Description

Originating in the Book of Mormon, the belief in a future Indian Prophet has been with Latter Day Saints for a long time. It has often influenced interactions between Latter Day Saints and Native Americans. The end-times hopes of many, including Brighamites (including Fundamentalists), Bickertonites, and Hedrickites, reside with this mysterious figure, who is also seen as the “Choice Seer” by many. Some have claimed to speak for the Indian Prophet, while others have claimed to be the man himself. But the history of the prophecy has never been explored, especially across the divergent paths of Mormonism. This history contains many unexpected turns, for example, its late origin in the early Church. In this paper, I will trace this idea from 1845 to the present.

Kirk Watson studied at the University of Utah and the University of Denver. He and his family have lived in the UK and the US. Since 2015, he has worked in the Digital Preservation team at the Marriott Library, University of Utah.