Dedication of the Kirtland Temple--Spiritual Manifestations.
[Sidenote: Gathering of the Saints to the Dedication.]
_Sunday, March 27_.--The congregation began to assemble at the Temple,
at about seven o'clock, an hour earlier than the doors were to be
opened. Many brethren had come in from the regions round about, to
witness the dedication of the Lord's House and share in His blessings;
and such was the anxiety on this occasion that some hundreds (probably
five or six) assembled before the doors were opened. The presidents
entered with the doorkeepers, and stationed the latter at the inner and
outer doors; also placed our stewards to receive donations from those
who should feel disposed to contribute something to defray the expense
of building the House of the Lord. We also dedicated the pulpits, and
consecrated them to the Lord.
[Sidenote: The Number at the First Meeting.]
The doors were then opened. Presidents Rigdon, Cowdery and myself
seated the congregation as they came in, and, according to the best
calculation we could make, we received between nine and ten hundred,
which were as many as could be comfortably seated. We then informed
the doorkeepers that we could receive no more, and a multitude were
deprived of the benefits of the meeting on account of the house not
being sufficiently capacious to receive them; and I felt to regret that
any of my brethren and sisters should be deprived of the meeting, and I
{411} recommended them to repair to the schoolhouse and hold a meeting,
which they did, and filled that house also, and yet many were left out.
[Sidenote: Arrangement of the Assembly.]
The assembly was then organized in the following manner, viz.: west end
of the house, Presidents Frederick G. Williams, Joseph Smith, Sen.,
and William W. Phelps occupying the first pulpit for the Melchisedek
Priesthood; Presidents Joseph Smith, Jun., Hyrum Smith, and Sidney
Rigdon, the second pulpit; Presidents David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery,
and John Whitmer, the third pulpit; the fourth was occupied by the
President of the High Priests' quorum and his counselors, and two
choristers. The Twelve Apostles on the right, in the three highest
seats. The President of the Elders, his counselors and clerk, in the
seat immediately below the Twelve. The High Council of Kirtland,
consisting of twelve, on the left in the three first seats. The fourth
seat, and next below the High Council, was occupied by Elders Warren
A. Cowdery and Warren Parrish, who served as scribes. The pulpits in
the east end of the house, for the Aaronic Priesthood, were occupied
as follows: The Bishop of Kirtland and his counselors, in the first
pulpit; the Bishop of Zion and his counselors, in the second pulpit;
the president of the Priests and his counselors, in the third pulpit:
the president of the Teachers and his counselors, and one chorister
in the fourth pulpit; the High Council of Zion, consisting of twelve
counselors, on the right; the president of the Deacons and his
counselors, in the seat below them; the seven presidents of Seventies,
on the left. The choir of singers were seated in the four corners of
the room, in seats prepared for that purpose.
Received by contribution--nine hundred and sixty-three dollars.
At nine o'clock a. m. President Sidney Rigdon commenced the services of
the day by reading the 96th and 24th Psalms.
{412} An excellent choir of singers, led by M. C. Davis, sung the
following hymn:
Tune--_Sterling_.
Ere long the veil will rend in twain, The King descend with all His
train; The earth shall shake with awful fright, And all creation
feel His might.
The angel's trumpet long shall sound, And wake the nations under
ground; Throughout the vast domain of space 'Twill echo forth from
place to place.
Lift up your heads, ye Saints, in peace, The Savior comes for your
release; The day of the redeemed has come; The Saints shall all be
welcomed home.
Behold the church! it soars on high, To meet the Saints amid the
sky, To hail the King in clouds of fire, And strike and tune the
immortal lyre.
Hosanna! now the trump shall sound, Proclaim the joys of heaven
around, When all the Saints together join In songs of love, and all
divine.
With Enoch here we all shall meet, And worship at Messiah's feet,
Unite our hands and hearts in love, And reign on thrones with
Christ above.
The city that was seen of old, Whose walls were jasper, streets
were gold, We'll now inherit, throned in might--The Father and the
Son's delight.
Celestial crowns we shall receive, And glories great our God shall
give; While loud hosannas we'll proclaim, And sound aloud our
Savior's name.
