[Title] 1) Building the First Modern Temple 2) Building the Kirtland Temple 3) Joseph Smith

and The Kirtland Temple

[Kicker] When God called Joseph Smith and the early Church members to build the Kirtland
temple, they did it, even though it was hard. What does temple work mean for all of us?
[Highlights of the source article]
Joseph Smith [https://www.lds.org/topics/joseph-smith/testimony?lang=eng] knelt down in
prayer when he was only a 17 year old farm boy, hoping to receive forgiveness for personal sins
and to receive some direction for his life. He certainly didnt expect an angel to appear in his
bedroom, just as he probably hadnt expected the vision hed had three years earlier, where he
saw both God and Jesus Christ. But thats exactly what happened. Not only did the angel Moroni
appear, he instructed him and taught him from the scriptures. Moroni quoted the fifth verse of
Malachi 4 [https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/mal/4?lang=eng#], which talks about the
priesthood and the prophet Elijah, and stresses the point that without this priesthood the whole
earth would be utterly wasted.
In an article written for the Religious Study Center [https://rsc.byu.edu/], titled Joseph Smith
and the Kirtland Temple, 1836, [https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/joseph-smith-prophet-andseer/joseph-smith-and-kirtland-temple-1836] Steven Harper [https://rsc.byu.edu/authors/harpersteven-c] explains how incredibly important this particular verse would be in the life of Joseph,
as he would later receive this same priesthood from Elijah the prophet.
Receiving the priesthood meant that many important ordinances, or covenants and performances
of devotion, would be able to be restored and performed once again. In a revelation received by
Joseph in 1832 [https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/88?lang=eng], some of these
ordinances are mentioned, as well as a commandment to build the first temple of this
dispensation. This commandment was given to him and to the saints, and through all of their
efforts, the Kirtland temple was built. Following that revelation, and thanks to the construction of
the temple, more revelations regarding Gods plan for us have been revealed. An important and
marvelous work has started in these last days before Christs second coming. It was by no means
easy for the Saints to build the temple, but Joseph made sure to complete all that God had asked
him to do. Harper concludes his article by saying, We are the heirs of Josephs legacy. Let us
spend our lives gathering, endowing, and sealing the living and the dead. As Joseph once said
(Doctrine and Covenants 128:22 [https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dctestament/dc/128?lang=eng] ),Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 11:48 AM

Comment [1]: I like the third option, but I also
like the first option, if the edits are applied. There
were temples in ancient times, after all.

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:16 PM

Comment [2]: It wasnt clear who he was in
this sentence. The sentence has been revised for
clarity. Also, I had a question about this: The kicker
makes it seem like your piece will be about the
sacrifices of the Saints in building the temple, but
thats not what your piece is about. If you want to
bring that into your piece more, you totally canbut
right now your piece is about why temples matter, or
the history of modern temple-building.

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 11:54 AM

Comment [3]: Im not sure what you mean. Are
you saying we should learn from their example of
obedience? Are you saying that temples are ... [2]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 11:51 AM

Deleted: no matter how

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 11:51 AM

Deleted: it was, he made sure to complete it
... [1]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 11:57 AM

Deleted: When oseph Smith

Comment [4]: Wasnt this part of his experience

... [4]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 11:54 AM

Deleted: wasnt adnt expecteding tohave
... [5]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:02 PM

Comment [5]: Its not clear from this sentence
... [6]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 11:59 AM

Deleted: ,and nt only did the angel Moroni
... [7]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:01 PM

Comment [6]: Was it about the priesthood, ...
or[8]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:03 PM

Deleted: years later e would be the one toater
... [9]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:04 PM

Comment [7]: Its not clear from your wording
... [10]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:07 PM

Deleted: ie ordinances are mentioned, and... [11]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:17 PM

Comment [8]: The link between these two...ideas
[12]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:08 PM

Deleted: ,Aand a

Read more
Read Steven Harpers article, Joseph Smith and the Kirtland Temple, 1836.
https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/joseph-smith-prophet-and-seer/joseph-smith-and-kirtland-temple1836
Source: BYU Religious Studies Center [https://rsc.byu.edu/]

... [3]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 11:57 AM

... [13]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:09 PM

Comment [9]: Our nonmember audience might
... [14]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:11 PM

Comment [10]: When you shorten an authors
... [15]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:10 PM

Deleted: Steven

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:11 PM

Comment [11]: Since its a rhetorical question,
... [16]

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:11 PM

Deleted: asked

[Byline]
Annalisa Olivieri, Mormon Insights
Find more insights
Watch this video on the sealing power of the priesthood.
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-121-the-sealing-power?lang=eng
Watch this video of President Monson talking about temples.
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-04-4060-president-thomas-smonson?category=topics/temples&lang=eng
[Info for the Web Team]
[Tags:] temples, Kirtland temple, Joseph Smith, Malachi 4, Doctrine and Covenants
[SEO keywords:] temples, Joseph Smith, Doctrine and Covenants

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:13 PM

Comment [12]: What does he say about temples?
Try to give us more of a hint of what the video might
be about.

Erin Steenblik 10/28/2015 12:13 PM

Deleted: T