NORTON META TAG

30 August 2012

THE WHITE HORSE PROPHECY, MITT ROMNEY & THE LDS / MORMON CHURCH

IT is interesting to note that mitt romney doesn't state the white horse prophecy is false. There are many in the mormon community who see romney's nomination for and possible election as president as the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy because they see Pres Obama and the Democratic party destroying the nation and our Constitution. They see a president romney as the mormon who will save America and our Constitution by invoking his power to restore the "true" constitution and establish a lds / mormon theocracy. Dana Millbank of the Washington Post may view this as a nonviolent, benign event, but anyone who knows anything about the history of the mormon church in America knows it is full of violence against non-believers. And one must take the "official" lds church position on the white horse prophecy with a grain of salt. After all, they also "reject" polygamy, but consider the number of polygamist communities and families in areas governed by mormons. If you want to know about the real lds / mormon church, read Under The Banner Of Heaven, and consider what you have read when you vote on 6 NOV 12. 
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Smith, Jr., first leader of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and purported source of the White Horse Prophecy.
The White Horse Prophecy is a statement purported to have been made in 1843 by Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, regarding the future of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and the United States of America. The Latter Day Saints, according to the prophecy, would "go to the Rocky Mountains and ... be a great and mighty people", identified figuratively with the White Horse described in the Revelation of John. The prophecy further predicts that the United States Constitution will one day "hang like a thread" and will be saved "by the efforts of the White Horse".[1]
Some have speculated, on the basis of the White Horse Prophecy, that Mormons expect the United States to eventually become a theocracy dominated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[2][3] The authenticity of the prophecy as a whole, which was not made public until long after Smith's death, is debated, and the leadership of the LDS Church has stated that "the so-called 'White Horse Prophecy' ... is not embraced as Church doctrine."[4] However, the belief that members of the LDS Church will one day need to take action to save the imperiled US Constitution has been attributed to Smith in several sources and has been discussed in an approving fashion by Brigham Young and other LDS leaders.
Several famous Mormons have made statements related to the White Horse Prophecy. For instance, US presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said he considers the White Horse Prophecy to be a matter of "speculation and discussion by [LDS] church members" and "not official [LDS] church doctrine."[5]

Origins

Latter Day Saint movement founder Joseph Smith went to Washington D.C. in November 1839 in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain help for his persecuted followers.[6] Pat Bagley of the Salt Lake Tribune writes that from then on, Smith and his followers "considered themselves the last Real Americans" and "the legitimate heirs of the pilgrims and Founding Fathers", who would be called upon one day to save the US Constitution.[7] Smith is believed to have then said, in 1840, that when the Constitution hung by a thread, Latter Day Saint elders would step in on the proverbial white horse to save the country.[7]
According to a diary entry made by John Roberts of Paradise, Utah in 1902, Joseph Smith gave the White Horse Prophecy in early May 1843, during the period in which the Latter Day Saints were headquartered in Nauvoo, Illinois. Smith is recorded as saying that the Mormons "will go to the Rocky Mountains and will be a great and mighty people established there, which I will call the White Horse of peace and safety." Adding that "I shall never go there" and predicting continued persecution by enemies of the church, Smith reportedly said that "You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed. It will hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber.... I love the Constitution; it was made by the inspiration of God; and it will be preserved and saved by the efforts of the White Horse, and by the Red Horse[8] who will combine in its defense." Smith additionally said, according to the diary, that the Mormons would send missionaries to "gather the honest in heart from among the Pale Horse, or people of the United States, to stand by the Constitution of the United States as it was given by the inspiration of God." Roberts' account quotes Smith as predicting numerous wars involving Great Britain, France, Russia, China, and other countries, and saying that the European nobility "knows that [Mormonism] is true, but it has not pomp enough, and grandeur and influence for them to yet embrace it." He is also reported to have said that a temple which the Latter Day Saints had planned to build in Jackson County, Missouri "will be built in this generation."[1][9]
In 1844, Joseph Smith rejected the platforms of the major candidates for President of the United States and decided to conduct his own third-party campaign for the Presidency[3][10]—an effort which was cut short by his death on June 27 of that year. Following a succession crisis in which Brigham Young was accepted as Smith's successor by the majority of the Latter Day Saints, the Mormon migration to the Intermountain West began under Young's direction in February 1846.[11]

