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Barbour’s paper explains why 1873 and 1874 passed retrospective response
On: the harvest is the end of the world
Source quotation · Unsigned article “Harmony in Prophetic Periods,” Herald of the Morning, September 1875, pp. 58–59; the monthly was edited by N. H. Barbour. Three paragraphs from “Those who do not understand” through “shows us our whereabouts.” Those who do not understand these arguments think they have all proved failures; because, as they suppose, the time has gone by. Now I would ask. If there is a harvest, a time which Christ calls “the end of the world,” and a prophetic period pointing to “the end of the world;” and after reaching that point, the light comes out that this end of the world, is a period of time, which also has an end of its own; would it be wise to renounce the whole thing, and refuse to investigate any further, because all the events belonging to the “end of the world,” did not come where the end began? For instance: In 1873 we looked for the end. It was there the 6000 years ended; and, of course, the 7th, or as we suppose, the “day of the Lord,” began. The time came, and what we then expected, viz. a general smash up, [tradition of the Advent people] did not occur. But instead of being discouraged, and giving up, we re-examined the arguments, found the chronology invulnerable; and the light from God’s word shone in upon our darkness, and we saw that “the day of the Lord,” was a period of time; and that while the chronology, and many other arguments, proved that it had begun, there was no evidence that it had not; hence, the arguments retained their power.
The period ending on the “tenth day of the seventh month,” in 1874, did not bring all the events of the “harvest,” but only the beginning of the time of harvest. Hence, that too, was, by some, supposed to be a failure. And we are free to confess that it was a disappointment. But, mind you, the argument that the “end of the world,” [age] was due, at that time, cannot be answered.
But, say some; if nothing transpired that could be seen, why not give it all up, even if the arguments do appear unanswerable? I presume I was weak enough to have done so, but, just then the light came out that the “end of the world,” was a period of time. “The harvest is the end of the world.” And “In the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers” &c. And the thought occurred, perhaps we may have to walk by faith clear to the end of the harvest, since the gathering of the “wheat,” is the last event; and in that case it won’t do to give up the very evidence that brings faith, and shows us our whereabouts.
Herald of the Morning, September 1875 · Herald of the Morning (Rochester, N.Y.), No. 4, September 1875, unsigned article “Harmony in Prophetic Periods, or ‘The time of the end’,” pp. 57–59. Internet Archive scan “Herald of the Morning, N. H. Barbour, éditions de 1874 à 1880” (BookReader leaves 72–74; masthead on leaf 64). Transcribed from the page images; the OCR text layer was used only for comparison. Line-end hyphenation joined, italics rendered plain, typographic quotation marks as printed, whitespace normalized. Selected units: p. 58 last paragraph through p. 59 first column (“Those who do not understand” through “shows us our whereabouts.”) and p. 59 second column (“Now, as strange as it may seem” through “(Isa. 40: 2).”).
Source reuse and transcription Nineteenth-century publication, public domain in the United States.
Community response to this revision: 0
Published revision history 2026-10-01T14:02:23+00:00
Those who do not understand these arguments think they have all proved failures; because, as they suppose, the time has gone by. Now I would ask. If there is a harvest, a time which Christ calls “the end of the world,” and a prophetic period pointing to “the end of the world;” and after reaching that point, the light comes out that this end of the world, is a period of time, which also has an end of its own; would it be wise to renounce the whole thing, and refuse to investigate any further, because all the events belonging to the “end of the world,” did not come where the end began? For instance: In 1873 we looked for the end. It was there the 6000 years ended; and, of course, the 7th, or as we suppose, the “day of the Lord,” began. The time came, and what we then expected, viz. a general smash up, [tradition of the Advent people] did not occur. But instead of being discouraged, and giving up, we re-examined the arguments, found the chronology invulnerable; and the light from God’s word shone in upon our darkness, and we saw that “the day of the Lord,” was a period of time; and that while the chronology, and many other arguments, proved that it had begun, there was no evidence that it had not; hence, the arguments retained their power.
The period ending on the “tenth day of the seventh month,” in 1874, did not bring all the events of the “harvest,” but only the beginning of the time of harvest. Hence, that too, was, by some, supposed to be a failure. And we are free to confess that it was a disappointment. But, mind you, the argument that the “end of the world,” [age] was due, at that time, cannot be answered.
But, say some; if nothing transpired that could be seen, why not give it all up, even if the arguments do appear unanswerable? I presume I was weak enough to have done so, but, just then the light came out that the “end of the world,” was a period of time. “The harvest is the end of the world.” And “In the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers” &c. And the thought occurred, perhaps we may have to walk by faith clear to the end of the harvest, since the gathering of the “wheat,” is the last event; and in that case it won’t do to give up the very evidence that brings faith, and shows us our whereabouts.
Herald of the Morning: the first half of Zion’s warfare measured at 1841½ years interpretation
On: in the time of harvest
Linked by verbal allusion. The paragraph speaks of “the time of harvest” to the Jews; the paragraph before it in the same article quotes Matthew 13:30, “In the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers.”
