The leaders of the Church in Missouri grew troubled. Saints were gathering there by the hundreds. Relatively few of them were obeying the law of consecration when they arrived. “Have you all fulfilled the law of the church,” William Phelps wrote to them in the Church’s newspaper, “which saith: Behold thou shalt consecrate all thy properties, that which thou hast, unto me, with a covenant and a deed which cannot be broken?

Meanwhile, in Ohio, the community of Saints continues to grow in size. Efforts to build a city of believers moves forward. However, challenges abound as the two communities enter into competition with each other generating some problems between the groups.

Another revelation to Joseph from the Lord outlines one of the gifts of the Spirit that Joseph often mentioned as being the most important: the understanding of spirits.

At the same time, one of Joseph Smith's most compelling prophecies was released: The prophecy on the American Civil War, recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 87. It outlines a future conflict beginning in South Carolina, escalating into a global war, and involving slaves rising against their masters. It also mentions the involvement of Great Britain and other nations. This prophecy, given on December 25, 1832, has been interpreted as a prediction of the American Civil War and subsequent global conflicts. But how well known was the prophecy? Was it easy to manufacture because of events going on in the nation at the time? Did Joseph tell people about it in advance or wait until the war started and conveniently say he had received a prophecy? The truth will surprise you.

Join Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson as she explores these exciting moments in LDS Church History.