THE WOOD ZONE: A THREAD ON THE GEORGE ALBERT SMITH PROPHECY

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

A THREAD ON THE GEORGE ALBERT SMITH PROPHECY

Here is a screen capture dump:

I know there is a similar thread already here, but In researching this prophecy, I've found that much of the information and accounts are spread out over several threads and the internet. To make it easy to research, I've gathered together all the accounts and quotes I could find on this prophecy, and complied them into one, easy to find, post.

There are at least three known accounts of the prophecy given by President Smith, and it is indicated that he told this to other people (including Hugh Nibley's mother), so there are likely more. He also hinted at this in a General Conference a couple of times.

===========================================================================================================

Account 1
Source: David Horne
October 28, 1988 or Dec 23, 1988

This short account is one of two written by Bro. David Horne in 1988. It is unclear which date this account was written, or where the other written account is. This summary is the main source as to the timing of the events in the George Albert Smith prophecy.

Shortly after World War II ended, President George Albert Smith had a vision of another great and terrible war which would yet take place. He said it would be so bad that it would make World War II look like a "training exercise." It would involve many of the countries of the world, including Germany, Hungary, Israel, Turkey, the United States and the Soviet Union.

Thousands of tanks would be transported in huge trucks so they would be in place where they were needed when the war began.

The United States would have missiles in Europe which carried an atomic bomb. However, the United States would be committed to many far-reaching alliances and would withdraw its missiles to satisfy the Soviet Union. Then the war would begin and people would "die like flies". The military power of the Soviet Union at this time would be much greater than the United States.

He said the United States would take away the weapons of the people. They would have their missiles in big holes in the ground, which he described as being like grain silos. The Soviets would send their own missiles to try to destroy them, as well as U.S. military bases and cities. They would also send in ground troops. President Smith indicated that this attack would take place on a holiday after the Presidential election, but before the official inauguration. He said that the President at this time would be of Greek ancestry.

President Smith said that the conditions after the war would be "dreadful" and would make the worst times of the depression seem "like a Sunday School picnic" in comparison.

Account 2
Brother David Horne
Feb 28 1989

This much longer and complete account by Bro. David Horne is on file at the Harold B. Lee Library and is the main source of the George Albert Smith prophecy. It greatly expands on his earlier summary of the prophecy, but also leaves out the timing of the prophecy.

DAVID HUGHES HORNE, P. E.
Chemical Engineer
28 February 1989

Sometimes rare, traumatic or shocking events become emblazoned into one's memory. This paper documents such an event. In 1946 I witnessed a prophetic utterance made by George Albert Smith, the Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter—day Saints from 1945 to 1951. I am a son of Dr. Lyman Merrill Horne and Myrtle Swainston Horne. My father was a g-grandson of George A. Smith, cousin of the Prophet Joseph and Counselor to Brigham Young. His grandson President George Albert Smith was dad's mother's first cousin. From 1944 until March 1947 we lived on the same block in the Yale Ward as George Albert Smith and frequently had contact with him. Many times he paused at our home while on his evening walk and talked with me as I worked in our front yard. My family visited him a few times at his home, and he visited my family at our home several times. He always showed pleasure when I met him and once told me what work the Lord had for me to do and what I must do to be prepared to do His work.

One day our father arranged for George Albert Smith to speak to us in a family time. The Prophet told us of a vision he had had. At least 11 elements of it have occurred, and the rest may occur soon. My record of his prophecy may be important, because it may not be officially recorded. Last year I visited the Church Historian's Library to read Pres Smith's journal to see what he had written about it but the staff knew nothing about it. I then discussed it with Leonard Arrington, former Church Historian, who said, “I have never heard of it.” Even Arthur Haycock, his faithful secretary, did not know of it, but he did not work with Pres. Smith until July 1947.

