Posted May 15, 2010
THE JOSEPH SMITH PROPHECY
The Mormons regard the Indians as a remnant of Israel, as related in the Book of Mormon, and believe that the Messiah has a special work to accomplish with these people; all of which is in agreement with the teachings of the Indian Messiah.
They were also especially concerned about this reported appearance of the Indian Messiah because their own Prophet Joseph Smith had twice predicted 100 101
that Christ would come about 1890, probably as a preliminary coming to His final coming in glory for His Millennial Reign.
The first prediction appears in the LDS Church History, Vol. 2182, under date of Feb. 14, 1835, and states that “. . . the coming of the Lord, which is nigh—even fifty-six years should wind up the scene. ” This comes out to Feb. 14, 1891.
The other prediction was made eight years later under the date of April 2, 1843, and is found in the LDS Doctrine and Covenants, 130:14-16. In it the Lord says that if he (Joseph) “should live to be eighty-five years of age, he should see the face of the Son of Man. ” The Prophet Joseph admits that this coming could refer to one prior to the Millennium, or even to his death at age eighty-five. But his death came at age thirty-nine, so the Lord did not have that in mind. Joseph Smith was born on Dec. 23, 1805, so this comes out to Dec. 23, 1890!
Needless to say, there was some disappointment among the Mormons that Christ had elected to appear to the lowly Indians at Walker Lake, Nevada, instead of to the good Latter-day Saints, awaiting Him in Utah. But sad to say, by 1890, the LDS had already rejected the practice of Christ’s major doctrines such as United Order, Plural Marriage, and the Adam-God doctrine, and others, because they felt that persecution was too intense, and the general opposition was too strong. Many of the Indians, however, have for generations lived their manner of United Order and Plural Marriage regardless of opposition.
THE TESTIMONY OF APOSTLE PORCUPINE
There were many other articles in the nation’s press in the year 1890, about this Indian Messiah, but by far the best and most impressive account comes from the eye-witness testimony given by one of the twelve Indian apostles, appointed by the Indian Messiah, a Cheyenne by the name of Porcupine. Porcupine delivered a sermon at Ft. Custer, Montana. before an audience of some forty civilian and military personnel, with a few Indians present also. Fortunately, there was a newspaper reporter present from “The Boston Journal, ” by the name of F. K. Upham, and his paper published the story in their issue of July 5, 1890.
It tells how a righteous young Indian by the name of Porcupine from the Cheyennes, was, like certain wise men of the East, inspired to make this long arduous pilgrimage to Walker Lake, Nevada, to see the Messiah. He was accompanied by his wife and two other Indians; and, like the wise men of the East, they were very content with the high reward of their journey, for they, in truth, had seen the Messiah.
According to a report in “The Chicago Dispatch” and reprinted in “The Deseret News” for Nov. 18, 1890, Porcupine was also interviewed by Lt. Robinson of Ft. Custer, Montana, “General Miles had assigned Lt. Robinson to make a careful investigation of this new religion, and his principal interviews were with Apostle Porcupine, and with Big Beaver, who had accompanied Porcupine on his visit to see the Messiah.
“Porcupine told Lt. Robinson that there were several hundred Indians at Walker Lake at the time, including representatives of the Cheyenne, Sioux, Arapahoes, Gros-Ventres, Utes, Navajos, Bannocks, and other strange tribes. –Some were White Indians from a far distance the he did not know. “
However, the story by F. K. Upham in “The Boston Journal” gives the most detailed account of 103 102
Apostle Porcupine’s experience, and it is, indeed, an inspiring one, and one that clearly eliminates the lowly Wovoka, who spoke only Piute, as this most gifted Messiah. We will give Porcupine’s account here as Mr. Upham reports it.
“Before commencing his talk, Porcupine gave an almost inaudible prayer, that lasted fully five minutes, during which the other Indians with him sat with heads bowed. Porcupine stood erect, his hands extended upwards, Then he alternately placed his hands across his breast, and dropped them to his sides, as if following a sacred ritual.
“It was in the vicinity of Walker Lake, Nevada, and it was in the mountains where Porcupine found himself with many strange Indians whose language he could not speak, and who, like himself, had come from far off -but all had come to see the Messiah.
“At sundown the Indians collected in large numbers, and after it became dark, He appeared to them -a large fire being built to throw the light upon Dim. He was not as dark as an Indian nor as light as a white man, and His dress was partly like each. He sat for a long time in perfect silence with His head bowed, during which time the Indians neither moved nor spoke. They were told that if they even whispered, the Christ would know it and be displeased.
