“Behold, I, the Lord, in the beginning blessed the waters; but in the last days, by the mouth of my servant John, I cursed the waters.” — Doctrine and Covenants 61:14¹

In August 1831, Joseph Smith and ten elders traveled by canoe down the treacherous Missouri River. The journey was fraught with dangers, including nearly capsizing due to submerged trees known as sawyers. Amid growing contention among the group, William W. Phelps had a vision of the destroyer riding upon the waters.² Joseph Smith received a revelation (recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 61) warning of many dangers and destructions decreed upon the waters. The revelation emphasized the need for the elders to warn others to avoid traveling by water unless absolutely necessary and encouraged faithfulness for safety.¹

This revelation was later used as evidence of Joseph Smith's prophetic calling. Various maritime disasters and natural water-related calamities were highlighted as events fulfilling Joseph Smith's prophecies, underscoring his divine inspiration and the importance of his prophetic warnings.³

1. Doctrine and Covenants 61

2. "Historical Introduction to Revelation, 12 August 1831 [D&C 61]," josephsmithpapers.org; Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 12, 133-134

3. Max Zimmer, "Destruction on the Waters," Deseret News October 17, 1936