Come Follow Me: D&C 109-110

 Come Follow Me: D&C 109-110

 

These sections discuss the dedicatory prayer and some of the experiences regarding the Kirtland Temple.

For years, the Lord had pressed the saints to build the temple, so they could receive "power from on high" and an "endowment of power."

The weeks preceding and following the official dedication of the temple, became a period of what is known as the Mormon Pentecost. 

Benjamin Brown noted in a letter to his wife that the events were "Many marvelous things transpired even greater than at the day of Pentecost." There were many visions and revelations, including a great light that appeared at night on the roof of the temple.

Brown noted that some had seen the heavens opened, some saw the Savior, while others saw angels standing over the temple with swords drawn to protect it. Some saw Adam, the prophet Elijah with his chariot of fire, while others saw the ancient apostles. 

Healings, speaking in tongues, and visions of the last days occurred among the members. 

Jesus appeared in at least five meetings to various people. For example, Frederick G. Williams saw the Savior walk up the aisle and sit himself between Williams and Joseph Smith, Sr. 

Latter-Day Saint Magazine notes: 

"The Pentecostal experiences in the temple commenced with an overpowering vision of Deity accompanied by the ministering of angels, communion with heavenly beings, and glorious visions given to key priesthood leaders. On January 21, 1836, Joseph Smith and others experienced a vision of the Father and Son at a meeting on the west end of the temple’s upper story. Those present included Joseph Smith Sr., the First Presidency, the presidency of the Church in Missouri, the bishoprics in Kirtland and Missouri, and the Prophet’s scribe, Warren Parrish, who recorded the event in Joseph Smith’s diary. Section 137 of the Doctrine and Covenants contains an account of this vision..."

Angels were seen on the rooftop of the temple, angels flew into the temple through the windows. God the Father and Jesus Christ walked up the aisles and then disappeared.

This all culminated with the events in D&C 110. After meetings, Joseph and Oliver separated themselves from the others by a curtain, on the Melchizedek Priesthood platform. They prayed and were visited by Jesus, Moses, Elias and Elijah. Christ accepted the house as his own. The prophets restored ancient keys, gathering of Israel (missionary work), the Gospel of Abraham (his blessings and promises), and the sealing powers of the temple.

Today, President Russell M. Nelson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, continues encouraging members to experience the Pentecost. In this weekend's General Conference, President Nelson first encouraged us to seek:

"I invite you to listen for three things during this conference: pure truth, the pure doctrine of Christ and pure revelation.”

In a Sunday session, President Nelson invited us to enter the temple, follow the covenant path, and build a sound personal foundation by seeking and keeping sacred covenants in the temple. 

So how do we stop receiving impure revelation and truth, and begin to embrace God's pure truth and revelation? By leaving behind our weak foundations, rejecting the world's philosophies, and embrace fully God's will in our lives.

We should seek, as did the early saints, pentecostal experiences in attending the temple. It is a place of revelation. It is the place to experience the divine. It is where we can see God face to face, and feel the Holy Ghost. It is where we can also receive our "endowment of power" and experience "power from on high."

Benjamin Brown letter: https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/42.2HarperPentecost-f5e22c1b-d839-4204-a462-807a801f4304.pdf

The Kirtland Temple Pentecost experiences, Latter-day Saint Magazine: https://latterdaysaintmag.com/the-kirtland-temple-a-pentecost-and-a-time-of-rejoicing/