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The first false alarm of the Second Coming was the failure to establish Zion in Missouri during the 1830s. Mormons were commanded to gather there to prepare for Christ's return almost from the beginning. In fact, Momons are different from other millennialist groups by focusing on the place instead of the time of Christ's return. The Doctrine and Covenants (modern Mormon book of scripture) stated: "Missouri... is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints. Wherefore, this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion. And... Independence is the center place."
Mormons believe that the Garden of Eden is located in Independence, Missouri and that's where the Second Coming will begin.
A Mormon newspaper called The Evening and the Morning Star was widely read by early mambers. The editor, Oliver Cowdery, wrote about the Millennium a great deal. His first editorial was "Wars and rumors of wars, are spreading over the world; nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom; calamity upon calamity, and pestilence following plague; iniquity abounding, and the love of many waxing cold; almost every man seeking his own interest, to the destruction of his neighbor, and the hearts of this generation so grossly hardened, that no man can trust even his brother; and more than all these, that great day fast approaching when this scene of wickedness shall close; the veil of eternity must be rent, and the Son of God be seen coming in the clouds of heaven, with all his holy angels, with power and great glory."
The Star stopped publication in September, 1834. It was replaced by the newspaper, the Latter-day Saints' Messenger and Advocate. Cowdery wrote in the last issue of the Star with a warning concerning the "calamities" of his day, ending with: "Let us be ready, for HIS coming is near!"
After they were forcibly removed from Jackson County in 1833, Joseph Smith said that an early return to Zion would occur for the pure in heart: "...behold, there is none other place appointed than that which I have appointed; neither shall there be any other place... for the work of the gathering of my saints."
Church members rationalized that they needed to be tested and prove their worthiness before receiving the rewards promised to members in Zion. In time, Joseph Smith expanded the location, so that by April of 1844 he stated that both North and South America was Zion. Jackson County was only the center spot. After that revelation the immediacy of endtime prophecies was slowed down and the Second Coming was further downplayed by the Prophet's focus upon what series of historical events must occur before the End will come.
Then they started becoming more actively involved in bringing about the conditions needed for the Millennium. They rationalized that they couldn't simply gather to one spot and wait passively; they were required to become involved and help prepare the way for the Second Coming. This was shown on several levels.
In 1844 the Council of Fifty was formed. This was the political arm of the Kingdom of God, and was "intended to prepare the world for a God-led, political government in anticipation of Christ's millennial return."
The Apostle Orson Hyde was sent to dedicate the Holy Land for the return of the Jews. since the restored gospel needed to be preached to all nations before the end, a new missionary effort was started. I've heard members state with authority that the fall of Communism was God-directed to fulfill this prophecy. Before the missionaries were forbidden to preach in these countries, now they can. I also remember President Carter negotiating peace between Israel and Egypt. This was discussed at great length in Priesthood meetings for the next several weeks. At the end of the discussions everyone was in agreement that it would fail. After all, D&C 45:18-25 states another future for Israel before Christ returns.
This view of actively helping to bring about the End was used expertly by Brigham Young. Preparing for the Second Coming was used to try out the establishment of the United Order. It was intended both to get the Saints used to a millennial economic system and to work out problems in the plan. The principle of polygamy was also proclaimed as one of the rewards in heaven to occur for the righteous upon Christ's return.
The Church was originally established as a theocracy, and the Council of Fifty met off and on as a sort of secret government, ready to take over when Gentile rule collapsed.
What is Gentile rule, you ask? To Mormons, anyone who isn't a member, is a Gentile. This comes from the belief that when you're baptized, your blood is transformed into pure Jewish blood. You're then considered to belong to the lineage of Jacob.
The Utah War was the first real conflict viewed as the possible End. It was mainly due to pre millennial fervor by the Mormons, and was seen as the beginning of the end for their enemies.
Missionaries to the Gentiles were called home; they had their chance to accept the gospel. With the Gentile mission ending, the Indian mission was doubled in effort to fulfill Book of Mormon promises.
Some were actually disappointed when peace was negotiated with the United States. One member, Joseph Morris, said that Brigham Young was a fallen prophet whose cowardly acts had delayed the Second Coming. He and a group of 500 Saints sold all they owned and gathered in Davis County to await Christ's appearance.
But it was the Civil War which gave the Mormons the highest hope for validating their beliefs. Joseph Smith received the famous (at least in Mormon eyes) civil war prophecy.
This would mark the beginning of the apocalyptic conflict which would end in the Lord's return. Despite the vocal support for the Constitution and the Union at the start of the war, Brigham Young preached that neither side would win; they were simply bringing about the fall of the government so that the kingdom of God could begin its rightful rule and prepare for the Second Coming.
Although the outcome of the Civil War was disappointing to the Saints, this was quickly forgotten. The federal government turned its attention from slave owners to polygamists. As 1890 approached, the time frame which several of Joseph Smith's prophecies concerning the End clustered, the Church was on the edge of chaos over prosecution of the 1882 Edmunds Act, which made polygamy a criminal offense, and the 1887 Edmunds-Tucker Act, which legally dissolved the Church.
Wilford Woodruff (fourth Prophet) hiding from federal agents, wrote in his journal, "There has never been such a time since the organization of this church when such a universal howl was raised against us.... The government seems determined on the destruction of the faithful Latter-day Saints." Church leaders maintained that they'd never submit; the Lord would come to their defense.
John Taylor (third Prophet) believed that he'd return to Jackson County to spend his last days. While Wilford Woodruff was Prophet, it was reported that he had received a revelation that the Saints were "not to yield one particle of that which [the, Lord] has revealed and established... We are promised redemption and deliverance if we will trust in God and not in the arm of flesh." Lorenzo Snow (fifth Prophet), shortly before the Manifesto(A revelation from God which rescinded polygamy), argued in his polygamy trial that God would not revoke plural marriage but that he'd overthrow its opponents.
For many it seemed now or never. Enthusiasm over the imminence of the Second Coming in fulfillment of Joseph's prophecies became so intense that the leaders had to speak out against setting up a timetable for the Lord. Not only the day and hour were unknown, insisted George Q. Cannon (councilor for Brigham Young), but the year as well. There were too many prophecies yet to be fulfilled.
Although other factors need to be considered, the delay of the Second Coming forced the Saints to realize that they couldn't count on it to deliver them from current problems and conflicts. They'd have to make changes to survive in the real world. This has been called "the great capitulation."
This history helps to understand the world from a Mormon perspective. Even in their struggle to live in the Gentile world, Mormons were concentrating on "building the kingdom" to prepare for the millennial reign of Christ. In 1869 Brigham Young described the United Order as "a stepping stone to what is called the order of Enoch, but which is in reality the order of heaven." The United Order as well as the polygamy of Eternal Marriage and the planned theocracy of the religious and civic government were just a dry run in preparation for the Millennium.
For the present? The belief in the Second Coming and the millennial reign of Christ hasn't been forgotten. Along with signs of the times, such as wars, catastrophes, and developments in the Middle East and Soviet Union, warnings to "lengthen your stride," put aside a year's supply of food, and get your life in order, as well as the expansion of the missionary program are often interpreted by Church members as indicating the End is near.
Church leaders still occasionally feel the need to deny that the warnings about being prepared breeds fanaticism about the end of the world, and Apostle Bruce R. McConkie once cautioned a group of bishops and stake presidents that members who avoid making long-term commitments, such as schooling, in the belief that Christ will come shortly are in error.
Mormons today are the product of a past that has been preoccupied with the "events" relating to the end of all mankind and the world. The Articles of Faith written by Joseph Smith in the early 1840s declared, "We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory."
More to come