September 29–October 5: “It Is Thy House, a Place of Thy Holiness”: Doctrine and Covenants 109–110
“September 29–October 5: ‘It Is Thy House, a Place of Thy Holiness’: Doctrine and Covenants 109–110,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 (2025)
“Doctrine and Covenants 109–110,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: 2025
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dedication of the Kirtland Temple
A Glorious Light—Kirtland Temple, by Glen S. Hopkinson
September 29–October 5: “It Is Thy House, a Place of Thy Holiness”
The doors to the Kirtland Temple weren’t supposed to open until eight o’clock on the morning of March 27, 1836. But Saints who were hoping to attend the dedication services started lining up as early as seven. An overflow location and then a second session were needed to accommodate everyone. And it wasn’t just the living who were eager to be present. Multiple witnesses saw angels inside the temple and even on the roof, during and after the dedication. It really did seem that “the armies of heaven” had come to “sing and [to] shout” with the Latter-day Saints (“The Spirit of God,” Hymns, no. 2).
Why the great excitement—on both sides of the veil? After centuries, there was a house of the Lord again on the earth. The Lord was fulfilling His promise to endow His Saints “with power from on high” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:32). And this, He declared, was only “the beginning of the blessing” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:10). The era we now live in—with accelerated temple work and ordinances available to millions of the living and the dead—had its beginning in Kirtland, when “the veil o’er the earth [was] beginning to burst” (“The Spirit of God”).
The Lord offers me rich blessings through temple covenants.
The Kirtland Temple was different from temples we know today. There were no altars and no baptismal font, for example. But the blessings described in section 109, the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple, are also available in the Lord’s house today. Review the following verses to find some of these blessings, and ponder how they can help strengthen your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
If you have been to the house of the Lord, think about how these promises have been fulfilled in your life.
The hymn “The Spirit of God” (Hymns, no. 2) was written for the Kirtland Temple dedication—and it has been sung at every temple dedication since. Consider singing or listening to it as part of your study and worship. What blessings of the temple do you find described in this hymn?
Section 109 is a dedicatory prayer that was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith by revelation (see section heading). What do you learn about prayer from this section? For example, you might make note of what the Prophet gave thanks for and what blessings he asked for. What else did he say in this prayer? As you study, you might evaluate your own communication with Heavenly Father. What do you learn about Him and His Son from this prayer?
If you’d like to read the dedicatory prayers of other temples, including the temple nearest you, visit the temple’s page at temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
As you read the descriptions of the Savior in Doctrine and Covenants 110:1–10, including the section heading, ponder what these verses suggest about Him.
How does Jesus Christ manifest Himself—or make Himself known to you—in His house? How does He help you know that He accepts your sacrifices?
The Savior directs His work through priesthood keys.
Just before Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared in the temple to restore priesthood keys, Jesus Christ said, “This is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:10). As you read verses 11–16, think about the blessings that the Savior is pouring out on you through the work directed by these keys. For example:
Verse 11: Moses and the keys of the gathering of Israel (or missionary work). How has the Lord blessed you and your family through the missionary efforts of His Church?
Verse 12: Elias and the keys of the gospel of Abraham, including the Abrahamic covenant. How could the Lord bless you and the “generations after [you]” because of your covenants? (See Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant,” Liahona, Oct. 2022, 4–11; Guide to the Scriptures, “Elias,” Gospel Library.)
Verses 13–16: Elijah and the sealing power, manifested through temple and family history work. Why do you think Heavenly Father wants you to be connected to your ancestors through temple ordinances? (See Gerrit W. Gong, “Happy and Forever,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 83–86.)
What connections do you see between these keys and our responsibilities in God’s work of salvation and exaltation (living the gospel, caring for people in need, inviting all to receive the gospel, and uniting families for eternity)?
What experiences have you had with the work of God’s salvation and exaltation? What are these experiences teaching you about the Savior, His Church, and His work?
Find ways to include others. If you are teaching about Doctrine and Covenants 110:11–16, you might consider assigning each learner to study about Moses, Elias, or Elijah and the keys he restored. Then learners could share with each other what they discovered. An approach like this involves everyone in learning and teaching. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 24–27).
For more ideas, see this month’s issues of the Liahona and For the Strength of Youth magazines.
You and your children could talk about something you love about your home. Then you could look at a picture of the Kirtland Temple and use Doctrine and Covenants 109:12–13; 110:1–7 to talk about how that temple was dedicated and became the Lord’s house (see also “Chapter 39: The Kirtland Temple Is Dedicated,” in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 154, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library). Share with each other something you love about the Lord’s house.
Perhaps you and your children could imagine that a friend is trying to find your house. How would we help our friend know which house is ours? How do we know that the temple is the Lord’s house? (see Doctrine and Covenants 109:12–13).
The Savior is blessing His people through priesthood keys.
You could use this week’s activity page or “Chapter 40: Visions in the Kirtland Temple” (in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 155–57, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library) to tell the children about the heavenly beings who visited the temple. You could also use the picture at the end of this outline.
To learn about the importance of what happened in the Kirtland Temple, you and your children could talk about what keys do. Maybe your children could take turns holding keys and pretending to open a locked door. Help them find the word keys in Doctrine and Covenants 110:11–16, and talk about the blessings that these keys unlock. You might explain that priesthood keys are God’s permission to lead His Church. Share your gratitude that the Lord gave us priesthood keys.
The Savior wants me to turn my heart to my ancestors.
After reading Doctrine and Covenants 110:15 together, tell your children about an experience that helped turn your heart to your ancestors. You could also sing a song together like “Family History—I Am Doing It” (Children’s Songbook, 94).
What might help “turn the hearts” of your children to their ancestors? You can find some fun ideas at FamilySearch.org/discovery. You could work together to identify ancestors who need temple ordinances. Why does Jesus want us to do this work?
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