Authenticity

Edwin Rushton, who recorded the White Horse Prophecy after Joseph Smith's death
The authenticity of the White Horse Prophecy is debated. It was never made public during Smith's lifetime, but was recorded many years after his death by one of his associates, Edwin Rushton.[1] Although some elements of the statement were confirmed by contemporary LDS Church leaders as having been taught by Smith, the prophecy as a whole has never been officially acknowledged or accepted, and it has been repudiated by the LDS Church since 1918.[12] The prophecy's authenticity, on the other hand, has been defended by LDS scholar Duane Crowther,[13] Mormon fundamentalist Ogden Kraut,[14] and anti-Mormon writer Sandra Tanner.[15]
In his 1966 book Mormon Doctrine, LDS theologian (and, later, apostle) Bruce R. McConkie wrote that "From time to time, accounts of various supposed visions, revelations, and prophecies are spread forth by and among the Latter-day Saints, who should know better than to believe or spread such false information. One of these false and deceptive documents that has cropped up again and again for over a century is the so-called White Horse Prophecy."[16]
In early 2010, the LDS Church issued a statement saying that "the so-called 'White Horse Prophecy' is based on accounts that have not been substantiated by historical research and is not embraced as Church doctrine."[4] Also in 2010, LDS historian Don L. Penrod examined significant differences in two early handwritten accounts of the prophecy, noted some words and phrases which were not characteristic of Joseph Smith's speaking style or current in his time, and speculated that Rushton had "in his elderly years recorded some things that [Smith] actually said, mixing in words of his own creation"—commenting additionally that "memories of words and events, especially many years later, are often faulty."[12]

United States Constitution

Brigham Young, who assumed the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after the death of Joseph Smith.
Though there are doubts about the authenticity of the White Horse Prophecy as a whole, several sources attribute to Smith the idea that the United States Constitution would one day hang by the thread, and LDS Church leaders have issued similar warnings with regard to the Constitution.[7][17]
In 1855, Brigham Young reportedly wrote that "when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it."[7][18]
In 1858, Orson Hyde (another contemporary of Smith) wrote that Smith believed "the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and ... if the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the elders of [the LDS] Church".[7][19]
In 1922, the LDS Church's fifth presiding bishop, Charles W. Nibley, stated that "the day would come when there would be so much of disorder, of secret combinations taking the law into their own hands, tramping [sic] upon Constitutional rights and the liberties of the people, that the Constitution would hang as by a thread. Yes, but it will still hang, and there will be enough of good people, many who may not belong to our Church at all, people who have respect for law and for order, and for Constitutional rights, who will rally around with us and save the Constitution."[15][20]
In 1928, the LDS apostle Melvin J. Ballard remarked that "the prophet Joseph Smith said the time will come when, through secret organizations taking the law into their own hands ... the Constitution of the United States would be so torn and rent asunder, and life and property and peace and security would be held of so little value, that the Constitution would, as it were, hang by a thread. This Constitution will be preserved, but it will be preserved very largely in consequence of what the Lord has revealed and what [the Mormons], through listening to the Lord and being obedient, will help to bring about, to stabilize and give permanency and effect to the Constitution itself. That also is our mission."[20]

Interpretation

LDS conservative commentator Glenn Beck, speaking at the Restoring Honor rally in 2010.
Questions regarding LDS attitudes towards the United States government—whether considered on their own or as component parts of the White Horse Prophecy—have arisen from time to time as prominent members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have become involved in American politics. The White Horse Prophecy has been characterized as "effectively plac[ing] believers on perpetual Red Alert for the Constitution's possible demise"[21] and as admonishing Mormons to "come to the rescue and restore the true Constitution by any means necessary".[22]
Writers such as Richard Abanes and Elaine Wolff have speculated, on the basis of the prophecy, that Mormons expect the US to eventually become a "Mormon-ruled theocracy divinely ordained to 'not only direct the political affairs of the Mormon community, but eventually those of the United States and ultimately the world'",[2] and that "a Mormon, if he were elected president, would take his orders from Salt Lake City."[3] In addition to many LDS members of the Republican Party, some LDS Democrats have also been inspired to run for office by the White Horse Prophecy.[17]

George Romney

In 1967, US presidential candidate George W. Romney said the following regarding the White Horse Prophecy: "I have always felt that they meant that sometime the question of whether we are going to proceed on the basis of the Constitution would arise and at this point government leaders who were Mormons would be involved in answering that question."[5]

Mitt Romney

In 2007, US presidential candidate Mitt Romney told the Salt Lake Tribune that "I haven't heard my name associated with [the White Horse Prophecy] or anything of that nature. That's not official church doctrine.... I don't put that at the heart of my religious belief."[5][23]

Glenn Beck

Conservative personality Glenn Beck (who joined the LDS Church in 1999) has alleged that President Barack Obama "is going to bring us to the verge of shredding the Constitution, of massive socialism."[7] On November 14, 2008—following Obama's election—Beck appeared on Bill O'Reilly's show The O'Reilly Factor and said that "we are at the place where the Constitution hangs in the balance, I feel the Constitution is hanging in the balance right now, hanging by a thread unless the good Americans wake up."[7] Earlier in November, while interviewing US Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah (also a Mormon), Beck remarked: "I heard Barack Obama talk about the Constitution and I thought, we are at the point or we are very near the point where our Constitution is hanging by a thread."[7][24][25] Hatch appeared on Beck's Fox News show in January 2009, and Beck prompted him by declaring "I believe our Constitution hangs by a thread."[7]
LDS blogger and religious commentator Joanna Brooks has said that "it is likely that Beck owes his brand of Founding Father–worship to Mormonism.... Many Mormons also believe that Joseph Smith prophesied in 1843 that the US Constitution would one day 'hang by a thread' and be saved by faithful Mormons".[26] Washington Post journalist Dana Milbank has described Beck's views as essentially "White Horse Prophecy meets horsemen of the apocalypse"[7]—though Milbank has also observed that the White Horse Prophecy is "actually a fairly benign prophecy. They're talking about restoring law and order and peace and tranquility. It doesn't sound like a violent thing."[27]

