Quotes

I have decided that I quote movies and tv shows way too often. It seems like in any situation I have a quote from something I've seen that applies and fits in pretty well. At this point in my career most of the things i say are inside jokes which makes some of the things I say seem weird to those who aren't in on the joke. Often times I've thought of jokes or lines to quote and have had to restrain myself because I realized no one else with me would understand what I was saying... haha oh well. What are you going to do. I think it's a combination of I've seen too many movies and I have a pretty good memory... Oh well. I've realized it isn't the worst thing in the world. It just annoys people sometimes but it really does add some joy to life...

What an amazing weekend!

I can't even believe how great General Conference was.... There was an amazing theme running through all the talks of family and teaching children. That was a special topic for my family as my sweet Mother was sustained as the First Counselor in the General Primary Presidency. I am so amazed and yet not surprised at the same time. I don't know anyone who has more love and more of a desire to serve the Lord among His little ones as my amazing Mother. It was so sweet to be able to watch her and see how overwhelmed and humbled she felt at home and when she was just with our family in more intimate settings and then see how confident she was and the power she spoke with in more public settings such as their press conference following their sustaining. It was a special conference as well for my mother especially. Pres. Eyring, in his Saturday Morning Session talk mentioned a woman who served on the Primary General Board which originally created the CTR motto and who personally drew the now familiar CTR shield design then continued to serve in her ward's Primary until she was nearly 90 years old. That woman was my mother's mother. I know my mother misses her, but she felt very near to her over this weekend. There was an absolute myriad of tender mercies for her and our family as she received this call over the last ten days. I am so excited for her to share her amazing talents. Although she may not fully see it, she has become an extraordinary tool to be used in the Lord's hands as she has fully given herself to Him over the last 4 years serving on the Primary General Board. She has a depth of scriptural knowledge that allows her to teach the Gospel in such pure and simple terms, perfect for helping to teach and love the world's children. This will certainly be an overwhelming assignment at times for her, but will most definitely be a choice blessing for her and our family. I am so proud of her and am amazed and humbled that I would be so blessed to have a Mother as well as a Father (who amazingly supports her) who build up and complement each other so well. I was blessed today to look on the rostrum at General Conference and first see my Mom, excited and anxious to get to work and serve the Lord as she has been called, then to see my Dad, seemingly over her shoulder, sing his testimony as part of the Tabernacle Choir. What a poignant example to me of truly living up to covenants made in holy places, giving their all, time and talents, to building up God's Kingdom.

And look how cute she is:

The rest of the story

Here is the full version of my Kirtland Temple research paper... enlightening stuff...

The Kirtland Temple was a uniquely significant experience in the development of Joseph Smith and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been very interested in this time in the history of the Church. This period of time played a pivotal role in the Church’s early life and history. It comes just after the initial phases of the Church in New York and marks the explosion of its doctrinal and cultural development. At the center of the Kirtland experience is the Kirtland Temple. With the perspective of time we have come to better appreciate what that building represents. I want to review some of the main aspects of this Temple, including its construction, completion, and dedication, then to state some of its overall implications to the Church both in that era and today. The following issues will be addressed:

1) The command to build the Kirtland Temple

2) The process involved in constructing the Kirtland Temple

3) The dedication of the Kirtland Temple

4) The implications of the Kirtland Temple experience

The Command to Build

the Kirtland Temple

“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” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:119). This was the commandment the Lord gave Joseph with several other leading brethren present on December 27, 1832. This was to be the first religious building built by Joseph Smith and his followers. Over the course of his life, Joseph never directed the construction of any other types of meeting houses, only temples. It is clear Joseph knew this was to be a temple for the specific purposes to come into the presence of the Lord and to be endowed with special blessings by Him. In a letter to the Saints in Missouri, Joseph wrote:

You will see that the Lord commanded us in Kirtland to build an house of God… This is the word of the Lord to us, and we must, yea, the Lord helping us, we will obey, as on conditions of our obedience, he has promised us great things, yea even a visit from the heavens to honor us with his presence. (Joseph Smith to William Phelps, Jan. 11 1833, 18-20)

This also demonstrates that Joseph recognized how important this and future temples would be in the spiritual development of his people.

The revelation from the Lord to build the Kirtland Temple was received in December 1832 and the Temple was not completed and dedicated until March 1836. Why did the Temple take so long to construct? Is it possible that Joseph and his followers didn’t fully grasp the urgency of this temple being constructed or were they distracted other pressing matters? Whatever the reason for the delay, there is a record of the Lord chastising the Church on June 1, 1833 for not having made greater progress on this sacred building (Doctrine & Covenants 95:1-6). Construction began almost immediately thereafter, with ground being broken on June 5 of that year. Approximately two months later on July 23, twenty-four Church leaders met to lay the cornerstones ‘after the order of the Son of God” (History of the Church, 1:400).

