Joseph Smith's prophetic discernment of Brewster's manuscript

On December 31, 1842, a man named John Darby visited Joseph Smith and informed him that he intended to travel to California to follow James Colin Brewster, a youth who claimed to have the gift of prophecy and had authored a book titled 'The Words of Righteousness to All Men,' which he purported to be an abridgment of the lost books of Esdras. Upon hearing this, Joseph Smith offered a stern warning, telling Darby that he would say to him what the prophet Micaiah once said to Ahab: 'Go, and prosper; but ye shall not return in peace.' Joseph remarked that while Brewster might set out for California, he would not arrive there unless someone were to pick him up along the way, feed him, and assist him. Brewster presented his manuscript to Joseph Smith, who inquired of the Lord regarding its validity. The Lord revealed to Joseph that the book was not true and was not of God. Joseph Smith emphatically testified that if God had ever called him or spoken through his mouth, He had never given revelations to that Brewster boy or any of the Brewster race.

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

John Darby, came in said he was going to california. Joseph Said I will say as the prophet said to Hezekiah go & prosper— but ye shall not return in peace. Brewster may set out for california but he will not get there unless some body shall pick him up by the way feed him & c. Brewster showed me the Manuscr[i]pts. I inquired of the Lord, and the Lord told me the book was not true—it was not of Him. If God ever called me, or spake by my mouth, he never gave revelations to that Brewster boy or any of the Brewster race.