Temples and the Redemption of the Dead

My brethren and sisters, I have been very much interested in the remarks of Brother Ivins, and rejoice with him exceedingly that we have this opportunity to meet together in this comfortable hall, where we are sheltered from the storm, and where we can commune together in regard to the work of the Lord in which we are all deeply interested. ¶

Early in February, 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith and one or two of his associate brethren arrived in the town of Kirtland; a town that has become memorable on account of its associations, and because the first temple erected by the Latter-day Saints is located there. On his arrival in Kirtland, the prophet went into the store of Gilbert and Whitney, and, walking up to Mr. Whitney, who was then a member of that firm, but not a member of the Church, he said, "Newel K. Whitney, thou art the man. You have prayed me here; now what do you wiant me to do?" Mr. Whitney said, "You have the advantage of me; I do not know you." The prophet smilingly replied, "I am known as the Prophet Joseph Smith." Mr. Whitney welcomed him kindly and took him home. The prophet Joseph and his wife remained domiciled with Newel K. Whitney and family during the fore part of the year. Soon after this, some of the Saints began moving farther west, into the state of Missouri; and during the latter part of 1831, the prophet himself visited that state, and also in 1832. Previous to his second visit to the state of Missouri, he lived in the town of Hiram, but moved back to Kirtland again in 1833. When the Saints were driven from Jackson county, where the center stake of Zion was designated, many of the people moved to Kirtland, from Missouri, and Kirtland became a ward of the Church, numbering one thousand five hundred souls, most of whom were young men and young women, without families. You may thus understand that the town of Kirtland in 1833 was a strong branch of the Church. In March of that year, the first stake of Zion was organized, and the first High Council in connection with the Church. The Prophet Joseph and his counselors, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, were the presiding officers of the stake. This implies they did not organize a presidency of the stake aside from the prophet and his counselors. The stake was well organized, having its High Council and other officers complete. ¶

On the 14th day of February, 1835, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was organized, the first in this dispensation. In the months of February and March following,, the first two quorums of Seventy were organized. On the 27th day of March, 1836, the Temple of the Lord was dedicated. You will realize something of the spirit of that solemn occasion by reading the dedicatorial prayer offered by the Prophet Joseph Smith, contained in the 109th section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. The revelation which is found in the 110th section, which was given to the Prophet a few days later, proclaims the fact that seven days after the dedication of that temple the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery beheld the Savior standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, upon a platform of pure gold shining like amber, brighter than the noon-day sun. The Savior declared to the Prophet and to his associate that He was the Mediator with the Father for His people, from that time forth. At that time Moses came also and delivered the keys of the gathering of Israel. Also, the great Prophet Elijah, that was taken into heaven without tasting death, came in accordance with the promise of the Angel Moroni, when he informed the youthful prophet concerning the plates on which was engraved the Book of Mormon; for Moroni said that the Lord would send these great leaders of dispensations to the Prophet Joseph. Elijah delivered the keys that were to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children. That Temple was erected without a baptismal font, for the reason that the keys of baptism for the dead were not given by Elijah to the prophet till after its completion. Temples since that day have had placed in their basement rooms, the molten sea, or baptismal font, for the redemption of the living and the dead. The first stake of Zion was organized in Kirtland. Now we have sixty-one stakes. We have grown a little. Assuredly there has been some increase of power among this people. The organizations were continued in Illinois, and finally, when Brigham Young reached Salt Lake Valley, after the breaking up of the people and their expulsion from their homes in the state of Illinois, a stake of Zion was organized here in Salt Lake valley in 1847-8. John Smith, the uncle of the prophet, and the presiding patriarch at that time, was ordained president of the stake, the first stake of Zion in the intermountain country. The growth of the Latter-day Saints is attributable to the fact, in my estimation, that they, at least a large majority of them, have sought with all their hearts to keep the commandments of God, and they have shown their faith by their works. In place of only one temple, and that one without a baptismal font, we have today four completed edifices of that kind, all having this wonderful preparation within their walls for the redemption of our dead kindred. ¶

