The Dedicatory Prayer for the Kirtland Temple

In December 1830, the Lord did something quite extraordinary insofar as His Saints were concerned. He commanded the members of His young Church who at that time were living in the State of New York and in states in the American Northeast to part with their homes, their fields, and their businesses and relocate themselves to a place of gathering in Ohio (Doctrine and Covenants 37:3). No explanation for this action was given.

However, the Church membership was not left to wonder for long as to why this commandment had been given. While still residing in Fayette, New York, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation on January 2, 1831 that may have had a calming effect upon many of the wondering believers. “And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless--Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high; And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; . . . and no power shall stay my hand” (D&C 38:31-33).

While to begin with they could not have fully understood the implications of the Lord’s command, at least they now had five reasons for the inconvenience and hardships that had been introduced into their lives. First, the Lord wanted His Saints beyond the reach of their New York enemies. So long as they had to struggle against an intense opposition in an attempt to live the basics of their new religion, they would have neither the time nor the energy to take the next step toward becoming a Zion people. Second, by gathering together, they would be able to enjoy the benefits that come from a concentrated membership. Third, these two pre-conditions would better allow the Saints to live the “law of the Church.” Fourth, the Lord desired to “endow” His people with a spiritual power “from on high” that would be required to successfully build the Kingdom of God on the earth. Fifth, from that place, missionaries would be sent out into the world to begin the gathering of Israel in these latter days.

The Prophet and others reacted quickly and positively to the commandment that they gather in Ohio. By February 9, 1831, he was in Kirtland where he received a revelation identified today as Section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This “law of the Church” set forth the tenants of proper personal and interpersonal behavior for the Saints. It outlined the fundamental economic policies of the community. The importance of missionary work was explained as was also the necessity for the members to be obedient to their covenants and their leaders.

The gathering to Ohio was not without its many difficulties, but it was successful. So much so that by March 27, 1836, the first House of the Lord to be constructed in this dispensation was ready for dedication. In the dedicatory prayer that he delivered that day, a prayer that he received by revelation, the Prophet Joseph Smith prayed for many blessings that would strengthen the members of the young Church and direct their attention to the importance of temple work in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Of all that might be discussed, only two points from this prayer are the subject of this writing. Verse 8 reads: “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 109:8). A Latter-day Saint temple is a “spiritual school.” We go there to take upon ourselves obligations and covenants in order that we might fulfill the full purpose of our creation. Simply put, we seek to become as our Father in Heaven is. The Lord himself told us how we might accomplish this. In a revelation given to the Prophet in May 1833, the Lord quoted from the writings of John the Baptist concerning His, the Lord’s, roles as creator, savior, and God. Having done so, Jesus Christ said to the Prophet, “I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness” (D&C 93:19).

We go to a temple not only for the purpose of making sacred covenants and to learn what our Heavenly Father would have us know concerning Him and our purposes for living on this earth, we may also go there to gain insight, direction and strength to successfully deal with the opportunities and challenges that this mortal probation presents to all of God’s spirit children. Sometimes, the problems we face are irresolvable. In these circumstances, the blessings we seek are for patience and long suffering. If we go to a temple properly prepared in an attitude of prayer, faith, and fasting, we shall know what He would have us do when understanding greater than our own is required for our success.

Verses 22 and 23 of Section 109 are too long to be quoted here. In substance, the Prophet asked God to so bless those who had been endowed with power in the temple “that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them” as they left Ohio to carry the message of the restored gospel to “the ends of the earth” in fulfillment of prophecies made “concerning the last days.” It is interesting to note that the desired level of understanding and power were received even though the endowment given in the temple at Kirtland consisted only of the initiatory ordinances as we know them today. The full endowment was not available to the Saints until they put the Nauvoo Temple to use.

While admittedly these verses apply directly to the brethren preparing for missionary service in that era as well as the brothers and sisters who have been called to serve as the Lord’s emissaries subsequently, there is rooted in these verses a very important but more general application that makes itself manifest within the body of the Church today. While serving as a counselor in the presidency of the Freiberg Germany Temple, I had an overview of the temple work being accomplished within our temple district that included Eastern Germany and the nations stretching eastward to the Black Sea. What was true of branches and wards was also true for missions, stakes, and countries namely, the blessings that come from dedicated temple participation are available to all of our members. The more dedicated any group of Saints was in taking advantage of their opportunities to participate in the temple ordinances, the more they were blessed individually and collectively for their efforts. Whether meeting with a group of Latter-day Saints in their local units or welcoming a group of temple visitors who had traveled many hours to participate in a week of ordinance work, it was clear to me that the more dedicated they were in humbly fulfilling their temple responsibilities the more these members received the promised blessings of the Spirit. These blessings impacted the individual participants, their families, their home units, and even the countries in which they lived. For me, the clearest evidence that this conclusion is true is the construction of the first temple in Eastern Europe in Kyiv, Ukraine. For years, the Saints living in the stake and missions of that nation have demonstrated their worthiness and willingness to support temple work in such a manner as to make possible the building of a House of the Lord in their homeland. The dedication of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple may occur as early as the autumn of 2010.

What has been written here is true not only of Eastern Europe but is true for the Saints worldwide. Individuals, families, local units, and nations will receive identifiable blessings if they are willing to prioritize their goals in such a manner as to vigorously seize the opportunities that are theirs to participate in temple service.