Evidence #85 | September 19, 2020

Book of Mormon Evidence: Internally Fulfilled Prophecies

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Scripture Central

Abstract

The Book of Mormon records the fulfillment of more than 100 prophecies. The precision, consistency, subtlety, and complexity of these fulfillments are remarkable.

Prophetic statements can be found throughout the Book of Mormon. Some of these prophecies pertain to the last days, but many are fulfilled internally within the text itself. These types of fulfillments provide an opportunity to test the Book of Mormon’s internal consistency and intertextual relationships.  

Occasionally, a prophecy is given and then comes to pass in short order. This can be seen in Nephi’s prophecy, recorded in Helaman 8:27, in which he declared, “go ye in unto the judgment-seat, and search; and behold your judge is murdered, and he lieth in his blood.” Five verses later, a group of servants discovered the chief judge, just as Nephi predicted: “And it came to pass that they ran in their might, and came in unto the judgment-seat; and behold, the chief judge had fallen to the earth, and did lie in his blood” (Helaman 9:3).

In most cases, however, prophecies are separated from their recorded fulfillments by multiple chapters and sometimes even hundreds of pages. To King Noah’s priests, Abinadi prophesied, “Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire” (Mosiah 17:15). More than 30 chapters later, Mormon recorded the fulfillment of this prophecy: “Thus the words of Abinadi were brought to pass, which he said concerning the seed of the priests who caused that he should suffer death by fire” (Alma 25:4–9)

Abinadi suffering death by fire. Image via churchofjesuschrist.org. 

Not all prophetic fulfillments are so obvious, though. In Lehi’s final address to his family, he declared, “I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord” (2 Nephi 1:6). Unlike the example above (in which Mormon lets readers know that Abinadi’s prophecy was fulfilled), this prophecy from Lehi is never directly referenced again. That doesn’t mean it was forgotten though. On several other occasions when migrations are discussed, the authors repeatedly draw attention to the Lord’s intervention, consistent with Lehi’s prediction:

Omni 1:16

Helaman 6:10

Ether 11:21

And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth.

Now the land south was called Lehi, and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south.

And that the Lord God would send or bring forth another people to possess the land, by his power, after the manner by which he brought their fathers.

 

This type of unannounced fulfillment is the rule, rather than the exception. Scores of prophecies are scattered throughout the Book of Mormon, but only the careful reader will recognize when most of them come to pass or are subtly alluded to.

Fortunately, it appears that those recording prophetic fulfillments often used key words or phrases to help jog the reader’s memory. This can be readily seen in Mormon’s account of Christ’s coming in 3 Nephi. As demonstrated in the following chart, the details that Mormon reports, as well as the specific words and phrases he uses to describe them (highlighted in yellow), repeatedly hark back to prophecies given by Nephi and Samuel the Lamanite (highlighted in blue and found primarily in 1 Nephi 12, 19; 2 Nephi 26; and Helaman 13–14).

Prophecies of Christ’s Coming

1 Nephi

2 Nephi

Helaman

3 Nephi

Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem (10:4; 19:8)

the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem (25:19)

 

and it was six hundred years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem (1:1)

 

 

And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven (14:6)

for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people (1:4)

 

look forward unto Christ with steadfastness for the signs which are given (26:8)

 

they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day (1:8)

 

there shall be signs given unto my people of his birth (26:3)

there shall be no darkness (14:3)

at the going down of the sun there was no darkness (1:15)

 

 

ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth (14:7)

all the people … were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth (1:17

 

 

And behold, there shall a new star arise (14:21)

And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word (1:21)

and I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them. (12:3)

 

 

there were many cities built (6:7)

 

 

Behold, we are surrounded by demons, (13:37)

And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits (7:19)

I heard thunderings (12:4)

they shall be visited with thunderings (26:6)

 

there was terrible thunder (8:6)

I saw lightnings (12:4)

they shall be visited with … lightnings (26:6)

 

there were exceedingly sharp lightnings (8:7)

 

 

Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; … if it were not for the righteous who are in this great city, behold, I would cause that fire should come down out of heaven and destroy it (13:12–13)

And the city of Zarahemla did take fire (8:8)

by mountains which shall be carried up (19:11)

 

there shall be many places which are now called valleys which shall become mountains (14:23)

And the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great mountain (8:10)

The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day … by tempest (19:11)

 

 

because of the tempest (8:12)

and I heard … earthquakes (12:4)

And they shall be visited with … earthquakes (26:6)

and the earth shall shake and tremble (14:21)

exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth (8:12)

 

 

many highways shall be broken up (14:24)

the highways were broken up (8:13)

I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up (12:4)

 

 

many smooth places became rough (8:13)

I saw many cities that they were sunk (12:4)

 

 

many great and notable cities were sunk (8:14)

I saw many that they were burned with fire (12:4)

 

 

many were burned (8:14)

I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof (12:4)

buildings shall fall upon them (26:5)

 

many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth (8:14)

 

 

many cities shall become desolate (14:24)

the places were left desolate (8:14)

 

whirlwinds shall carry them away (26:5)

 

And there were some who were carried away in the whirlwind (8:16)

I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent (12:4)

 

the rocks … shall be broken up Yea, they shall be rent in twain (14:21–22)

And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up (8:18)

 

 

shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, (14:22)

they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land (8:18)

 

 

there shall be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours (14:21)

for behold, they did last for about the space of three hours; and it was said by some that the time was greater (8:19)

 

 

the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars (Helaman 14:20)

there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars (8:22)

I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land (12:4)

 

 

for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land (8:22)

 

 

there shall be no light upon the face of this land … for the space of three days (14:20)

it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen (8:23)