Source quotation · Unsigned article “Harmony in Prophetic Periods,” Herald of the Morning, September 1875, p. 59, first and second columns; the monthly was edited by N. H. Barbour. One paragraph, complete. On examination, I found that Zion’s warfare, which is to be “double,” i. e. in two equal parts, for that is what double means; measured, for the twelve tribes, just 1841 years and a half; that is, from the time the sceptre was given, at the death of Jacob (Gen. 49: 10), and they became a nation, to the beginning of Christ’s ministry. In other words, to the beginning of “the time of harvest” to the Jews; [for there was a harvest to that ‘aion,’ or age, “Lift up your eyes, and look, behold, the fields are white already to harvest; but the laborers are few … And yet He would not permit them to go to the Gentiles, or into any city of the Samaritans. And the reason assigned, was, that he was sent ‘only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’] and the duration of that harvest was just three and a half years, or the time of Christ’s personal work. And this three and a half years, ended in the spring of A. D. 33, when, just before his crucifixion, he gave them up, and left their house desolate.
Herald of the Morning, September 1875 · Herald of the Morning (Rochester, N.Y.), vol. 3, no. 4, September 1875 (masthead, BookReader leaf 48), unsigned article “Harmony in Prophetic Periods, or ‘The time of the end’,” p. 59: the paragraph from “On examination, I found” (first column) through “left their house desolate.” (second column). Internet Archive item “1875-1880 Herald of the Morning Assorted Issues,” document “1875-1880 Herald of the Morning Assorted,” BookReader leaf 58 (page image, 5100 × 6600 pixels). Transcribed from the page image. Italics and small capitals rendered plain; line-end hyphenation joined; typographic quotation marks as printed; whitespace normalized. The scan crops the last line of the first column; “…” marks its end.
Source reuse and transcription Nineteenth-century publication, public domain in the United States.
Community response to this revision: 0
Published revision history 2026-10-05T15:53:51+00:00
On examination, I found that Zion’s warfare, which is to be “double,” i. e. in two equal parts, for that is what double means; measured, for the twelve tribes, just 1841 years and a half; that is, from the time the sceptre was given, at the death of Jacob (Gen. 49: 10), and they became a nation, to the beginning of Christ’s ministry. In other words, to the beginning of “the time of harvest” to the Jews; [for there was a harvest to that ‘aion,’ or age, “Lift up your eyes, and look, behold, the fields are white already to harvest; but the laborers are few … And yet He would not permit them to go to the Gentiles, or into any city of the Samaritans. And the reason assigned, was, that he was sent ‘only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’] and the duration of that harvest was just three and a half years, or the time of Christ’s personal work. And this three and a half years, ended in the spring of A. D. 33, when, just before his crucifixion, he gave them up, and left their house desolate.
Herald of the Morning: the harvest will end in the spring of 1878, if the parallel holds interpretation
On: the harvest is the end of the world
Linked by Rainbow Watch. This paragraph speaks of “this harvest” without quoting Matthew; the same article earlier quotes “The harvest is the end of the world.”
Source quotation · Unsigned article “Harmony in Prophetic Periods,” Herald of the Morning, September 1875, p. 59, second column; the monthly was edited by N. H. Barbour. One paragraph, complete. Now, as strange as it may seem, the time from where the gospel under the twelve apostles began, with the commission to the Gentiles, after his resurrection in the spring of A. D. 33, to the “seventh month,” in 1874, where the period ended at which we expected the end; is also just 1841 and a half years. And if this “harvest” is to be the same as that of the first half of Zion’s warfare under the twelve tribes, this harvest will end in the spring of 1878; at which time Zion will have received “double.” And God’s word is pledged that when she has received double, her warfare will end (Isa. 40: 2).
Herald of the Morning, September 1875 · Herald of the Morning (Rochester, N.Y.), No. 4, September 1875, unsigned article “Harmony in Prophetic Periods, or ‘The time of the end’,” pp. 57–59. Internet Archive scan “Herald of the Morning, N. H. Barbour, éditions de 1874 à 1880” (BookReader leaves 72–74; masthead on leaf 64). Transcribed from the page images; the OCR text layer was used only for comparison. Line-end hyphenation joined, italics rendered plain, typographic quotation marks as printed, whitespace normalized. Selected units: p. 58 last paragraph through p. 59 first column (“Those who do not understand” through “shows us our whereabouts.”) and p. 59 second column (“Now, as strange as it may seem” through “(Isa. 40: 2).”).
Source reuse and transcription Nineteenth-century publication, public domain in the United States.
Community response to this revision: 0
Published revision history 2026-10-01T14:02:23+00:00
Now, as strange as it may seem, the time from where the gospel under the twelve apostles began, with the commission to the Gentiles, after his resurrection in the spring of A. D. 33, to the “seventh month,” in 1874, where the period ended at which we expected the end; is also just 1841 and a half years. And if this “harvest” is to be the same as that of the first half of Zion’s warfare under the twelve tribes, this harvest will end in the spring of 1878; at which time Zion will have received “double.” And God’s word is pledged that when she has received double, her warfare will end (Isa. 40: 2).
Joseph Smith reads the harvest parables as the latter-day gathering proposed fulfillment
On: the harvest is the end of the world
Source quotation · Joseph Smith, letter “To the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate 2, no. 3 (December 1835), pp. 228–229; nine paragraphs from “And another parable spake he” through “leavened the whole lump. Amen.” And another parable spake he unto them: The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. It may be understood that the church of the Latter Day Saints, has taken its rise from a little leaven that was put into three witnesses. Behold, how much this is like the parable: it is fast leavening the lump, and will soon leaven the whole. But let us pass on.
