Kirtland Temple Fireside - Talk

Carl Ricks Anderson is affectionally known as Mr Kirtland throughout the church because of his love research and writings on kurtland Ohio Church Ohio church history although he grew up right here in Ogden he's lived near Kirtland Ohio for more than 50 years he's a popular author an entertaining speaker which you will soon find out for those who haven't ever heard him before you're in for AET treat Carl has worked with historians and Prophets written books including Joseph Missi Kirtland and the savior in Kirtland helped to acquire the Kirtland properties and has done much to put Kirtland on the church history map he received a bachelor's and MBA degree from the University of Utah and had a career in the corporate world for 30 years he then taught and supervised seminaries and institutes for the church in Northern Ohio for 20 years Carl instructed thousands of visitors and dignitaries on site about Kirtland and thousands have expressed their appreciation for his knowledge uh for his enthusiasm and his famous laugh his LDS church callings include Service as a state president a regional representative area family history adviser and patriarch in all Carl has done he has been blessed by the support of his sweet wife Joyce who is here with him tonight they are the parents of seven children and have 66 grandchildren and great-grandchildren I first met Carl over 20 years ago as he spoke to one of my tour groups in Kirtland it only took a couple of minutes for me to fall into a trance as I listen to him teach about the sacred ground of Kirtland and especially his love of the temple Carl excuse me help me to develop a deep love of Kurland and especially the temple as I read his books and I as I read his books and I continued to hear from him with my groups each year I came to love the sacred history of that amazing place even more than I had before Carl and I developed a special bond over those years for which I will be forever grateful his unbelievable gift to teach most often without a note his friendly demeanor his infectious laugh his love he has for his wife and family his love of the Lord and the restoration all make him a very special and unique individual over the years brothers and sisters he has walked that sacred ground with prophets Apostles government officials dignitaries and even an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback they all sought him out to give the the tour of Kirtland he's amazing no one knows Kirtland and no one loves Kirtland like this incredible man and Joyce is such a special lady who has put up I mean loved and supported Carl all along their journey together I wish I could count the number of times I heard Carl say after telling a story or making a little joke oh boy Joyce is going to kill me well Joyce he's still alive so your patience and your tolerance is obviously beyond measure Joyce and Carl I love you both and I can never repay you for what you taught me and blessed me with especially when it comes to our incredible history in the little town of kin Ohio and now the treat to hear from Brother Carl Anderson well I should just say amen and sit back down I feel little bit like on the other side of the veil they were having a a special program and uh a survivor of the Johnstown Flood was going to stand up and talk about the experience with the Johnstown Flood and uh in the middle of his presentation somebody got up walked out and after he said who was that that walked out and the reply was Noah I think on the other side of the veil there are H starting with Joseph and ham and uh so many who have prophesied what we've just witnessed with the transfer of the Kirtland Temple as well as other prophecies and I believe that it was orchestrated by the other side uh and I think that it was time for that to happen and I think it's a key that has been turned on the other side of the veil that is going to result of an acceleration of uh the building of the kingdom and the coming of the savior uh and we'll talk a little bit about that tonight but uh I'm so happy to be here with you and uh uh I have my sister is in attendance and my wife so I've got two that are going to be after me if I'm not careful in what I say but uh I grew up on 24th Street just uh below Harrison and uh I was a little concerned about uh coming back and speaking and then I realized that everybody that knew of my past is probably dead so I locked out prent but I grew up in the old 12 Ward that had a beautiful building like this with uh a uh mural of the first vision and it reminds me a lot of this beautiful building so well tonight we'll talk about a place in the middle of nowhere in the in the 1830s that the Lord picked and sent Joseph to it uh I appreciate Peggy and Val your selection and beautiful rendition of Come Ye Saints uh because Kirtland is really where the Journey to the West began uh in New York Joseph Smith was commanded to go from uh Pennsylvania and from uh New York uh and he was commanded to come and assemble in the Ohio H although there was persecution he was not chased out uh of New York uh until he gets to Kirtland and we build the temple and I know president Packer used to uh frequently say that when we begin a temple then the bells of hell toall and uh that was that crossed the line for the adversary when we built this beautiful Temple and boy did the bells of Hell