Rex Rammell

In 2009, Idaho gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell announced plans to hold a series of meetings with believing Mormon men, which were to include discussion of the White Horse Prophecy.[28][29] In response, LDS Church officials issued a statement saying the church is "politically neutral" and hoping that "the campaign practices of political candidates would not suggest that their candidacy is supported by or connected to the church."[30][31] Rammell later retracted his original plan to limit his meetings only to LDS men, apologizing to "all those citizens who are not members of the LDS faith, who have expressed a sincere interest in attending my meetings and discussing this prophecy and how we can step forward and save the United States Constitution".[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "The White Horse Prophecy", George Cobabe, Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (2004). Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  2. ^ a b One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church, Richard Abanes, Basic Books (2003), p. xvii.
  3. ^ a b c Wolff, Elaine (October 17, 2007). "An American president". San Antonio Current: p. 8.
  4. ^ a b "Church Statement on 'White Horse Prophecy' and Political Neutrality", Public Affairs Department, LDS Church, January 6, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c "Romney candidacy has resurrected last days prophecy of Mormon saving the Constitution". Salt Lake Tribune. June 4, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  6. ^ Bushman, Richard L. (2005). Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. New York: Knopf. pp. 392–394. ISBN 1-4000-4270-4.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mormon Prophecy Behind Glenn Beck's Message by Dana Milbank, The Huffington Post, October 5, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  8. ^ The identity of the "Red Horse" is not stated in the prophecy.
  9. ^ Anderson, Wing (1946). Prophetic Years 1947–1953. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 33–37. ISBN 978-1-4286-3588-3.
  10. ^ Smith, Joseph, Jr. (1844). "General Smith's Views on the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States". Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  11. ^ Bennett, Richard E. (1997). We'll Find the Place: The Mormon Exodus, 1846–1848. Deseret Book Company. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-8061-3838-1.
  12. ^ a b Don L. Penrod (2010). "Edwin Rushton as the Source of the White Horse Prophecy". BYU Studies 49 (3): 75–131. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  13. ^ Crowther, Duane S. (1962). Prophecy, Key to the Future. Horizon Publishers. pp. 301–322. ISBN 0-88290-781-6.
  14. ^ Kraut, Ogden (1993). The White Horse Prophecy. Pioneer Publishing. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  15. ^ a b Tanner, Sandra. "Joseph Smith's 'White Horse' Prophecy". Utah Lighthouse Ministry. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  16. ^ McConkie, Bruce R. (1966). Mormon Doctrine (2nd ed.). Bookcraft. p. 835.
  17. ^ a b Sheffield, Carrie (November 3, 2006). "Houses of Worship: White Horse in the White House". Wall Street Journal: p. 13. "Still, the prophecy continues to inspire Mormons to run for office, on both sides of the aisle."
  18. ^ A discourse by President Brigham Young, delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, February 18, 1855. Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p. 182.
  19. ^ A sermon by Elder Orson Hyde, delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, January 3, 1858. Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 152.
  20. ^ a b Milbank, Dana (2010). Tears of a Clown: Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagging of America. Doubleday. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-385-53388-1.
  21. ^ Reilly, Adam (October 14, 2009). "Latterday Taint". Boise Weekly.
  22. ^ Wurth, Michael (January 19, 2011). "Teabooking 101: Tears of a Clown: Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagging of America". San Antonio Current: p. 11.
  23. ^ "Is Glenn Beck Attempting to Fulfill the Mormon 'White Horse Prophecy'?". AOL News. October 5, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  24. ^ Reilly, Adam (December 3, 2009). "Latter-Day Taint". Salt Lake City Weekly: pp. 20–22.
  25. ^ Glenn Beck with Sen. Hatch: 'Constitution is hanging by a thread', GlennBeck.com, November 4, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  26. ^ Brooks, Joanna (October 7, 2009). "How Mormonism Built Glenn Beck". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  27. ^ "Glenn Beck: Reading between the Coded Lines". National Public Radio. October 10, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  28. ^ "Rammell unapologetic about meeting with LDS elders". Rexburg Standard Journal (Rexburg, Idaho). December 23, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  29. ^ "Idaho candidate Rammell holding LDS meetings". Deseret News. December 22, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  30. ^ "LDS Church responds to Idaho candidate's 'elders only' meetings". Deseret News. December 26, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  31. ^ "LDS Church issues statement on Rex Rammell". Rexburg Standard Journal. December 24, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  32. ^ "Rammell apologizes for LDS elders only meetings". Rexburg Standard Journal. January 9, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  33. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Horse_Prophecy 

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