We dressed up in our best clothes. I shined my shoes again and again. Our father was disappointed with a sister who went to a movie with her boy friend. Dad asked her to stay with her beau, who had finished his navy service in August 1946, and share the evening with the Lord's Prophet, but she would not. We were seated at the given time in the living room ready for the Prophet to arrive. Present were my father, mother, sister, Alice Merrill Horne II (age 17), my brother, Robert H. Horne (14), my twin, Jonathan H. Horne, and I (11). It was after dark, and we had difficulty making the front porch light work. It was cold in that room, and I was glad to wear a coat. Thus I think his visit was between Oct 1946 and January 1947. Thereafter we were preparing to move. President Smith said much more than what I remember exactly, but some of his statements were so impressive that I have a brilliant recollection of them.

When George Albert arrived we sang a verse of “We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet.” He stood and talked without notes for some time about the importance of keeping the commandments, always giving a full tithe, and being a good example wherever we are. He told us he once was on a train, in Mexico, with no other Northern European descent individuals. He said that a man recognized him as a leader of the “Mormon” Church, and introduced himself as a Mexican government official. President Smith noted how embarrassed he and the Church would have been had he not been acting as a faithful servant of the Lord should. I also heard him tell that story in another talk.

Then President Smith said, “I have had a troublesome vision of another great and terrible war that made the war just ended look like a training exercise, and people died like flies. It began at a time when the Soviet Union's military might dwarfed that of the United States, and we, that is the United States, would have missiles that carried an atomic bomb in Europe. I saw the United States withdraw its missiles to appease the Soviet Union, and then the war began.” He also said that we would have big missiles in deep holes he described like grain silos which the Soviets would try to destroy by their own missiles. They would hit military installations and some cities also. He said that the president at that time would be of Greek extraction.

Until then all the presidents would be of British or Northern European ancestry. He continued that the U.S. would be bound by numerous entangling alliances and would take away weapons owned by the people. He talked some about the initial attack and the ground warfare, but I can't remember enough to document all their tactics and in which countries various things occurred. One tactic, especially in Europe, was to transport tanks in thousands of big trucks like semi trailers on the super highways to have them located where they wanted them when the war was to begin. During that explanation I asked, “What about the Atomic Cannon?” to which he answered, “I didn't see anything like that.” Then he said, “The aftermath was dreadful. Think of the worst, most difficult times of the depression.” He turned to us children and said, “You won't remember the depression,” which was true. I didn't know there was a depression as I was growing up; the sun came up every morning, flowers bloomed, we went to school, and there was church every Sunday. But he repeated to our parents, “Think of the worst condition of the depression. Can you think of something?” to which our father answered, “Oh yes!” Then President Smith continued, “You know how Sunday School picnics are complete with salad, chicken, root beer, and dessert, and everyone has a wonderful time. That worst time of the depression will seem like a Sunday School picnic when compared with how conditions will be after that great war.” When he finished speaking, he turned around and went to the front door. As he left I thought to myself, “What he said is really important. I've got to remember it!”

To understand Pres. George Albert Smith's woeful statement, “I have had a troublesome vision...” one first must comprehend the kind of man President Smith was. Those who knew him best describe him as the most humble, compassionate, magnanimous, kind, and merciful person they knew. He exemplified the Pure Love of Christ and showed his love for all of God's children by his unqualified service. For example, at World War II's end he organized a relief program for war torn Europe's destitute people. The Relief Society sisters made quilts and clothes. The Church welfare cannery produced millions of cases of food donated from farms and home gardens. Other materials and food were purchased from donations by church members world wide. Then he obtained U.S. Pres. Truman's permission to send the aid and assigned Elder Ezra Taft Benson to administer its distribution in Europe. The aid was not restricted to L.D.S. Church members. The government of Greece honored Pres. Smith for his and the Church's service to its people. Thereafter the Government initiated The Marshall Plan, and organizations like CARE sprang up. Thus for him to see an event of which he also said in his April 1950 Conf concluding speech, “..people by the millions will die like flies,” CR—4/50:5,l69 indeed must have been a troublesome vision (see also Harold B. Lee CR—l0/5l:28—29).

