“Establish…a House of God”
Lesson 18 – D&C 95; 109; 110. Our Heritage pg. 33-36
Background: As far as we know, only four temples were built by the Lord’s covenant people before our dispensation. Solomon’s temple was the first and it was rebuilt twice. It was also known as the temple of Zerubbabel and the temple of Herod. The Book of Mormon mentions three other temples—one built by Nephi (2 Nephi 5:16), another located in the land of Zarahemla (Mosiah 1:10) where King Benjamin gave his farewell address, and the third being the Bountiful temple where people gathered after the resurrection of the Savior (3 Nephi 11:1). At the beginning of this dispensation, Joseph Smith was a temple builder who constructed or planned five temples: Kirtland, Independence, Far West, Adam-Ondi-Ahman, and Nauvoo. Today, we follow his example, having over 100 temples providing eternal spiritual opportunities for Saints all over the world.
The Lord commanded the Saints to build the Kirtland temple.
In D&C 95, the Lord called on His people to repent of
their disobedience and begin immediately to construct the temple in
Kirtland. They had previously been
commanded in December 1832 to build the temple, but they had accomplished
nothing in that five months. However,
only four days after D&C 95 was received, digging of the foundation
trenches and cutting of stone commenced.
The purpose(s) of the Kirtland Temple differed from that of
present-day temples where we perform saving ordinances for the living and the
dead. Its purposes included:
·
Preparation of the apostles and pouring out of His Spirit on
“all flesh” (D&C 95:3-4)
·
Endowment of His chosen servants with power from on high
(95:8-9)
·
Offering of the sacrament, preaching, fasting, prayer; and a
school for the apostles (95:16-17)
·
A place for the personal appearance of the Savior (109:5)
·
Establishment of a house of prayer, fasting, faith,
learning, glory, order, and of God. (109:8)
D&C 95:13-17 gave instructions to the Prophet about how
the temple should be built:
In addition, when some workers suggested a log or board
construction, the Prophet replied: “Shall we…build a house for our God, of logs? No…I have a plan of the house of the Lord, given
by himself; and you will soon see by this, the difference between our
calculations and his idea of things.” (History of Joseph Smith, ed. Preston Nibley [1958], 230)
A vision given to the First Presidency revealed the plan for
the temple. President Fredrick G.
Williams said that a model of the building “appeared within viewing distance.…After we
had taken a good look at the exterior, the building seemed to come right over
us.” He later reported that the finished building looked exactly
as it had been seen in vision. (In The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp.
Lyndon W. Cook [1981], 198)
Today, the First Presidency receives revelation that determines when and where temples are built.
D&C 109:5 indicates that the Kirtland Temple was built
in a time of tribulation and poverty.
The property was obtained after a new convert, John Tanner, was prompted
by the Lord to move to Kirtland from New York. Upon arrival, he provided the
$2000 that purchased the farm on which the temple was built. The Saints consecrated their time, talents,
and means for three years as they labored on the temple. While the brethren
provided labor and skill and guarded the temple site at night, the sisters spun
and knit to clothe the workers. (Our Heritage, 33-34)
Blessings attendant to the completion of the temple included
visions and the ministering of angels; it was a time of rejoicing according to
the Prophet. The greatest blessings
came with the dedication of the temple on 27 March 1836 as approximately 1,000
people gathered at the site. “The
Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning” was written for the dedication and the
Prophet, Sidney Rigdon, and others delivered sermons. Eliza R. Snow recorded that “Angels appeared to some, while a
sense of divine presence was realized by all present, and each heart was filled
with ‘joy inexpressible and full of glory’.”
The Prophet Joseph Smith dedicated the Kirtland Temple
during a 7-hour service on March 27, 1836.
D&C 109 is the dedicatory prayer as received in revelation from the
Lord. That prayer was pronounced along
with the singing of hymns, the bearing of testimonies, the administration of
the sacrament, the delivery of sermons, and the observance of a solemn assembly
in which the Prophet and other Church leaders were sustained by those in
attendance. The conclusion of the
dedication came as the Saints participated in the Hosanna Shout, an event that
is part of the dedication of each new house of the Lord.
Responsibilities of members with regard to temples include:
·
D&C 109:7, 14 – We should seek learning diligently by
study and by faith
·
D&C 109:17-19 – Our incomings, outgoings, and
salutations should be in the name of the Lord
·
D&C 109:20-21 – We must be worthy (as verified by a
recommend) and clean to enter
·
D&C 109:23 – When we depart the temple, we should bear
gospel tidings to the ends of the earth
In the dedicatory prayer, the Prophet petitioned the Lord for numerous blessings:
·
D&C 109:15 – The Saints would receive of the fullness of
the Holy Ghost
·
D&C 109:22 – The Saints would leave the temple armed
with power and watched over by angels
·
D&C 109:25-26 – No weapon or wickedness would prevail
against the Saints
·
D&C 109:32-33 – The Lord would break off the yoke of
affliction from the Saints
·
D&C 109:36-37 – Spiritual manifestations, like on the
Day on Pentecost, would be poured out
·
D&C 109:54-58 - The Lord would prepare the hearts of
people across the world for His gospel
·
D&C 109:61-64, 67 – The gathering of the House of Israel
would begin
·
D&C 109:72-74 – The Church would fill the whole earth
The
Lord accepted the Kirtland Temple, and ancient prophets restored priesthood
keys
In D&C 95:8, the Lord had promised to endow his servants
with power from on high after the completion of the Kirtland Temple. The promised endowment consisted of the
Savior’s visit, an outpouring of the Spirit, numerous revelations, and the
restoration of priesthood keys. The
result was increased power and ability being enjoyed by His faithful servants.
In D&C 110:1-3, the Prophet described the appearance of
the Savior as He accepted the Kirtland Temple.
His remarks about the temple are contained in D&C 110:6-10.
Keys were restored by Moses, Elias, and Elijah as recorded
in D&C 110:11-16. Moses restored
the keys of the gathering of Israel; Elias the keys of the dispensation of the
gospel of Abraham (see Abraham 2:9-11); and Elijah the keys of the sealing
power.
Temple construction has accelerated as President Gordon B.
Hinckley announced plans to construct smaller temples at the October 1997
General Conference. He set the goal of
100 temples by the end of the year 2000 and achieved it. In three years, as
many temples were built as had been constructed in the Church’s first 167
years. In conjunction with that effort, Church leaders placed greater emphasis
on temple work. In D&C 138:53-56,
we recognize that the worthy members of today are among the “choice spirits who were
reserved to come forth in the fullness of times to take part in…the building of
temples and the performance of ordinances therein.”
President Howard W. Hunter said: “Let us be a
temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten to the temple as
frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow. Let us go not only for our kindred dead, but
let us go also for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity
and safety which is provided within those hallowed and consecrated walls. The temple is a place of beauty, it is a
place of revelation, it is a place of peace.
It is the house of the Lord. It
is holy unto the Lord. It should be holy unto us” (Ensign, Oct. 1994, 5).
It is time for each of us to determine how we will support
this heavenly mission to redeem the dead. We should be just as dedicated as
were the early Saints at Kirtland in faithfully supporting the building of
temples and the use of the Washington D.C., temple near us. If we will be
faithful in this effort, the Lord will bless us as he did the Saints of
Kirtland for our righteous work.
Do you display pictures of the temple(s) in your home? Pres
Howard W. Hunter said: “Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your children may see it.
Teach them about the purposes of the house of the Lord. Have them plan from
their earliest years to go there and to remain worthy of that blessing.” (Ensign, Nov 94,
8)
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