Lesson Highlights

• The Lord commanded the Saints to build the Kirtland Temple.
• The Saints were blessed for their great sacrifices in building the temple.
• Joseph Smith dedicated the Kirtland Temple.
• The Lord accepted the Kirtland Temple, and ancient prophets restored priesthood keys.
• Temple building and temple work accelerate in our day.

A study of this lesson will help us understand the significance of temples and encourage us to seek the blessings of the temple in our own lives.

Scripture references for study:  Doctrine and Covenants 95; 109; 110
    Note: Underlined scripture references have been hyperlinked to the LDS Scriptures at LDS.org and will open in a new window.

Lesson 18 Handout (PDF format)

The Kirtland Temple

1. On December 27, 1832, the Prophet Joseph Smith received the revelation contained in D&C 88. In a letter to William W. Phelps, the Prophet spoke of this revelation when he wrote, "I send you the 'Olive Leaf' which we have plucked from the tree of Paradise, the Lord's message of peace to us" (D&C Commentary, p539).
• Among other things, the Saints were commanded to "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God" (D&C 88:119).
• At the time this commandment was given there were only about 100 members of the Church living in Kirtland township. Over the next three years the membership in Kirtland increased to about 1300.
2. On June 1, 1833, the Prophet received a revelation from the Lord chastising him and the Saints for not building the House of the Lord as previously commanded.
• "Wherefore, ye must needs be chastened and stand rebuked before my face;
For ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment in all things, that I have given unto you concerning the building of mine house . . . .
    Verily I say unto you, it is my will that you should build a house. If you keep my commandments you shall have power to build it. If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness." (D&C 95:2-3, 11-12)
• Joseph was told that great blessings depended upon the completion of the temple.
• "Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high" (D&C 95:8).
• The membership of the Church was not wealthy. The construction of such a building appeared to be an impossible task.
3. July 1833 - The foundation stone laid and construction commenced.
• The Saints in Kirtland were poor and the building of the temple required a sacrifice of money and physical effort.
• John A. Widtsoe estimated that, in comparison to what the Saints possessed, this was the most expensive religious building in American history. It was an unprecedented sacrifice. (Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p260)
• Sidney Rigdon often wept over the poverty of the Church and the sacrifices the Saints made to build the temple. He pled with the Lord to support them in their labors.
• The Prophet acted as foreman in the stone quarry and frequently worked on the construction of the temple.
• Many of the enemies of the Church, learning that a temple was going to be built, declared that it would never be finished.
• At times there were three men standing guard for each one working on the temple. Guards were also necessary at times to protect the Prophet.
• Brigham Young: "We completed a temple in Kirtland and in Nauvoo; and did not the bells of hell toll all the time we were building them? They did, every week and every day." (JD, 8:356)
• Brigham Young spoke of the great sacrifice made by the Saints:  " . . . a mere handful of men, living on air, and a little hominy and milk, and often salt or no salt, when milk could not be had; the great Prophet Joseph, in the stone quarry, quarrying rock with his own hands; and the few then in the Church, following his example of obedience and diligence wherever most needed; with laborers on the walls, holding the sword in one hand to protect themselves from the mob, while they placed the stone and moved the trowel with the other, the Kirtland temple . . . was so far completed as to be dedicated." (Discourses of Brigham Young, p415)
• The temple was not a large building by today's standards. It was 80 feet by 60 feet with 50 foot high walls.
• The two main rooms were 55 by 65 feet in the inner court and 22 feet in height.
• The Lord revealed His plans for the Kirtland Temple in a vision to the First Presidency (Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams).
• President Frederick G. Williams said they knelt together in prayer, and 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." (The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p198)
• When the temple was completed, Frederick G. Williams said it looked exactly as it had in the vision.
• At the time of dedication there was still $13,000 owing on the building.
4. A time of preparation.
• From January 21 through May 1, 1836, probably more Latter-day Saints beheld visions and received gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy than during any other period in the history of the Church.
• Orson Pratt: "God was there, his angels were there, the Holy Ghost was in the midst of the people, the visions of the Almighty were opened to the minds of the servants of the living God; the veil was taken from the minds of many; they saw the heavens opened; they beheld the angels of God; they heard the voice of the Lord; and they were filled from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet with the power and inspiration of the Holy Ghost . . . .  In that Temple, set apart by the servants of God, and dedicated by a prayer that was written by inspiration, the people were blessed as they never had been blessed for generations." (JD, 18:131-132)
• The first of these great manifestations occurred on the evening of January 21st.
• On this evening the Prophet met with some of the brethren in one of the attic classrooms of the nearly completed temple. At this time the Prophet introduced the ordinance of anointing.
• After the instruction was given the Prophet testified that "the heavens were opened upon us."  He says that he "beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof."
• This revelation has been recorded as Section 137.
• Before this remarkable series of visions ended, the high councils from Kirtland and Missouri entered the room, received their anointings, and were blessed with the ministering of angels.
• Oliver Cowdery wrote that the "glorious scene" was "too great to be described . . . .  I only say, the heavens were opened to many, and great and marvelous things were shown" (quoted in Studies In Scripture, 1:420).
• Many meetings were held to prepare the Saints for the dedication.
• They were instructed that they must come in purity.
• They were to prepare themselves by having studied and pondered the revelations.