 

 

then shall ye weep and howl in that day (13:32)

there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people (8:23)

 

 

And then shall ye lament, and say: O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out (13:32–33)

And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out (8:25)

 

and mountains shall cover them (26:5)

 

that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth (9:5)

 

the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them (26:3)

 

the blood of the … saints shall not come up any more unto me against them (9:7)

I saw mountains tumbling into pieces (12:4)

 

and there shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley (14:23)

all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof (9:8)

 

the depths of the earth shall swallow them up (26:5)

 

the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth (9:8)

 

they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them (26:3)

if a prophet come among you … ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him (13:26)

because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send (9:10)

I saw multitudes who had not fallen (12:5)

behold, the righteous … behold, they are they which shall not perish (26:8)

 

O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous (9:13)

I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth (12:5)

 

 

and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land (10:9)

the groanings of the earth (19:12)

 

 

the earth did cease to tremble, and the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease (10:9)

I heard … all manner of tumultuous noises (12:4)

 

 

the tumultuous noises did pass away (10:9)

I saw the vapor of darkness (12:5)

 

 

neither were they overpowered by the vapor of smoke and of darkness (10:13)

by the opening of the earth (19:11)

 

 

by the opening of the earth to receive them (10:14)

and he came down and showed himself unto them (12:6)

he shall show himself unto you, my children (26:1)

 

Showing his body unto them (10:19)

The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness (19:11)

 

 

And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven (11:3)

I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven (12:6)

 

 

they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven (11:8)

and they were ordained of God, and chosen. (12:7)

 

 

Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen (12:1)

 

and he shall heal them (26:9)

 

I will heal them (17:7)

the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others (12:7)

 

 

the Holy Ghost did fall upon them (19:13)

I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them … behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb. (13:35)

 

 

write the things which I have told you; and according to the time and the will of the Father they shall go forth unto the Gentiles (23:4)

 

 

And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many (14:25)

How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them? (23:11)

The persistence of such close intertextual relationships throughout 3 Nephi can hardly be described as accidental. Their presence suggests that Mormon was very much attuned to the previously established prophecies. Yet he wasn’t simply reviewing prior prophetic utterances and integrating them in the same sequential order in which they were first given. Instead, the fulfillments are complexly woven into the fabric of 3 Nephi, which has its own independent organizational structure. Notice, for instance, how the recorded fulfillments in 3 Nephi 8:12–14 connect, almost sporadically, with prior prophecies from different locations (key words are underlined and references are bolded and bracketed for emphasis):

the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest [1 Nephi 19:11] and the whirlwinds [2 Nephi 26:5], and the thunderings and the lightnings [1 Nephi 12:4; 26:6], and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth [1 Nephi 12:4; 26:6; Helaman 14:21]; And the highways were broken up [Helaman 14:24], and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough [1 Nephi 12:4]. And many great and notable cities were sunk [1 Nephi 12:4], and many were burned [1 Nephi 12:4], and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth [1 Nephi 12:4; 26:5], and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate [Helaman 14:24].

Conclusion

Altogether, the Book of Mormon has more than 120 internally fulfilled prophecies (see Appendix).1 The large majority of fulfillments are separated from the prophecies by large amounts of text. Only in a few instances do the authors and editors of the Book of Mormon directly reference the prior prophecies or openly inform the reader that a prophecy has come to pass. Much more often, it is left up to the reader to notice that a prophecy has been subtly fulfilled.

Chart showing the fulfillment of Book of Mormon prophecies. Chart derived from textual data in the appendix and adapted so that there is only one line per prophecy (even though many prophecies are given or fulfilled in multiple passages). Chart created by Evidence Central. 

This aspect of the Book of Mormon’s textual complexity is worthy of attention. Imagine, for instance, how difficult it would have been for Joseph Smith to dictate the multiple prophecies connected to Christ’s coming if he were merely making them up as he went along. First of all, he would have needed to establish about 20 specific prophecies given by Samuel the Lamanite and then make sure to record their fulfillments throughout 3 Nephi. Yet, in the same narrative in 3 Nephi, Joseph would have needed to integrate the fulfillments of more than two dozen additional prophecies from Nephi that hadn’t even been recorded yet (this reverse order in dictation, with the fulfillment coming first and the prophecy coming afterward, is due to the loss of the 116 pages).2

Thus, the complex network of about 50 prophetic fulfillments scattered throughout 3 Nephi correspond to prophecies that were dictated both before and after 3 Nephi, and yet these fulfillments are presented in an arrangement unique to 3 Nephi (meaning they don’t depend on the ordering or structure of prophecies in 1 Nephi 12, 19; 2 Nephi 26; and Helaman 13–14).

Even under favorable conditions, it is hard to imagine that Joseph Smith had the literary creativity and talent to pull off such a feat in 1829.3 But the conditions weren’t favorable towards that end. Several lines of evidence indicate that the translation occurred under very constraining circumstances. Witnesses reported that Joseph didn’t use any notes or outlines to help him structure upcoming narratives or recall previously dictated content.4 Nor did he make any substantive revisions.5 

When these factors are seen in conjunction with Joseph’s limited education6 and the rapid pace of the translation,7 his ability to produce this feature of the Book of Mormon through his own natural ability becomes increasingly implausible. The precision, consistency, subtlety, and complexity of the Book of Mormon’s numerous fulfilled prophecies offer impressive evidence that it was truly translated by the gift and power of God.

Further Reading
Appendix

 

Endnotes

Complexity
Intertextuality (Internal)
Fulfilled Prophecies
Book of Mormon

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