S5E37 Orson Hyde and the Prophecy of the Civil War Part 1
Sep 4, 2025
The hosts kick off with humorous banter about carrots and the imminent NFL season, setting a lively tone. They discuss Orson Hyde's Civil War insights, blending faith with historical perspectives. Listener interactions reveal personal journeys in faith, addressing how church history can be navigated with confidence. They delve into the dynamics of college football and predictions for key matchups, all while intertwining lighthearted jokes. The complexities of interpreting prophetic statements about the Civil War are explored, highlighting history's intricate connections.
01:11:33
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Family History Reassures Faith
Richard found a personal connection to Emer Harris and felt reassured about family faith amid relatives leaving the church.
He related how his ancestor's testimony comforted him during familial apostasy and strengthened his own faith.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Confront Doubts With Good Sources
Do read reliable sources and scripture to confront troubling church-history claims instead of hostile internet material.
Try building testimony through study and prayer rather than avoiding history by 'putting things on a shelf'.
insights INSIGHT
Shelving Issues Weakens Testimony
Richard argues shelving difficult topics risks turning testimony into silence and leaves you vulnerable to doubt.
He prefers gaining testimony of hard issues rather than postponing them on a mental shelf.
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To celebrate the kickoff to the 2025 NFL season (Eagles -7.5 vs the Cowboys), we begin in the obvious place with a discussion of Orson Hyde’s letter to the Missouri Republican in 1861, providing commentary on the Civil War. They read an email from a litner who shares how she used to be afraid of Church history and how the podcast has given her confidence in the face of anti-Mormon garbage, and Richard shares his feelings on the idea of putting Gospel and Church history topics “on a shelf”…spoiler alert, he doesn’t like the expression.
Kristy’s KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): We ran out of time. There is no way your Sunday School teacher will be getting D&C 94 through 97. Use any of the three-part rerelease from D&C 93 last week, and you should be in great shape.
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Rex's Elders Quorum President's Show Notes:
•00:01:20 – Richard’s new glasses, carrots, and “big carrot conspiracy”
•00:03:40 – Football season talk (NFL & College)
•00:09:20 – Listener mailbag begins
•00:09:36 – Testimony of Emer Harris and family connections
•00:15:00 – Listener Danica’s email on family faith struggles and church history fears
•00:25:00 – Richard’s thoughts on “putting things on the shelf” vs. gaining testimony
•00:31:00 – Discussion of Lyman Johnson’s regret and the value of faith
•00:35:00 – Dawson’s email introducing Orson Hyde’s Civil War commentary
•00:37:00 – Civil War Prophecy context: hindsight bias and the problem of interpreting prophecy.
•00:39:00 – Challenges of Second Coming prophecies and people’s tendency to over-interpret.
•00:40:30 – Specifics of Joseph Smith’s prophecy: slavery, South Carolina, and secession.
•00:43:00 – Why hindsight makes the Civil War “seem obvious,” but it wasn’t.
•00:45:00 – South Carolina newspapers downplaying fears of a large-scale war.
•00:47:00 – Border state (Missouri) newspapers hoping for compromise to avoid war.
•00:51:00 – Virginia’s “scandalous” call for 10,000–20,000 militia—later dwarfed by actual numbers.
•00:53:00 – Historical context: the Nullification Crisis and its contrast with Joseph’s prophecy.
•00:55:00 – War of 1812 Hartford Convention—New England nearly seceding.
•01:00:00 – Hindsight bias analogy: Neville Chamberlain’s “peace for our time.”
•01:02:00 – Why critics’ arguments against Joseph Smith’s prophecy are hollow.
•01:05:00 – Civil War prophecy in early manuscripts and the Pearl of Great Price (1851).
•01:07:00 – Prophecy credibility, critics’ weak arguments, and final remarks.
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