toll and Joseph was chased out of Kirtland uh chased out of Missouri chased out of Illinois and uh came back and led the and of course was martyred and then brigam young who was heavily involved in the Kirtland Temple then took over and led the Saints including my ancestors who came West so Kirtland in a sense is where the Exodus of the church began to come to Utah and of course uh prophesied in the Old Testament as well but uh I'd like to just uh talk a little bit about uh sites of early church history we we know that uh New York and Pennsylvania uh uh we have the church begun there most from a general understanding of the Saints the we we began in Palmyra in New York and then we go to Kirtland and somehow build the Kirtland Temple then we went to navu where everything happened isn't that kind of the image that we've had of early church history until it started to change and we started to acquire historical sites uh so where were we longest do you think in our early church history before Salt Lake uh just anybody what how do you know that even though it's a subject of theight but didn't navu play in a little bit more than Kirtland how many say na Vu so there we go come on don't be shy don't be shy even though the answer to most questions I'll ask will be Kirtland don't let that deter you so where do you think we are longest in our early church history now that was weaker than the first time okay okay let's one more time everybody oh didn't that doesn't that sound great oh you're super where do you think the most Revelations were given in love it where was he uh where did Joseph spend the majority of his adult life where was the church organized what what how many say did I hear some waffling how many say Kirtland oh look at president I don't know I gave him a rule didn't I the answer to most questions will be H what happened on April 6 of 1830 is that the church was not or organized but it was established if you look at the word organized that means to put a structure to the bones doesn't it and so we had a first Elder and a second elder or Apostle uh but we didn't really have any further organization as far as the structure of the church but when we get to Kirtland we get our first Bishop we get our first State president pres we get our first High counsel we get our first patriarch we get our first multiple quorums of the 70 we get our first apostles and we get a first presidency and all of it came where now did you did better so repentance is always a good thing I'm glad you exercise that but when you think of it there are three period or three purposes for Kirtland as you look back I believe and the first one is it was our organizational period and then secondly it was our teaching period hence the all of the revelations that came the second uh third Revelation that came to the church in Kirtland the Lord said to the elders ye are not sent forth to be taught but to what teach and ye shall be taught from where On High in other words here now we have the Lord's church and the missionaries are to go out and not be taught by Ministers of the day but to teach him and so those teachings we call what Revelations right so we call the teachings that come from on high Revelations so we get almost half of the Doctrine and Covenants coming to the church in Kirtland uh every one of our scriptures were impacted by Kirtland just think uh we have uh who who would like to start which scriptures come to mind that are C impacted by Kirtland the which word of wisdom contained in the doctrine of covenants right so we have almost half of the doctrine of covenants which other scriptures yes we have visions and we'll talk about the Visions in just a minute but we have what was that okay and those are all Doctrine and Covenant so if we move to one of the other four standard works of the church the Bible translation uh virtually all completed in in Kirtland and then what other scriptures p a great price the book of Abraham is brought by Charles Chandler and he come to Kirtland with the Papyrus Scrolls and Joseph translates them uh in and then we have Joseph Smith's first history it's not the history that we have a later one that Joseph wrote that is in the pearl of great price so we have the book of Abraham we have the book of Moses the last chapter was translated uh in Kirtland and then we have one other one and what is it so we have book the answer is Book of Mormon we I had took Elder Holland and his family through Kirtland once for a couple of days and he said I'd like your teaching you give us the answers so I slip so second edition of The Book of Mormon was given in Kirtland so just think everyone of our standard Works were impacted by uh by Kirtland and so uh let's talk just a minute about uh Revelation that came just unceasingly uh in Kirtland uh part of the the sections of the doctrine and Covenant represent visions and appearances of the Savior and other Heavenly beings and so if we look at the third purpose of Kirtland in my view uh not necessarily purpose but the the third thing that characterized Kirland it would be Pentecostal manifestations now that word Pentecost or Pentecostal is not one that we are usually familiar with and so uh it comes from the day of Pentecost in the New Testament that was celebrated by Jewish people throughout the world it was 50 days after the Passover and that's when the Holy Ghost descended upon the