When President Smith told us of his vision, the U.S. and the USSR were allies. Some tiffs had occurred between the USSR and the U.S., but the idea that the Soviets would become an enemy wasn't popular. In 1946 the USA was the world's great military power. It seems the allies of the U.S. succeeded in World War II because we had sent them material. The idea that the USSR would dwarf the US's military might was contrary to any reasonable expectation, but today it is exactly true. The Soviet‟s military might is awesome. Nearly all their population including peasant farmers serve in their reserves and may become part of their army in time of war. They have amassed a year's supply of food (including U.S. grain) so they will not have to farm the first year of any war. They have about five times as many fighter and several times as many modern bomber aircraft as we do. They are well made, effective aircraft with well trained pilots and crews. Their infantry‟s weapons and logistics preparations are staggering. Thus, two elements of Pres. Smith's vision were exactly correct; the USSR became our enemy, and their military might dwarfs our own.

It's no secret we have nuclear warhead missiles in Europe and underground silos here But in 1946 nuclear missiles were beyond imagination. Even Massachusetts Institute of Technology's president in 1950 said, “Intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads are impossible.” But we had them by 1963; I've worked in Minuteman Missile silos which accurately fit Pres. Smith's description. But our cruise missiles were made after 1980. General Bernard Rogers, NATO Commander, was so outspoken against the INF treaty that he was removed. General John Gavins, his successor, said that he could not maintain Europe in a war for more than two weeks without nuclear weapons. So five more elements of Pres Smith's vision are verified; we have missiles, in Europe, and in silos, that carry atomic bombs, and are essential for U.S. defense.

Next President Smith said that we would withdraw our missiles from Europe to appease the Soviets. Former UN Ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick said that the INF treaty hurts us militarily, but we have to do it. Dr. Eugene Callens says the treaty was politically motivated, missiles were used as bargaining chips in negotiations with the Soviets, which is a form of appeasement, and Pres. Reagan may have been buying time with their removal until other new systems were in place. During the negotiations we revealed we knew the USSR plans to violate the treaty. Thus two more elements of Pres. Smith's vision are verified; on 1 Sept 88 the U.S. began removing missiles to comply with a treaty designed to appease the Soviets. By 31 Dec 89 our missiles should be disarmed.

Just before Pres. Smith visited us, the newspaper headlined a giant, about 24 wheel, artillery piece named the Atomic Cannon. It was to have been like Big Bertha Germany used to batter Liege, Namur and Paris. The Atomic Cannon was designed to fire atomic bombs 100—miles to assure no potential aggressor ever would start another war. But Pres. Smith said he did not see anything like that. History reveals the Atomic Cannon was a flop, and by about 1948 the program was canceled. The U.S. has a howitzer able to fire a nuclear weapon about 20 miles, but it is very different from the colossus shown in the news. Thus another element of Pres. Smith's prophecy is verified.

As predicted, all U.S. presidents have had North European or British ancestry. But in 1988 a man of Greek descent led the polls for a time. He may run again. Thus one more element of Pres. Smith's vision is realized; we see how another element could occur.