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitudes, in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world: Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house, and his disciples came unto him, saying, declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, he that soweth the good seed is the son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one. Now let our readers mark the expression, the field is the world; the tares are the children of the wicked one: the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world. Let them carefully mark this expression also, the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. Now men cannot have any possible grounds to say that this is figurative, or that it does not mean what it says; for he is now explaining what he had previously spoken in parables; and according to this language, the end of the world is the destruction of the wicked; the harvest and the end of the world have an allusion directly to the human family in the last days, instead of the earth, as many have imagined, and that which shall precede the coming of the Son of man, and the restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began; and the angels are to have something to do in this great work, for they are the reapers: as therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world; that is, as the servants of God go forth warning the nations, both priests and people, and as they harden their hearts and reject the light of the truth, these first being delivered over unto the buffetings of satan, and the law and the testimony being closed up, as it was with the Jews, they are left in darkness, and delivered over unto the day of burning: thus being bound up by their creeds and their bands made strong by their priests, are prepared for the fulfilment of the saying of the Savior: the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
We understand, that the work of the gathering together of the wheat into barns, or garners, is to take place while the tares are being bound over, and preparing for the day of burning: that after the day of burnings, the righteous shall shine forth like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father: who hath ears to hear let him hear.
But to illustrate more clearly upon this gathering, we have another parable. Again the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found, he hideth and for joy thereof, goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field: for the work after this pattern, see the church of the Latter Day Saints, selling all that they have and gathering themselves together unto a place that they may purchase for an inheritance, that they may be together and bear each other’s afflictions in the day of calamity.
Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. For the work of this example, see men travelling to find places for Zion, and her stakes or remnants, who when they find the place for Zion, or the pearl of great price; straitway sell all that they have and buy it.
Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, which when it was full they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, and cast the bad away.— For the work of this pattern, behold the seed of Joseph, spreading forth the gospel net, upon the face of the earth, gathering of every kind, that the good may be saved in vessels prepared for that purpose, and the angels will take care of the bad: so shall it be at the end of the world, the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus saith unto them, have you understood all these things? they say unto him yea Lord: and we say yea Lord, and well might they say yea Lord, for these things are so plain and so glorious, that every Saint in the last days must respond with a hearty amen to them.
Then said he unto them, therefore every scribe which is instructed into the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an house holder; which bringeth forth out of his treasure things that are new and old.
For the work of this example, see the book of Mormon, coming forth out of the treasure of the heart; also the covenants given to the Latter Day Saints: also the translation of the bible: thus bringing forth out of the heart, things new and old: thus answering to three measures of meal, undergoing the purifying touch by a revelation of Jesus Christ, and the ministering of angels, who have already commenced this work in the last days, which will answer to the leaven which leavened the whole lump. Amen.
Letter to the Elders of the Church, 30 November–1 December 1835 · JS, Letter, Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH, to “the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” [30 Nov.–1 Dec. 1835]. Featured version published in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1835, 2:225–230. Selected units pp. 226–227, 227 and 228–229. Joseph Smith Papers historical transcription (reading text), retrieved 30 September 2026. Page-break word divisions joined and page markers removed; typographic quotation marks as in the transcription; JSP editorial insertions in square brackets are omitted, including the silent expansion “Mr. [Eber D.] Howe’s,” which follows print p. 227 as “Mr. Howe’s.” Pages 226–227 compared word by word with the Internet Archive scan’s OCR text layer and p. 227 left column and right-column top visually checked; pp. 228–229 rely on the Joseph Smith Papers transcription because the scan’s OCR interleaves columns. No passages omitted within selected units.
Source reuse and transcription Public-domain nineteenth-century historical text; Joseph Smith Papers transcription. No modern editorial essay or notes reproduced. Print witness: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_latter-day-saints-messenger-and-advocate_1835-12_2_3
Community response to this revision: 0
Published revision history 2026-10-01T14:02:23+00:00
And another parable spake he unto them: The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. It may be understood that the church of the Latter Day Saints, has taken its rise from a little leaven that was put into three witnesses. Behold, how much this is like the parable: it is fast leavening the lump, and will soon leaven the whole. But let us pass on.
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitudes, in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world: Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house, and his disciples came unto him, saying, declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, he that soweth the good seed is the son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one. Now let our readers mark the expression, the field is the world; the tares are the children of the wicked one: the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world. Let them carefully mark this expression also, the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. Now men cannot have any possible grounds to say that this is figurative, or that it does not mean what it says; for he is now explaining what he had previously spoken in parables; and according to this language, the end of the world is the destruction of the wicked; the harvest and the end of the world have an allusion directly to the human family in the last days, instead of the earth, as many have imagined, and that which shall precede the coming of the Son of man, and the restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began; and the angels are to have something to do in this great work, for they are the reapers: as therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world; that is, as the servants of God go forth warning the nations, both priests and people, and as they harden their hearts and reject the light of the truth, these first being delivered over unto the buffetings of satan, and the law and the testimony being closed up, as it was with the Jews, they are left in darkness, and delivered over unto the day of burning: thus being bound up by their creeds and their bands made strong by their priests, are prepared for the fulfilment of the saying of the Savior: the Son of man shall send forth his angels, and gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
We understand, that the work of the gathering together of the wheat into barns, or garners, is to take place while the tares are being bound over, and preparing for the day of burning: that after the day of burnings, the righteous shall shine forth like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father: who hath ears to hear let him hear.