“After a time He raised His head, and then Porcupine saw that He was fair to look upon, that His face bad no beard, and was youthful, and that His bright hair extended to His waist. (This may be an error in reporting, because in another news article Sitting Bull describes the Indian Messiah as having a beard. –NCP. ) he was able to see the scars of the nails in the hands of the Indian Christ when He raised them. In His feet he could not see the marks of the nails by reason of the moccasins, but he was told they were there, and that in His side were spear marks which were concealed by the shirt He wore.
“Porcupine was told that HIS OWN COMING, HAD, WITH ELEVEN OTHERS, BEEN FORETOLD BY THE CHRIST, WHO HAD SENT FOR THEM, and that is why he had involuntarily taken the long journey. (The other eleven were the White Indians from Mexico. -NCP. )
“The Christ spoke to them, and took Porcupine by the hand and told them they were all His children. He talked to them until it was day, telling them that He had made them, and all things around them; that in the beginning God had made the earth, and after a time had sent Him on the earth to teach the people what was right; but the people were afraid of Him, and ‘this is what they did to Me, ‘ showing the scars.
“He said, when He found that the children were so bad, He went back above, and promised to return after many hundred years. Now the time was up and God had told Him the earth was old and worn out, and sent Him again to renew it, and make things better. He Said all the dead were to be resurrected and brought back to life on this earth, which was now too small to hold them all; but He would do away with heaven and make the earth large enough to hold them all.
“He spoke about fighting, that it was bad, and that Indians must not do it anymore, that the earth hereafter was to be all good and everybody must love one another.
“Porcupine had heard that the Christ of the white man had been nailed to the cross, and looking “He said He would send among them those who could heal wounds, and cure the sick by the laying on of the hands, and that the good would live here forever, and the buffalo would come back.
“He said it was wrong to kill men of any kind, that if any man disobeyed these teachings, he would be banished from the face of the earth; that the Indians must believe all that He now told them, and not say that Belied, for He would know their thoughts, no matter what part of the world they were in, and they could not expect to deceive Him.
“Among those whom Porcupine saw, were some who appeared like white men, (the White Indians from far South) but they all seemed good -and all listened and believed what the Christ told them.
“During Porcupine’s stay of many days, the Christ appeared several times and repeated these talks and told the Indians that when they returned to their people, they must tell them all these things. But He was not all the time visible, and could disappear at will. ‘He is here among us tonight and knows all that we are talking about. ‘ said Porcupine. . . ‘When you have seen the Christ once, you can see Him in your sleep, that is, if you have shaken His hand. and through Him you c6n go to heaven and see your friends who are dead. I see Him often in my sleep and He told me there was trouble for the Cheyennes. The next night He came to me and told me that all would be well in the end. ‘
“Of Porcupine’s sincerity, there can be no doubt. As he says of himself, he is no medicine man, ‘ and he seems to have no wish to become one. That he has seen the Person Whom he describes as the Christ, there seems to be no question. ” (Note: This article was also reprinted in the LDS “Millennial Star” for Aug. 18, 1890, Vol. 52;532-535. ) Also Deseret Weekly Aug 2, 1890, Page 180
OTHER INDIAN TESTIMONIES
A story in “The Deseret Weekly, ” published by “The Deseret News, ” dated Dec. 27th, 1890, tells about Sitting Bull, or Short Bull, the Arapahoe, and Porcupine, concerning their testimonies of the Indian Messiah. This evidence should remove all remaining doubt that this most unusual Personage could have been Wovoka, the Piute. “The Deseret Weekly” quotes a story taken from the current “Illustrated American, ” of the time as follows:
“Just when and where the present Messiah craze arose is uncertain. The evidence at present obtainable indicates that it has resulted more from a process of evolution than from the preaching of any one man. The first Indian who preached the coming of the Red Christ in a manner that attracted attention was Short Bull, or Sitting Bull, an Arapahoe, who must not be confused with Sitting Bull, the Sioux chief who took part in the Custer massacre. This Sitting Bull, or Short Bull, arrived at the Shoshone agency at Fort Washakie in Wyoming, about a year ago and announced that he had seen the Christ. The new Messiah, he said, told of His previous life upon the earth 1900 years ago, , and how the people refused to accept Him and showed the scars in Ella hands and feet where He had been nailed to the cross. He promised that the buffalo and other game should return in their former abundance. Then the Messiah gave the Indian buffalo meat to eat, and Sitting Bull fell asleep. When he awoke he found that he had been transported a long distance in his sleep.
