Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, is viewed by the movement's adherents as a prophet in the tradition of the ancient prophets recorded in the Bible. During his life, Smith made several prophecies, many documented in the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of scripture in several of the movement's denominations.

Non-Latter Day Saint sources note Smith's prophecies failed to come true. In 1841, after Smith famously gave a public prophecy that Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs would be violently killed within a year, Boggs was shot in an assassination attempt on May 6, 1842, but later recovered. Boggs died on March 14, 1860 of natural causes.

Latter Day Saint views Members of the largest Latter Day Saint denomination, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), regard Smith as a prophet who correctly predicted the rise of their church. They state that Smith predicted he would find "three witnesses to the word of God", and later found three men who would corroborate his story of the plates. After his loss in the 1838 Mormon War, Smith correctly predicted that he and his fellow prisoners would not be killed; the group were allowed to escape custody and flee to Illinois.Dona Hill, Joseph Smith: The First Mormon (Doubleday and Company, Garden City, New York, 1977) p. 244. Smith prophesied that Mormon enforcer Porter Rockwell would never be harmed by bullet or blade; though he violently killed others and was repeatedly charged with murder, Rockwell died in his home of natural causes.

For most of Latter Day Saint history, Smith's most famously cited prediction by adherents was an 1832 prophecy on war. Recorded on December 25, 1832, it was first published as part of the Pearl of Great Price in 1851 and formally canonized in 1876 as scripture in the Doctrine in Covenants. The prophecy stated that war would occur between the Northern states and the Southern states, beginning at South Carolina, spreading to involve Great Britain and other nations, and eventually protracting into a world war that would result in the end of all nations; in addition, it predicted slave and indigenous uprisings. At the time, South Carolina and the federal government of the United States were at odds amid the nullification crisis, but it was peacefully resolved in March 1833. A manuscript version of the revelation recorded by Oliver Cowdery in 1835 reads that the conflict will instead arise "out of rebellions like unto the one of South Carolina."Revelation Book 1, p. 202, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed November 13, 2025 In 1843, Smith restated his position that "in the Name of the Lord God... bloodshed preparatory to the coming of the son of man will commence in South Carolina."Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 2, 10 March 1843–14 July 1843, p. 39, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed November 13, 2025 Adherents argue that the prophecy was fulfilled through the American Civil War and the attack on Fort Sumpter,Scott C. Esplin, "'Have We Not Had a Prophet Among Us?': Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecy,” in Civil War Saints, ed. Kenneth L. Alford (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012), p. 41 however critics argue that conditions for fulfillment, such as British intervention in the Civil War, have largely not been met.

Non-Latter Day Saint views Non-Latter Day Saint sources note many of Smith's predictions failed to come true. Smith predicted that his firstborn son would one day translate the Golden Plates; the son died in infancy.Joshua M'Kune statement, quoted by Vogel During the Winter of 1829, Smith predicted that a buyer for the Book of Mormon copyright would be found in Canada, though the trip to Canada ultimately failed to result in a buyer. Smith later reported that some revelations are "of the devil".

In 1841, Smith publicly prophesied Missouri Governor Boggs would be assassinated within the year. This event occurred within the context of heated conflict between Mormons and Missourians. Boggs was shot by an unknown assailant on the evening of May 6, 1842. He was seriously injured but survived and lived until 1860, contradicting Smith's prediction. Porter Rockwell, an associate and bodyguard of Smith, was arrested on suspicion of the crime but ultimately released as a grand jury found no evidence of his involvement. Smith confidants John C. Bennett, Joseph Jackson, and William Law later reported that Smith had ordered Boggs be murdered.

Smith taught followers that they were living in the "latter days". Smith renamed the organization the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" in 1838.Manuscript History of the Church, LDS Church Archives, book A-1, p. 37; reproduced in Dean C. Jessee (comp.) (1989). The Papers of Joseph Smith: Autobiographical and Historical Writings (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book) 1:302–03.H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters (1994). Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books) p. 160. In 1843, Smith reported a revelation telling him "Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man". Smith opined "I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time".

