The House of the Lord

In the various gathering places of the Saints from the days of Kirtland the Lord commanded that temples to his name should be built. In Jackson County and Far West, they were prevented from building temples by their enemies, who drove them from their homes. At the conference of the Church held in October, 1840, President Joseph Smith spoke of the necessity of building a “house of the Lord” in Nauvoo. Reynolds Cahoon, Elias Higbee and Alpheus Cutler were appointed a committee to build such a house. On motion it was also resolved that a commencement be made ten days from that date (Oct. 3, 1840) “and that every tenth day he appropriated for the building of the temple.” Early in January, 1841, the First Presidency issued a proclamation to the Saints scattered abroad, in which they stated that “the temple of the Lord is in progress of erection here, where the Saints will come to worship the God of their fathers, according to the order of his house and the powers of the Holy Priesthood, and will be so constructed as to enable all the functions of the Priesthood to be duly exercised, and where instructions from the Most High will be received.”

The Revelation of January 19, 1841

A very important revelation was received January 19, 1841, dealing with various subjects, but particularly with the building of the temple and the ordinances to be performed therein. The Lord declared that the prayers of the Prophet were acceptable to him, and he was called upon to make a solemn proclamation of the Gospel to “all the kings of the world, to the four corners thereof; to the honorable President-elect, and the high-minded governors of the nation ... and to all the nations of the earth.” It was to be written in the spirit of meekness, yet of warning, for he was “about to call on them to give heed to the light and glory of Zion, for the set time has come to favor her.” The Lord would visit the mighty and the rulers of the earth in the day of his visitation. Therefore, said he, “Awake, O kings of the earth! Come ye, O, come ye, with your gold and your silver, to the help of my people, to the house of the daughters of Zion.”

The Saints to Come from Afar

The Saints were also commanded to come from afar. Messengers were to be chosen and sent unto them saying: “Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities; and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth; and with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and your precious things of the earth, and build a house to my name for the Most High to dwell therein.”

Fulness of the Priesthood

“For there is not a place,” said the Lord, “found on earth where he may come and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the Priesthood,” which fulness can only be obtained in the house of the Lord.

The Kirtland Temple and its Mission

This declaration from the Lord would indicate that the purpose for which the Kirtland Temple was erected was now fulfilled, and its mission completed; and this was indeed the case. The Kirtland Temple served temporarily only. It was built because a house was necessary where the Lord could come and restore the various keys of former dispensations, that the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times might be made complete. In the Kirtland Temple the Lord gave a partial endowment, but not in the fulness, that the apostles and others might be endowed with necessary power to go forth “to prune the vineyard for the last time.” But the great object was the restoration of the keys of former dispensations. When these were bestowed, then greater light was revealed, and the full purpose of temples and ordinance work therein was made known. It then became necessary that a house of the Lord should be built that would be perfect in all its parts, which was not the case in the structure of the Kirtland Temple. That edifice, although one of the most important ever erected by the Church, was not a complete structure as temples are understood through increased revelation. In it there were no provisions for the salvation of the dead; it had not a baptismal font—a fundamental part of the perfect temple—and therefore, since it had filled the measure of its creation, the Lord declared in the revelation of January, 1841, that there was not a house on the earth where he could come to bestow the fulness of the Priesthood and introduce the essential ordinances for the salvation of both the living and the dead. Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James and John, all came before there was a temple; but their coming was necessary that the foundation might be laid and the Church established. The Lord has made provision that in the sacred grove, the forest, and on the mountain top, such keys may be bestowed, when there is no temple erected to his name, and in the poverty of the people. Otherwise such keys are to be received only in the temple reared to his holy name.

Baptism for the Dead

The doctrine of baptism for the dead was first made known to the Saints in a discourse by the Prophet at the funeral of Elder Seymour Brunson, August 10, 1840. This doctrine was not understood by him until after the restoration of the keys and the Priesthood of Elijah in the Kirtland Temple, although it had been referred to since the night of the first appearance of Moroni. In this revelation of January, 1841, the Lord revealed greater light regarding this wonderful principle. It was here made known that this ordinance was to be performed in the temple of the Lord. A baptismal font for this purpose was to be placed in the basement of the temple, “as a simile of the grave,” and was commanded to be in a place underneath where the living are wont to assemble, to show forth the living and the dead; and that all things may have their likeness, and that they may accord one with another; that which is earthly conforming to that which is heavenly” (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 128:13).

In an epistle to the Twelve Apostles, who were at the time in Europe, President Joseph Smith, October 19, 1840, made the following statement:

“I presume the doctrine of ‘baptism for the dead’ has ere this reached your ears, and may have raised some inquiries in your minds respecting the same. I cannot in this letter give you all the information you may desire on the subject; but aside from knowledge independent of the Bible, I would say that it was certainly practiced by the ancient churches; and St. Paul endeavors to prove the doctrine of the resurrection from the same, and says, ‘Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?’

“I first mentioned the doctrine in public when preaching the funeral sermon of Brother Seymour Brunson; and have since then given general instructions in the Church on the subject. The Saints have the privilege of being baptized for those of their relatives who are dead, whom they believe would have embraced the Gospel, if they had been privileged with hearing it, and who have received the Gospel in the spirit, through the instrumentality of those who have been commissioned to preach to them while in prison.”

The Rite Performed in the River

After this doctrine was revealed the Lord granted the Saints the privilege of performing the ordinance of baptism for the dead in the Mississippi River, until such time as a font could be prepared in the basement of the temple. When a temporary font was prepared, and long before the temple was completed, this privilege of baptizing for the dead in any other place than the temple was discontinued by commandment of the Lord. So important was this work in behalf of the salvation of the worthy dead, that the Lord declared that the living could not be made perfect without them, and, when the opportunity presented itself, should the members of the Church fail to perform the ordinance for their dead, the Lord said he would reject them, for the dead were to be saved by the same principles which would save the living.

Things Hid from the Foundation of the World

Not only was the ordinance of baptism for the dead to be performed in the temple, but the Lord promised to reveal many things “which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.” Here the keys of the Holy Priesthood were to be received, for such were ordained to be obtained in temples that the Saints may receive honor and glory, both the living and, by proxy, the dead, even those blessings by which they should be crowned with honor, immortality and eternal life.

The Nauvoo House

Another house was also to be built in Nauvoo. This was the Nauvoo House, a place for the boarding of strangers. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, and many others were called upon to “pay stock” for themselves and their seed after them “from generation to generation,” in this house. It was to be a place where the “weary traveler may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord; and the corner stone [stake] I have appointed for Zion,” said the Lord. Those who took stock were not to pay less than fifty dollars, and not more than fifteen thousand dollars for any one man.

The Calling of Hyrum Smith

Another important commandment in this revelation was the appointment of Hyrum Smith, to act as patriarch in the office which had been held by his father, and also his ordination to be a “prophet, seer and revelator” unto the Church, as well as Joseph Smith. The Lord had pointed out several years before, when Joseph Smith, Sen., was called to be the patriarch of the Church, that this office was his by right of lineage, and descended from father to son, and was the right based on faithfulness of the first born. At the time of Hyrum Smith’s call, he was serving as second counselor in the First Presidency, a place he was called to occupy after the transgression of Frederick G. Williams. The revelation relating to this appointment reads as follows:

“And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William [Law] be appointed, ordained, and anointed, as a counselor unto my servant Joseph [Smith] in the room of my servant Hyrum, that my servant Hyrum may take the office of Priesthood and Patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, by blessing and also by right.

“That from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the patriarchal blessing upon the heads of all my people;

“That whoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be cursed; that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

“And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer and a revelator unto my Church, as well as my servant Joseph.

“That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessing, and glory, and honor, and Priesthood, and gifts of the Priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery;

“That my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall show unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever.”

Oliver Cowdery’s Blessing Transferred to Hyrum Smith

Oliver Cowdery, as we have learned, stood with the Prophet Joseph Smith in holding the keys of the kingdom. He was associated with Joseph Smith in all his ordinations and in the bestowal of keys from the heavens from the beginning. It was Oliver Cowdery, not Sidney Rigdon or Frederick G. Williams, who knelt with the Prophet Joseph at the altar in the Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836, when the Savior, Moses, Elias, Elijah, and perhaps other ancient prophets, came and conferred with them, bestowing keys, Priesthood and authority of former dispensations that all things might be complete and perfect in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. All these blessings Oliver Cowdery would have held throughout eternity, if he had remained faithful and true to his calling; but he fell away, and therefore the Lord bestowed these gifts, blessings, and powers of presidency, upon the head of Hyrum Smith, the faithful brother of the Prophet Joseph, of whom the Lord also said in this revelation: “And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith, for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me.”

Sunday, January 24, 1841, Hyrum Smith received the ordination to these holy callings under the hands of President Joseph Smith. On the same occasion George Miller was ordained a bishop in the place of Edward Partridge, deceased.

Laying Corner Stones of the Temple

April 6, 1841, which was the eleventh anniversary of the organization of the Church, the corner stones of the Nauvoo Temple were laid. Early in the morning fourteen companies of the Nauvoo Legion, and two military companies from across the river in Iowa, assembled and were conducted to the grounds assigned for the general review. During the forenoon, various military maneuvers were conducted. It was an impressive scene. At twelve o’clock the procession arrived at the temple grounds and the ceremonies of laying the corner stones were commenced. President Sidney Rigdon addressed the assembly at some length after which the architects, under the direction of the First Presidency, lowered the south-east corner stone to its place, and the Prophet said:

“This principal corner stone in representation of the First Presidency, is now duly laid in honor of the Great God; and may it there remain until the whole fabric is completed; and may the same be accomplished speedily; that the Saints may have a place to worship God, and the Son of Man have where to lay his head.”

Adjournment was taken for one hour and after the people reassembled the three other corner stones were laid in the following order: the south-west, the north-west and the north-east, after which the services were closed.

Order of Temple Building

The Prophet later gave instructions pertaining to the order of the laying of corner stones of temples as follows:

“If the strict order of the Priesthood were carried out in the building of Temples, the first stone would be laid at the south-east corner, by the First Presidency of the Church. The south-west corner should be laid next; the third, or north-west corner, next; and the fourth, or northeast corner, last. The First Presidency should lay the southeast corner stone and dictate who are the proper persons to lay the other corner stones.

“If a temple is built at a distance, and the First Presidency are not present, then the quorum of the Twelve Apostles are the persons to dictate the order for that temple; and in the absence of the Twelve Apostles, then the presidency of the stake will lay the south-east corner stone; the Melchizedek Priesthood laying the corner stones on the east side of the temple, and the Lesser Priesthood those on the west side.”

Baptisms in the River Discontinued

At the conference of the Church held in Nauvoo, October 2nd to 5th, 1841, the Prophet made this announcement: “There shall be no more baptisms for the dead, until the ordinance can be attended to in the Lord’s House; and the Church shall not hold another General Conference, until they can meet in said house. For thus saith the Lord!” The reason for this announcement was that the temple had progressed so far that the font in the basement had been prepared for this ordinance, therefore, baptisms for the dead could no longer be performed in the river.

Dedication of the Font in the Temple

One month later, November 8, 1841, the baptismal font in the temple was dedicated. President Brigham Young was spokesman. The font is described as being situated in the center of the basement room, under the main hall of the temple. It was constructed of pine timber, and put together of staves tongued and grooved, oval shaped, sixteen feet long east and west, and twelve feet wide, seven feet high from the foundation, the basin four feet deep, the moulding of the cap and base were formed of beautiful carved work. It stood upon twelve oxen, four on each side, and two at each end, their heads, shoulders, and fore legs projecting out from under the font. The oxen and ornamental mouldings were carved by Elder Elijah Fordham, which took him eight months to finish. This font was replaced later by a permanent font which was more durable.

First Baptisms in the Temple

Sunday, November 21, 1841, the twelve met in council at President Brigham Young’s house, and at four o’clock they repaired to the baptismal font in the temple, where President Brigham Young, Elders Heber C. Kimball and John Taylor baptized about forty persons for their dead. Elders Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith, confirmed them. These were the first baptisms for the dead in the font in the Lord’s House. From this time forth, as long as the Saints remained in Nauvoo, baptisms for the dead were performed in the temple.

Death of Don Carlos Smith

Sunday, August 7, 1841, Don Carlos Smith, the youngest brother of the Prophet, died in Nauvoo. He was only twenty-six years of age, and was one of the first to receive the testimony of the Prophet. He received the Priesthood when but fourteen years of age, and in 1836 was made president of the high priests’ quorum. He was on a mission in Tennessee and Kentucky in 1838. During his absence in the midst of winter his wife was driven from her home which was burned, and she was forced to wade Grand River with her two little children. In Kirtland he labored in the office of Oliver Cowdery and learned the art of printing. In the flight of his father’s family from Missouri in the winter of 1839, he took charge, and saw them removed to Quincy, Illinois. In June, 1839, he commenced making preparations for printing the Times and Seasons, a periodical published in Nauvoo. The press and type had been rescued by Elias Smith, Hyrum Clark and others, from Dawson’s yard in Far West, where it had been buried the night that place was besieged by the mob-militia under General Lucas. The Times and Seasons was issued by Don Carlos Smith and Ebenezer Robinson, the first number appearing in November, 1839. At the time of his death the editors were Don Carlos Smith and Robert B. Thompson. Don Carlos was six feet four inches tall, was very straight, strong and active. The Prophet said of him: “I never knew any fault in him; I never saw the first immoral act, or the first irreligious or ignoble disposition in the child from the time he was born until the time of his death. He was a lovely, a good-natured, a kind-hearted, and a virtuous and faithful, upright child; and where his soul goes, let mine go also.”

Death of Robert B. Thompson

Three weeks later, Robert Brashel Thompson, general Church recorder, died at his residence in Nauvoo, in the thirtieth year of his age. As already stated, he was associate editor of the Times and Seasons, and had been engaged in writing for the Prophet and for the Church, and was a colonel in the Nauvoo Legion. In 1837, he married Mercy Rachel Fielding, sister of Mary Fielding Smith, wife of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith. He and his associate Don Carlos Smith, both fell victims to the unhealthful conditions which prevailed in Nauvoo at the time of its settlement.

Dedication of Palestine

Early Sunday morning, October 24, 1841, Elder Orson Hyde, of the council of the twelve, ascended the Mount of Olives and dedicated by prayer the land of Palestine for the gathering of the Jews. He was appointed to this mission at the April conference in 1840. Elder John E. Page was also appointed to go with him, but lost the spirit of his mission before he reached the eastern border of the United States, and failed to cross the water, leaving Elder Hyde to make the journey alone. After passing through many difficulties and privations Elder Hyde arrived in Jerusalem in October, 1841. He prayed “for the gathering together of Judah’s scattered remnants,” according to the predictions of the holy prophets; for the building of Jerusalem again after it has been trodden down by the Gentiles so long; and for rearing a temple to the name of the Lord. “Grant, therefore,” he prayed, “O Lord, in the name of thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to remove the barrenness and sterility of this land, and let springs of living water break forth to water its thirsty soil. Let the vine and olive produce in their strength, and the fig tree bloom and flourish. Let the land become abundantly fruitful and possessed by its rightful heirs; let it again flow with plenty to feed the returning prodigals who come home with a spirit of grace and supplication. Upon it let the clouds distill virtue and richness, and let the fields smile with plenty. Let the flocks and the herds greatly increase and multiply upon the mountains and the hills; and let thy great kindness conquer and subdue the unbelief of thy people. Do thou take from them their stony heart, and give them a heart of flesh; and may the sun of thy favor dispel the cold mists of darkness which have beclouded their atmosphere. Incline them to gather in upon this land according to thy word. Let them come like clouds and like doves to their windows. Let the large ships of the nations bring them from the distant isles; and let kings become their nursing fathers, and queens with motherly fondness wipe the tear of sorrow from their eye.”

In this manner Elder Hyde prayed upon the Mount of Olives, dedicating the land for the return of the remnant of Judah from the four corners of the earth. He also erected a pile of stones as a witness according to the ancient custom, on the top of the Mount of Olives, and another on the top of Mount Moriah, where the ancient temple stood.

Orson Hyde of the House of Judah

Elder Orson Hyde was of the house of Judah. It was therefore very proper that he, as one of the apostles of the Lord in this last dispensation, should be sent to bless the land for the gathering of the Jews. At one time, nearly ten years before, the following blessing was pronounced upon him: “In due time thou shalt go to Jerusalem, the land of thy fathers, and be a watchman unto the house of Israel; and by thy hand shall the Most High do a work, which shall prepare the way and greatly facilitate the gathering of that people.”¹

The Book of Abraham

During the month of March the Prophet prepared for publication his translation of the Book of Abraham, which he commenced to translate while residing at Kirtland. Due to the persecutions and drivings of the Saints this matter could not be attended to before this time, but the manuscript had been carefully preserved, and was now published for the benefit of the Church and all the world. This work together with the Book of Moses, has since been received among the standard works of the Church.

The Wentworth Letter

At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat, the Prophet prepared an article for publication giving a brief history of the Church. This history was published in the Times and Seasons, March 1, 1842. Mr. Wentworth stated that he wished to furnish the information to a Mr. Bastow who was writing a history of New Hampshire. This article is one of the earliest documents giving a consecutive account of the history of the Church. It is concise and comprehensive, yet covers only a few pages. The most important feature in this paper is the publication therein, for the first time, of the Articles of Faith. These articles, thirteen in number, were given by inspiration, and form a simple, comprehensive declaration of many doctrines of the Church, which have since been accepted by the vote of the Church as a standard epitome of belief. They are as follows:

“We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

“We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

“We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

“We believe that these ordinances are 1st: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2nd: Repentance; 3rd: Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th: Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“We believe that a man must be called of God by ‘prophecy and by the laying on of hands’ by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

“We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely, Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, etc.

“We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelations, visions, healing, interpretations of tongues, etc.

“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

“We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where or what they may.

“We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, ‘We believe all things, we hope all things,’ we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

Organization of the Relief Society

March 17, 1842, “The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo” was organized by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Emma Smith was chosen president with Elizabeth Ann Whitney and Sarah M. Cleveland, as counselors. The purpose of the society is to furnish the sisters of the Church an organization through which they could actively foster the welfare of the members. The duty of the society was stated to be to aid the poor, nurse the sick and afflicted, and in a general way, under the direction and guidance of the bishop, to engage in true charitable work in behalf of all whose necessities require assistance. This was the first organization of women in the world, so far as history records. It is in keeping with the genius of the Gospel, for the Lord provides duties and labors for all the members of the Church, both men and women, wherein service may be rendered for the temporal as well as the spiritual salvation of mankind.

Inauguration of Endowments

In the revelation of January 19, 1841, the Lord promised to reveal to Joseph Smith all things pertaining to the temple and the Priesthood thereof, which revelation and knowledge were necessary before the temple was erected. Wednesday, May 4, 1842, the Prophet met with his brother, Patriarch Hyrum Smith, President Brigham Young, Elders Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, James Adams of Springfield, Bishops Newel K. Whitney and George Miller, and instructed them in the principles and orders of the Priesthood that belong to the temple of the Lord. He made known to them the doctrines of washings and anointings and communications spoken of in the revelation. In this council, which was held in the upper room over his store, Joseph Smith also instructed these brethren in “all those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fulness of those blessings which have been prepared for the Church of the First Born.” These same blessings, the Prophet stated, would in due time be given in the temple to all the Saints who were worthy to receive them. This was the introduction of the temple ceremonies in their fulness in this dispensation, as they apply to the living and to the dead. From time to time after this, these instructions (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 5:1–2) were repeated and the other members of the council of the twelve and their wives, and a few others, received their endowments under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he was commanded to make these things known. The members of the Church at large, however, were required to wait until such time as these ordinances could be performed in the temple, the place designated by the Lord for such instructions and ordinance work to be given.

Notes