"I remember my servant Oliver Granger; behold, verily I say unto him that his name shall be had in sacred  remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord."  Doctrine and Covenants 117:12

 

 

Critics of the LDS Church have said that the Prophet Joseph Smith gave a false prophecy in the verse quoted above because the average member of the church today has not heard of Oliver Granger.  The key in understanding this scripture is to determine who is speaking and thus, who is to do the remembering.  The Lord said he will remember Oliver Granger forever and ever.  A secondary key is to note that Oliver Granger will be remembered "from generation to generation, forever and ever."  This is the type of time frame the Lord uses to refer to dealings with him, not dealings of man.  This scripture does not promise Oliver Granger he will be remembered BY generation to generation, but FROM.  This key point signifies a time length, which length is the length the Lord deals with things.  It never promises that the Church or even any earthly person will have a particular remembrance.  This prophecy, which in my opinion is more of a statement than a foretelling, is completely fulfilled, no doubt about it.  It is interesting to note, but it does not even matter, that Oliver Granger is canonized in modern LDS scripture in the verse, making it so that every member of the LDS church who reads his scriptures reads the name of Oliver Granger.

 

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