The Process Involved in

Constructing the Kirtland Temple

How did Joseph design the Kirtland Temple? Several sources confirm that the design was given by revelation. One noteworthy source is Truman O. Angell who worked on both the Kirtland and Nauvoo Temples and would become the Church Architect directly responsible for the construction of the Salt Lake Temple. His diary records President Frederick G. William’s description of the reception of the Temple’s design.

We went upon our knees, called on the Lord, and the Building appeared within viewing distance… After we had taken a good look at the exterior, the building seemed to come right over us, and the Makeup of this Hall seemed to coincide with what I there saw to a minutia. (Truman O. Angell, 4)

Angell later noted in his journal the “the lead mechanic recommended to Joseph Smith that the seats in the building be rearranged. The Prophet responded by saying he had seen them in vision and insisted that the original plans be carried out.” (Truman O. Angell, 5) The intricate details of the design of the Kirtland Temple were given by revelation, even down to the layout of the chairs. This was not a project that Joseph took lightly. He insisted on the finest design and materials for its construction and maintained his dedication to the plans the Lord had revealed. In response to alternate suggestions about the design or materials being used, Joseph responded, “No, I have a better plan than that. I have a plan of the house of the Lord, given by himself; and you will soon see by this, the difference between our calculation and his idea of things” (Lucy Mack Smith, 230).

Construction progressed relatively well after its commencement in the summer of 1832. Initially, the building was intended to be constructed with bricks; a nearby farm was purchased because it already had facilities available for brick-making. This plan was abandoned and stone was chosen in favor of brick. The Stannard Stone Quarry, which was only about two miles away from the temple site, provided most of the stone for the temple. After being inspected to ensure the stone would be suitable for the planned walls measuring two-feet thick and sixty-feet high, every able-bodied man was enlisted in helping with the construction. Those with teams worked one day a week to bring enough stone from the quarry to the construction site for the masons to work for the following week. Everyone else who was able, including Joseph Smith helped quarry the stone (Karl R. Anderson, 159-160).

The Saints encountered a significant problem in finding sufficient wood for the temple. Freshly cut wood from neighboring forests had to be dried and seasoned before it could be used. An attempt to hasten the process resulted in a kiln that was prone to frequent outbursts of fire. Eventually, the brethren contracted a local businessman to supply lumber at a significant cost. Surprisingly, there were only two noteworthy delays in the temple’s construction: the winter of 1833 because of a lack of wood, stone, and other necessary materials; and the summer of 1834 when almost the entire workforce was away on Zion’s Camp. Occasionally work was also suspended for severe winter weather, especially before the outer walls were completed. Special recognition should be made of the women who contributed their time and talents to make clothes and food for the workers as well as carpets and curtains for the temple itself (Karl R. Anderson, 162).

Many then and now have questioned the decision to build such a building. Neither the Church, nor its poverty-stricken members had ever undertaken such a task. The cost of the building, estimated at about $40,000, was a staggering sum for the 1830s. Relative to the meager resources of the Saints at the time, the Kirtland Temple is probably the most costly building ever constructed by the Church. In addition to the cost it was an extremely dangerous undertaking for the Church to take. Neighbors and enemies of the Church labeled it a foolhardy venture, some going so far as to say “that the walls should never be erected” (Eliza R. Snow, 59). Even Brigham Young acknowledged the church was “too few in numbers, too weak in faith, and too poor in purse, to attempt such a mighty enterprise. But by means of all these stimulants…laborers on the walls, holding the sword in one hand to protect themselves from the mob, while they placed the stone and moved the trowel with the other” (Journal of Discourses, 2:31). The construction of this temple must have been intimidating to many Saints for both the cost and danger it presented. They were upheld by the example of faith and work of their prophet Joseph Smith and by promises of support received from the Lord such as this, “It is my will that you should build a house. If you keep my commandments you shall have power to build it” (Doctrine & Covenants 95:11). These types of revelations must have reassured the Saints through the many difficult trials they encountered over the three years of construction.

The Dedication of

the Kirtland Temple

After the years of hardship, sacrifice, and threats of mob violence in March of 1836 the Kirtland Temple was ready to be dedicated. This was a blessing that Joseph and his followers had been anticipating for over five years. In a revelation received in 1830 and delivered to the Church at a conference the first week of 1831, they were promised by the Lord that in Ohio “[they should] be endowed with power from on high” (Doctrine & Covenants 38:32, also 105:33). The realization of that blessing would shortly be attained once the temple had been dedicated.

