FEBRUARY 14th, 1835
FEBRUARY 14th, 1835
That same day, February 14th, 1835, the new Apostles were given "blessings" by Joseph Smith and two others. These were prophetic blessings. Three blessings "stand out" from the others:
*William Smith
*Lyman E. Johnson
*John F. Boynton
These three Apostles were promised that they would live until Christ returned.
The blessing upon William Smith:
"He shall be mighty in the hands of God, in bringing about the restoration of Israel. The nations shall rejoice at the greatness of the gifts which God has bestowed upon him: that his tongue shall be loosed; he shall have power to do great things in the name of Jesus. He shall be preserved and remain on the earth, until Christ shall come to take vengeance on the wicked." (History of the Church 2:191)
William Smith died in 1893, in Iowa. But he met Emmanuel in Independence, Missouri, in 1887.
In 1856, Emmanuel travelled to Keokuk Iowa, on a huge steam powered train, and met with Lyman E. Johnson; who treated Emmanuel quite badly and threw him out of his law office. A few weeks later Johnson drowned in the Mississippi while crossing the river in Wisconsin. On February 14, 1835, Joseph Smith blessed Lyman E. Johnson, saying:
"He shall see the Saviour come and stand upon the earth with power and great glory." (D.H.C. 1:191)
Emmauel visited John F. Boynton in 1870, in Syracuse, New York, claiming only that he was "a Messenger of the Father" sent to tell him that Jesus had returned. Emmanuel told Boynton to travel to Utah and tell Brigham Young that Jesus had returned and would appear in Utah in 1891. On February 14, 1835, Joseph Smith gave John F. Boynton a blessing which said:
"Thou shalt see the face of thy Redeemer in the flesh." (D.H.C. 2:191)
John F. Boynton did travel to Utah in 1872, and met with Brigham Young several times. What occurred at those meetings, is not known. Brigham Young died in 1877.
All three men, all who had been members of the original Council of Twelve Apostles, had seen Emmanuel. But none of them recognized him as Jesus Christ returned.
In April of 1836, Joseph Smith had a prophetic dream. In the dream he saw the original Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church. Joseph recounted this dream to Orson F. Whitney, who later wrote of it in a letter to Heber C. Kimball:
"They [the Apostles] formed into a circle, and all stood with their eyes fixed upon the ground. The Savior appeared and stood in their midst, and wept over them, and wanted to show Himself to them, but they did not discover [recognize] Him." (Life of Heber C. Kimball, p.????)
Where the blessings of Joseph Smith to these four Apostles false? They did not say "if" you do such and such you'll see the Savior. The blessings said "You shall see the Saviour in the flesh"! or "You will leave until Christ comes!" No ifs, ands, or buts!
Did all these prophetic blessings fail?