apostles and they spoke in tongues uh they had manifestations of angels and and uh other spiritual manifestations and no other place in our church history do we have the number of spiritual manifestations that happened in kurtland now we have uh the Savior appearing in Kirtland multiple times can anybody tell me how many times the savior appeared in Kirtland yes okay n or nine or 10 okay that's a good guess we like that anybody else yes four four that's a good guess too would would somebody here like to receive Revelation tonight wouldn't that be fun on a Sunday night to receive Revelation okay who would like to receive Revelation right right over here would you stand it's great you're on the front row come on stand and what is your name okay your first name Julene okay now uh you can turn and look at this crowd here tonight they're pulling for you don't feel like you're on the spot at all but uh can you uh you know how you receive Revelation you relax you can't be tense right you have to be to you know maybe Shake Your Arms a little bit there you go and then you you just kind of focus and if you focus up here uh then all of a sudden it will hit you how many times so is it coming through yet you are you are you just kind of focusing up here and kind of see now you got to focus here I think you'll you'll be able to get it a little better now oh T you got it Jolene way to go and you'd had it except it was 11 but I only have 10 fingers years but that'll help all of you remember the number of times the Savior appeared to Joseph Smith and somebody said four who was that and you're right if you say yeah if you say the father and son and not the number of times they appeared but the number of locations so they appeared in four locations uh but uh the let's see I've got a a clicker Darren gave me let me just see if it works and there you go 11 times to Joseph Smith and then the Father and Son appeared together seven times have have any of you known that except the ones that have read my book but just think uh you know if our message to the world was simply uh well and and for many years I think it was pretty much the message is that the father and S son appeared to Joseph in the sacred grove and that they called him to be the the prophet of this dispensation and uh and that was the appearance that called him and that was the only one recognized for many years or talked about out but just think if our message to the world is that the Father and Son appeared to Joseph at age 14 and then sent him out uh it would be kind of like them saying good luck we'll see you when you die right but that wasn't the case and we're finding out more and more about it and especially now that we've acquired the Kirtland Temple uh the truth of the matter is that the father and the son never did leave Joseph Smith alone they appeared at 14 then they reappeared and then they reappeared uh and seven times they sent prophets they sent Angels they sent uh beans from the other side of the veil to teach Joseph to to lead him to shore him up to give him confidence uh and he uh when he was left alone it was to have him teach or have him taught a lesson like in the Liberty Jail and uh some other time he had to grow like we have to grow with challenges but throughout his mission they led him because it is the Church of Jesus Christ of latterday saints and they're the ones who led that church led the church throughout that time uh we also if we look at testimonies uh given by the father and the son in uh Kirtland uh here we have the words of the father in section 45 uh he spoke to Joseph and uh and so we have God's word saying I am God I've sent my only begotten son into the world for the Redemption of the world and then the savior of himself testified over 13 times he bore firsters witness of himself these are just a few on the morle farm in Kirtland I am he who was lifted up I'm Jesus who was crucified I am the son of God and then in section 110 which somebody mentioned earlier I am the first and the last I am he who liveth I am he who is slain I am your Advocate with the father and that that uh experience has not generally been been taught in the Kirtland Temple until two weeks ago and now we have the opportunity to declare that to the world uh if we look for example at the uh Pentecostal period in the temple uh Joseph Smith made this statement about uh uh Old Testament prophets and new prophets priests and Kings have looked forward with joyful anticipation to our day and wrote and prophesied of this our day but they died without the sight uh we have a statement from Joseph Smith continuing that theme which just is so exciting and is so true the Heavenly priesthood now who who are the Heavenly priesthood the here we have Prophets on the other side of the veil we have prophets of every dispensation we have Angels We Have uh Heavenly beings who have manifest themselves throughout our history and here Joseph said the Heavenly priesthood will Unite with the Earthly priesthood we have a a counselor in a state presidency here tonight presiding and it would be interesting to see when the Heavenly pries had last communicated with him and I'll bet that the answer would be sometime in the last week and that's how real the Heavenly priesthood is they control the work and then he said to rule forth the kingdom of God the heavenly priesthood are not Idol Spectators don't you