“Indians do not communicate with one another by letter, but send their messages by runners. By word of mouth, Sitting Bull’s story was made known to many tribes, and a year ago a sort of council was held at a place supposed to be on the shores of Walker Lake, in western Nevada. At this council, the Messiah showed Himself. Representatives of sixteen tribes are said to have been present. Near the camp, the sage brush and rose bushes had been cut off close to the ground over a circle perhaps 100 feet in diameter. Here is one of the accounts of the appearance of Christ.
“The next day, as the sun was setting low, the people all assembled about this circle, and presently a Man was seen walking into it. The people stood about until He had reached the middle of the circle and then they went to meet Him. He stood in their midst and talked to them, appearing to be able to talk all languages and to make Himself understood by all the tribes present. He told the people that things were going to be changed; that the buffalo and the game would be brought back; that they should have again their own country, and that the world would be turned upside down.
“Be closed His speech by saying that in the night He would go up to Heaven to see God. Next morning about nine or ten o’clock the people again gathered about the circle and presently the Messiah walked in among them. He told them He had just returned from Heaven where He had seen God.
“Among the Indians present at the council was Porcupine, a northern Cheyenne, who has since been one of the foremost prophets of the new Messiah. His story is as follows:
“‘What I am going to say is the truth. The two men sitting near me were with me, and will bear witness that I speak the truth. All the Indians and white people are brothers and sisters, I was told there. I never knew this before. The fish-eaters near Pyramid Lake, Nevada, told me that the Christ had appeared on earth again. They said that Christ knew that he (Porcupine)was coming, and that 107
eleven of His children were coming from a far land. (The White Indians from Mexico. -NCP. ) It appeared that Christ had sent for me to go there, and that was why, unconsciously, I took my journey. It had been foreordained. They told me when I got there that my Great Father was there also, but I did not know who He was.
“The people assembled, called a council and the chief’s son went to see the Great Father, who sent word for us to remain 14 days in that camp, and that He would come and see us. At the end of two days, on the third morning, hundreds of people gathered at this place. They cleared a place near the agency in the form of a circus ring, and we all went there. Just before sundown, I saw a great many people, mostly Indians, coming dressed in white man’s clothes. The Christ was with them. They all formed in this ring and around it; and they put up sheets all around the circle, as they had no tents.
“‘Just after dark, some of the Indians told me that Christ’s Father had arrived. I looked around to find Him and finally saw Him sitting on one side of the ring. He was dressed in a white robe. The next morning He told us He was going away for that day, but would be back the next morning and talk to us. I heard that Christ had been crucified, and I looked to see, and I saw a scar on His wrist and one on His face, and He seemed to be the man. I could not see His feet. He would talk to us all day. That evening we all assembled again to see Him depart. The following morning the Christ was back with us and wanted to talk with us. He said I am the man who made everything you see around you. I am not lying to you, my children. I made this earth and everything on it. I have been to Heaven and have seen your dead friends, and have seen my own Father and Mother. 108
“‘He spoke to us about fighting and said that it was bad, and that we must keep from it. The earth was to be all good hereafter, and that we must be friends with one another. He said that if any man disobeyed what He ordered, his tribe would be wiped from the face of the earth. Ever since the Christ talked to me, I have thought what He said was good. I have seen nothing bad in it. When I got back, I knew my people were bad and had heard nothing of this, so I got them together and warned them to listen to it for their own good. I told them just what has been told to you here today. ‘
“Porcupine’s tale met with belief wherever he told it. It will be observed that Porcupine’s account of the Red Christ’s message makes it one of peace.
“The next development of the belief was furnished by Kicking Horse, whose visit to Heaven had been compared with that of Tecumseh’s brother, the prophet. Kicking Horse is a Sioux. To him are accredited the feature of the craze involved in the belief of the resurrection of all dead Indians, and of the over-whelming of the whites.
“His story is that he was taken to Heaven through a hole in the clouds, and talked to the Great Spirit, who told him that His children, the Indians, have suffered enough, and the time would come when they should occupy the earth again. They must not kill nor molest the whites, the Great Spirit said, for He Himself, would wipe the wicked people from off the face of the earth by sending a wave of mud 20 feet or more in depth, over the country. The dead Indians would be restored to life, and there would be buffalo and horses aplenty.
