"Behold, notwithstanding you have seen this great display of power, by which you may be able to detect the Evil One, yet I give unto you another sign, and when it comes to pass then know that the Lord is God, and _that he will fulfill his purposes, and that the knowledge that this record [3] contains will go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people under the whole heaven._ This is the sign: When these things begin to be known, that is, when it is known that the Lord has shown unto you these things, _the workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow: they will circulate falsehood to destroy your reputation, and also will seek your life;_ but remember this, if you are faithful, and shall hereafter continue to keep the commandments of the Lord, _you shall be preserved to bring these things [4] forth;_ for in due time he will again give you a commandment to come and take them. When they [5] are interpreted, _the Lord will give the Holy Priesthood to some, and they shall begin to proclaim this gospel and baptize by water, and after that they shall have power to give the Holy Ghost by the laying on of their hands. Then will persecution rage more and more:_ for the iniquities of men shall be revealed, _and those who are not built upon the rock will seek to overthrow this work; but it will increase the more opposed, and spread farther and farther,_ increasing in knowledge till they [6] shall be sanctified and receive an inheritance where the glory of God shall rest upon them. * * * _Your name [7] shall be known among the nations, for the work which the Lord will perform by your hands shall cause the righteous to rejoice and the wicked to rage; with one it shall be had in honor, with the other in reproach; yet with these it shall be a terror because of the great and marvelous work which shall follow the coming forth of this fullness of my gospel._" It was in September, 1823, that these prophetic words were uttered by Moroni--four years before the plates of the Book of Mormon were given to Joseph Smith to translate; [8] six years before the Priesthood was given; [9] seven years before the church was organized; [10] and fourteen years before the knowledge contained in the Book of Mormon was sent to a foreign nation. [11] This prophecy, however, was first published to the world in 1834, in the _Saints' Messenger and Advocate,_ and is taken from a letter of Oliver Cowdery's to W. W. Phelps, giving items of church history. Subsequently, in 1840, these letters were copied from the _Messenger and Advocate_ into the _Times and Seasons,_ from which I quote [12] the above predictions.