In proof that the Temple was completed I present the following
evidence. In the Times and Seasons, volume 6, page 1017, we find the
following:
"It certainly afforded a holy satisfaction to think that since
the 6th of April, 1841, when the first stone was laid, amidst
the most straightened circumstances, the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints has witnessed their bread cast upon waters;
or more properly their obedience to the commandments of the Lord
appear in the tangible form of a Temple, entirely enclosed, windows
in, with temporary floors, pulpits, and seats to accommodate so
many persons preparatory to a general conference."
And on page 1018:
"The font and the other parts of the Temple will be in readiness
in a few days to commence the administration of holy ordinances of
endowment, for which the faithful have long diligently labored and
fervently prayed, desiring above all things to see the beauty of
the Lord and inquire in His holy Temple."
Now, this was given in October, 1845, and we learn that the font--that
is the permanent font, which replaced the former and temporary
one--also the other parts of the Temple would be in readiness in a few
days to commence the administration of holy ordinances. I wish now
to refer to another reference from the writings of the president of
the "Reorganization." I have already read where he declares that the
font and the first floor above the basement and one stairway, also the
basement, were completed. He reaffirms that in the following from an
editorial in the Saints' Herald of February 17, 1904:
"Work continued to be done on the Temple until the fall of 1845,
possibly until the summer of 1846"--you see he is not quite sure
about it--"but the building was never finished; and whatever
ordinances were performed in it took place in rooms not wholly
finished."
Now note this particularly:
"The north stairway, the second or upper auditorium, and the attic
were entirely incompleted."
We will now examine the Times and Seasons of January 20, 1846, and see
what his testimony is worth. Here on page 1096 occurs the following:
"January thus far has been mild, which, in the midst of our
preparations for an exodus next spring, has given an excellent time
to finish the Temple. Nothing has appeared so much like a finish of
that holy edifice as the present."
Now, I want to call your attention to this which immediately follows:
"The ATTIC story was finished in December."
That is in December 1845. You will remember that the president of the
Reorganization declares that the attic was "entirely incompleted." But
to continue the quotation:
"And if the Lord continues to favor us, the first story above the
basement will be completed ready for meeting, in the month of
February. The font, standing upon 12 stone oxen, is about ready,
and the floor of the story is laid, so that all speculation about
the Temple of God at Nauvoo, must cease."
Now the temporary floors were laid in October, 1845, so these floors
must have been the permanent ones, and while the temporary finishing in
October was for the purpose of fitting the building for the ordinances,
this finishing was permanent.
Here is an interesting feature about the testimony of this man. The
parts of the Temple which the president of the "Reorganized" Church
says were completed--finished, the Times and Seasons here states would
not be finished for a few days, or till February, but the part of the
building which he says was "entirely incompleted," is here declared
to have been finished in the past December, 1845. I shall not dispute
with him the fact that the parts which he says were finished, were
completed, for they were; but what does his testimony amount to as
evidence when confronted with the statement of the Times and Seasons?
Simply nothing; more than to prove that he knew nothing about it at
all. Now which shall we believe? The Times and Seasons, published
at the time, or the president of the "Reorganization," who made his
statement some 40 years later? Remember if he admits that the Temple
was finished his whole structure crumbles to the ground--it's bound to
crumble anyway sooner or later, for it is built upon the sand.
Elder John Taylor, in an address to the Saints in England, published in
the Millennial Star of November, 1846, (vol. 8:97) has this to say:
"Time alone can unfold this to many, but to us it has been
manifested long ago, years before the Temple WAS COMPLETED, and
long before the martyrdom of our Prophet and Patriarch."
Here he declares that the Temple was completed. Now our friends quote
from the remarks of President Brigham Young delivered at the dedication
of the St. George Temple to the effect that up to that time the Saints
had never had the privilege of completing and enjoying a Temple. I call
your attention to the fact that President Brigham Young left Nauvoo
before the Temple was finished. He left in February, 1846, and a great
portion of the Latter-day Saints were expelled from that city before
they had the privilege of receiving the ordinances of the house of God,
therefore President Young was correct when he said we had not up to
that time had the privilege of completing and enjoying one. But I will
now call your attention to the statement of President Young's made in
October, 1863, (News, 13:96). Said he,
"We have already built two Temples, one at Kirtland, Ohio, and one
at Nauvoo, Illinois. * * * God commanded us to build the Nauvoo
Temple, and we built it, and performed our duty pretty well. There
are elders present here today who labored on that house with not a
shoe to their foot, or pantaloons that would cover their limbs, or a
shirt to cover their arms.
"We performed the work, and performed it WITHIN THE TIME WHICH
THE LORD GAVE US TO DO IT IN. Apostates said that we never could
perform that work, but through the blessing of God it was completed
and accepted of Him. Apostates never build Temples unto God, but
the Saints are called to do this work."
The Nauvoo Temple was publicly dedicated May 1, 1846, by Elder Orson
Hyde, and the following day about 3,000 Saints met in the building in
a public service. It is most likely that the greater number of these
Saints were also at the dedication. It is not reasonable to suppose
that this building was dedicated until it was finished, for each part
had been dedicated as it was finished, and the dedication on the 1st of
May, 1846, was of the entire structure.[12]