Heber C. Kimball's Prophecy of Cheap Merchandise in Salt Lake City

During a period of severe famine and scarcity in the Salt Lake Valley, when settlers lacked adequate food and clothing, Heber C. Kimball felt moved by the spirit of prophecy to declare in a public meeting that within a short time, merchandise would be sold in the streets of Salt Lake City cheaper than in New York, and that the people would have food and clothing in abundance. At the time, even Kimball doubted the fulfillment of his own words, privately remarking to others that he feared he had missed it, especially since Apostle Charles C. Rich had skepticaly stated, 'I do not believe a word of it.' However, the prophecy was fulfilled through the unexpected arrival of gold-seeking emigrants traveling to California. These travelers, desperate to lighten their loads to cross the continent faster, sold or bartered their high-quality goods, including groceries, dry goods, and tools, at extremely low prices in exchange for fresh livestock, fulfilling Kimball's prediction that 'States goods' would be sold cheaper in the valley than in the United States' major cities. In later years, Kimball clarified that he had no human foresight of the gentiles coming, testifying that the event was a manifestation of divine knowledge rather than his own intellect, noting it came to pass 'only more abundantly' than he had spoken.