The next elements in President Smith's prophecy were another great and terrible war, it would make World War II look like a training exercise, and people would die like flies. This obviously hasn't happened, but consider some of the Soviets' weapons and military preparations and the results of their use. The Soviets have 100—megaton hydrogen bombs which could be used against military bases and cities. Also, when the Soviets tested one of their first 100—megaton bombs the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), which is an incredibly high energy radio wave produced by the detonation, melted an electrical system power transformer's windings l90—miles away. The Soviets are far ahead of the U.S. in space technology and the number of satellites in orbit. From January through September 1987 the Soviets fired more than 700 vehicles into space, mostly military. The U.S. space program for that same time was almost stopped. And some military analysts believe some of the Soviet satellites in orbit above the U.S. contain high yield nuclear bombs purposefully to destroy the all transformers in the nation wide power grid, computers, radios, TVs, telephones and most other electronic devices in the U.S. Pacemakers and electronic watches may be blown out, too. Most transistors, diodes, integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices can tolerate less than 30—volts, but EMP is about a 50,000 volt/meter wave. Evacuation from cities before the bombs hit may be difficult, because new vehicle engines and alternators today have semiconductor controls. Their junctions could be melted in a millionth of a second by the EMP. It may be as if for an instant the entire continent Were a microwave oven. Older vehicles with points in their distributors and mechanical voltage regulators may continue to operate if their alternator diodes are not blown. Diodes and electronic auto parts can be replaced if spares exist that were shielded. Amateur radio gear with electron tubes still may work afterward. But well pumps that supply our drinking water may be out of service for a long time.

The USSR's military buildup is not to protect their country from invasion. Who since Hitler has invaded the USSR? Instead, the USSR has been the aggressor in many wars throughout the world. Two reliable military sources have told me that on 4 July 1987 a Soviet Bear bomber 2,000 miles from Hawaii fired an intermediate range missile at Hawaii. When it was about 100 miles from Honolulu the U.S. had not destroyed it, and a Soviet aircraft that was there shot it down. The military information officer reported that when he revealed the story to the news media the media managers refused to air it saying, “It would be bad for business.” Recent reports of Soviet landings on the Aleutian Islands and other places suggest they are practicing for an Invasion.

If the war Pres Smith saw occurs, conditions will be like our pre—1800 ancestors knew with some shelters but few modern machines by which we work. Conditions will be worse for a long time. Government and major services including police; electricity; potable water & waste; fuel; and commercial food, medicines, & clothes may not exist. Engines to power pumps, vehicles and machines may not work; 3 Nephi 21:14—15 says that if the gentiles don't repent the Lord will destroy their chariots, cities, and strongholds. Our ancestors had wagons and horses for transportation and work. Shovels, hoes, seed, and bikes with puncture resistant tubes may be scarce. There may be no food from farms other than what will be carried, no manufactured goods, or any safe drinking water. Our forbearers knew how to do things without our machines that we do not know how to do. Thus, conditions could be exactly like Pres. Smith described; the worst conditions of the depression would seem like a Sunday School picnic in comparison.

In about 1940 my parents started a Sunday evening study group which their friend Dr. Sidney B. Sperry taught. In about 1964 while studying the Doctrine and Covenants Dr. Sperry noted Sect 1:17 said a calamity would come upon the children of men. He told us of an experience he had with Pres. George Albert Smith at the end of a conference. Dr. Sperry said, “I rushed up onto the platform to speak with Pres. Smith after the prayer. When I arrived at his side he was standing, overlooking the congregation. The people were just starting to stand up, and the ushers were just starting to open the doors so they could leave. And I heard the President woefully mutter as he looked over the congregation... They‟ll die like flies.‟” Dr. Sperry explained his concern that Pres. Smith looked at the Saints and said, “They'll die like flies,” Neither my father, mother nor I said anything to the group what Pres Smith told us in our home. Knowing Pres. Smith considered Saints would be among those whom he told us would die like flies greatly concerns me, too. For I am one of them and was in the Tabernacle when that occurred. I went to conference in the Tabernacle when I was young and saw Dr. Sperry rush up to the speakers' platform at the end of a conference. Perhaps I feel like Laman felt about the Jews at Jerusalem being righteous- that many Saints are honorable, diligent in the Lord's work, and doers of the word, not hearers only. Yet I know Pres. Benson has said that the revelation on the production and storage of food may be as important to our temporal salvation as it was for Noah to get into the ark. And few have complied with this Counsel of the Lord's Living Prophet.