But to illustrate more clearly upon this gathering, we have another parable. Again the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found, he hideth and for joy thereof, goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field: for the work after this pattern, see the church of the Latter Day Saints, selling all that they have and gathering themselves together unto a place that they may purchase for an inheritance, that they may be together and bear each other’s afflictions in the day of calamity.
Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. For the work of this example, see men travelling to find places for Zion, and her stakes or remnants, who when they find the place for Zion, or the pearl of great price; straitway sell all that they have and buy it.
Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, which when it was full they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, and cast the bad away.— For the work of this pattern, behold the seed of Joseph, spreading forth the gospel net, upon the face of the earth, gathering of every kind, that the good may be saved in vessels prepared for that purpose, and the angels will take care of the bad: so shall it be at the end of the world, the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus saith unto them, have you understood all these things? they say unto him yea Lord: and we say yea Lord, and well might they say yea Lord, for these things are so plain and so glorious, that every Saint in the last days must respond with a hearty amen to them.
Then said he unto them, therefore every scribe which is instructed into the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an house holder; which bringeth forth out of his treasure things that are new and old.
For the work of this example, see the book of Mormon, coming forth out of the treasure of the heart; also the covenants given to the Latter Day Saints: also the translation of the bible: thus bringing forth out of the heart, things new and old: thus answering to three measures of meal, undergoing the purifying touch by a revelation of Jesus Christ, and the ministering of angels, who have already commenced this work in the last days, which will answer to the leaven which leavened the whole lump. Amen.
Joseph Smith: the Book of Mormon as the mustard seed of the last days proposed fulfillment
On: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed
Source quotation · Joseph Smith, letter “To the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate 2, no. 3 (December 1835), p. 227; two paragraphs from “And again, another parable” through “Mormonism Unveiled?” And again, another parable put he forth unto them, having an allusion to the kingdom which should be set up, just previous or at the time of harvest, which reads as follows:—The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Now we can discover plainly, that this figure is given to represent the church as it shall come forth in the last days. Behold the kingdom of heaven is likened unto it. Now what is like unto it?
Let us take the book of Mormon, which a man took and hid in his field; securing it by his faith, to spring up in the last days, or in due time: let us behold it coming forth out of the ground, which is indeed accounted the least of all seeds, but behold it branching forth; yea, even towering, with lofty branches, and God-like majesty, until it becomes the greatest of all herbs: and it is truth, and it has sprouted and come forth out of the earth; and righteousness begins to look down from heaven; and God is sending down his powers, gifts and angels, to lodge in the branches thereof: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a mustard seed. Behold, then, is not this the kingdom of heaven that is raising its head in the last days, in the majesty of its God; even the church of the Latter day saints,—like an impenetrable, immovable rock in the midst of the mighty deep, exposed to storms and tempests of satan, but has, thus far, remained steadfast and is still braving the mountain waves of opposition, which are driven by the tempestuous winds of sinking crafts, have and are still dashing with tremendous foam, across its triumphing brow, urged onward with redoubled fury by the enemy of righteousness, with his pitchfork of lies, as you will see fairly represented in a cut, contained in Mr. Howe’s “Mormonism Unveiled?”
Letter to the Elders of the Church, 30 November–1 December 1835 · JS, Letter, Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH, to “the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” [30 Nov.–1 Dec. 1835]. Featured version published in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1835, 2:225–230. Selected units pp. 226–227, 227 and 228–229. Joseph Smith Papers historical transcription (reading text), retrieved 30 September 2026. Page-break word divisions joined and page markers removed; typographic quotation marks as in the transcription; JSP editorial insertions in square brackets are omitted, including the silent expansion “Mr. [Eber D.] Howe’s,” which follows print p. 227 as “Mr. Howe’s.” Pages 226–227 compared word by word with the Internet Archive scan’s OCR text layer and p. 227 left column and right-column top visually checked; pp. 228–229 rely on the Joseph Smith Papers transcription because the scan’s OCR interleaves columns. No passages omitted within selected units.
Source reuse and transcription Public-domain nineteenth-century historical text; Joseph Smith Papers transcription. No modern editorial essay or notes reproduced. Print witness: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_latter-day-saints-messenger-and-advocate_1835-12_2_3
Community response to this revision: 0
Published revision history 2026-10-01T14:02:23+00:00
And again, another parable put he forth unto them, having an allusion to the kingdom which should be set up, just previous or at the time of harvest, which reads as follows:—The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Now we can discover plainly, that this figure is given to represent the church as it shall come forth in the last days. Behold the kingdom of heaven is likened unto it. Now what is like unto it?