The Day of Dedication - 27 March 1836

1. Rules drafted by the Prophet.
• Old and young were to sit quietly.
• No whispering, talking, laughing, or menacing gestures.
• Children were not allowed to play in the building.
2. The people were in their seats at 7:00 AM.
• According to George A. Smith, 960 people were seated, and others standing swelled the congregation to a little over a thousand.
• The Prophet suggested that those children that had a desire to attend, that were willing to be orderly, could sit on their parent's laps.
• The Prophet found when arriving for the service that there were two persons in each seat.
• About 800 eager Saints were turned away. The Prophet promised a repeat of the dedication on March 31.
• One Frazier Eaton had paid $700 towards the building of the temple, but arriving late he was not admitted. He sullenly departed and eventually apostatized.
• Donations were accepted at the door to help pay the $13,000 deficit. $963 was contributed.
• The meeting began at 9:00 AM and lasted until 4:00 PM with only a 20 minute intermission.
3. The Morning Session.
• Sidney Rigdon conducted.
• He began by reading Psalms 96 and 24.
• A hymn written by Parley P. Pratt was sung (Ere The Veil Rent In Twain).
• Sidney gave the opening prayer.
• A hymn written by W.W. Phelps (Waymouth) was sung by the congregation and a small choir.
• Sidney Rigdon then gave a two and a half hour sermon based on Matthew 8:20, where it says, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head."
• He said that this house is to become the house of the Lord.
• The morning session concluded with the singing of "Now Let Us Rejoice."
4. The Afternoon Session.
• A brief intermission - 15-20 minutes.
• Enough time for a few of the sisters to take care of their children.
• Few left the temple after the morning session.
• The Prophet gave a brief address and presented the priesthood authorities of the Church for the sustaining vote of the Church.
• The Prophet then read the dedicatory prayer.
• This prayer was revealed by the Lord and is recorded as Section 109.
• This has been the pattern for all subsequent dedicatory prayers.
• Following the dedicatory prayer the choir arose and sang "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning."
• William W. Phelps wrote this hymn especially for this occasion.
• The Prophet then took a sustaining vote from each of the priesthood quorums to accept the dedication. The vote was unanimous.
• The sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered to the congregation.
• The Prophet then testified of his divine mission and the ministration of angels.
• Don Carlos Smith bore his testimony.
• Oliver Cowdery testified of the truth of the Book of Mormon and the latter-day work.
• According to the Prophet, President Frederick G. Williams then arose and "testified that while President Rigdon was making his first prayer, an angel entered the window and took his seat between Father Smith and himself, and remained there during the prayer" (HC, 2:427).
• Hyrum Smith spoke and congratulated those who had endured so many toils and privations to build the temple.
• President Rigdon made a few closing comments and gave a short prayer.
• The proceedings of the day were sealed by the hosanna shout:
• Done with a shout and a raising of the arms.
• The following was shouted 3 times:
• "Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb.  Amen.  Amen.  Amen."
• Dictionary Definition of hosanna.
• Hosanna = save now. The word is taken from Psalms 118:25, one of the Psalms of the Hallel. The chanting of this psalm was connected at the Feast of Tabernacles with the waving of palm branches; hence the use of the word by the multitudes at our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew. 21:9, 15; Mark 11:9, 10; John 12:13).
• It was a plea that the Lord enter, accept, and visit this Holy House.
• Father Smith welcomed a woman with a very small child. She had been turned away by others who felt that the child could not endure the service.
• Father Smith promised the woman that all would be well.
• When the mother arose to join in the Hosanna shout, the 2 month old baby pushed back his coverlet and joined in the shout.
• Brigham Young then arose to speak - the Spirit descended on Brigham and he began to speak in tongues.
• David W. Patten arose to interpret.
• Is was a message of admonition and divine approval.
• The Prophet concluded the session with a blessing to the congregation in the name of the Lord.
• The assembly dispersed a little past 4:00 PM.
5. Eliza R. Snow wrote: "No mortal language can describe the sweet spirit of love and union. No language can describe the heavenly manifestations of that memorable day. A sense of divine presence was realized by all. Each heart was filled with joy inexpressible." (quoted in Studies in Scripture, 1:421-422)
6. The Dedication Prayer - Section 109.
• The prayer begins and concludes by asking the Lord to accept the temple.
• " . . . we ask thee, O Lord, to accept of this house, the workmanship of the hands of us, thy servants, which thou didst command us to build. For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people" (v4-5).
• READ D&C 109:10-13. Call for the glory of the Lord to rest upon the Saints.
• What great promises!
• WHAT MUST WE DO TO QUALIFY TO HAVE THE GLORY OF THE LORD REST UPON US?
• READ D&C 109:20-21. No unclean thing to enter the House of the Lord.
• WHY MUST WE BE WORTHY WHEN WE ENTER THE TEMPLE?
• "And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;  Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God. But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples." (D&C 97:15-17)
• WHAT BLESSINGS MAY WE RECEIVE AS WE ATTEND THE TEMPLE WORTHILY?
• Verses 13-19 list several blessings:
• We may feel the power of the Lord (v13).
• Learn words of wisdom (v14).
• Receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost (v15).
• We will be organized according to the laws of God (v15).
• We will be prepared to obtain every needful thing (v15).
• President Ezra Taft Benson: "When you attend the temple and perform the ordinances that pertain to the House of the Lord, certain blessings will come to you:
   