Brother Ivins alluded very feelingly to the death of President John R. Winder. From the beginning of our temple work in this city, president John R. Winder has been a leading spirit and diligent worker in the house of the Lord. In October, 1891, the Saints passed a resolution at their conference, moved by President Francis Marion Lyman, that the temple be completed at the April conference of 1893, or at the end of the forty years from the time of its commencement. Brother Winder was then placed in charge of that work. I speak of him now with my heart full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father that I had the pleasure of knowing him intimately, probably as much so as any man, for I say with pride and gratitude that I have been very near him as his medical adviser. You know, we get every close to men with our sympathy and love during the hours of their suffering and pain; the heart of the doctor is drawn out in love and tenderness for the sufferer. This has been my experience. Now I want to say this, that President Winder when he had the charge of completing the temple, although the foreman of the builders and the architects themselves declared it would be impossible to gather sufficient material of requisite kinds to complete it within the time named, yet it was done because President Winder stood always upon this platform, "It must be done; the temple must be finished on time for its dedication at the end of forty years." It was accomplished at the April conference of 1893, through the energy of the brethren and the Saints generally, their means being freely given for that purpose. The faith and prayers of the Latter-day Saints, and their earnest works in that direction were crowned with success. Other temples have been completed in this intermountain region, and the brethren who have the presidency of this work, the leaders in these ordinances, have been energetic to that degree that millions of people in the spirit world have had the ordinance of baptism performed for them by living friends and kindred. These faithful workers, among the foremost of whom was President John R. Winder, with the brethren and sisters who form the corps of workers in each temple, have been diligent and faithful for all these years; and we may ask ourselves "What will the harvest be?" How glorious will be the welcome of President John R. Winder and others as they go into the spirit world and meet their kindred and those for whom they have worked in the temples of the Lord! You can imagine for yourselves, my brethren and sisters, occupants of a prison house, without the freedom that the Gospel brings, how they must rejoice when they learn that the ordinance of the Gospel has been performed vicariously for them, that will give them their freedom from the bonds of death, hell and the grave. We can rejoice today, my brethren and sisters, for the blessings of the Lord which have been showered upon His people. From this barren country that Emerson pronounced unfit for white man to live in, gardens and orchards have sprung up as if by magic, and the Lord has sent the early and the later rains for the benefit of His children. Daniel Webster, who was a great statesman as you well remember, asked, "For what purpose does the president of the United States purchase the Louisiana District, including this great western and intermountain region, what is his aim and object, I cannot fathom. It is a country of rock and sagebrush plains, where nothing that is food for man can grow, and inhabited by lizards and poisonous reptiles, and the wildest kind of untamable savages." But the Lord led His servants here, Brigham Young and his pioneer band, and indicated to him that here he would find a refuge for His people. The refuge was found, and in this valley of the Great Salt Lake, a successful colony and community of living working people was established. The thrift and industry of the Latter-day Saints have been manifested from the first by the results attained in this once sterile country, in causing it to blossom and become fruitful. ¶

As I remarked in the beginning of my conversation this morning, in Kirtland we had one stake of Zion; today we have sixty-one. That is some growth, and there is some advancement. Today, as Brother Ivins truly said, we are beginning to rank with people who are known to be foremost as educators. Our schools rank very high in the records of the United States; we are among the five most advanced states of the Union in literacy, away up among the leaders, although we are but a youthful state. ¶

The Church today is approaching its eightieth birthday, which will be on the 6th of this month. We can realize my brethren and sisters, that the Lord has been very kind to His children. Not only have the Latter-day Saints been benefited by the redemption of this intermountain country, but all people of the Union and of other countries are looking toward this great region of the west as a safe place for homes and investment. Many visitors come to our cities, and especially this great city, and are favorably impressed and more are coming. Many of the people in the East are looking to the West, to these once arid plains and valleys. ¶

I rejoice with you today, because I know the principles of the Gospel which we have received are true. I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired by the Spirit of the Lord to organize this Church, and to organize the quorums of the Priesthood, and that Brigham Young and those who have succeeded the Prophet Joseph have been inspired to gather the people, to this land of Zion, and we are here rejoicing this day in general conference because of the blessings of the Lord unto us. ¶

May we be faithful and true, and always have a living testimony within our hearts of the truth of this great work, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen. ¶