Remember the Lord said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” Ancient prophets knew our day would be difficult yet yearned to see it. The Saints are commanded to obey & teach the Lord's laws; to multiply and fill the earth; and build the Lord's Kingdom. Our task is not to shrink but to prepare for challenges that may demand our greatest efforts to survive free from AIDS or plagues that otherwise might infect everyone.

I record this as a witness of my friend and cousin, George Albert Smith's description of a prophetic vision he saw. I began writing it last Sept and have remembered more as I concentrated on his comments. I've not recorded here all I now remember. See also Pres. Smith's General Conference speeches CR-1O/46:149-153 & CR-10/50:180-181.

After reading my 28 Oct version my brother Robert said he remembered Pres. Smith's visit exactly as I wrote it but doesn't remember some I since added. Alice said she remembered some of the 23 Dec version. On 18 Dec Dr. Hugh Nibley said his mother (a close friend of Pres. Smith) told him about the vision which Pres. Smith received at a conference in the Bay Area and related it in his talk. Dr. Nibley also said he was close to LeGrand Richard's family and Sister Richards told him about the vision, too.

Copyrighted-All Rights Reserved. David Hughes Horne, P.E.

NOTES: It should be noted that Bro Horne has since indicated that he may have gotten the word "greek" wrong, but that the impression was, that the President's ancestry was not your typical White European.

Our very own Bob, here on the forum, has indicated that when he was a lad in Ogden, the word "greek" was often a polite way to refer to someone who was black, instead of the common vulgar terms of that day.

Account 3
Source unknown, but cited in an email that Dr. Jones, from this forum, received:

If anyone has information as to the source of this account, I would greatly appreciate it

My father was one of the three men who started the church’s “Road Show” drama program in the early years of the 20th century. Through that exposure to church leadership, he formed many lasting relationships which lasted all of his life. He eventually graduated from college with a masters degree, which is now equivalent to roughly PhD, and was widely used in the church’s building program, designing and building the first few church canneries. After his first wife died from what is just a minor medical problem these days, he went south to become the superintendent over the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program that was started during the depression to provide a jobs program for the destitute out of work men who comprised over one third of the workforce. His gang built the Zion’s Park tunnels, and the bridge over the Virgin River between Hurricane and LaVerkin, UT, and then he left to work building projects for the church again. The canneries in Hurricane, Kanab, St George, and several others I will decline to mention in the interest of brevity. During his CCC days he married my mother and they began their family. I only bring this history here to AVOW because it lays the foundation for what subsequently happened.

After WW2, George Albert Smith was a regular visitor to our home in LaVerkin. He always came with the church architects to have dad go over plans for this building or that one because dad was extremely good at looking at blueprints and envisioning spatially what was being built, thus being able to see right off hand what many architects could not, even with their education. He was able to see if the building could even be built as drawn, and if not, what changes were needed to make it buildable.

On one of these trips, President Smith drove down in the limited edition Lincoln Continental convertible Henry Ford had given to Heber J. Grant as president of the church. While he was there, dad and the architects were in heads over coattails discussing the plans of a proposed temple, and the discussion got so involved that George Albert was lost, and so he invited my oldest brother, who was then 11 going on 12 to go for a ride with him. During that ride, President Smith interviewed my brother and gave him quite a priesthood worthiness interview. He then got after him for being more interested in getting all of his friends in town to notice the fact that he was riding in a Lincoln Continental convertible with the top down, than he was in conversing with a living prophet of God.

At that point, President Smith quite abruptly stopped and turned in the seat so that he was facing my brother and related to him what sounds basically like the same vision that Brother David Horne related. Everything that my brother wrote down in his journal (which he didn’t have until he got home, and told mother what had happened, and she got him a journal and had him write down all that Pres. Smith had told him).

Every thing that he wrote down correlates except that there is no mention of a Greek anything in the version my brother recorded. After reading “Dreams and Visions” and reading that vision as related by Bro. Horne, I asked my brother specifically if Pres. Smith had said anything about a Greek president being the key event to watch for, and he tells me that nothing like that was mentioned. He just said that it would be a president of different extraction than the normal northern European ancestry that we had had up to that point.

