In this temple the Elders of the Church received endowments and great blessings, of which the world generally were entirely ignorant. The Lord said through J. Smith, Jun., "The sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth—the Gospel must be preached unto every creature, with signs following them that believe;" 58. 64.
This prophecy was literally fulfilled by the Elders scattering from Kirtland, after receiving their endowments, to all parts of the United States and the Canadas, and by the first European Mission being established soon after.
At this time thousands of Latter-day Saints can testify that the Gospel has been preached in a large portion of the world, and that the signs of faith, gift of tongues, healing, etc., have followed the believer.
The following remarkable prophecy was delivered Dec. 25th, 1832. "Thus saith the Lord, concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls. The days will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at that place; * * and it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshalled and disciplined for war;"
In 1861, twenty-nine years after this prophecy was recorded, the war between the North and South commenced in South Carolina. It continued for several years and was very destructive. In the latter part of it many thousands of slaves deserted their masters and were marshalled and disciplined for war, and formed a part of the armies of the Northern States.
During the contest the Southern States called upon the nation of Great Britain for assistance. "And it shall come to pass also, that the remnants who are left of the land (the Indians) will marshal themselves, and shall become exceeding angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation;" Sec. 87.
Never before, since the United States have been a nation, has the Indian question been so complicated and vexatious as now. That a part of this prophecy has been so literally fulfilled would seem a guarantee that the whole will be realized.
The delivery of the keys of the holy Priesthood unto the Prophet Joseph Smith, by Elias, by Moses, by Elijah, their ordination to the Priesthood of Aaron by John the Baptist, to the Melchisedek Priesthood by Peter, James and John, the building of temples, the ordinances and endowments for the living and for the dead, received in them; the preaching of the Gospel to all the world, the gathering of Israel; and all the varied labors of the Latter-day Saints in order to establish a veritable kingdom of God on the earth, and to prepare for the coming of our Savior in his glory, are the direct results of the personal labors and inspired teachings of Joseph Smith, Jun.
He stands forth, pre-eminently, as the Divinely inspired prophetic leader of the "Dispensation of the fulness of times;" as God's agent for the "Restitution of all things spoken by all holy prophets since the world began." As the great fulfiller of numerous prophecies of both the ancient Jewish and Nephite prophets, as recorded in the Bible and Book of Mormon; as the great prophet of the nineteenth century, and the fulfiller of his own prophecies, showing that he was Divinely inspired to both prophesy and to fulfil.
See a pamphlet by O. Pratt, entitled, "Divine Authority, or, was Joseph Smith sent of God."