Prophets and Prophecy

Recently, a friend of mine told me how the claim was made that if any prophecies were made by Joseph Smith that were not fulfilled, that this proved that he is not a prophet. We'd discussed the idea that a group of us wanted to get together and have group scripture study, and that issue - along with understanding what prophets are, and what prophecy is, became the theme for the event.

Last night, we held that group scripture study. (Incidentally, group scripture study would have to be one of my favourite types of social events - an opportunity for us to gather and share testimony and truth and the Spirit, instead of focusing on some of the trivial things that sometimes get discussed around the dinner table!) It was wonderful.

I'd spent some time in the afternoon, reading and pondering and praying about the topic we would be considering. As is typical, some of what I studied related directly to what we would talk about, but I was also led onto related tangents. I didn't get to share all the scriptures and thoughts that I had from my own study, and I wanted to share them somehow. So some of those thoughts and scriptures follow. (Several of them came up last night as well.)

First: Re: How a prophet or prophecy is judged. 2 Peter 1:20-21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost."

Since prophecy is not understood by private interpretation, how is it to be understood? "And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? If it be some other way, it is not of God. Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth? Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. And that which does not edify is not of God, and is darkness."

Some have accused some of Joseph Smith's prophecies as not being fulfilled because they are not yet fulfilled, and apply their own definitions to the words given to him. God tells us that these things are to be understood by the Spirit of truth, and not some other way not of God. Frankly, the twisting and misunderstanding I have seen in anti-mormon literature regarding Joseph Smith's prophecies has been pitiable. By some of the standards used, prophets of the Old and New Testaments are false prophets. Jonah 3:4 provides an example of this - Jonah prophesied of the destruction of Nineveh within 40 days. The people repented. God did not destroy them or the city. False prophecy? Hardly. Conditional prophecy in which the condition is not explicitly stated? Obviously. Curses are conditional on wickedness, just as blessings are conditional upon obedience (righteousness). This is overlooked many times by those without the Spirit of truth in them.

And I'm out of time for the moment. To be continued with much more from 2 Peter 1, plus D&C 121, Moses 4, and D&C 29. If any one reading likes, feel free to look at these (in that order), see where the Spirit takes your thoughts as you ponder, and post some comments up. We can continue the group scripture study here.