{413} Our hearts and tongues shall join in one, To praise the
Father and the Son; While all the heavens shall shout again, And
all creation say, Amen. [1]
President Rigdon addressed the throne of grace in a devout and
appropriate manner, and the following hymn was sung:
Tune--_Weymouth_.
O happy souls, who pray Where God appoints to hear! O happy Saints,
who pay Their constant service there! We'll praise Him still, And
happy we Who love the way To Zion's hill.
No burning heats by day, Nor blasts of evening air, Shall take our
health away, If God be with us there. He is our sun, And He our
shade To guard the head By night or noon.
God is the only Lord, Our shield and our defense; With gifts His
hands are stored; We draw our blessings thence. He will bestow On
Jacob's race Peculiar grace, And glory too. [2]
[Sidenote: Elder Rigdon's Discourse.]
President Rigdon then read the 18th, 19th and 20th verses of the 18th
chapter of Matthew, and preached more particularly from the 20th verse:
"Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be
bound in heaven; and {414} whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall
be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall
agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall
be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or
three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of
them." He spoke two hours and a half in his usual logical manner. His
prayer and address were very forcible and sublime, and well adapted
to the occasion. At one time, in the course of his remarks, he was
rather pathetic, and drew tears from many eyes. He was then taking a
retrospective view of the toils, privations, and anxieties of those who
had labored upon the walls of the house to erect them; and added, there
were those who had wet them with their tears, in the silent shades of
night, while they were praying to the God of heaven to protect them,
and stay the unhallowed hands of ruthless spoilers, who had uttered a
prophecy, when the foundation was laid, that the walls would never be
reared.
In reference to his main subject, he assumed as a postulate that in the
days of the Savior there were synagogues where the Jews worshiped God,
and in addition to them, the splendid temple at Jerusalem, yet, when
on a certain occasion, one proposed to follow Christ, whithersoever
He went, He, though heir of all things, cried out like one in the
bitterness of His soul in abject poverty--"The foxes have holes, and
the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to
lay His head." This, said the speaker, was evidence to his mind, that
the Most High did not put His name there, and that He did not accept
the worship of those who paid their vows and adorations there. This was
evident from the fact that they would not receive Him, but thrust Him
from them, saying: "Away with Him, crucify Him! crucify Him!" It was
therefore abundantly evident that His Spirit did not dwell in them.
They were the degenerate sons of noble sires, but they had long since
slain {415} the Prophets and Seers, through whom the Lord revealed
Himself to the children of men. They were not led by revelation.
_This_, said the speaker, was the grand difficulty among them--_their
unbelief in present revelation_.
[Sidenote: Remarks on Revelation.]
He further remarked, that their unbelief in present revelation, was the
means of dividing that generation into the various sects and parties
that existed. They were zealous worshipers according to outward forms,
but such worship was not required of them, nor was it acceptable to
God. The Redeemer Himself, who knew the hearts of all men, called them
a generation of vipers. It was proof positive to the speaker's mind,
there being Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and Essenes, all differing
from one another, that they were led by the precepts and commandments
of men. Each had something peculiar to himself, but all agreed in one
thing, viz., to oppose the Savior; so that we discover He could, with
the utmost propriety, exclaim, notwithstanding their synagogue and
temple-worship: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have
nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head."
[Sidenote: The Consequence of Rejecting Present Revelation.]
He took occasion here to remark that such diversity of sentiment
ever had, and ever would obtain, when people were not led by present
revelation. This brought him to the inevitable conclusion, that the
various sects of the present day, from their manifesting the same
spirit, rested under the same condemnation, with those who were
contemporary with the Savior. He admitted there were many houses,
many sufficiently large, built for the worship of God, but not one
except this, on the face of the whole earth, that was built by divine
revelation; and were it not for this the dear Redeemer might, in this
day of science, this day of intelligence, this day of religion, say to
those who would follow Him: "The foxes have holes, the birds of the air
have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head."
[Sidenote: Joseph Smith, Jun., Sustained as the Prophet and Seer of the
Church.]
