How can Latter-day Saints accept Joseph Smith as a Prophet when He Prophecied Falsely?

Critics of Joseph Smith sometimes cite Deuteronomy 18:20-22 and state that God's test for a prophet requires 100 percent accuracy in fulfillment of his prophecies or the prophet is a false prophet. D&C 84:2-5 is occasionally used as an example of what they consider to be false prophecy. It is asserted that this prophecy predicated that the New Jerusalem would be built in Joseph Smith's day. Several factors should be considered in judging this prophecy"

It should be noted that the time of the accomplishment uses the same identical words "this generation" which Jesus used in referring to his Second Coming and "the gathering of his elect" [Matt 24:27-34]. It appears that the word "generation" as used in scripture, may have no set time limit [D&C 5:8, 10; 6:9; and others]. Jesus stated, for example: "an evil and adulterous generation seekth after a sign; there shall be no sign given it" [Matt 12:39]

Similar prophets are found with words like "eternal", "forever", "ever-lasting", "hereafter", "quickly" and others. John Aylor explained: "The word forever used in the Old Testament does not necessarily mean to the end of time but to the end of a period" [John Taylor, Mediation and the Atonement]. Thus, it seems quite possible that D&C 84:2-5 and other similar scriptures are simply being misinterpreted because the Lord's perspective of time is not the same as man's [See also Matt 10:23; 12:39-42; 24:34; 26:64 {hereafter}; Re 22:6-7, 12, 20 {quickly}]

Furthermore, it is clear to Latter-day Saints that promised blessings may be revoked when man does not obey God [Jer 18:8-10 D&C 58:31-33; 130:21]. That the blessing in D&C 84:2-5 was revoked "for a little season" is made clear by the Lord in D&C 105:1-9 and 124:49. This particular promise was made contingent on obedience to the commandment "that they shall not boast themselves of these things... before the world" [D&C 84:73]. In this case, the saints did boast, and the blessing was withdrawn for a time. Some may scoff at this explanation, but God nevertheless frequently grants and revokes blessings based on obedience. The reader might note that the children of Israel were similarly denied blessings as a result of disobedience at Mount Sinai [Ex 32] and in the boarders of Canaan [Num 14]. Other promises, as well be noted shortly, were revoked for thousands of years. Many prophetic teachings and prophecies as contained in our present King James Bible are difficult to understand or appear to be conditional:

1. Passover feast to be an eternal ordinance [Ex 12:14 and circumcision and eternal covenant [Gen 17:13; Acts 15:1-11].
2. Jacob prophesied that Judah would not be without a ruler until Shiloh [the Messiah] had come. [Gen 49:10; see also Talmage, Jesus the Christ pp. 54-55]
3. Children of Israel given "a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more" [2 Sam7:10]
4. Isaiah's prophecy of Hezekiah's death [Isa 38:1-5]
5. Jeremiah's prophecy concerning Zedekiah [Jer 34:4-5; 52:10-11].
6. prophecy concerning Nineveh [Jonah 3:4, 10]
7. Jesus prophesied that "the end wold come" after the gospel was "preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations" [Matt 24:14]. Paul later stated that, in that day, the "gospel . . . was preached to every creature which is under heaven" [Col 1:23; see also Mark 16:15 and Matt 28:19]. Many other prophecies of Christ seemed to confirm the nearness of fulfillment to that day but have not yet been fulfilled. [Matt 10:23; 16:28; 24:34; 26:64; Mark 13:30; Luke 21:24-27, 32; see also Heb 9:26; 1 John 2:18; JS-M 1:34-35

Were Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Nathan, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah and Jesus false prophets? If we use Deuteronomy 18:20-22 as an absolute rule and believe the Bible to be inerrant, we might be led to this conclusion. It is clear that the information presented above must be considered in judging prophecies. As Paul said, "We know in part, and we prophecy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away" [ Cor 13:9-10]. The time element and the conditions specified must be clearly understood and we must be patient and exercise faith in the Lord's servants [D&C 21:4-5.] Most importantly, we must rely on the Spirit, not man's understanding, to guide us in all truth [John 16:13].

Duane S. Crowther and other authors have made exhaustive lists of hundreds of modern prophecies which have been fulfilled. Duane Crowther lists 141 prophecies which were made by Joseph Smith and have been fulfilled. [Prophecies of Joseph Smith; see also Kirk Holland Vestail and Arthur Wallace, The Firm Foundation of Mormonism, Chapter 21; Gilbert W. Scharffs, The Truth About the God Makers, Appendix C, pp. 387-98. For additional information on prophets and prophecy see Sustaining and Defending the Faith, pp. 69-71; Teachings, pp. 255 and 278; and Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:111-15. ]