The actual services of the dedication on March 27, 1836 were a special meeting. Several, specifically Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith, spent much time in preparation for that day. People began thronging the doors by 7 a.m. before they were forced to close them two hours later with over 1,000 people in attendance. The actual dedication proceeded with the following agenda: President Rigdon opened by reading Psalms 96 and 24. A hymn was sung, and the invocation offered. Another hymn was then sung followed by a two and a half hour sermon from President Rigdon. He spoke from Matthew 8:18-20, referencing the Savior’s comment that “foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” According to Eliza R. Snow, although lengthy, it was a touching sermon. “He drew tears from many eyes,” she said “as he reviewed the toils and privations of those who had labored in rearing the walls of that sacred edifice (Eliza R. Snow, 59). He emphasized the point that this temple was truly a house of God and a place for Him to lay His head. Following President Rigdon’s talk, Joseph Smith was sustained as a prophet and a seer by the priesthood quorums in attendance. After a short intermission and another, more extended, session of sustainings, the dedicatory prayer was offered by Joseph Smith. Following that inspired prayer, the choir sang a now familiar hymn, “The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning,” written specifically for this occasion. The sacrament was then distributed and testimonies shared by several leading brethren including Joseph Smith. The Hosanna Shout was then performed and Joseph closed the seven hour dedicatory service around 4 p.m. (Dean C. Jesse, 191-203 and Messenger & Advocate, 274-281)

The Implications of the

Kirtland Temple Experience

Perhaps more engaging than the events of the dedicatory session were the recorded instances of pentecostal outpourings, angelic visions and visitations, and millennial fervor in the months preceding and following the dedication, in addition to those witnessed in the dedication itself. On no less than 12 occasions, thousands of people witnessed miraculous outpourings of the Spirit: the gift of tongues, the gift of interpretation of tongues, sounds of mighty winds, visions, pillars of fire, heavenly beings or angels, ministering of angels, prophesying, voices of angels, visions and appearances of the Savior, and on one occasion, a vision of both the Father and the Son (Karl R. Anderson, 174). This was a people who were hearkening back to the apostolic Church. They were possessive of the idea of restoration of that Church and that authority. This pentecostal season at the Kirtland Temple from January to May of 1836 likely provided a confirmation to those early Saints that they were that meridian church restored to the earth. These outpourings were part of the promised endowment of power.

The dedicatory prayer offered by Joseph Smith is itself very noteworthy. Joseph reported he had received the prayer by revelation. The principal aspects of the prayer are requests that the Lord will accept their offering, that they may be worthy to receive the blessings prepared for them, that the glory of God would rest upon them and upon the temple, and that all who came to the temple would feel the power of God (Doctrine & Covenants 109). One of the chief points of the dedicatory prayer and something that must have been chief on the mind of Joseph Smith was that the temple was a place for the Lord to manifest Himself to His people (Doctrine & Covenants 109:5). With the visitations of the Lord, both before and after the dedication, it had to have been evident to Joseph Smith that one of the main purposes for the Saints to continue to build temples was to have further interaction with the Lord (Hugh Nibley).

An important part of the Kirtland Temple experience to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery occurred one week after the dedication. On April 3, 1836, Joseph and Oliver offered prayer to the Lord and had a vision opened to them in which they saw Jesus Christ. He spoke to them and affirmed His acceptance of the temple and promised that He would manifest himself to them in that temple (Doctrine & Covenants 110:1-10). The pleadings of Joseph in the dedicatory prayer had been fulfilled. Perhaps more important to the theology of the Church is what happened next. In continuing with the Restorationist claims, Joseph and Oliver were visited by Moses, Elias, and Elijah who each restored keys, respectively, the keys of gathering Israel, the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant, and the power to bind on earth and in heaven, the sealing keys (Doctrine & Covenants 110:11-16). This restoration of authority from earlier Gospel dispensations would figure largely in the development of the temple endowment and further understanding of the Church’s mission on earth. Specific emphasis is placed on the sealing power in the context of the temple.