    "You will receive the spirit of Elijah, which will turn your hearts to your spouse, to your children, and to your forebears.
    "You will love your family with a deeper love than you have loved before.
    "You will be endowed with power from on high as the Lord has promised.
    "You will receive the key of the knowledge of God. (See D&C 84:19) You will learn how you can be like Him. Even the power of godliness will be manifest to you. (See D&C 84:20)
    "You will be doing a great service to those who have passed to the other side of the veil in order that they might be 'judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.' (D&C 138:34)
    "Such are the blessings of the temple and the blessings of frequently attending the temple." (Ensign, Aug 1985, p10)
• READ D&C 109:22. Go from the temple armed with power.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO LEAVE THE TEMPLE ARMED WITH THE POWER OF GOD?
• "We ask thee, Holy Father, to establish the people that shall worship, and honorably hold a name and standing in this thy house, to all generations and for eternity; That no weapon formed against them shall prosper; that he who diggeth a pit for them shall fall into the same himself; That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house" (v24-26).
• Brigham Young:  "Much has been said about the power of the Latter-day Saints. Is it the people called Latter-day Saints that have this power, or is it the Priesthood? It is the Priesthood; and if they live according to that Priesthood, they can commence their work here and gain many victories, and be prepared to receive glory, immortality, and eternal life, that when they go into the spirit-world their work will far surpass that of any other man or being that has not been blessed with the keys of the Priesthood here." (JD, 7:288-289)
• So vital was the endowment that in the last days of Nauvoo the temple was kept busy night and day in order for the Saints to receive their endowments before the trek west.
• It has been said that the Saints could not endure the trials ahead without the strength and power of the endowment received in the House of the Lord.
• HOW HAS TEMPLE ATTENDANCE STRENGTHENED YOU AGAINST TEMPTATION?
• READ D&C 109:45-46.
• We will be prepared for the calamities of the last days if we are diligent in serving the Lord. Temple attendance is one of the most significant things we can do to deliver ourselves from the calamity of the wicked.
• "Have mercy, O Lord, upon the wicked mob, who have driven thy people, that they may cease to spoil, that they may repent of their sins if repentance is to be found" (v50).
• HOW DO YOU THINK THE SAINTS FELT ABOUT PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO DROVE THEM FROM THEIR HOMES?
• WHAT GOOD CAN COME FROM PRAYING FOR OUR ENEMIES?
• " . . . have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever" (v54).
• WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION?
• That its principles should continue to govern our land.
• This might well be part of our daily prayer.
• READ D&C 109:55-59.
• This is a prayer that continues to be answered again and again.
• It is a prayer that we should continue to offer.
• "We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob, that Jerusalem, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed; And the yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the house of David; And the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou didst give to Abraham, their father." (v62-64).
• Consider the history of the modern nation of Israel that has stemmed from the time of this dedication.
7. On the evening of the day of dedication, 416 bearers of the priesthood gathered in the temple to be instructed by the Prophet about the ordinance of washing of feet.
• After instructing them on this ordinance, the Prophet gave them instructions in relation to the spirit of prophecy and called upon the congregation to speak.
• The Prophet said: "Do not quench the Spirit, for the first one that opens his mouth shall receive the Spirit of prophecy." (HC, 2:428)
• The Prophet wrote:  "George A. Smith arose and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place. This continued until the meeting closed at eleven p.m." (HC, 2:428)

