A Biblical Prophecy Atheists Love

Why would an atheist love a biblical prophecy? Because it allows them to discredit the Bible and justify their atheism. Let us examine a Biblical prophecy, which if we apply the standard that anti-Mormons apply to our prophecies, would invalidate the Bible.

W. John Walsh points out that by the standard our opponents use, Jonah would be a false prophet. The Holy Bible records that "And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." (Jonah 3:4)

But the people of Ninevah repented and the Lord withdrew the prophecy. "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." (Jonah 3:10)

By the standard that our enemies use with the Prophet Joseph Smith's prophecies, Jonah would be a false prophet and we should therefore reject the Bible. Of course this interpretation is ludicrous, as any child can point out - Jonah's prophecy was conditional (see Rules for Interpreting Prophecy). There is an implied "if" in a prophecy of this nature. "If" the people of Ninevah do not repent, then in 40 days Ninevah will be overthrown. The "if" wasn't stated, but it was there.

The experience of Jonah shows to us that the Lord reserves the right to change His commandments when He sees fit. We must never forget that Isaiah taught us that the Lord does not think like we think for "my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)

Do we have a parallel in the history of Mormonism that our critics like to use to discredit us? Why yes we do. In September of 1832 the Lord commanded the Saints to build a temple in Independence, Missouri using the following language.

4 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation.

5 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, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house.

This prophecy/commandment was conditional and the the Lord later withdrew the requirement, just as he withdrew His word in the days of Jonah, this time because of the sins of the people of Missouri.

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.

50 And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and commandments I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.

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.

While this is not an exact parallel to the story of Jonah; analogies rarely are, the parallel is nonetheless legitimate. The Lord spoke through His prophet; and then revoked his own saying. When we apply the rules for interpreting prophecies fairly, both Jonah and Joseph Smith can be validated. If we are not willing to be consistent, then the problem is with us, not the Prophet Joseph Smith.

1. In both incidents a prophet prophecied an event.
2. In both instances the people of the community actively participated in forestalling that event.
3. In both cases that same prophet revoked the prophecy.

Incidentally, despite most of the war occurring in other states, Missouri suffered the greatest destruction of any state during the Civil War fulfilling the prophecy found in verse 50 above approximately 30 years after its utterance. Jackson County arguably suffered more destruction than any other Missouri county.