The Command to Build a Temple

The House of the Lord

The crowning event of the Kirtland years was the building of a holy temple. It was constructed in spite of the Saints poverty and harassment by enemies. It was built of rough-finished native Berea sandstone that was stacked and mortared to build the walls. The rough rubble stone was then stuccoed on the outside and plastered on the inside. The temple was a monumental accomplishment considering the Church only consisted of a few hundred members, including men, women and children. In proportion to the limited resources and number of Saints, the Kirtland Temple is without a doubt the most costly temple ever constructed by the Church. An estimated of the construction was $40,000 in 1830’s dollars.

Enjoy this YouTube drone footage of the temple.

The Command to Build a Temple

Before the Church was a year old, Joseph Smith received a revelation instructing the saints to go to the Ohio (D&C 37) where the Lord would give the saints His law and endow them with power (D&C 38). Specifically the law came as D&C 42 but the endowing with power required a temple (D&C 95:8).

Two days after Christmas in 1832 a revelation was given, referred to as “Olive Leaf” (D&C 88), where the Lord commanded the saints to build a temple (D&C 88:119). The specific details of its construction was given in two separate revelations (D&C 94 & 95).

Brigham Young wrote:

“Joseph not only received a revelation and commandment to build a temple but he received a pattern also as did Moses for the tabernacle and Solomon for his temple for without a pattern he could not know what was wanting having never seen one and not having experienced its use.”

Orson Pratt echoed:

“He revealed the pattern according to which that house should be built pointing out the various courts and apartments telling the size of the house the order of the pulpits and in fact everything pertaining to it was clearly pointed out by revelation. God gave a vision of these things not only to Joseph but to several others and they were strictly commanded to build according to the pattern revealed from the heavens.”

The Kirtland temple served as a place to receive keys necessary for the salvation of man. These powers, the prophet taught, were essential to a fullness of the glory of God.

(More to come on the Temple)