Let us take the book of Mormon, which a man took and hid in his field; securing it by his faith, to spring up in the last days, or in due time: let us behold it coming forth out of the ground, which is indeed accounted the least of all seeds, but behold it branching forth; yea, even towering, with lofty branches, and God-like majesty, until it becomes the greatest of all herbs: and it is truth, and it has sprouted and come forth out of the earth; and righteousness begins to look down from heaven; and God is sending down his powers, gifts and angels, to lodge in the branches thereof: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a mustard seed. Behold, then, is not this the kingdom of heaven that is raising its head in the last days, in the majesty of its God; even the church of the Latter day saints,—like an impenetrable, immovable rock in the midst of the mighty deep, exposed to storms and tempests of satan, but has, thus far, remained steadfast and is still braving the mountain waves of opposition, which are driven by the tempestuous winds of sinking crafts, have and are still dashing with tremendous foam, across its triumphing brow, urged onward with redoubled fury by the enemy of righteousness, with his pitchfork of lies, as you will see fairly represented in a cut, contained in Mr. Howe’s “Mormonism Unveiled?”
Joseph Smith: the sower concerns the setting up of the kingdom in that age interpretation
On: Behold, a sower went forth to sow
Source quotation · Joseph Smith, letter to the elders of the church, Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, December 1835, p. 226; one paragraph from “We draw the conclusion” through “even unto the end of the world.” We draw the conclusion then, that the very reason why the multitude, or the world, as they were designated by the Savior, did not receive an explanation upon his parables, was, because of unbelief. To you, he says, (speaking to his disciples) it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: and why? because of the faith and confidence which they had in him. This parable was spoken to demonstrate the effects that are produced by the preaching of the word; and we believe that it has an allusion directly, to the commencement, or the setting up of the kingdom in that age: therefore, we shall continue to trace his sayings concerning this kingdom from that time forth, even unto the end of the world.
Letter to the Elders of the Church, 30 November–1 December 1835 · JS, Letter, Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH, to “the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” [30 Nov.–1 Dec. 1835]. Featured version published in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1835, 2:225–230. Selected units pp. 226–227, 227 and 228–229. Joseph Smith Papers historical transcription (reading text), retrieved 30 September 2026. Page-break word divisions joined and page markers removed; typographic quotation marks as in the transcription; JSP editorial insertions in square brackets are omitted, including the silent expansion “Mr. [Eber D.] Howe’s,” which follows print p. 227 as “Mr. Howe’s.” Pages 226–227 compared word by word with the Internet Archive scan’s OCR text layer and p. 227 left column and right-column top visually checked; pp. 228–229 rely on the Joseph Smith Papers transcription because the scan’s OCR interleaves columns. No passages omitted within selected units.
Source reuse and transcription Public-domain nineteenth-century historical text; Joseph Smith Papers transcription. No modern editorial essay or notes reproduced. Print witness: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_latter-day-saints-messenger-and-advocate_1835-12_2_3
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We draw the conclusion then, that the very reason why the multitude, or the world, as they were designated by the Savior, did not receive an explanation upon his parables, was, because of unbelief. To you, he says, (speaking to his disciples) it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: and why? because of the faith and confidence which they had in him. This parable was spoken to demonstrate the effects that are produced by the preaching of the word; and we believe that it has an allusion directly, to the commencement, or the setting up of the kingdom in that age: therefore, we shall continue to trace his sayings concerning this kingdom from that time forth, even unto the end of the world.
Joseph Smith: the tares grow with the church until the harvest interpretation
On: Let both grow together until the harvest
Source quotation · Joseph Smith, letter “To the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate 2, no. 3 (December 1835), pp. 226–227; two paragraphs from “Another parable put he forth” through “all plainly elucidated.” Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, (which parable has an allusion to the setting up of the kingdom, in that age of the world also) the kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field, but while men slept an enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way; but when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also; so the servants of the householder came and said unto him, sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, an enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him wilt thou then that we go and gather them up; but he said nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.— Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles, to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.
Now we learn by this parable, not only the setting up of the kingdom in the days of the Savior, which is represented by the good seed, which produced fruit, but also the corruptions of the church, which is represented by the tares, which were sown by the enemy, which his disciples would fain have plucked up, or cleansed the church of, if their views had been favored by the Savior; but he, knowing all things, says not so; as much as to say, your views are not correct, the church is in its infancy, and if you take this rash step, you will destroy the wheat or the church with the tares: therefore it is better to let them grow together until the harvest, or the end of the world, which means the destruction of the wicked; which is not yet fulfilled; as we shall show hereafter, in the Savior’s explanation of the parable, which is so plain, that there is no room left for dubiety upon the mind, notwithstanding the cry of the priests, parables, parables! figures, figures! mystery, mystery! all is mystery! but we find no room for doubt here, as the parables were all plainly elucidated.
Letter to the Elders of the Church, 30 November–1 December 1835 · JS, Letter, Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH, to “the Elders of the Church of the Latter Day Saints,” [30 Nov.–1 Dec. 1835]. Featured version published in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1835, 2:225–230. Selected units pp. 226–227, 227 and 228–229. Joseph Smith Papers historical transcription (reading text), retrieved 30 September 2026. Page-break word divisions joined and page markers removed; typographic quotation marks as in the transcription; JSP editorial insertions in square brackets are omitted, including the silent expansion “Mr. [Eber D.] Howe’s,” which follows print p. 227 as “Mr. Howe’s.” Pages 226–227 compared word by word with the Internet Archive scan’s OCR text layer and p. 227 left column and right-column top visually checked; pp. 228–229 rely on the Joseph Smith Papers transcription because the scan’s OCR interleaves columns. No passages omitted within selected units.
