White Horse Prophecy

Purported prophetic statement attributed to Latter-day Saint founder Joseph Smith Jr. predicting that the United States Constitution would eventually "hang by a thread" and be preserved through intervention by members of the LDS Church. The prophecy allegedly includes predictions about economic collapse, political chaos, and the establishment of a Mormon-led government to restore constitutional principles during a time of national crisis.

The prophecy first appeared in written form around 1900, approximately 56 years after Smith's 1844 death, in accounts by individuals claiming to have heard Smith make these predictions during the Nauvoo period (1839-1846). Various versions include details about Mormons fleeing to the Rocky Mountains, the Constitution being threatened by internal enemies, and the eventual establishment of a righteous government led by Church members. Some versions specifically mention that this intervention would occur when the Constitution "hangs by a single thread."

However, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has officially distanced itself from the prophecy, with church historians noting the lack of contemporary documentation and the significant time gap between Smith's alleged statement and its first recorded appearance. Critics point to the prophecy's reflection of late 19th-century Mormon persecution experiences rather than 1840s concerns, while supporters argue it represents authentic oral tradition preserved by early church members. The prophecy has been invoked by various political figures and conspiracy theorists as justification for Mormon political activism or evidence of a secret agenda for theocratic governance.