love that I just love the Heavenly priesthood not Idol Spectators can you you picture the number of times Joseph was chastised President Petty I I'm not going to put you on the spot to answer this but was a Heavenly priesthood giving you an up upcoming there you go I love it I love it but they're not far from us and they're leading the church in this recent sale of the temple uh is Manifest manifestation of that then the spirit of God will be showered down from above it will dwell in our midst uh the Heavenly priesthood in the Kirtland Temple in particular around the time that it was being built and dedicated manifest themselves uh probably only exceeded by Christ's birth and Resurrection ction I mean it was constant I'd like to just have us all pause a minute and think of uh being not being idle Spectators for example we have God and Jesus Christ who have appeared and poor Joseph I love Joseph Smith so much because it brings me back to my childhood here in AUST my mother and uh some others occasionally had to chastise me not as much is my sister though who's sitting down Margaret how could I pass that up that was just too big of a temptation but poor Joseph if he wandered off even a little bit he he was brought up uh one instant in Palmyra he was late for dinner one night and his mother said that dinner's cold you weren't here you know what in the world happened to you and he said I've just received the worst chastisement I've ever had and uh his father said Joseph you tell me who it was I will go take care of it he said no no no father it was the angel can you picture here what Joseph had to go through in his tutoring uh but H they led him and then we have Adam and Abraham certainly in addition to that Moses Elias and Elijah Peter James and John seven other past prophets and in addition conqu courses of angels and then he saw Joseph saw over 30 Visions uh during the time in Kirtland and surrounding the Kirtland Temple dedication uh then if we look at uh continuing the detailed descriptions of these uh the holy priesthood Heavenly priesthood uh we have an account from from uh uh heby Kimble that they had an anointing Circle uh they had what they called the Kirtland endowment now it's not the same endowment that we go through uh but it essentially uh consisted of initiatory ordinances that were conducted in the Kirtland Temple and the Lord called that their endow M and so uh part of that endowment was anointing with oil anointing the head with oil which some may relate to here tonight it was practiced throughout the Old Testament and it was performed in the Kirtland Temple and hey Kimble said he looked at the uh uh they looked into the room and and John had joined him the Apostle John as one of those that were standing around uh uh with that anointing of oil 20 men watched Peter and John up to two hours according to uh the journal account that we have again of Hebrew SE Kimble and Hebrew SE Kimble City he could bring over 20 witnesses that would certify to that effect uh we have arus snull saying that in one meeting there were 12 Legions of angels that appeared now I don't know how many would be in a legion but in a Roman legion they had uh approximately uh five 3 to 5,000 soldiers in a Roman legion if there were 12 that had put it about 50 to 70,000 angels that were seen in one meeting the evening of the temple dedication Joseph Smith said I beheld the temple was full of angels a fact that I declared to the congregation uh angels on both sides participated in the hosana shout when it was given in the Cur Temple uh thousands of Angels were seen inside and outside on the roof walking back and forth some children knocked on prendia at Huntington's door and said look they're holding a meeting on the temple she came out and looked and here were Angels walking to and fro dressed in white uh on the top on the roof of the temple uh the heavens opened and some looked into heaven if we go to section 137 which is an account on uh the 2st of January of 1836 Joseph Smith begins it by saying that the heavens were opened upon us uh we have one early Saint who described it he said it would was as if the floor and the walls and the roof just faded away and here they looked directly up into heaven and saw myriads of angels I think everyone of the accounts of the father and the son appearing to Joseph in Kirtland well and even the sacred grove included uh myriads of angels that were seen as they looked up into heaven Heavens literally just opened up and they looked up and they were part of it on another occasion 40 men communed with Holy Angels now what do you think that would have been like if you'd have been present that you've got Holy Angels there and 40 men communing with them in another me meeting they said I think it was a half an hour long that they conversed with angels if you were one of those those what would you uh what do you think that would have been like what would an angels wanted to say to you if you were there the Temple's almost complete you've worked hard you've left many of them had just walked away from their farmlands up in New York and Pennsylvania and come down to Kirtland sacrificed everything they had what what do you envision that those angels might have wanted to say what what do you think is there anything that strikes you that an angel might want to tell those Brethren who'd worked so hard to build the