The following is an account given in The American, ” of the experience which Sitting Bull, or Short 109
Bull, claims to have passed through.
“While hunting alone near the Shoshone Mountain, he became lost, and for a long time wandered about aimlessly. Finally a strange feeling came over him, and he involuntarily began to follow a certain star, which moved before him and led him many miles up into the mountains. Just at daybreak, the star became stationary over a beautiful mountain valley, and he sank to rest on a couch of moss.
“While he rested, estrange vision appeared to him. He saw a great spirit dance, and the participants were dead Arapahoe warriors, led by the dead chiefs of the past. Suddenly he was awakened by a voice, and he saw before him a strange being dressed in a blanket of pure white. The strange being said that He was the same Christ who was upon the earth 1900 years ago to save the white men; and that He would soon return to save the red men. The people who have so long persecuted and robbed the Indian would be driven out of the land and across the sea, never to return again. All day the Messiah conversed with Sitting Bull, revealing to him many things, and also showing him the scars of nails in His hands and feet, and wounds in His side. When night came the Messiah disappeared. “
It appears that Porcupine was the only one of the Twelve Indian Apostles to carry the Messiah’s message among the North American Indians. The other eleven White Indians retired to their sacred city in the far south of Mexico. Apparently they were under covenant not to promulgate their gospel to the rest of the world until they were so commanded by the Messiah. 110 111
NATONI NEZBAH, THE NAVAJO
Back in 1945, this writer interviewed a Navajo Indian by the name of Natoni Nezbah, who claimed that he had visited the sacred city of White Indians in the far south of Mexico, and that he had met and received teachings from their Great White Chief, Echa Tah Echa Nah, The Mighty and Wise One, whose name is Joseph, which was also the name of his father before him.
Toni, as we called him, also asserted that Echa Tah Echa Nah had been acclaimed as the Super Chief of all other Indian chiefs at a great conference of leading Indians from North, South and Central America, which was held at Lake Pitzcuaro in the Mexican state of Michoacan, in April of 1940. Toni told a lengthy, detailed story about these White Indians, and their beliefs, culture and Utopian society that seemed to be ideal. And bow it was their plan to soon make a massive migration to the North, and how they would amalgamate with the Mormons. But he was presenting a time table that was far ahead of the actual event, which must come after the 3i years of unprecedented tribulation.
Needless to say, I was fascinated with the story and soon put it into manuscript form, being very faithful to the detail. * as he related them to me. However, one copy of this manuscript got out of my hands, and soon it received a wide circulation by being copied and re-copied, mimeographed and printed. Infect, one of the general authorities of the Church, who should know, informed me that if he had a dime for every copy of it, he would be a rich man.
Chief Howard L. LaHurreau of the Pottawattomie Indians, when interviewed by Milton R. Hunter and others at or near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, June 15, 1951, verified that Natoni Nezbah had been taught in this “Star City” of the White Indians, but that he had broken his Indian vows by contacting the Mormons and offering to take any of them to this Sacred City.
Once more 1955, this same story received wide circulation again in a booklet published by The New Age Publishing Company, operated by Dorothy Thomas of Glendale, California. Strangely enough Mrs. Thomas soon received an invitation from Chief Dan Kat chongva of the Hopi Indians to come and visit him on this matter.
THE HOPI TESTIMONY
The venerable old chief, who is said to be now 110 years old, verified the story, although he declared that Natoni Nezbah was not a true authorized messenger of Echa Tah Echa Nah. Nevertheless, he asserted that the story was basically true, and that the Hopi Indians were looking forward to the coming of The Great White Chief, together with The True White Brother. The True White Brother had led them to their present homeland, and had given them some sacred tablets to keep until He returns with other tablets that will match them, and the sacred inscriptions thereon can then be revealed.
These powerful leaders, he said, will be able to unite all the North American Indians together as one nation, and gather them to Hopi Land to escape THE DAY OF PURIFICATION, or Judgment Day, that is about to come upon the world. This is the time according to Indian prophecies, that evil doers will be swept off from the face of the earth, and mostly Indians will be left to inherit the land of America. A well known Indian prophecy states that the White-man’s money will soon become worthless; then they will almost destroy themselves by fighting among themselves and the Negroes. Then after further judgments 112
are visited upon the land, the Indian will be left to inherit his own land once again.