Source reuse and transcription Public-domain nineteenth-century historical text; Joseph Smith Papers transcription. No modern editorial essay or notes reproduced. Print witness: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_latter-day-saints-messenger-and-advocate_1835-12_2_3
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Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, (which parable has an allusion to the setting up of the kingdom, in that age of the world also) the kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field, but while men slept an enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way; but when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also; so the servants of the householder came and said unto him, sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, an enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him wilt thou then that we go and gather them up; but he said nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.— Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles, to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.
Now we learn by this parable, not only the setting up of the kingdom in the days of the Savior, which is represented by the good seed, which produced fruit, but also the corruptions of the church, which is represented by the tares, which were sown by the enemy, which his disciples would fain have plucked up, or cleansed the church of, if their views had been favored by the Savior; but he, knowing all things, says not so; as much as to say, your views are not correct, the church is in its infancy, and if you take this rash step, you will destroy the wheat or the church with the tares: therefore it is better to let them grow together until the harvest, or the end of the world, which means the destruction of the wicked; which is not yet fulfilled; as we shall show hereafter, in the Savior’s explanation of the parable, which is so plain, that there is no room left for dubiety upon the mind, notwithstanding the cry of the priests, parables, parables! figures, figures! mystery, mystery! all is mystery! but we find no room for doubt here, as the parables were all plainly elucidated.
Russell after the spring of 1878: translation not yet, the gathering takes three and a half years retrospective response
On: gather the wheat into my barn
Source quotation · C. T. Russell (signed “C. T. R.”), “The Prospect,” Herald of the Morning, July 1878, p. 11 (first two paragraphs) and p. 14 (two paragraphs); omission marked. When a short time since our expectations of translation failed of realization, doubtless all who understood the foundation upon which those hopes were based felt somewhat disappointed; yet we did not for a moment feel cast down. We realized that what God had so plainly declared must some time have a fulfilment.
We felt that we wanted to have it just in God’s time and way. We have not, and hope we never shall, have any desire to arrange the matter for him, but we are very desirous of having all the light which it pleases Our Father to give upon our pathway, and which he promises will “shine more and more unto the perfect day.” In other words, it has been, and still is, our aim not to make a pathway for ourselves, but to make use of the “lamp” of revelation (“Thy word is a lamp”) in walking in the pathway which our Father made for us. When, therefore, we were not translated, it was an evidence to us that it was not God’s time for it; and our hearts responded Amen; thy will be done, O God: and we can say with brother Paul, “I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.” And we realized that “All things work together for good to those that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”
…
That this work has been accomplished in the three and a-half years of the harvest just ended, we thoroughly believe, but as there, so here, there is a “gathering into the barn” to be done, and the pattern teaches us that it will require three and a-half years for this part of the harvest work; but remember this is not setting a time for translation, the translation not being due until all are gathered, and how long after we know not, but presume soon thereafter. But, says one, I thought the gathering “into the barn” was translation.
So we all did, and that was the mistake; we supposed the separation took three and a-half years, and the gathering one moment. We now find that the gathering here, as in the end of the Jewish age, takes three and a-half years; and know that the “gatheting into the barn” is not translation, but a work that precedes it. Translation, or the changing of the living, (1 Cor. 15: 51,) is the work of the Spirit (Phil. 3: 21). “He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit which dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8: 11.) “The angels then will not translate us, but they do gather us into the barn.” (Matt. 13: 30.)
Herald of the Morning, July 1878 · Herald of the Morning (Rochester, N.Y.), vol. 7, no. 1, July 1878 (masthead, BookReader leaf 144), article “The Prospect,” signed “C. T. R.” (p. 15), pp. 11–15. Internet Archive scan “Herald of the Morning, N. H. Barbour, éditions de 1874 à 1880,” page images inspected (leaves 154 and 157); the OCR text layer was used only for comparison. Selected units: p. 11, first two paragraphs (“When a short time since” through “according to his purpose.”); p. 14, first column, from “That this work has been accomplished” through “(Matt. 13: 30.)”. The omission between them is marked “…”. Italics rendered plain; line-end hyphenation joined; typographic quotation marks as printed; whitespace normalized. Broken type read as “are” (“who are called”) and “but” (“but as there”). The misprint “gatheting” (p. 14) is kept.
Source reuse and transcription Nineteenth-century publication, public domain in the United States.
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When a short time since our expectations of translation failed of realization, doubtless all who understood the foundation upon which those hopes were based felt somewhat disappointed; yet we did not for a moment feel cast down. We realized that what God had so plainly declared must some time have a fulfilment.
We felt that we wanted to have it just in God’s time and way. We have not, and hope we never shall, have any desire to arrange the matter for him, but we are very desirous of having all the light which it pleases Our Father to give upon our pathway, and which he promises will “shine more and more unto the perfect day.” In other words, it has been, and still is, our aim not to make a pathway for ourselves, but to make use of the “lamp” of revelation (“Thy word is a lamp”) in walking in the pathway which our Father made for us. When, therefore, we were not translated, it was an evidence to us that it was not God’s time for it; and our hearts responded Amen; thy will be done, O God: and we can say with brother Paul, “I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.” And we realized that “All things work together for good to those that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”
…
That this work has been accomplished in the three and a-half years of the harvest just ended, we thoroughly believe, but as there, so here, there is a “gathering into the barn” to be done, and the pattern teaches us that it will require three and a-half years for this part of the harvest work; but remember this is not setting a time for translation, the translation not being due until all are gathered, and how long after we know not, but presume soon thereafter. But, says one, I thought the gathering “into the barn” was translation.
