The Lord’s House (D&C 110 & 124) QUESTIONS

The first part of this lesson addresses the acceptance, by the Lord, of the Kirtland Temple in 1836 (D&C 110). The second part is from the revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1841 (D&C 124) with the commandment to build another temple, in Nauvoo, as the temple in Kirtland had been lost to the mob and left behind when the Saints fled to Missouri in 1838.

 

READ D&C 110: 1-10

What is implied by the wording “the veil was taken from our minds and the eyes of our understanding were opened”?

Why are Christ’s eyes described as “a flame of fire”, His hair as “white like the pure snow”, His voice as the “rushing of great waters”, and His countenance as “shining above the brightness of the sun”?

Why was the Lord standing above them but under His feet was a “paved work of pure gold”?

Why does Christ begin His acceptance of the Temple with His words in verse 4?

Why does the Lord next forgive Joseph and Oliver’s sins?

How do we know Christ accepted the Kirtland Temple as His House?

What was the endowment given to the Saints in the Kirtland Temple, as the modern “Temple endowment” was not given by Joseph Smith to anyone until 1843 in the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo?

 

READ: As this vision closed, the heavens were again opened to their view, and they saw and beheld, and were endowed with knowledge from the beginning of this creation to the ends thereof. And they were shown unspeakable things from the sealed record of Heaven which man is not capable of making known but must be revealed by the Powers of Heaven. They beheld Michael, the archangel; Gabriel and Raphael, and divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the end of time, showing in turns their dispensations, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the Powers of their Priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; endowing them with knowledge, even here a little, and there a little; holding forth hope for the work God was yet to perform, even the revelation of all things which are to come upon the earth until the return of the Lord in glory with His holy angels—to pour out judgment upon the world, and to reward the righteous. And they were unable to take it in; therefore, they were commanded to pray and ask to comprehend by the power of the Spirit, to bring all things to their remembrance, even the Record of Heaven which would abide in them. Amen and Amen.

 

What endowment of knowledge did Joseph and Oliver receive in the Temple?

Why were Joseph and Oliver not able to take it all in and why were they even shown the vision if they could not comprehend it all?

 

 

Joseph Smith’s Offering to the Lord

 

READ D&C 124:1

What was Joseph’s offering, with which the Lord was well pleased?

Why does the Lord use the weak things of the earth as His tools?

 

READ D&C 124:2-11

If the Lord was ready to make Nauvoo (“this stake”) Zion, why did it not happen?

What is the difference between how Joseph viewed the kingdoms and leaders of the earth, versus how the Lord sees them?

If the Lord’s visitation comes quickly, in an hour Joseph Smith did not expect, what is implied?

What is the Lord’s message to the “great” people of the earth?

 

READ D&C 124:16-17

Unbeknownst to Joseph Smith at this time, John C. Bennett had been and was continuing to be a predatory adulterer of the first order; why is the Lord saying JCB would be “His” if he stays true to Joseph Smith and receives his counsel?

 

 

The Commandment to Build the Nauvoo Temple

 

READ D&C 124:26-28

What are the saints to build in Nauvoo?

Why are they to build this Temple in Nauvoo?

Why did the fullness of the Priesthood need to be restored again?

How had the fullness of the Priesthood had been lost by 1841, and what is implied?

How is the fullness of the Priesthood given or restored?

 

READ D&C 124:29-33, 37-38

Why does the Lord require a Temple building be built to perform baptism for the dead, unless the Saints are in poverty?

Why did the Lord set a deadline or “an appointment,” giving the Saints “sufficient time” to build the temple?

What does it mean to be rejected as a church, with your dead?

Were all baptisms deemed unacceptable to the Lord if the Saints failed to build the Temple, or just baptisms for the dead?

 

READ D&C 124:34

What are the “keys of the holy priesthood” being referenced here?

 

READ D&C 124:39-41

What knowledge via ordinances did the Lord want to reveal to the Saints in the Temple?

What is the objective of these ordinances?

 

READ D&C 124:42-43

Did Joseph Smith receive revelations detailing “all things” pertaining to the Temple?

Wasn’t the Temple in Zion supposed to be built in Jackson County?  Why is the Lord commanding them to build it in Nauvoo?

 

READ D&C 124:44

What does it mean that a place is made holy and how does this happen?

What were the conditions upon which the Lord would make this temple holy?

 

READ D&C 124:45-46

What was the Lord’s promise to the Saints in Nauvoo?

What message were the Saints to hearken to, so that they would not be moved out of their place?

If the Saints were to bring upon themselves a further curse (remember, they are already under condemnation per D&C 84 in 1832), what would the reason be?

 

READ D&C 124:47

What oath is the Lord referencing here?

Was just completing the building the Nauvoo Temple enough to receive back the fullness of the priesthood?

 

READ D&C 124:48

If the Saints failed to build the Temple on the Lord’s timetable or even had built the Temple in time but failed to do the things that He said to do, what would the consequences be?

Why would the Lord curse His people for not doing His will; why not just stop with the natural consequence of failing to get fullness of the priesthood restored again?

 

READ D&C 124:49

What does this verse teach us?

 

READ D&C 124:50

How long will the Lord’s curse last?

Why are the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren also effected by the curses of a “called” people who fail to do the Lord’s will?

 

READ D&C 124:55

Was the Nauvoo temple accepted by the Lord and made holy, or not?

If the Lord never visited the Nauvoo Temple, what are the implications?

Was the Church rejected with its dead?

Was the curse ever lifted?

 

 

Hyrum Receives the High Priesthood

 

READ D&C 124:91-96

What priesthood did Hyrum receive from the Lord in this revelation?

What is the Office of Priesthood and Patriarch and why is it hereditary?

What is implied by the fact that Joseph is to “show unto Hyrum” the keys whereby he may ask and receive blessings and glory, as opposed to Joseph “giving unto Hyrum” those keys?

What is being described in verses 94-96?

Did Hyrum rise up and receive these blessings?