In December 1832, nearly three decades before the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War, Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, received a revelation that would become Doctrine and Covenants Section 87. This prophecy declared that war would begin in South Carolina, lead to the “death and misery of many souls,” and eventually involve all nations.

While contemporary America was embroiled in heated debates over tariffs and state sovereignty, few foresaw the scale or ferocity of the conflict that would follow. Joseph Smith did. His revelation identified not only the location and consequences of the coming war but also positioned it within a broader eschatological framework. The conflict would be one of many that would “be poured out upon all nations,” leading toward the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. For Joseph Smith and early Latter-day Saints, war was not merely a geopolitical inevitability—it was a spiritual signpost, and the gathering of Israel was God’s appointed solution.

A Prophecy Fulfilled

The revelation recorded in D&C 87 begins:

“Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina…” (v. 1)

The prophecy continues with precise details: the Southern States would be divided against the North; slaves would rise up; and eventually, wars would engulf the world. In April 1861, the Civil War indeed began in South Carolina, and its consequences were catastrophic—over 600,000 lives lost, the abolition of slavery, and the reshaping of the American nation.

While others in 19th-century America speculated on national tensions, no prominent figure made such a detailed and prescient claim so far in advance. That the prophecy was recorded 28 years before the war, and not retroactively edited, gives it a unique place among Joseph Smith’s revelations.

Why Did Joseph Reveal It?

Though there’s no explicit record that Joseph Smith asked the Lord a direct question before receiving D&C 87, the historical context suggests he was deeply concerned about the moral trajectory of the nation. The prophecy came during a period of intense spiritual and doctrinal development in Kirtland, Ohio, where Joseph was translating the Bible, organizing the church, and receiving revelations regarding Zion, gathering, and the last days.

Joseph’s broader theology taught that America was the prophesied land where the gospel would be restored and Zion established. War, then, was not simply a tragedy—it was a divine judgment on a nation that had strayed from its inspired foundations. The solution? Not political revolution, but spiritual gathering, the building of Zion, and the unification of God’s people under covenant.

The Gospel, Slavery, and the Missed Opportunity for Peace

Joseph Smith believed that the gospel held the key not only to personal salvation but also to societal peace. In a significant letter to Oliver Cowdery dated April 9, 1836 (preserved in the Joseph Smith Papers), Joseph reflected on the deep divisions in the nation and suggested a hopeful alternative. He taught that if Christian missionaries, filled with the Spirit of God, had succeeded in converting southern slaveholders to embrace Paul’s teachings — that slaves and masters are “brethren in Christ” — those slaveholders might have voluntarily emancipated their slaves.

“Had the slave masters of the South been converted and taught the principles of the gospel, as Paul taught the masters respecting their servants, they would have been led to set their slaves at liberty, and thus the judgments of God which are now coming upon the United States in consequence of their wickedness and wicked traffic would have been averted.”

In Joseph’s view, the Civil War was not inevitable. It was the tragic result of a nation unwilling to accept the moral demands of the gospel. Conversion and charity could have prevented bloodshed. His statement reveals his confidence that the principles of Christ’s gospel, if fully embraced, would heal even the deepest divides and avert divine judgments.

Jesus and the Apostles on War and Peace

Joseph Smith’s views on war and divine intervention echoed the teachings of Jesus and His apostles. Christ warned:

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… nation will rise against nation… but the end is not yet.” — Matthew 24:6–7

Rather than call for armed resistance, Jesus emphasized peace, preparation, and watchfulness. His kingdom was “not of this world” (John 18:36), and His followers were to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). The apostles reminded early Christians that the true battle was spiritual:

“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities… against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12

For them, the spread of the gospel and the building of the Church were the only lasting answers to war and injustice.

Gathering Israel: God’s Refuge Amid Chaos

The gathering of Israel is presented in both ancient and modern revelation as the divine response to human chaos. Jesus lamented over Jerusalem:

“How often would I have gathered thy children together… and ye would not!” — Matthew 23:37

Joseph Smith extended this concept, teaching that Zion would be a literal and spiritual refuge. Doctrine and Covenants 45 declares:

“…there shall be gathered unto [Zion] out of every nation… and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.” (v. 69)

Zion was not just an ideal—it was the covenant community that would stand as God’s answer to war, oppression, and confusion.

Conclusion: A Prophetic Pattern

Joseph Smith’s Civil War prophecy is more than a fulfilled prediction; it is part of a divine pattern. God warns, nations resist, chaos ensues, and a remnant is gathered. The added insight from Joseph’s 1836 letter highlights that the gospel of Jesus Christ was offered as a peaceful solution—but tragically rejected.

In today’s world of deep divisions and escalating conflicts, Joseph’s vision calls us not to political extremism or violence, but to build Zion: a gathered people, prepared spiritually, united by covenant, and living in righteousness. Only in Christ’s gospel, taught with power and charity, lies the hope of lasting peace — then and now.