THE HOPI PROPHECY
The Hopi version of the prophecy about the Day of Purification, was recently published on the front page of “The Prescott Courier, ” for August 9, 1970, when old Chief Dan Katchongva visited there to witness a series of foretold UFO sightings. He was seeking a long awaited sign from them. These UFO sightings were witnessed by hundreds of people, and were also photographed and the pictures published on the front page of the Courier, along with the Hopi story. Infect, the UFO stories were featured for three days. (See also FATE Magazine for April, 1971. )
The Hopi prophecy from the front page of “The Prescott Courier” follows:
“The Hopi believe that the human race will pass through three stages of life since its origin. Three being a sacred number. At the end of each stage, human life has to be purified or punished by certain acts of the Great Spirit, due mainly to corruption, greed and turning away from the Great Spirit’s teachings. The last great destruction was by flood, which destroyed all but a few faithful ones.
“The Hopi now await the next Purification Day, at which time all wicked or wrong doers shall be punished or destroyed, after which real peace, brotherhood and everlasting life will be brought about.
“They believe that a big fire and explosion will signal the coming of the True White Brother. This, they believe, will be a sign for an Indian migration from Mexico, Central and South America to begin.
“The Hopi believe that their True White Brother, when he comes, will be all powerful and he will wear a red cap or a red cloak. He will be (with)a large population, and belong to no religion but his very own. He will bring with him the Sacred Stone Tablets. Great will be his coming. None will be able to stand against him. All power in this world will be placed in his hands, and he will come swiftly and in one day get control of this whole continent. The Hopi have been warned never to take up arms. “
HOPI GET PROPHECY SIGN FROM UFO’s
This event was again reported in “The Albuquerque Journal” for Oct. 10, 1970, where a feature article carried these headlines: HOPI GET PROPHECY SIGN FROM UFO’s, and a five column story follows.
“We have seen the flying saucers and have heard their message to us, ” said Chief Dan Katchongva, declaring that the Day of Purification was near at hand. Chief Dan Katchongva was the leader of a delegation of Hopis who went to the United Nations in 1959, to warn the assembled world leaders of the impending Day of Purification, and to warn them also of the great need for them to repent and establish and maintain peace in the world, or suffer the consequence of the Day of Purification. “
The article concludes with the old Chief’s words: “We know the faithful are to be gathered to escape Purification Day. Therefore, when the great fire and explosion takes place, it will be seen all over North, South end Central America, and the earth shall shake. Therefore, when the True White Brother comes, listen to him and gather when the power comes from the South.
“We give you our testimony, and all that we tell you is true, ” the Chief said, “So you have no excuse that you were not told. “
Can we deny it? Truly the day of the Indian is about to dawn, while the day of the white man is already in twilight, and rapidly approaching darkness. 115
A Few Parting Thoughts
Your attention is called to Isaiah, 30:26, where it speaks of the moon becoming “as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days. ” This could be the light signal, visible a1 over the Americas, that is to mark the start of the great Indian migration from the south.
The True White Brother appears to be Christ, whose own presence will be in this great migration, according to the Doctrine and Covenants, 103:19-20: “Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say unto you as I said unto your fathers: Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence, But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land. “
The red cape and cap of the True White Brother is clarified in the Doctrine and Covenants, 133:50-51: “And his voice shall be heard: I have trodden the wine press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me. And I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment; for this was the day of vengeance which was in my heart. “
As to the great gathering of the Indians to escape the Day of Purification, we call attention to the promise of Christ in the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi, 20:13-16, where He promises “to gather the remnants (or Indians) from the north, south, east, and west, to bring them to a knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them. And the Father bath commanded me that I SHOULD GIVE UNTO YOU (the Nephites and Lamanites, etc. ) THIS LAND FOR YOUR INHERITANCE. “
President John Taylor indicated that only 10% to 25% of the LDS would survive the tests that we must face during the setting-in-order and judgment period.
Isaiah also indicated that a tenth would be spared when he asked the Lord about it: “Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
“But yet in it shall be a TENTH, and it (the Tenth) shall return, —the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. ” (The holy seed for the millennial population. ) -See Isaiah, 6:11-13.
Let us not suppose that because the White Indians of necessity, had to limit their population growth inside their small, hidden valley, that this situation will prevail once they migrate to the New Jerusalem. Infect, Isaiah speaks of this very situation concerning those who survive the judgments in the days of The BRANCH Prophet: (Isa. 4:1-3)
“In that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach. (of barrenness. )
“In that day shall The BRANCH of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone that is written among the living in Jerusalem. “
Yes, stand on your own two feet, like a tub on its own bottom, and work out your own salvation!
The End