temple do we have a volunteer that might uh take a guess yes you you got it before so I'm counting on you well done th good and faithful well done th good and faithful servant don't you think there would have been some congratulations that you've made it this far would they want to say but the end isn't here yet no that wouldn't be that wouldn't be something you'd want to add but it was the truth right but buck up I I picture maybe one of them saying to me you know when you were chased by that mob last week and they turned around and ran away that was me you're not alone we got the priesthood here we're the Heavenly priesthood we got some pretty good powers and know that there are limits maybe I don't know uh maybe they were teaching him uh but uh yeah just think of that yes is real you're on the right PA yeah that Minister that just took you apart the other night don't pay any attention I'll get with him no I'm sure that wasn't something that the Lord would authorize said probably but it would be nice to think of probably but uh but just think being in meetings Where Angels were conversing with you uh uh just think Angels entered the upper room and ministered and mingled their voices with 53 leaders for a half an hour wow wasn't that Peggy how about that maybe that'll be your assignment if I have anything to do with it I'll have them mingle their violins but uh just think Angels apparently officiated in Upper rooms uh brigam young said that he once looked into the upper room of the kland temple and there there were uh there was a circle of about 40 men they were wearing white robes and white caps and standing in a circle no human being in the room do you think that might have been something that uh would we could say there were officiating uh in ordinances uh from the other side of the veil uh president Nelson every Prophet commencing with Adam has seen our day every Prophet has talked about our day we're the ones who get to participate in this final great Gathering event how exciting is that I mean this is when it's going to wrap up and when the pro prophecies are going to be fulfilled now I'd like to talk about one of the greatest experiences that I've had and that was two weeks ago to be asked to go back and be uh in the Kirtland Temple on the first tour conducted by our church CH through the temple probably ever as far as being able to lead the tour and it was a dream come true uh it was something that uh I had uh well I I knew because of uh one of our prophets who uh had uh given me a blessing and con and uh connection with the Kirtland Temple that I would still be alive when that happened so I knew that that would probably happen during my lifetime uh but here to have it it happened and be able to be back there and to be on that first tour and then I had the privilege of being able to speak to uh about 80 people 80 missionaries who were there in the temple an experience I will never forget and one that I couldn't have even dreamt of that that would happen and uh if you look at the uh well I can I think I have uh oh excuse me I mve too quickly there's there's a sign okay there it is do you see up on the far right corner what does it say Church of Jesus do did you ever think you'd see that on a sign and here it was and what a thrill just to stand there uh when I was invited back I said i' I'd love to be there but there's one privilege I would like to have extended to me and they said sure tell us what you want we'll do it I said I want to be the one who scrapes the little uh uh sign off of the front window that says entry $10 per [Laughter] person I said you you've got to grant me that and The Visitor Center Director said I'm sorry I did this morning but it was just such a joyful thing to see a free admittance and No Reservations needed and open daily I mean there's just no way of of uh describing that feeling that I had uh as I stood I was asked to stand and address uh the the missionaries there in the meeting and I had worked with President M Russell Ballard for probably 40 years uh in connection with kurtland and his ancestor who was hram Smith and uh I felt his presence in that Temple so very strongly and so as I stood up I acknowledged that and then I thought then I'll move on to something else and then all of a sudden in my mind I said well if president Ballard is here uh president Benson certainly would be here because when the saints left Kirtland President Joseph Smith put a uh REM remov The Scourge that was on Kirtland in section 124 the Lord said uh to William law who is a counselor to Joseph he said uh William law wanted to go back and and start the church up in Kirtland because the temple was there and many Saints from England were stopping and so Joseph went to the Lord and said how about it William law wants to go back should we have have him go back and the Lord said if he'll do my will let him not go back to the Eastern lands even Kirtland for I the Lord have a Scourge prepared for the inhabitants of Kirtland nevertheless I will build Kirtland up well there's the Lord speaking hyram Smith wrote a letter as patriarch to the church and spoke in the name of the Lord and He said uh I he said uh uh if if you'll do my will uh let you uh do not return to Kirtland H for I the Lord have a Scourge prepared for kurtland and uh if you own lands you'll never possess them in peace but after many years shall pass