However, Pres. Smith did tell him to look specifically for the day when the American Dollar was so worthless that no other country would allow payment in dollars, for that would signal the beginning of such a severe depression that only LDS people who had their food supplies and clothing supplies and whatever they needed for heat and to cook with would be able to survive. Then he stopped for a moment as though he was going inside himself, and then said that there would be other survivors, but they would only survive because they were the honest in heart whom the Lord would miraculously bring to the Saints to teach and nurture, and that their survival would be something truly spiritual to those of us who were prepared for the calamities that would befall the LDS people who were not prepared, and the unprepared LDS would be affected the worst and die the more agonizing deaths because they had been warned, and yet rejected those warnings.

1. Weapons would be taken from the populace (advised to have weapons and ammo stashed where it would be unobservable but which could be gotten to in a moments notice)

2. Russia would appear to fall from it’s mighty position, but that would only be a ruse, because they would continue to only grow stronger because they would not have to support all of the poor countries they had taken over.

3. The US would give up it’s strategic power base, and become the scourge of the world because of the abuse of power they would leverage against all other lesser countries, and the other world powers would force the US to take their bombs out of Europe. (Doesn’t remember anything being said about whether bombs were nuclear or not)

4. Missiles would be hidden in grain silos – didn’t way anything about them being the buried silos we all know.

5. Nations would move huge battle tanks around to where they needed them on trucks that are bigger than any you have ever seen up till now (1949)

6. Then a terrible war would break out that would pit the powerful nations of the world against the US, and that the US would find out what it was like to have war waged in their backyards, and America would find out that WW2 had merely been a training exercise.

7. The worst time in the depression would look like a picnic in comparison.

He then reiterated to him that he needed to put away guns and ammo where it could not be confiscated so that he could protect his family until he could get them to one of the refuge’s that the Lord would provide his worthy Saints. After he got to the refuges he would not need those weapons, but that perhaps his children and grandchildren would to go fight for the constitution. He then quit talking, and refused to give any further clarifications.

After recording what he could remember, my brother felt like he had left something important out, and was concerned, so since Pres. Smith was still in residence, my brother went back to him and had him read what he had written. President Smith told him that he had all that needed to be recorded, and that he now felt he had overstepped his bounds in telling my brother all that he had, and prayed that the Lord would forgive him, and that my brother should only record and tell his family the elements that needed to be kept sacred in his journal.

Various quotes:

Pres. George Albert Smith quote from October 1946 General Conference:

“I fear that the time is coming, unless we can find some way not only to prevent the destruction of human life by careless accidents, but also unless we can call the people of this world to repent of their sins and turn from the error of their ways, that the great war that has just passed will be an insignificant thing, as far as calamity is concerned, compared to that which is before us...

We are not out of the woods. This world is in for a housecleaning unless the sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father repent of their sins and turn to him.' And that means the Latter-day Saints, or the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with all the rest, but we, first of all, ought to be setting the example.”

Pres. George Albert Smith from April 1950 General Conference:

It will not be long until calamities will overtake the human family unless there is speedy repentance. It will not be long before those who are scattered over the face of the earth by millions will die like flies because of what will come.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave a supporting address in the April 1979 General Conference:

We do not say that all of the Saints will be spared and saved from the coming day of desolation. But we do say there is no promise of safety and no promise of security except for those who love the Lord and who are seeking to do all that he commands.

It may be, for instance, that nothing except the power of faith and the authority of the priesthood can save individuals and congregations from the atomic holocausts that surely shall be.

And so we raise the warning voice and say: Take heed; prepare; watch and be ready. There is no security in any course except the course of obedience and conformity and righteousness.

Last edited by Sam_I_Am on Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

A THREAD ON THE GEORGE ALBERT SMITH PROPHECY

6 comments: