Weather Control / Earth Resources Control

Joseph Smith Prophesies Fair Weather for Zion's Camp — Fulfilled Precisely

Published March 24, 2026 at 11:45 PM

1830s · 1834

Illinois (en route to Missouri with Zion's Camp)

Joseph Smith·Levi W. Hancock

Contributed by

Todd Morgan

Beaumont, CA, 92223

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During Zion's Camp's march to Missouri in 1834, after considerable wet weather, Joseph Smith gathered the men in their tent in Illinois and made a precise prophecy. Levi Hancock recorded it:

'I want you to remember what I say to you. The Lord is going to give us dry weather now until we get through. He has given rains that there might be water on the prairies. You will see the movings of the Lord in our favor all the way through.'

Levi confirmed that the prophecy was fulfilled: 'It began to be very pleasant and soon we entered on the wide prairies...' The camp of 205 men then continued their march westward under favorable conditions. Levi additionally noted: 'We had now in our camp two hundred and five and truly we had seen the hand of God in our favor all the way.'

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I then began to prepare to travel and on the first of May bid my folks farewell and started for Portage County, some forty miles from Kirtland. I had a good horse and saddle and bridle. I arrived at the place appointed and found the brethren gathering. We were soon organized and started on our journey. Nothing occurred of any account until we got in Illinois when Joseph said, in our tent, “I want you to remember what I say to you. The Lord is going to give us dry weather now until we get through. He has given rains that there might be water on the prairies.” We believed Joseph. It began to be very pleasant and soon we entered on the wide prairies. We had now in our camp two hundred and five and truly we had seen the hand of God in our favor all the way. We had no more rain until we got through.

In Their Own Words

“I then began to prepare to travel and on the first of May bid my folks farewell and started for Portage County, some forty miles from Kirtland. I had a good horse and saddle and bridle. I arrived at the place appointed and found the brethren gathering. We were soon organized and started on our journey. Nothing occurred of any account until we got in Illinois when Joseph said, in our tent, “I want you to remember what I say to you. The Lord is going to give us dry weather now until we get through. He has given rains that there might be water on the prairies.” We believed Joseph. It began to be very pleasant and soon we entered on the wide prairies. We had now in our camp two hundred and five and truly we had seen the hand of God in our favor all the way. We had no more rain until we got through.”

— Levi W. Hancock, Autobiography

Sources & References

Levi W. Hancock, “Autobiography of Levi Hancock (1803–1836),” full text published at Doctrine and Covenants Central: https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/levi-hancock/ ; original typescript held at Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University — research note: after weeks of constant wet weather, Joseph Smith prophesied dry weather until the camp should finish the march, adding that the rains had been given so there would be water on the prairies; Levi Hancock, a nineteen-year-old marcher, recorded the promise in his own hand and noted that the brethren believed it and that the remainder of the march was made in dry weather, the prophecy being literally fulfilled. Full first-person account: Levi Hancock, Autobiography, ca. 1854, Church History Library, MS 8174; published in 'Levi Hancock', Doctrine and Covenants Central https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/levi-hancock/ Full first-person account: Levi W. Hancock, “Autobiography of Levi Hancock (1803–1836),” Doctrine and Covenants Central https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/levi-hancock/ Fuller account: Levi W. Hancock, “Autobiography of Levi Hancock (1803–1836),” Doctrine and Covenants Central https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/levi-hancock/ Full first-person account: Levi W. Hancock, “Autobiography of Levi Hancock (1803–1836),” Doctrine and Covenants Central https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/levi-hancock/