away and then he said what date March of 2024 I guess that's going a little beyond what it says but he said after many years shall pass away then I will send forth and build up kurtland and it will be refined according to my word president Benson came to Kirtland in 1979 and uh I had sent him some material on on the scourge when he arrived he said has it ever been lifted off of Kirtland and those of us that picked him up said no no we didn't know of it then he started with me said Elder Anderson would it be all right with you if I lift the scourge on Kirtland today wow my first thought was well let's see if they suffered enough no see that's now when Joyce is going to after we're done saying you could have left that out but uh he said if I feel so inspired I'll do it well he got up and he lifted The Scourge in October of 1979 he said now we'll look for great progress in this part of the Lord's Vineyard and so this was a Capstone of that progress we have a beautiful restoration in Kirtland but now with the temple with it it's the Capstone and it those prophecies couldn't have been fulfilled unless we acquired the Kirtland Temple uh Joseph Smith said the time will come when Kirtland will be established forever uh Joseph young and briam young said Kirtland stake will be one of the primary stakes in Kirtland Joseph prophesied nine times that kurtland would be built up and so what you see happening in the last month was just a fulfillment of these prophecies that had accumulated and now I mentioned that there were like keys I thought turned on the other side of the veil that will now accelerate the work uh we had a press conference that we we held in the temple uh the end of March and we had the local newspaper that covered two counties a very good high circulation and this I'll show you what happened with The Community of Christ now out of the way and they were good stewards they're good friends they're devastated that their Church sold those Pro properties as we would be uh but there devastated but while they were there they were so in need of money that they uh would rent the temple out uh one of the things that horrified me is Kirtland High School uh has a great football team and they went to the state championships and they held their uh football rally in the Kirtland Temple uh uh along with cheerleaders and the band and everything else and here they're holding it in the curtland temple uh one of the statements that they made a Community of Christ is that their message had always been built around the architecture and the historic value of the temple and when we held the at press conference our Visitor Center Director said where we not going to any longer focus on the architecture we're going to focus on the events that happened there so the local newspaper put this up as the headline of their story CT no that wasn't their headline I was just fooling [Laughter] you this ought to be it okay that's the sign Darren did somebody play with my must have been me I can't believe that that okay we'll we'll find it it's it's got I know it's there H did I did I have it h oh there it is uh okay now uh here we go I'm I'm running this backwards Darren okay here we go uh speaking of our church they believe that J Jesus came to Kirtland in the days surrounding the Temple's 1836 dedication but many others including the Temple's neighbors uh in Lake and giaga counties are unaware of that belief as word spreads visits are likely to increase greatly [Laughter] can you imagine they don't know because all I've heard is the architecture up to this point here uh it was also in the article when Jesus came to Kirtland in 1836 A Chorus of angels sang from the rooftop of the Kirtland Temple no longer architecture and this was a headline new owners of Kirtland Temple Place Tour focus on visits from Jesus and other events what's that going to do for the church now to have the real message given uh from the kland temple wow well uh that's now I think we got it hopefully we we can run it from there well Joseph said prophets WR and prophesied of this our day we we have uh in the Kirtland Temple Moses Elias and Elijah appearing as you know and uh uh let me just do this quickly if I can we have uh president Nelson Joseph Smith saying that every Prophet saw has seen our day and uh in the Old Testament we have Malachi say that the Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to the temple and that's a course from the uh Messiah right and uh and then we and that's a prophecy of the Kirtland Temple in 1830 Joseph the Savior said to Joseph I'm Jesus the son of God I will suddenly come to my temple so he's repeating that Prophecy from Malachi and President Joseph Smith said is it is it not possible possible that uh this wonderful manifestation is that that was prophesied by uh Malachi and then he said I will send you Elijah the prophet the best known Jewish prayer including it in all traditional prayer books contains this refrain the Prophet Elijah the tishbite from Gilead may he come to us soon with the son of David the Messiah just think of that tradition in that song that's sung uh on the Sabbath uh according to tradition uh we can determine that the Lord set a timetable for Eli Elijah and the Savior to come to the the Kirtland Temple that appointment was made and entered in Theo Lord appointment book now you've heard of that haven't you who is it dumbledor keeps that big appointment book in Harry Potter well the Lord's is bigger and it has gold ink and he he keeps it well this may be news I don't know the you could even discuss this in your state presidency meeting and here's an appointment book that the Lord has and he put it in those look like good missionaries don't they they Circle a date of April the 3rd of 1836 and the Lord made an appointment and he sees everything and Elder Maxwell said that in order for the Bethlehem star to appear the Lord had to put it in orbit uh uh eons a ghost so that it would shine when the Savior appeared so we know that there are dates that have to be met and how do we know about the appointment book well the Malachi certainly prophecy and then in 1825 he sent Sydney Rigden to Ohio as a campbellite minister to prepare the way according to section 35 Sydney had just been baptized gone to New York and the Lord said I've called you to prepare the way for uh me and Elijah to come to uh to to uh the temple to come to Ohio and then in 1831 Frederick G Williams wanted to move to Missouri because that that that had been prophesied and the Lord said no not let him not sell his farm I would will build a stronghold in Kirtland for the space of 5 years 1831 1 and five is 1836 so we know that it had to happen before 36 and then Jewish tradition gives us the day and it's Passover right and so on uh 1836 Passover was celebrated in the diaspora which is around the world for the 3D of April and so the Lord had planned that date and and then in section 88 of the doctrine and Covenant the Lord said establish a house a house of prayer he commanded Joseph to build the temple into the 28 through December of 32 and then Joseph went five months and didn't do anything about building the Temple in in June uh 1 of June of 33 the Lord gives him section 95 and then he says ye must be chastened and stand Reb rebuked I'm sure Joseph said oh here we go again and and okay Lord what is it this time and for ye have sinned against me a very Grievous sin now it wasn't just a sin right it's a grievous sin but it wasn't just a grievous sin it was a very Grievous sin I mean the Lord's really unload him on him right and why because he have not considered the great commandment concerning the building of mine house Joseph you haven't started it and I gave you this command well that's the difference between me and Joseph one of the differ a minor a big difference Joseph never went to Lord said well Lord you got to understand you know it was tough I didn't take it too serious because we were supposed to build a temple in Missouri and you haven't done anything chastising me for that and then he could have gone down the litany if why they couldn't have started the temple and then the Lord after he brings him up short then says this uh uh well he didn't say it but we know Joseph you got to start it because I made the appointment with Elias in C and my and the the Savior and if you don't get going it won't be ready for them to come they had a date to meet and Joseph the Lord had to have him start well why not according to Brigham Young just a mere handful of men in poverty and distress living on a little ground corn and milk many didn't have shoes or good pants well that qualifies a lot of people today and nobody had a hole few had even a plow thousands of enemies held secret meetings our means uh Joseph said our means are exhausted we're deeply in debt and we know of no way to extricate ourselves and then the Lord said to Joseph it is my bill that you my will that you should build a house if you keep my Commandments you'll have power to build it well he gave him power they didn't have money so what did the Lord do sent John Tanner down with uh about4 or $50,000 to uh to uh cover a mortgage they had placed on the temple uh they didn't have a builder uh so he sent emus Millet down and we have artemis's descendants here raise your hand Artemis is there you go back there and uh and they didn't they didn't know what a temple looked like how could Joseph start a temple if he didn't know what it looked like and so he said bring three before me and I'll show you the pattern and according to Frederick G Williams the first presidency knelt down the temple came to Port him as a model it turned they could look inside he Frederick G said even to the minutest detail uh a Workman wanted to change where a bench was before dedication Joseph said no that's where I saw it uh and so he gave power for all of that H and I'm just going to click down through uh they had plenty of lumber he had Joel Johnson build a Sawmill they had enemies so the Lord sent Guardian Angels uh the horsemen of Israel were seen circling the temples protecting it so that the the the enemies couldn't uh come in or the adversary and then when they I'm just going to click a few of these and cover them quickly verbally uh but the Lord says if the house isn't built the elders will not be endowed with power from on high if they're not they can never go to the nations with the Everlasting gospel and so they had personal worthiness when we look at the Kirtland Temple it wasn't just a meeting house they received sacred ordinances and only those who could be were named by Joseph personally could go into the temple and we have this one account of Joseph all must humble themselves before me before they'll be accounted worthy to receive an endowment to go forth in my name unto all nations and then Joseph said this and uh president Petty I'd like to have you picture yourself giving a temple recommend interview with these questions and all of you think you're going to have to meet with President Petty and and answer to get into the temple the endowment you're so anxious about you can't comprehend we must be clean every wit do not watch for iniquity in each other if you do you will not get an endowment for God will not bestow it on such wow how what do you think I would do coming in and you say have you ever watched for iniquity and somebody else oh well Preston uh let's see I'm not not since yesterday but this was a standard is is it a meeting house is it cing Temple a meeting house heavens no it's the Lord's House and uh it was used for sacred ordinances as well as for meetings and restoration events H and just to get a feel of that wow on January 21st of 36 Joseph and the uh Bishop rcks of Zion and of Kirtland gather along with the first presidency and their clerks and they have a day of visions and one of those Visions Joseph saw his father and his mother in the Celestial Kingdom and when we were able on occasion to go up there with a friendly guide uh I used to ask what principle does that teach not just the Angels not just the past prophets but just think he saw his father and mother there in the Celestial Kingdom yet his father was sitting in the chair receiving his anointing with oil a temple ordinance and yet he signed there think about that for just a minute I think it's the sign of a loving gracious God who gives us every opportunity we can but he doesn't look at us as somebody who is miserable keeper of covenants or just yesterday I haven't criticized any anybody since yesterday right he isn't he isn't a judge he's a Helper and he's seeing us like we're going to be Joseph senior sitting here in the chair receiving the ordinance yet he's in the Celestial Kingdom Joseph saw the 12 apostles and presidency in the Celestial Kingdom and sometimes we get critical of them yet the Lord looks at it as we as we're going to be and treats us as such and I think it's just a very comforting thing well let's uh we need to conclude that's the upper room in the temple uh Oliver calry said we Anointed with the same kind of oil and the same manner as did uh Moses and Aaron the prophets of old they Old Testament and New Testament ordinances were restored in the Kirland Temple uh those that were connected with the initiatory and so uh Moses Christ Moses and Elias or Moses Elias and Elijah now appear and they bestow the keys of this dispensation Joseph Smith said it was a Pentecost and an endowment long to be remembered the ordinances of this day will be handed down upon the pages of sacred history to all generations as the day of Pentecost a Year of Jubilee and a time of rejoicing and then Elijah appears and says therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands so now on April the 3r of 1836 the date that the Lord picked long ago and put on his calendar comes to pass and Moses Elias and Elijah give the keys now what are the importance of the keys we still have President Nelson's words echoing and lingering in our ears and Hearts from last week this is what he said without priesthood keys and he specified the keys of Moses of Peter James and John were used to uh establish the church but the keys of Moses Elias and Elijah are the ones that are going to bring Salvation without priesthood Keys the church could only serve as a significant teaching and humanitarian organization but not more and then priesthood Keys distinguish the Church of Jesus Christ of latterday saints from other or organizations many can make your life better but no other organization can and will influence your life after death these Keys authorize Joseph and all succeeding presidents to gather Israel on both sides of the veil to bless all Covenant children with the blessings of Abraham to PL place a ratifying seal on priesthood ordinance and Covenants and to seal families eternally what's the purpose of the Kirtland Temple and that appointment that was made long ago this is it the power of these priesthood Keys is infinite and breathtaking without priesthood Keys none of us would have access to essential ordinances and Covenants that bind us to our loved ones eternally and allow us to eventually live with God why was that purchase I have a friend who said that purchase uh was not an ex in was not an expensive purchase it was very reasonable and I agree with him we can now go forth we can tell a story of the restoration and what differentiates us from every other Church in the world and uh what a thrill to live at the time when uh as president Nelson said it's breathtaking it is it is isn't it we can tell a story these events happened these are the events that have created the Divinity of this church and these are the events that the Lord has used to finally bring Authority and priesthood power joining with Heavenly priesthood power uh for us to live eternally with God Christ does live he appeared many times and he still appears today in his house I bear that witness in the name of Jesus Christ amen am e e e e e

Channel: Jonathon Montgomery

Views: 30,911

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Id: pE7gMSJiyAE

Length: 71min 55sec (4315 seconds)

Published: Tue Apr 23 2024