So we all did, and that was the mistake; we supposed the separation took three and a-half years, and the gathering one moment. We now find that the gathering here, as in the end of the Jewish age, takes three and a-half years; and know that the “gatheting into the barn” is not translation, but a work that precedes it. Translation, or the changing of the living, (1 Cor. 15: 51,) is the work of the Spirit (Phil. 3: 21). “He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit which dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8: 11.) “The angels then will not translate us, but they do gather us into the barn.” (Matt. 13: 30.)
Zion’s Watch Tower, 1880: the 1335 days end in 1874; trouble ends with the Gentile times in 1914 interpretation
On: the harvest is the end of the world
Source quotation · Unsigned lead article “A Reason for the Hope: Dialogue” (the Watchman’s answers), Zion’s Watch Tower, August 1880, issue p. 2 (reprint [124]); C. T. Russell was editor and publisher. Two paragraphs; the paragraph between them omitted. Another prophetic proof is that of the 1335 days (yrs.) of Daniel to the time Jesus was due to be present—“the harvest,” or end of this age—during which harvest time, Daniel was told that he should stand in his lot, or be resurrected with his class, the Prophets. The angel adds by way of comment: “Blessed is he that waiteth (remains alive) until the 1335 days”—1874. Those days surely end there, but what blessing did any of us who live realize? We are blessed by the “Bright shining of the present one.” (The literal rendering of last clause of 2 Thes., 2:8.) Jesus as the lightning is present, unseen, and is causing bright light of truth to shine into our minds. Wonderfully bright, and sweet, and precious, indeed, has been this light on the presence of the Son of Man, separating between wheat and tares and preparing his chaste Virgin for glory. He is making up His jewels, finishing the work by selecting those who are alive and remain, that we may be caught up, together with those who sleep in Him, to meet Him in the air.
…
Again we have found the word to teach that the Jewish age was given as a pattern, or shadow, or illustration of the Gospel age, and we have found it so. The latter being on a higher plane than the former, but otherwise its exact counterpart. It was 1840½ years from the beginning of the age to their harvest when Jesus was present in the flesh to that fleshly house. And it was 1841½ years from the commencement of our Gospel age at Pentecost (A. D., 33,) to the commencement of our “harvest” in the autumn of 1874, when our “sure word of prophecy” announces him as again present, but now on the higher plane, a spiritual body unseen, reaping, or harvesting the spiritual house. To the fleshly house the harvest work was on the fleshly plane and the chief reaper, Jesus and the other reapers, His disciples, were seen. Now there are under reapers, also, but they are “the angels,” [Matt. xiii] also spiritual bodies unseen, and so with the afterpart of the harvest. As Jesus gave up the Nominal church at the close of his 3½ years’ ministry because they “knew not the time of their visitation, so here too, at the parallel point of time, 1878, we believe the Nominal church to have been given up, and the “spewing out of His mouth” [Rev. iii] to have begun. As the Jewish house was shown some special favor for 3½ years, the latter half of their covenant week so we expect some favor to continue with the Nominal Gospel church for 3½ years. or until the autumn of 1881. As with the Jew, a period of 33 years of trouble followed these 7 years of favor, so we understand there will be upon christendom, so called, a period of 33 years of trouble—making with the preceding 7 years the 40 years of trouble or “Day of wrath” ending with the times of the Gentiles in 1914, when the kingdom of God [soon to be set up or exalted to power] will have broken in pieces and consumed all earthly kingdoms.
Zion’s Watch Tower, August 1880 · Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (Pittsburgh), vol. II, no. 2, August 1880, unsigned lead article “A Reason for the Hope: Dialogue,” the Watchman’s answers, issue p. 2 (reprint pagination [124]). Witness: the Watch Tower Society’s later reprint typesetting of the 1879–1881 issues, Internet Archive item magazines-zions-watchtower-and-herald-christ-presence-1880, leaf 62, page image inspected. Selected units: the paragraph “Another prophetic proof” through “to meet Him in the air.” and the paragraph “Again we have found the word” through “consumed all earthly kingdoms.”; the intervening paragraph is omitted and marked “…”. Italics rendered plain; line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized. The print reading “years. or until the autumn of 1881” is retained.
Source reuse and transcription Nineteenth-century publication, public domain in the United States. The reprint reproduces the 1880 text.
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Another prophetic proof is that of the 1335 days (yrs.) of Daniel to the time Jesus was due to be present—“the harvest,” or end of this age—during which harvest time, Daniel was told that he should stand in his lot, or be resurrected with his class, the Prophets. The angel adds by way of comment: “Blessed is he that waiteth (remains alive) until the 1335 days”—1874. Those days surely end there, but what blessing did any of us who live realize? We are blessed by the “Bright shining of the present one.” (The literal rendering of last clause of 2 Thes., 2:8.) Jesus as the lightning is present, unseen, and is causing bright light of truth to shine into our minds. Wonderfully bright, and sweet, and precious, indeed, has been this light on the presence of the Son of Man, separating between wheat and tares and preparing his chaste Virgin for glory. He is making up His jewels, finishing the work by selecting those who are alive and remain, that we may be caught up, together with those who sleep in Him, to meet Him in the air.
