The Great Fire of Albany, Sixteen Years After Newel K. Whitney Warned That City of Desolation (1832–1848)

A prophecy given on September 23, 1832, instructed Bishop Newel K. Whitney to warn the people of New York, Albany, and Boston of desolation and utter abolishment if they rejected the gospel. The article reports that Albany experienced a destructive fire on August 17, 1848, which raged for hours, destroying approximately 600 buildings, rendering hundreds of families homeless, and causing an estimated 2 million dollars in property loss. The fire was intense due to heat, drought, and wind, but was ultimately checked by a sudden downpour of rain, described as 'God-sent.' The extent of the damage included seventeen blocks, the pier, a market, two bridges, and numerous boats, with an estimated loss of $2,000,000 and several lives lost. This event is presented as a fulfillment of the prophecy of impending judgment upon the city.

In his letter to Emma Smith written from New York City on October 13, 1832, Joseph Smith confirms that he, Newel K. Whitney, and others had successfully arrived in Albany to warn the people as directed by the revelation received in September 1832. The journey also extended to Boston, fulfilling the specific geographic instructions of the prophecy regarding the warning of the impending desolation of these cities.