some promised events did not occur during the recipients' lifetimes. The blessings given to Orson Hyde, Lyman Johnson, and William Smith, like many patriarchal and personal blessings, contain conditional promises, symbolic language, or prophecies whose fulfillment may extend beyond mortality. Later published versions of some blessings were edited for clarity without changing their essential meaning. These blessings do not provide convincing evidence of a failed prophecy when read in their historical, doctrinal, and literary context.
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	\| title = ===Question: Does Oliver Cowdery's blessing and promise to Orson Hyde contain a false prophecy, which was then ~~altererd~~ before being printed in ''History of the Church''?		\| title = ===Question: Does Oliver Cowdery's blessing and promise to Orson Hyde contain a false prophecy, which was then altered before being printed in ''History of the Church''?===
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	====Text of the Orson Hyde blessing was edited in ''History of the Church''?====		====Text of the Orson Hyde blessing was edited in ''History of the Church''?====

	The original of Hyde's blessing is in the Kirtland Council Minute ~~book~~. It is compared here (left) with the version as it appears in the ''History of the Church'' (bold text indicates differences):		The original of Hyde's blessing is in the Kirtland Council Minute Book. It is compared here (left) with the version as it appears in the ''History of the Church'' (bold text indicates differences):

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	====The word "shall" was changed to "may"====		====The word "shall" was changed to "may"====

	The majority of the changes ~~alter~~ a phrase like "shall" ~~to a phrase~~ like "may." The critics presumably wish to mislead the unwary into ~~concluding~~ that the initial version ~~gave~~ unconditional promises or prophecies, while the ''History of the Church'' version adds a conditional ~~aspect~~. Yet, the critics are simply ignorant of word usage in the early 1800s. Webster's 1828 dictionary noted of "shall":		The majority of the changes replace a phrase like "shall" with one like "may." The critics presumably wish to mislead the unwary into believing that the initial version made unconditional promises or prophecies, while the ''History of the Church'' version adds a conditional element. Yet, the critics are simply ignorant of word usage in the early 1800s. Webster's 1828 dictionary noted of "shall":

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	Thus, "shall" indicates a promise ''or'' command—and, LDS theology (with its strong emphasis on moral agency) always holds that man is free to accept or reject the commandments or promises of God. The ''History of the Church'' makes this fact more unambiguous for the modern reader, perhaps, in its use of "may." But, this change in no way changes the content of the blessing.		Thus, "shall" indicates a promise ''or'' command—and, LDS theology (with its strong emphasis on moral agency) always holds that man is free to accept or reject the commandments or promises of God. The ''History of the Church'' makes this fact more unambiguous for the modern reader, perhaps, in its use of "may." But, this change in no way changes the content of the blessing.

	In fact, the ordination given to Brigham Young on the same day includes similar promises, but usually uses "may" ~~instead of~~ "shall." Since Brigham's blessing ~~was given by Martin Harris~~, while Orson's was given by Oliver Cowdery, this difference is probably best explained by the habits in language between the two men. (Compare [[Revelation after Joseph Smith/David Whitmer/Brigham Young ordination blessing\|Brigham Young ordination blessing]].) Latter-day Saints do not believe that such blessings are generally word-for-word dictation from God, ~~but instead~~ are the speaker's best attempt to put into words the information communicated to them by the Holy Spirit (e.g., {{s\|\|D&C\|1\|24}}). Those people who edited the ''History of the Church'' understood this.		In fact, the ordination given to Brigham Young on the same day includes similar promises but usually uses "may" rather than "shall." Since Martin Harris gave Brigham's blessing, while Orson's was given by Oliver Cowdery, this difference is probably best explained by the habits in language between the two men. (Compare [[Revelation after Joseph Smith/David Whitmer/Brigham Young ordination blessing\|Brigham Young ordination blessing]].) Latter-day Saints do not believe that such blessings are generally word-for-word dictation from God. Instead, they are the speaker's best attempt to put into words the information communicated to them by the Holy Spirit (e.g., {{s\|\|D&C\|1\|24}}). Those people who edited the ''History of the Church'' understood this.