The Keys of the Priesthood Restored

1. Great spiritual meetings were held in the temple in the weeks that followed the dedication.
• Meetings would often last throughout the night, no one tiring, no one falling asleep.
• They were feasting on what the Prophet called the "fat things of the Spirit".
• The Prophet says that on Tuesday, March 29, he met at 11:00 AM with Frederick G. Williams, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, and Oliver Cowdery.
• Later, other brethren were added to the meeting.
• The Prophet received word that those who had entered this holy place were not to leave until morning.
• The brethren in attendance were to cleanse their feet and partake of the Sacrament that they might be made holy before the Lord.
• Wrote the Prophet: "The Holy Spirit rested down upon us, and we continued in the Lord's House all night, prophesying and giving glory to God." (HC, 2:430)
• In a meeting with the elders on March 30, the Prophet declared the organization of the Church complete; they should go forth now and build up the kingdom of God.
• So great was the feeling of spirituality and unity that it continued for days and weeks after the meeting.
• Some had thought that the millennium had come, as there seemed to be no temptation.
• There was no desire to sin.
• The Prophet had to warn them that this was all from the Spirit and that the great temptations would return.
• In some cases, what happened seemed to be more or less than what some had expected. As a consequence these few soon left the Church.
2. On Sunday, April 3, one week following the dedication, Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten spoke to the Saints in a morning meeting.
• That afternoon the Presidency and the apostles participated in administering and passing the sacrament.
• After this Joseph and Oliver retired to the pulpit, where the veils were dropped and they commenced in prayer.
• It was at this time that the visions recorded in Section 110 was received.
• READ D&C 110:1-10. Appearance of the Lord.
• Next appeared Moses (v11).
• WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS VISIT?
• The President of the Church was given the keys to gather modern Israel - both a spiritual and temporal gathering.
• Elder Bruce R. McConkie:  "These keys empower those who hold them to lead all Israel, the ten tribes included, from all the nations of the earth, coming as the prophetic word affirms, one by one and two by two, to the mountains of the Lord's houses, there to be endowed with power from on high." (Ensign, May 1983, p22)
• Next appeared Elias (v12).
• WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS VISIT?
• Elias restored the keys necessary to establish the ancient patriarchal order, making all those who receive celestial marriage through the temple, heirs of the blessings and "promises of the fathers" (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) including eternal increase.
• According to Joseph Fielding Smith, Elias is Noah. (Answers to Gospel Questions, 3:140)
• Finally appeared Elijah (v13-16).
• WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS VISIT?
• Elijah restored the keys whereby families - organized in the patriarchal order through the keys delivered by Elias - could be bound and sealed for eternity.
• Joseph Smith: "The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is that ye have power to hold the key of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth." (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p60)
• Because Elijah came, all other ordinances for the living and the dead have real meaning and are in force in the eternities.
• "Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors" (v16).

Gospel Doctrine Notebook

1. Record your thoughts on the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. How has the temple been a blessing in your life?

Resources Used In This Lesson

• Answers to Gospel Questions, Volume 3, by Joseph Fielding Smith.
• Discourses of Brigham Young.
• Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith compiled by Alma P. Burton.
• Doctrine & Covenants Commentary by Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjodahl.
• Ensign.
• History of the Church (HC).
• Journal of Discourses (JD).
• Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John A. Widtsoe.
• Studies In Scripture, Volume 1, edited by Robert L. Millet and Kent P. Jackson.
• The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Lyndon W. Cook.

Next Lesson

Lesson 19:  Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide