The Kirtland Temple--Sacrifice Brings Blessings

Many great sacrifices were made by the saints in Kirtland, Ohio to build their temple. Men worked all day and sometimes slept on site with a loaded gun in case any attempts were made to destroy the temple. Women sewed and cooked for temple builders. They gave their china to mix with the plaster so the temple would have a shiny exterior. Three people, Artimus Millett, John Tanner, and Vienna Jacques, gave all their fortunes in order that the temple might be built. In the midst of the temple building, the saints in Independence were driven from their homes and Joseph Smith had to recruit and outfit men for Zion's Camp.

The cost of building the temple was between $40,000 and $60,000, an enormous amount in the 1830's According to Eliza R. Snow. " At that time, . . .the Saints were few in number, and most of them very poor; and , had it not been for the assurance that God had spoken, and had commanded that a house should be built to his name, of which he not only revealed the form, but also designated the dimensions, an attempt towards building that Temple under the then existing circumstances, would have been, by all concerned, pronounced Preposterous."

Despite all the challenges, the temple was built. It was dedicated on March 27, 1836. What followed was one of the greatest outpourings of spiritual blessings ever recorded--so many that this period in church history is called the Pentecostal Period. The dedicatory prayer was given to Joseph Smith in a revelation. In the dedicatory prayer (Doctrine and Covenants 109) given by the Prophet Joseph Smith, the saints were promised great blessings for their faithfulness.

The next Sunday, which was Easter Sunday, Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the temple. He accepted the sacrifice of the saints. (Doctrine and Covenants 110:7). Other visions followed. Moses restored the keys of the gathering of Israel, Elias restored the keys of the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, and Elijah restored the keys of sealing. All of which were essential for the progress of the Lord's kingdom.

"Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven." The saints in Kirtland received blessings that they could not have comprehended only a few years before.