	====Critics reading through their own theology and ideas====		====Critics reading through their own theology and ideas====

	This is another excellent example of sectarian critics' tendency to read LDS scripture and language through their own lenses—the critics are often Calvinists, believing in God's absolute predestination of events and acts. But, LDS theology has never seen the matter that way. Instead, God ~~gives~~ promises or commands to mortals who may choose to ~~participate~~ or ~~not~~. As the Lord said elsewhere:		This is another excellent example of sectarian critics' tendency to read LDS scripture and language through their own lenses—the critics are often Calvinists, believing in God's absolute predestination of events and acts. But, LDS theology has never seen the matter that way. Instead, God makes promises or commands to mortals who may choose to accept or reject them. As the Lord said elsewhere:

	:49 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings....<br>51 Therefore, for this cause have I accepted the offerings of those whom I commanded to build up a city and a house unto my name, in Jackson county, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith the Lord your God. ({{s\|\|D&C\|124\|49,51}}		:49 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings....<br>51 Therefore, for this cause have I accepted the offerings of those whom I commanded to build up a city and a house unto my name, in Jackson county, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies, saith the Lord your God. ({{s\|\|D&C\|124\|49,51}}
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	{{SeeAlso\|Joseph_Smith/Prophecies/David Patten to serve mission\|Independence_temple_to_be_built_"in_this_generation"\|l2=Independence temple\|l1=David Patten to serve a mission}}		{{SeeAlso\|Joseph_Smith/Prophecies/David Patten to serve mission\|Independence_temple_to_be_built_"in_this_generation"\|l2=Independence temple\|l1=David Patten to serve a mission}}

	====This is ~~simply~~ not a false prophecy====		====This is not a false prophecy====

	Critics go further in claiming that the blessing which says that Hyde "shall stand on the earth and bring souls till Christ comes" proves that this is a false prophecy.		Critics go further in claiming that the blessing which says that Hyde "shall stand on the earth and bring souls till Christ comes" proves that this is a false prophecy.

	But, the blessing nowhere asserts that Hyde will be a mortal until the Second Coming. Unlike many Christian theologies, the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not place the abode of the dead in another world or realm. Likewise, it does not cause the preaching of the gospel and the redeeming of souls to cease with death. Missionary work continues in the spirit world after death, and the "spirit world" to which the dead go is ''on earth''. Brigham Young said:		But the blessing nowhere asserts that Hyde will be a mortal until the Second Coming. Unlike many Christian theologies, the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not place the abode of the dead in another world or realm. Likewise, it does not cause the preaching of the gospel and the redeeming of souls to cease with death. Missionary work continues in the spirit world after death, and the "spirit world" to which the dead go is ''on earth''. Brigham Young said:

	:When you lay down this tabernacle [i.e., mortal body], where are you going? Into the spiritual world. Are you going into Abraham's bosom. No, not anywhere nigh there, but into the spirit world. '''Where is the spirit world? It is right here.''' Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes, they do. Do they both inhabit one kingdom? Yes, they do. Do they go to the sun? No. Do they go beyond the boundaries of this organized earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon this earth, for the express purpose of inhabiting it to all eternity. Where else are you going? Nowhere else, only as you may be permitted....		:When you lay down this tabernacle [i.e., mortal body], where are you going? Into the spiritual world. Are you going into Abraham's bosom. No, not anywhere nigh there, but into the spirit world. '''Where is the spirit world? It is right here.''' Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes, they do. Do they both inhabit one kingdom? Yes, they do. Do they go to the sun? No. Do they go beyond the boundaries of this organized earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon this earth, for the express purpose of inhabiting it to all eternity. Where else are you going? Nowhere else, only as you may be permitted....

SpencerMarsh at 02:09, 29 June 2026

2026-06-29T02:09:44Z

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2026-06-29T01:53:42Z

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<onlyinclude>
{{H2
|L=Mormonism and prophets/Revelation after Joseph Smith/Oliver Cowdery
|H=Blessings given by Oliver Cowdery
|S=
|L1=Question: Does Oliver Cowdery's blessing and promise to Orson Hyde contain a false prophecy, which was then altered before being printed in History of the Church?
|L2=Question: Is a blessing given to Lyman Johnson that he would live until the gathering accomplished a false prophecy?
|L3=Question: Was William Smith promised in a blessing that he would remain on the earth until Christ comes?
}}
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{{:Question: Does Oliver Cowdery's blessing and promise to Orson Hyde contain a false prophecy, which was then altered before being printed in History of the Church?}}
{{:Question: Is a blessing given to Lyman Johnson that he would live until the gathering accomplished a false prophecy?}}
{{:Question: Was William Smith promised in a blessing that he would remain on the earth until Christ comes?}}



[[es:El Mormonismo y los profetas/Revelación después de que José Smith/Oliver Cowdery]]

Blessings Given by Oliver Cowdery - Revision history

SpencerMarsh at 02:19, 29 June 2026

SpencerMarsh at 02:09, 29 June 2026