{416} After closing his discourse he called upon the several quorums,
commencing with the Presidency, to manifest, by rising, their
willingness to acknowledge me as a Prophet and Seer, and uphold me as
such, by their prayers of faith. All the quorums, in turn, cheerfully
complied with this request. He then called upon all the congregation of
Saints, also, to give their assent by rising on their feet, which they
did unanimously.
The following hymn was then sung:
Tune--_Hosanna_.
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation, No longer as strangers
on earth need we roam; Good tidings are sounding to us and each
nation, And shortly the hour of redemption will come; When all that
was promised the Saints will be given, And none will molest them
from morn until even, And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden,
And Jesus will say to all Israel, Come home.
We'll love one another, and never dissemble, But cease to do evil,
and ever be one; And while the ungodly are fearing and tremble,
We'll watch for the day when the Savior will come: When all that
was promised the Saints will be given, And none will molest them
from morn until even, And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden,
And Jesus will say to all Israel, Come home.
In faith we'll rely on the arm of Jehovah To guide through these
last days of trouble and gloom; And, after the scourges and harvest
are over, We'll rise with the just when the Savior doth come. Then
all that was promised the Saints will be given, And they will be
crowned as the angels of heaven, And earth will appear as the
garden of Eden, And Christ and His people will ever be one. [3]
After an intermission of twenty minutes, during which {417} time the
congregation kept their seats, the services of the day were resumed by
singing "Adam-ondi-Ahman:"
This earth was once a garden place, With all her glories common;
And men did live a holy race, And worship Jesus face to face, In
Adam-ondi-Ahman.
We read that Enoch walked with God, Above the power of Mammon;
While Zion spread herself abroad, And Saints and angels sang aloud,
In Adam-ondi-Ahman.
Her land was good and greatly blest, Beyond old Israel's Canaan;
Her fame was known from east to west; Her peace was great and pure
the rest Of Adam-ondi-Ahman.
Hosanna to such days to come--The Savior's second coming, When all
the earth in glorious bloom Affords the Saints a holy home, Like
Adam-ondi-Ahman. [4]
[Sidenote: Presidency of Church and Twelve Apostles Sustained as
Prophets, Seers and Revelators.]
I then made a short address, and called upon the several quorums,
and all the congregation of Saints, to acknowledge the Presidency
as Prophets and Seers, and uphold them by their prayers. They all
covenanted to do so, by rising.
I then called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to
acknowledge the Twelve Apostles, who were present, as Prophets, Seers,
Revelators, and special witnesses to all the nations of the earth,
holding the keys of the kingdom, to unlock it, or cause it to be done,
among them, and uphold them by their prayers, which they assented to by
rising.
{418} [Sidenote: The Seventies Sustained as Apostles and Special
Witnesses.]
I next called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to
acknowledge the presidents of Seventies, who act as their
representatives, as Apostles and special witnesses to the nations, to
assist the Twelve in opening the Gospel kingdom among all people, and
to uphold them by their prayers, which they did by rising.
[Sidenote: High Councils and Bishoprics Sustained.]
I then called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to
acknowledge the High Council of Kirtland, in all the authority of the
Melchisedek Priesthood, and uphold them by their prayers, which they
assented to by rising.
I then called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to
acknowledge, and uphold by their prayers, the Bishops of Kirtland
and Zion, and their counselors, in all the authority of the Aaronic
Priesthood, which they did by rising.
I next called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to
acknowledge the High Council of Zion, and uphold them by their prayers,
in all the authority of the High Priesthood, which they did by rising.
[Sidenote: Presidency of Elders Quorum Sustained.]
I then called upon the quorums and all the Saints to acknowledge the
president of the Elders, and his counselors, and uphold them by their
prayers which they did by rising.
[Sidenote: The Presidencies of the Quorums of the Lesser Priesthood
Sustained.]
The quorums and congregation of Saints were then called upon to
acknowledge, and uphold by their prayers, the presidents and
counselors, of the Priests, Teachers and Deacons, which they did by
rising.
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Promise and Prediction.]
