False Prophet?

Some critics of the Church like to claim that the Prophet Joseph Smith prophesied the Second Coming of the Lord in 1890.

This is the text, from History of the Church, on which they base their statements:

" I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

"'Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.'

"I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the son of Man will not be any sooner than that time."

Joseph Smith made this statement at a conference held at Ramus, IL, on April 2, 1843.

Only the most bitter or blighted of minds could possibly label this a false prophecy of the Second Coming. Joseph Smith himself declares that it wasn't a prophecy of such an event. And, in fact, he stated elsewhere:

"The Lord has not shown me any such sign ... The Lord will not come to reign over the righteous, in this world, in 1843, nor until everything for the Bridegroom is ready." -- HOC 5:291.

More information:

http://www.shields-research.org/General/LDS_Leaders/1stPres/Joseph_Smith/56_Year.htm