…
Again we have found the word to teach that the Jewish age was given as a pattern, or shadow, or illustration of the Gospel age, and we have found it so. The latter being on a higher plane than the former, but otherwise its exact counterpart. It was 1840½ years from the beginning of the age to their harvest when Jesus was present in the flesh to that fleshly house. And it was 1841½ years from the commencement of our Gospel age at Pentecost (A. D., 33,) to the commencement of our “harvest” in the autumn of 1874, when our “sure word of prophecy” announces him as again present, but now on the higher plane, a spiritual body unseen, reaping, or harvesting the spiritual house. To the fleshly house the harvest work was on the fleshly plane and the chief reaper, Jesus and the other reapers, His disciples, were seen. Now there are under reapers, also, but they are “the angels,” [Matt. xiii] also spiritual bodies unseen, and so with the afterpart of the harvest. As Jesus gave up the Nominal church at the close of his 3½ years’ ministry because they “knew not the time of their visitation, so here too, at the parallel point of time, 1878, we believe the Nominal church to have been given up, and the “spewing out of His mouth” [Rev. iii] to have begun. As the Jewish house was shown some special favor for 3½ years, the latter half of their covenant week so we expect some favor to continue with the Nominal Gospel church for 3½ years. or until the autumn of 1881. As with the Jew, a period of 33 years of trouble followed these 7 years of favor, so we understand there will be upon christendom, so called, a period of 33 years of trouble—making with the preceding 7 years the 40 years of trouble or “Day of wrath” ending with the times of the Gentiles in 1914, when the kingdom of God [soon to be set up or exalted to power] will have broken in pieces and consumed all earthly kingdoms.
Zion’s Watch Tower, December 1880: the saints changed probably by the fall of 1881 interpretation
On: the harvest is the end of the world
Linked by verbal allusion. The article says “we are now in the ‘harvest’ of the gospel age, the chief reaper present, and the work of separation going on … between wheat and tares,” echoing the parable without naming Matthew 13.
Source quotation · Unsigned lead article “The Restored Dominion,” Zion’s Watch Tower, December 1880, issue p. 7 (reprint [166]); C. T. Russell was editor and publisher. One paragraph and the closing sentences of the next; omission marked. God’s word informs us that, by the general uprising of humanity and overthrow of governments, the new age will be introduced. In the coming struggle the two spiritual powers, Christ and his saints, and Satan and his angels, will each have earthly armies whose causes they will support and advance. Satan’s host will be the kings, chief captains, rich men and mighty men, [Rev. xix. 19,] while Christ will espouse and bring to victory the cause of the oppressed, who, inspired by justice and right, will be used to some extent as agents to their own liberation from the thraldom of evil and oppression.
…
Look abroad and see the Nihilists of Russia, the Land Leaguers and Liberals of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Socialists and Communists of Austria, Germany and France, and tell me do not all of these things, visible to our natural eye, corroborate what our spiritual eye of faith has seen by the light of the prophetic page, viz.: That “the day of the Lord is a day of trouble,” and that we are now in the “harvest” of the gospel age, the chief reaper present, and the work of separation going on [in the church] between wheat and tares. Soon, probably by, possibly before, the fall of 1881, we shall be changed, born of the spirit [of which we are now begotten] into the glorious likeness of our Head.
Zion’s Watch Tower, December 1880 · Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (Pittsburgh), vol. II, no. 6, December 1880, unsigned lead article “The Restored Dominion,” issue p. 7 (reprint pagination [166]), right column. Witness: the Watch Tower Society’s later reprint typesetting, Internet Archive item magazines-zions-watchtower-and-herald-christ-presence-1880, leaf 104, page image inspected. Selected units: the paragraph “God’s word informs us” through “evil and oppression.” and, after an omission marked “…”, the sentences from “Look abroad and see the Nihilists” through “the glorious likeness of our Head.” (the paragraph begins “How we see the preparation for this time of trouble” and is interrupted by the inline subheading “Capital and Labor”). Italics rendered plain; line-end hyphenation joined; whitespace normalized. Damaged type read as “born” (OCR “boin”).
Source reuse and transcription Nineteenth-century publication, public domain in the United States. The reprint reproduces the 1880 text.
Community response to this revision: 0
Published revision history 2026-10-05T15:53:51+00:00
God’s word informs us that, by the general uprising of humanity and overthrow of governments, the new age will be introduced. In the coming struggle the two spiritual powers, Christ and his saints, and Satan and his angels, will each have earthly armies whose causes they will support and advance. Satan’s host will be the kings, chief captains, rich men and mighty men, [Rev. xix. 19,] while Christ will espouse and bring to victory the cause of the oppressed, who, inspired by justice and right, will be used to some extent as agents to their own liberation from the thraldom of evil and oppression.
…
Look abroad and see the Nihilists of Russia, the Land Leaguers and Liberals of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Socialists and Communists of Austria, Germany and France, and tell me do not all of these things, visible to our natural eye, corroborate what our spiritual eye of faith has seen by the light of the prophetic page, viz.: That “the day of the Lord is a day of trouble,” and that we are now in the “harvest” of the gospel age, the chief reaper present, and the work of separation going on [in the church] between wheat and tares. Soon, probably by, possibly before, the fall of 1881, we shall be changed, born of the spirit [of which we are now begotten] into the glorious likeness of our Head.