Mormon Prophecy Fuels Glenn Beck's Message

Glenn Beck delivered an "unmistakable signal" to America's Mormons in one of his first appearances on Fox News, when he invoked a well-known prophecy, writes Dana Milbank. Following Obama's election, Beck repeatedly made references to the "Constitution hanging by a thread." While to a non-Mormon, this turn of phrase is more or less meaningless, Latter-day Saints who believe in the "White Horse Prophecy" would have understood Beck's message loud and clear.

"When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it," Brigham Young wrote, a phrase that was credited as originally coming from Joseph Smith. Milbank, whose Tears of a Clown book about Beck is out today, expands upon possible interpretations for the Huffington Post. (More Glenn Beck stories.)