The Kirtland Temple is truly a unique building which provided a monumental experience in the life of Joseph Smith, his development as a religious leader, and in the lives of all the people who had a hand in its construction or participated in meetings there. A non-Mormon historian put this experience in the proper perspective as it relates to Joseph Smith and his followers:

The Kirtland Temple stands as a monument to Joseph Smith and to those faithful souls… It appears a miracle the temple was constructed and a second miracle it was not harmed in all the years since it was built… Members of the Church of Christ constructed a temple lovelier perhaps than Smith’s fondest hopes, for they were inspired by almost superhuman exertion of body and brilliance of mind, by their devotion to Smith and to the visions and revelations experienced by him. (Mrs. Peter S. Hitchcock)

It is important for us to understand and appreciate the Kirtland Temple today for several reasons. It represented a great sacrifice by the members of the Church at that time in which they demonstrated their desire to come closer to God and provide a place where they could be endowed with power and that they were willing to heed the call of their prophet. It was a unique period in the history of the Church in terms of the pentecostal outpourings associated with the completion and dedication of the temple. The keys restored there and the preparatory endowment of power received there would be crucial in the future of the Church in regards to building temples and within the Church’s theology. And it represents part of the dynamic charisma of Joseph Smith’s leadership that he could rally the destitute Saints he had around him and build such a disproportionately magnificent edifice to the means they possessed. It cannot be denied that, at the very least, Joseph and his followers were convinced that he was called and sustained by God as a prophet. Otherwise, it is quite doubtful that a building of the relative glory of the Kirtland Temple could have been built.

A sneak peek

Here is the first paragraph of the paper I'm writing about the Kirtland Temple... a little sneak peek for you....

“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.” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:119) This was the commandment given to Joseph with several brethren present on December 27, 1832. This was to be the first meetinghouse built by Joseph Smith and his followers. It is clear Joseph knew this was to be a Temple for the specific purposes to come into the presence of the Lord and be endowed with special blessings by him. In a letter to the Saints in Missouri, Joseph wrote, “You will see that the Lord commanded us in Kirtland to build an house of God… This is the word of the Lord to us, and we must, yea, the Lord helping us, we will obey, as on conditions of our obedience, he has promised us great things, yea even a visit from the heavens to honor us with his presence.” (Joseph Smith to William Phelps, Jan. 11 1833) This also demonstrates that Joseph recognized how important this and future temples would be in the spiritual development of his people.

Youtube

I find it incredible how much time you can waste on youtube... I just spent the last half hour on there without even breaking a sweat. There are about 4 movies that I watch every time I go on there. They are just too funny not to watch every few days... The other thing that gets me is sports. I would like to meet one of the people who spends who knows how long editing sports clips and putting them to 70s rock or rap. I can't imagine that these people weigh less than 300 pounds or have seen actual sunlight in the recent past. Although, since I spend so much time watching their videos maybe I shouldn't be insulting them.... It really is scary how much time youtube can take, especially when you're trying to get something important done. Perfect example, on Friday I was studying for a world civ test that I had to take by 4. I was studying for an hour or so when something made me think of the dunk that the dude in college did last week. Yada yada yada I had been watching clips of dunks for 45 minutes before I even thought to look at the clock. Then once I had seen how long I'd been doing it, I continued to watch for another 15 minutes or so before I thought "OK, an hour is probably enough time spent on dunks today." I knew it was too long but there was nothing I could do about it... It's like good crack cocaine or some other addictive substance.... you've got no control. Youtube? more like NoyoutimeTube.

My roommate Ryan

I just asked my roommate what I should write about in my blog this week and he being the egotist that he is suggested himself. So, being that I have nothing great to write about, I guess he'll do this week. I have known Ryan since playing football with him in 7th grade. I remember thinking he was pretty big. Sure enough 10 years later he is still big and fairly oafish... He was a great football player and our friendship developed to us having every class together in ninth grade including a great foods class with ms. bridge baby that we would pray in every class period. Ryan has always been quick with a joke and to light up your smoke. Speaking of Billy Joel, Ryan and I recently enjoyed a Billy Joel concert with a few of our other buddies. Ryan has always been very musically talented. In high school, he and I were members of the elite concert choir. He even took some private lessons with our choir director which I think he really enjoyed. I also just learned that Ryan delights in bringing harm to his own teammates. Well, first, Ryan was an amazing rugby player in high school for the world renowned Highland Rugby team. He now plays for the BYU Rugby team who yesterday beat the Runnin Utes of Utah. He just admitted that he gave one of his teammates a concussion, and earlier in the year he broke one of his teammate's ribs. Despite these violent reports Ryan really is a great guy and I have loved living with him this year and I am sure he is excited to live with me next year too. Ryan you pooper-scooper... love you bro................................... and he loves basketball!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u-cUz104Jk

What's going on in the Tanner Building stairs?

The stairs in the Tanner Building have been under construction for some time now. I was able to find out.... BYU has started a new program to help alleviate housing costs for one lucky family. With the economy the way it is and with so many empty stairwells, BYU's administration could turn a blind eye no longer. Because of federal and state housing regulations (i.e. people can't actually live in a stairwell) the BYU custodial crew has put up construction signs on the stairs where the family is living. Under these unsupposing auspices, a fortunate family is living for free.