Smith also prophesied the overthrowing of the government in consequence of permitting crimes committed in Missouri. see here

Prophecies from 1823 to 1830

ProphecySourceDateNotes Smith spoken of for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues: Smith wrote in 1838 that previously, in the year 1823, an angel visited him and made prophetic statements regarding Smith's future. "He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people." Joseph Smith–History 1:33; History of the Church 1:11–12 September 21, 1823 (reported in 1838) Latter-day Saints state that this prophecy has been fulfilled. As evidence, the LDS Church has cited discussions of Smith by American, German and Finnish scholars, as well as the church's extensive missionary program, which leads many people around the world to speak of Smith both positively and negatively. Three witnesses to testify of the Book of Mormon: At the request of Martin Harris, who desired to witness the golden plates containing the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith received the revelation that "the testimony of three witnesses would be sent forth of God's word." By the time the revelation was given, neither Oliver Cowdery nor David Whitmer (the two remaining witnesses and later supporters) had met Smith. March 1829 Latter Day Saints state that this prophecy was fulfilled. Jesus comes to the temple: "I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will suddenly come to my temple. Even so. Amen." December 9, 1830 Latter Day Saints state that this prophecy was fulfilled during Smith's lifetime. Smith stated that Jesus Christ appeared to him and Oliver Cowdery on April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple.Doctrine and Covenants 110:1–10. Copyright sale: Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery were to find a buyer for copyright of the Book of Mormon in Canada. B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:165 (1930) Winter 1829–30 Latter Day Saints state that the conditions precedent for the fulfilment of this prophecy were not satisfied.Marlin K. Jensen, "The Joseph Smith Papers: The Manuscript Revelation Books", Liahona, July 2009. Page argued in an 1848 letter that the revelation was therefore fulfilled.Letter to William E. McLellin, February 2, 1848, as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents 5:257–59. Gather in one place: The Latter-day Saints shall be gathered in one place "against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked" September 1830 Latter Day Saints state that this prophecy was fulfilled. Adherents recognize several meanings for "gathering", stemming from their concepts of Zion. Indeed, LDS Church general authorities have stated that the concept of gathering to Zion refers to the stakes of Zion wherever they are located, and not to a single geographic and physical location.Harold B. Lee, "Strengthen the Stakes of Zion", Ensign, July 1973.Bruce R. McConkie, "Building Zion", Liahona, September 1977.Bruce R. McConkie, "Come: Let Israel Build Zion", Ensign, May 1977. Hour is nigh: The "hour is nigh and day soon at hand" when Jesus will return. September 1830 Latter Day Saints state this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. Adherents believe that Jesus has not yet returned in his Second Coming, and Latter Day Saints advocate that the words "hour" and "day" are metaphorical and represent centuries or millennia, i.e., in a similar manner as is generally used in the same context in some instances in the Bible.FAIR Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith: Alleged false prophecies.

Prophecies from 1831 to 1832

ProphecySourceDateNotes Land purchase: The Latter Day Saints were to gather riches and purchase a place of refuge and safety, where the wicked would not come, and the wicked would refuse to battle the Saints. March 7, 1831 Latter Day Saints state that this prophecy was fulfilled. Richard Abanes claims this was not fulfilled.Abanes, p 462. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ claim that the "place of refuge and safety" that was purchased is in the Salt Lake Valley, and that many, including the U.S. government, refused to battle with the Mormons shortly after their relocation to Utah. Zion in Missouri: Missouri is named as the place for the "City of Zion"; the land will be purchased for "an everlasting inheritance". July 20, 1831 In the Doctrine and Covenants, the project was postponed. Hence, Latter-day Saints claim that a subsequent prophecy of Smith's replaced a prior prophecy. In any case, many adherents generally believe that a temple will eventually be constructed on the site prepared, based on additional statements by Smith. The Community of Christ has constructed a temple on the Greater Temple Lot. The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and the Church of Jesus Christ still own land on the Greater Temple Lot. Strong hold in Kirtland for the space of five years: Elder Frederick G. Williams should not sell his farm because "[The Lord wills] to retain a strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years". September, 1831 Latter Day Saints state that this prophecy was fulfilled. A majority of Latter-day Saints fled from Kirtland to Far West, Missouri between 1837 and 1838 to escape mob violence. Zion in this generation: Zion and its temple will be built at Independence, Missouri, "in this generation". September 22 or 23, 1832 The precise site dedicated by Smith for the construction of the temple at Independence is the Temple Lot; it is currently vacant and owned by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot). Members of the Church of Jesus Christ believe that a temple will be built at this location in the future.

One oft repeated explanation of the supposed non-fulfillment of this prophecy is that the phrase "in this generation" is used figuratively to designate those of this "gospel dispensation" (those who have received or will receive divine revelation during the "dispensation" of revelation and inspiration from God (or "heaven") since the time that Joseph Smith began receiving such revelation, and afterwards, (as it is used in a similar fashion in some instances in the Bible).