The vote was unanimous in every instance, and I prophesied to all, that
inasmuch as they would uphold these men in their several stations,
(alluding to the different quorums in the Church), the Lord would bless
them; yea, in the name of Christ, the blessings of heaven should be
theirs; and when the Lord's anointed go forth to proclaim the word,
bearing {419} testimony to this generation, if they receive it they
shall be blessed; but if not, the judgments of God will follow close
upon them, until that city or that house which rejects them, shall be
left desolate.
The following hymn was then sung:
Tune--_Dalston_.
How pleased and blest was I To hear the people cry: "Come, let us
seek our God today!" Yes, with a cheerful zeal, We'll haste to
Zion's hill, And there our vows and honors pay.
Zion, thrice happy place, Adorned with wondrous grace, And walls of
strength embrace thee round, In thee our tribes appear, To praise
and pray and hear The sacred Gospel's joyful sound.
There, David's greater Son Has fixed his royal throne; He sits for
grace and judgment there; He bids the Saints be glad, He makes the
sinner sad, And humble souls rejoice with fear.
May peace attend thy gate, And joy within thee wait, To bless the
soul of every guest! The man that seeks thy peace, And wishes thine
increase, A thousand blessings on him rest.
My tongue repeats her vows, "Peace to this sacred house! For here
my friends and kindred dwell;" And since my glorious God Makes thee
His blest abode, My soul shall ever love thee well. [5]
{420} The dedicatory prayer was then offered:
_The following Prayer was given by Revelation to Joseph, the
Seer, and was Repeated in the Kirtland Temple at the time of its
Dedication, March 27, 1836_. [6]
Prayer.
1. Thanks be to Thy name, O Lord God of Israel, who keepest
covenant and shewest mercy unto Thy servants who walk uprightly
before Thee, with all their hearts;
2. Thou who hast commanded Thy servants to build a house to Thy
name in this place (Kirtland).
3. And now Thou beholdest, O Lord, that Thy servants have done
according to Thy commandment,
4. And now we ask Thee, Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ,
the Son of Thy bosom, in whose name alone, salvation can be
administered to the children of men, 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;
5. For Thou knowest that we have done this work through great
tribulations; 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.
6. And as Thou hast said in a revelation, given to us, calling
us Thy friends, saying, "Call your solemn assembly, as I have
commanded you;
7. And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently, and teach one
another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books, words
of wisdom, seek learning even by study, and also by faith.
8. 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,
9. That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your
outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations
may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most
High."
10. And now, Holy Father, we ask Thee to assist us, Thy people,
with Thy grace, in calling our solemn assembly, that it may be done
to Thy honor, and to Thy divine acceptance,
11. And in a manner that we may be found worthy, in Thy sight, to
secure a fulfillment of the promises which Thou hast made unto us
Thy people, in the revelations given unto us;
{421} 12. That Thy glory may rest down upon Thy people, and upon
this Thy house, which we now dedicate to Thee, that it may be
sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that Thy holy presence
may be continually in this house,
13. And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of
the Lord's House, may feel Thy power, and feel constrained to
acknowledge that Thou hast sanctified it, and that it is Thy house,
a place of Thy holiness.
14. And do Thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall
worship in this house, may be taught words of wisdom out of the
best books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also
by faith, as Thou hast said;
15. And that they may grow up in Thee, and receive a fullness of
the Holy Ghost, and be organized according to Thy laws, and be
prepared to obtain every needful thing;
16. And that this house may be a house of prayer, a house of
fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory and of God, even Thy
house;
17. That all the incomings of Thy people, into this house, may be
in the name of the Lord;
18. That all their outgoings from this house may be in the name of
the Lord;
19. And that all their salutations may be in the name of the Lord,
with holy hands, uplifted to the Most High;
20. And that no unclean thing shall be permitted to come into Thy
house to pollute it;
21. And when Thy people transgress, any of them, they may speedily
repent, and return unto Thee, and find favor in Thy sight, and be
restored to the blessings which Thou hast ordained to be poured out
upon those who shall reverence Thee in Thy house.
22. And we ask Thee, Holy Father, that Thy servants may go forth
from this house, armed with Thy power, and that Thy name may be
upon them, and Thy glory be round about them, and Thine angels have
charge over them;
23. And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and
glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they
may know that this is Thy work, and that Thou hast put forth Thy
hand, to fulfill that which Thou hast spoken by the mouths of the
Prophets concerning the last days.
