STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
I will now refer you to another most remarkable prophecy and its fulfilment. Among the prominent men of Illinois, who befriended the Saints when they were expelled from Missouri, was Stephen A. Douglas, afterwards known as the "Little Giant," and who became one of the great statesman of our nation. This man continued friendly to the Saints for many years, and especially to Joseph Smith, in whose case he, as an Illinois district judge, rendered a fair and impartial decision at Monmouth, June 10, 1841, at a time when the Missourians were endeavoring to get Joseph Smith into their power. After that he and the Prophet exchanged visits, and on one occasion when Joseph dined with him in Carthage, Illinois, May 18, 1843, he listened to a lengthy explanation from the Prophet about the Missouri persecutions. Winding up the conversation, Joseph spoke of the dire effects that would flow to the nation if the United States should refuse to redress the wrongs of murder, arson and robbery committed against the Saints in Missouri and the crimes committed upon the Saints by the officers of the government. Turning to Judge Douglas he said:
"You will aspire to the presidency of the United States, and if ever you turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints, you will feel the weight of the hand of the Almighty upon you; and you will live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you, for the conversation of this day will stick to you through life."
This remarkable prophecy concerning Judge Douglas personally has had a literal fulfilment. Judge Douglas continued to rise in prominence in the nation as long as he remained a friend to the Saints. But, finally he turned against them, and at the time the excitement ran high against the "Mormons" in 1857, and preparations were being made to send an army against the people of Utah, Judge Douglas thought he would add a little to the great popularity he had already achieved by doing the most popular thing that could be done at the time, namely, denouncing the "Mormons." Hence, in a political speech which he delivered in Springfield, Ill., June 12th, 1857, and which was published in the Missouri Republican of June 18th following and partly republished with comments in the DESERET NEWS of September 2nd, 1857, Senator Douglas attacked the Saints in Utah in a most fierce and unwarranted manner, and among many other bitter expressions which he made, he called "Mormonism, a loathsome, disgusting ulcer," to which he recommended that Congress apply the knife and cut it out. In the DESERET NEWS of the date mentioned, the prophecy of Joseph Smith was republished with warning remarks, directed to Mr. Douglas, who at that time, in fulfilment of Joseph's words, was already aspiring to the presidency of the United States. In the campaign of 1860 he became the candidate of the Independent Democratic party for that position. It is asserted that no man ever entered into a campaign with brighter prospects of success than did Senator Douglas on that occasion. His friends viewed him as sure to be seated in the Presidential chair, because of his great popularity. But, alas, he and his friends had reckoned without Divine interposition. He had lifted his hands against the Saints of the Most High God and denounced the people whom he knew to be innocent and whom he ought to have defended. The result was that he was sadly defeated at the election, as he only received two electoral votes against seventeen cast for Abraham Lincoln (Republican) and eleven cast for J. C. Breckenridge (Democrat).
When the result of the election became known in Utah Apostle Orson Hyde published the following in the DESERET NEWS of December 12, 1860:
"EPHRAIM, Utah Ter., Nov. 27, 1860.
"Will the Judge now acknowledge that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet? If he will not, does he recollect a certain conversation had with Mr. Smith at the house of Sheriff Backenstos, in Carthage, Illinois, in the year 1843, in which Mr. Smith said to him: 'You will yet aspire to the presidency of the United States. But if you ever raise your hand, or your voice against the Latter-day Saints, you shall never be President of the United States.'
"Does Judge Douglas recollect that in a public speech delivered by him in the year 1857, at Springfield, Illinois, of comparing the Mormon community, then constituting the inhabitants of Utah Territory, to a 'loathsome ulcer on the body politic,' and of recommending the knife to be applied to cut it out?
"Among other things the Judge will doubtless recollect that I was present and heard the conversation between him and Joseph Smith, at Mr. Backenstos' residence in Carthage, before alluded to.
"Now, Judge, what think you about Joseph Smith and Mormonism?
ORSON HYDE."
A few months later, or in June, 1861, Judge Douglas died in disappointment and grief. Never has the saying of any Prophet of God been more literally and minutely fulfilled than the prediction made by the Prophet Joseph Smith concerning this man.
CHRIST'S SECOND COMING.
Some have thought that Joseph Smith was an enthusiast or a religious fanatic, and that his prophetic utterances were the result of his impulsive nature or visionary mind. But such was not the case. When he was under the influence of the Spirit of God his mind was perfectly calm and collected, and his countenance beamed with heavenly intelligence.
While some of his contemporaries allowed their zeal and enthusiasm to lead them into erroneous expectations, he would reason with them calmly and endeavor to balance their minds. To illustrate this I will relate an incident that transpired shortly before he suffered martyrdom: