A Prophecy Fulfilled

EDITOR'S TABLE. 231 In conclusion, we sincerely pray that the coming year may be a prosperous one, and that the Latter-day Saints may be abund- antly blessed both temporally and spiritually, and that in their prosperity they will ever remember the beneficent Giver of all they receive. We wish our people a joyful Christmas and a happy New Year. Your brethren in the gospel of Christ, Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, John R. Winder. The Deseret News. A

PROPHECY FULFILLED. President Joseph F. Smith, Editor of Improvement Era:—I was never more pleased with a number of the Era than with the November issue. It seems more interesting than ever to me. If the balance of the volume should prove a failure, I have in this single number the full returns for my money for the year's subscription. Reading one article led my mind back fifty- one years. It was "Prophecy and its Fulfilment." Now I want to tell some- thing that had almost gone from my mind. In the year 1855, Nephi City and her citizens saw the hardest times in their history. Grasshoppers by the mils! In the northeast corner of their fort —which was twelve feet high,and from wall to north ditch was about four rods wide—from east wall west for twenty rods the hoppers piled themselves in, making one great mass for twenty rods almost to the top of the wall. Many of the people felt downcast, they saw no show for a harvest and cogitations ran high and fast. On the Sabbath day, we were all in meeting, and all needed encouragement but who was thereto give it? The year 1854 produced a light harvest, scarcely a family had a bushel of wheat more than would last them until harvest again. Our crops ware now mowed down. The scrub oaks were stripped of their leaves, all vegetation was gone. Who was