24. 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,
25. That no weapon formed against them shall prosper; that he who
diggeth a pit for them shall fall into the same himself.
{422} 26. 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;
27. And if any people shall rise against this people, that Thine
anger be kindled against them,
28. And if they shall smite this people, Thou wilt smite them, Thou
wilt fight for Thy people as Thou didst in the day of battle, that
they may be delivered from the hands of all their enemies.
29. We ask Thee, Holy Father, to confound, and astonish, and to
bring to shame and confusion, all those who have spread lying
reports, abroad, over the world, against Thy servant, or servants,
if they will not repent, when the everlasting Gospel shall be
proclaimed in their ears,
30. And that all their works may be brought to naught, and be
swept away by the hail, and by the judgments which Thou wilt send
upon them in Thine anger, that there may be an end to lyings and
slanders against Thy people;
31. For Thou knowest, O Lord, that Thy servants have been innocent
before Thee in bearing record of Thy name, for which they have
suffered these things;
32. Therefore we plead before Thee for a full and complete
deliverance from under this yoke;
33. Break it off, O Lord; break it off from the necks of Thy
servants, by Thy power, that we may rise up in the midst of this
generation and do Thy work.
34. Jehovah, have mercy upon this people, and as all men sin,
forgive the transgressions of Thy people, and let them be blotted
out forever.
35. Let the anointing of Thy ministers be sealed upon them with
power from on high;
36. Let it be fulfilled upon them, as upon those on the day of
Pentecost, let the gift of tongues be poured out upon Thy people,
even cloven tongues as of fire, and the interpretation thereof,
37. And let Thy house be filled, as with a rushing mighty wind,
with Thy glory.
38. Put upon Thy servants the testimony of the covenant, that when
they go out and proclaim Thy word, they may seal up the law, and
prepare the hearts of Thy Saints for all those judgments Thou art
about to send, in Thy wrath, upon the inhabitants of the earth,
because of their transgressions, that Thy people may not faint in
the day of trouble.
39. And whatsoever city Thy servants shall enter, and the people of
that city receive their testimony, let Thy peace and Thy salvation
be {423} upon that city, that they may gather out of that city the
righteous, that they may come forth to Zion, or to her stakes, the
places of Thine appointment, with songs of everlasting joy,
40. And until this be accomplished, let not Thy judgments fall upon
that city.
41. And whatsoever city Thy servants shall enter, and the people
of that city receive not the testimony of Thy servants, and
Thy servants warn them to save themselves from this untoward
generation, let it be upon that city according to that which Thou
hast spoken by the mouths of Thy Prophets;
42. But deliver Thou, O Jehovah we beseech Thee, Thy servants from
their hands, and cleanse them from their blood.
43. O Lord, we delight not in the destruction of our fellow men;
their souls are precious before Thee;
44. But Thy word must be fulfilled; help Thy servants to say, with
Thy grace assisting them, Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.
45. We know that Thou hast spoken by the mouth of Thy Prophets
terrible things concerning the wicked, in the last days--that Thou
wilt pour out Thy judgments, without measure;
46. Therefore, O Lord, deliver Thy people from the calamity of the
wicked; enable Thy servants to seal up the law, and bind up the
testimony, that they may be prepared against the day of burning.
47. We ask Thee, Holy Father, to remember those who have been
driven by the inhabitants of Jackson county, Missouri, from the
lands of their inheritance, and break off, O Lord, this yoke of
affliction that has been put upon them,
48. Thou knowest, O Lord, that they have been greatly oppressed
and afflicted by wicked men, and our hearts flow out with sorrow,
because of their grievous burdens.
49. O Lord, how long wilt Thou suffer this people to bear this
affliction, and the cries of their innocent ones to ascend up in
Thine ears, and their blood come up in testimony before Thee, and
not make a display of Thy testimony in their behalf?
50. 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;
51. But if they will not, make bare Thine arm, O Lord, and redeem
that land which Thou didst appoint a Zion unto Thy people!
52. And if it cannot be otherwise, that the cause of Thy people
may not fail before Thee, may Thine anger be kindled, and Thine
indignation fall upon them, that they may be wasted away, both root
and branch, from under heaven;
53. But inasmuch as they will repent, Thou art gracious and {424}
merciful and wilt turn away Thy wrath, when Thou lookest upon the
face of Thine anointed.
54. Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth, have
mercy upon the rulers of our land, may those principles which were
so honorably and nobly defended, viz., the Constitution of our
land, by our fathers, be established forever;
55. Remember the kings, princes, the nobles, and the great ones
of the earth, and all people, and the churches, all the poor, the
needy, and afflicted ones of the earth,
56. That their hearts may be softened, when Thy servants shall go
out from Thy house, O Jehovah, to bear testimony of Thy name, that
their prejudices may give way before the truth, and Thy people may
obtain favor in the sight of all,
57. That all the ends of the earth may know that we Thy servants
have heard Thy voice, and that Thou hast sent us,
58. That from among all these, Thy servants, the sons of Jacob, may
gather out the righteous to build a holy city to Thy name, as Thou
hast commanded them.
59. We ask Thee to appoint unto Zion other stakes, besides this one
which Thou hast appointed, that the gathering of Thy people may
roll on in great power and majesty, that Thy work may be cut short
in righteousness.
60. Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before Thee, concerning
the revelations and commandments which Thou hast given unto us, who
are identified with the Gentiles;
61. But Thou knowest that Thou hast a great love for the children
of Jacob, who have been scattered upon the mountains, for a long
time, in a cloudy and dark day;
62. We therefore ask Thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob,
that Jerusalem, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed,
63. And the yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the
house of David.
64. And the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands
which Thou didst give to Abraham, their father;
65. And cause that the remnants of Jacob, who have been cursed and
smitten, because of their transgression, be converted from their
wild and savage condition to the fullness of the everlasting Gospel,
66. That they may lay down their weapons of bloodshed, and cease
their rebellions;
67. And may all the scattered remnants of Israel, who have been
driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth,
believe in the Messiah, and be redeemed from oppression, and
rejoice before Thee.
{425} 68. O Lord, remember Thy servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., and
all his afflictions and persecutions--how he has covenanted
with Jehovah, and vowed to Thee, O mighty God of Jacob--and the
commandments which Thou hast given unto him, and that he hath
sincerely striven to do Thy will.
69. Have mercy, O Lord, upon his wife and children, that they may
be exalted in Thy presence, and preserved by Thy fostering hand;
70. Have mercy upon all their immediate connections, that their
prejudices may be broken up, and swept away as with a flood, that
they may be converted and redeemed with Israel, and know that Thou
art God.
71. Remember, O Lord, the presidents, even all the presidents of
Thy Church, that Thy right hand may exalt them, with all their
families, and their immediate connections, that their names may be
perpetuated, and had in everlasting remembrance, from generation to
generation.
72. Remember all Thy Church, O Lord, with all their families, and
all their immediate connections, with all their sick and afflicted
ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth, that the kingdom
which Thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain,
and fill the whole earth;
73. That Thy Church may come forth out of the wilderness of
darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and
terrible as an army with banners;
74. And be adorned as a bride for that day when Thou shalt unveil
the heavens, and cause the mountains to flow down at Thy presence,
and the valleys to be exalted, the rough places made smooth; that
Thy glory may fill the earth,
75. That when the trump shall sound for the dead we shall be caught
up in the cloud to meet Thee, that we may ever be with the Lord,
76. That our garments may be pure, that we may be clothed upon with
robes of righteousness, with palms in our hands, and crowns of
glory upon our heads, and reap eternal joy for all our sufferings.
77. O Lord God Almighty, hear us in these our petitions, and answer
us from heaven, Thy holy habitation, where Thou sittest enthroned,
with glory, honor, power, majesty, might, dominion, truth, justice,
judgment, mercy, and an infinity of fullness, from everlasting to
everlasting.
78. O hear, O hear, O hear us O Lord! and answer these petitions,
and except the dedication of this house unto Thee, the work of our
hands, which we have built unto Thy name.
79. And also this Church, to put upon it Thy name; and help us by
the power of Thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those
{426} bright, shining seraphs around Thy throne, with acclamations
of praise, singing hosanna to God and the Lamb;
80. And let these Thine anointed ones be clothed with salvation,
and Thy Saints shout aloud for joy. Amen and amen.
The choir then sang:
Tune--_Hosanna_.
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning! The latter-day glory
begins to come forth; The visions and blessings of old are
returning, The angels are coming to visit the earth.
CHORUS.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven--Hosanna,
hosanna to God and the Lamb! Let glory to them in the highest be
given, Henceforth and forever: amen and amen.
The Lord is extending the Saints' understanding, Restoring their
judges and all as at first; The knowledge and power of God are
expanding; The veil over the earth is beginning to burst. We'll
sing and we'll shout, etc.
We'll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit, To spread forth the
kingdom of heaven abroad, That we through our faith may begin to
inherit The visions and blessings and glories of God. We'll sing
and we'll shout, etc.
We'll wash and be washed, and with oil be anointed, Withal not
omitting the washing of feet; For he that receiveth his penny
appointed Must surely be clean at the harvest of wheat. We'll sing
and we'll shout, etc.
Old Israel, that fled from the world for his freedom, Must come
with the cloud and the pillar amain; A Moses and Aaron and Joshua
lead him, And feed him on manna from heaven again. We'll sing and
we'll shout, etc.
{427} How blessed the day when the lamb and the lion Shall lie down
together without any ire, And Ephraim be crowned with his blessing
in Zion, As Jesus descends with His chariots of fire!
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven--Hosanna,
hosanna to God and the Lamb! Let glory to them in the highest be
given, Henceforth and forever: amen and amen! [7]
[Sidenote: Dedication of the Temple Accepted by the Priesthood and the
Saints.]
I then asked the several quorums separately, and then the congregation,
if they accepted the dedication prayer, and acknowledged the house
dedicated. The vote was unanimous in the affirmative, in every instance.
[Sidenote: The Lord's Supper and Testimonies.]
The Lord's Supper was then administered; President Don Carlos Smith
blessed the bread and the wine, which was distributed by several Elders
to the Church; after which I bore record of my mission, and of the
ministration of angels.
President Don Carlos Smith also bore testimony of the truth of the work
of the Lord in which we were engaged.
President Oliver Cowdery testified of the truth of the Book of Mormon,
and of the work of the Lord in these last days.
President Frederick G. Williams 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.
President David Whitmer also saw angels in the house.
President Hyrum Smith made some appropriate remarks congratulating
those who had endured so many toils and privations to build the house.
President Rigdon then made a few appropriate closing remarks, and a
short prayer, at the close of which we sealed the proceedings of the
day by shouting hosanna, {428} hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb,
three times, sealing it each time with amen, amen, and amen.
President Brigham Young gave a short address in tongues, and David W.
Patten interpreted, and gave a short exhortation in tongues himself,
after which I blessed the congregation in the name of the Lord, and the
assembly dispersed a little past four o'clock, having manifested the
most quiet demeanor during the whole exercise.
[Sidenote: Spiritual Manifestations in the Kirtland Temple.]
I met the quorums in the evening and instructed them respecting the
ordinance of washing of feet, which they were to attend to on Wednesday
following; and gave them instructions in relation to the spirit of
prophecy, and called upon the congregation to speak, and not to fear to
prophesy good concerning the Saints, for if you prophesy the falling of
these hills and the rising of the valleys, the downfall of the enemies
of Zion and the rising of the kingdom of God, it shall come to pass.
Do not quench the Spirit, for the first one that opens his mouth shall
receive the Spirit of prophecy.
Brother 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.
The number of official members present on this occasion was four
hundred and sixteen, being a greater number than ever assembled on any
former occasion.
Footnotes
1. Parley P. Pratt, author.
2. W. W. Phelps, author.
3. W. W. Phelps, author.
4. W. W. Phelps, author.
5. Watts, author.
6. Doctrine and covenants, sec. 109.
7. W. W. Phelps.
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