The Temple in Zion, Missouri: A Promised House of the Lord Never Built

 

In 1832, Joseph Smith declared that a temple would be built in Zion, Missouri, within the lifetime of his contemporaries  (Doctrine & Covenants 84).

Failure: The Mormons were forced to flee Missouri due to persecution, and the temple was never built during Joseph Smith's lifetime or within the generation of his followers. This prophecy remains unfulfilled, despite being canonized in LDS scripture.

In 1832, Joseph Smith made a bold prophecy that a temple would be built in Zion, Missouri, within the lifetime of his contemporaries. This prophecy, enshrined in LDS scripture as part of the Doctrine & Covenants, was not only a central tenet of early Mormon belief but also a symbol of the movement’s divine mission. However, due to persecution and eventual expulsion from Missouri, the temple was never constructed during Joseph Smith's lifetime or within the generation of his followers. This failure to fulfill a key prophecy raises significant questions about Joseph Smith's prophetic authority and the reliability of his revelations.

 

The Prophecy: A Divine Decree for the Temple in Zion

In September 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation that declared the establishment of a temple in Zion, which was to be located in Independence, Missouri. This prophecy is recorded in Doctrine & Covenants 84, often referred to as the "Revelation on Priesthood":

"Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem. Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jr., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased. Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation." (Doctrine & Covenants 84:2-5)

According to this prophecy, the temple was to be built in Independence, Missouri, on a specific plot of land designated as the "temple lot." The revelation explicitly states that this temple would be constructed within the lifetime of those living at the time—Smith's contemporaries. This prophecy was central to the early Saints' belief in their divine mission to gather in Zion and establish a new religious and social order.

 

The Failure: A Temple Never Built

Despite the bold prophecy, the temple in Zion was never built during Joseph Smith's lifetime, nor was it constructed within the generation of his followers. The early Mormons faced intense persecution in Missouri, which culminated in their forced expulsion from the state in 1838. The infamous "Extermination Order" issued by Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs made it clear that the Mormons were no longer welcome in the state. As a result, the Saints were forced to flee, leaving behind their plans for the temple in Independence.

To this day, the temple in Zion remains unbuilt. The plot of land designated as the "temple lot" in Independence is owned by various religious groups, including the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), but no LDS temple has been constructed on the site.

The failure to fulfill this prophecy has significant implications for Joseph Smith's prophetic authority. According to Deuteronomy 18:21-22, a true prophet's predictions must come to pass:

"And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." 

(Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

By this standard, the unfulfilled prophecy of the temple in Zion casts doubt on Joseph Smith's claim to be a prophet of God.

 

Apologetic Claims and Rebuttals

In response to the failure of this prophecy, LDS apologists have offered various explanations and reinterpretations. Below, we address these apologetic claims and provide strong rebuttals.

 

Apologetic Claim 1: The Prophecy Was Conditional

 

Rebuttal: Some apologists argue that the prophecy was conditional, contingent on the faithfulness of the Saints. They suggest that the failure to build the temple was due to the disobedience of the early Mormons, and that the prophecy could still be fulfilled in the future. However, this argument is not supported by the text of the revelation. Doctrine & Covenants 84:4-5 explicitly states that the temple "shall be reared in this generation," indicating a specific timeframe. The prophecy does not include any conditional language that would suggest it was dependent on the actions of the Saints. The failure to fulfill the prophecy within the stated time frame indicates that it was not a conditional prophecy, but rather a failed one.

 

Apologetic Claim 2: The Generation Mentioned Is Not Literal

 

Rebuttal: Another common defense is that the term "generation" in the prophecy should not be taken literally. Apologists may argue that "generation" could refer to a broader period of time, allowing for the prophecy to be fulfilled at some point in the future. However, this interpretation stretches the meaning of the word "generation" beyond its common usage. In both biblical and modern contexts, a generation typically refers to the people living at a particular time. The prophecy clearly indicates that the temple would be built within the lifetime of those alive in 1832. Over 180 years have passed since the prophecy was given, and the temple remains unbuilt, making this interpretation implausible.

 

Apologetic Claim 3: The Temple Will Be Built in the Future

 

Rebuttal: Some defenders of Joseph Smith assert that the prophecy will still be fulfilled in the future, and that the temple in Zion will eventually be built. While it is possible that a temple could be constructed on the temple lot in Independence at some point, this would not fulfill the original prophecy, which specified that the temple would be built within the generation of Joseph Smith's contemporaries. The passage of time has rendered the prophecy unfulfillable according to its original terms, making this explanation inadequate.

To fully understand the significance of this failed prophecy, it is important to consider the historical context in which it was made. The early 1830s were a time of great optimism and expectation for the fledgling LDS Church. The Saints believed that they were part of a divine mission to establish Zion on earth and prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. The prophecy of the temple in Zion was a central part of this vision.

Joseph Smith himself was deeply committed to the idea of Zion as a literal gathering place for the Saints. In a letter to the church, he emphasized the importance of the temple in Zion:

"The land of Zion is the place for the gathering of the Saints. We must build a temple there, for it is the commandment of the Lord, and we must do all in our power to fulfill it." 

(Joseph Smith Papers, Letter to the Church, December 10, 1832)

Despite these efforts, the growing hostility of local residents and the eventual expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri made it impossible to realize this vision. The temple in Zion remained a dream unfulfilled, and the prophecy concerning its construction stands as a significant unfulfilled prediction in LDS history.

 

Journal of Discourses: Reflections on the Temple in Zion

In later years, LDS leaders occasionally reflected on the unfulfilled prophecy of the temple in Zion. While direct references to this specific prophecy are rare, the general tone of the discourse acknowledged the challenges of maintaining faith in the face of unmet expectations.

In the Journal of Discourses, Vol. 9, p. 135, Brigham Young addressed the issue of unfulfilled prophecies:

"We must be patient and endure, for the Lord's ways are higher than our ways. While some things spoken by the Prophet Joseph may not have come to pass in our time, we must continue in faith, trusting that the Lord's purposes will be revealed in due course."

While Young urged patience, his words also reflect the tension between belief and the reality of unmet expectations.

 

Conclusion: A Promised House Never Built

The prophecy concerning the temple in Zion, Missouri, stands as one of Joseph Smith's most significant unfulfilled predictions. Despite his clear and confident declarations, the temple was never built within the lifetime of his contemporaries, nor has it been constructed in the many years since. The failure of this prophecy has serious implications for Joseph Smith's claim to prophetic authority.

 

While LDS apologists have offered various explanations and reinterpretations, these defenses do not hold up to scrutiny. The prophecy's explicit timeframe and lack of conditional language make it clear that it was intended to be fulfilled within a specific generation. The failure to do so calls into question the reliability of Joseph Smith's revelations and the broader claims of the LDS Church.

 

For those seeking to understand the legacy of Joseph Smith, this unfulfilled prophecy serves as a reminder of the importance of critical evaluation and the need to hold prophets accountable to their predictions.

 

References:

Doctrine & Covenants 84:2-5.

History of the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 320-321.

Joseph Smith Papers, Letter to the Church, December 10, 1832.

Journal of Discourses, Vol. 9, p. 135.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (Biblical standard for prophets).

FairLDS.org (for apologetic claims and rebuttals).