D&C 109

As we are introduced to the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, I wanted to mention what David J. Ridges summarizes the events of the day - 

• Hundreds of people gathered early in the morning, hoping to get a seat in the temple for the services. 

• The doors of the Kirtland Temple were opened at 8:00 A.M. 

• About a thousand members were seated inside, but hundreds remained who could not get in. They were eventually seated in the schoolhouse, and the services were repeated for them the following Thursday. 

• At 9:00 A.M., President Sidney Rigdon began the seven-hour-long services by reading Psalms 24 and 96. 

• The choir sang. • Sidney Rigdon offered an opening prayer. 

• A hymn was sung. 

• Sidney Rigdon spoke for two and a half hours. 

• Joseph Smith was sustained as the Prophet and Seer of the Church. 

• The hymn “Now Let Us Rejoice” was sung. 

• A twenty-minute intermission followed. 

• Services were resumed by singing “Adam-ondi-Ahman.” 

• Joseph Smith spoke briefly. 

• The First Presidency and Twelve were then sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators, followed by the sustaining of other officers and leaders. 

• The Prophet then “prophesied to all, that inasmuch as they would uphold these men in their several stations, (alluding to the different quorums in the Church), the Lord would bless them; yea, in the name of Christ, the blessings of heaven should be theirs; and when the Lord's anointed go forth to proclaim the word, bearing testimony to this generation, if they receive it they shall be blessed; but if not, the judgments of God will follow close upon them, until that city or that house which rejects them, shall be left desolate” (History of the Church, Vol. 2, pages 418–19). 

• A hymn was sung. 

• The dedicatory prayer was offered by the Prophet Joseph Smith (as recorded in section 109). 

• Following the dedicatory prayer, the choir sang “The Spirit of God,” composed especially for the occasion by W. W. Phelps. 

• The Prophet “then asked the several quorums separately, and then the congregation, if they accepted the dedication prayer, and acknowledged the house dedicated. The vote was unanimous in the affirmative, in every instance” (History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 427). 

• The sacrament was then administered and passed to the congregation. 

• Various testimonies were given, including the witness that several angels had been seen during the services thus far. 

• Sidney Rigdon gave some closing remarks. 

• Sidney Rigdon gave a closing prayer. 

• The congregation stood and participated in the Hosanna Shout. Thus, the first temple in this dispensation was dedicated. Of the final portion of the dedicatory service, beginning with the administration of the sacrament, the Prophet recorded: 

“The Lord's Supper was then administered; President Don Carlos Smith blessed the bread and the wine, which was distributed by several Elders to the Church; after which I bore record of my mission, and of the ministration of angels.

 “President Don Carlos Smith also bore testimony of the truth of the work of the Lord in which we were engaged. 

“President Oliver Cowdery testified of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and of the work of the Lord in these last days. 

“President Frederick G. Williams arose and testified that while President Rigdon was making his first prayer, an angel entered the window and took his seat between Father Smith and himself, and remained there during the prayer. 

“President David Whitmer also saw angels in the house.

 “President Hyrum Smith made some appropriate remarks congratulating those who had endured so many toils and privations to build the house” (History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 427). 

The Prophet continued by describing the Hosanna Shout (bold added for emphasis): Hosanna Shout “President Rigdon then made a few appropriate closing remarks, and a short prayer, at the close of which we sealed the proceedings of the day by shouting hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb, three times, sealing it each time with amen, amen, and amen.

 “President Brigham Young gave a short address in tongues, and David W. Patten interpreted, and gave a short exhortation in tongues himself, after which I blessed the congregation in the name of the Lord, and the assembly dispersed a little past four o'clock, having manifested the most quiet demeanor during the whole exercise” (History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 428). 

That evening, a special priesthood meeting was held in the temple. Joseph Smith recorded special manifestations during that meeting. He said: 

“Brother George A. Smith arose and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place. This continued until the meeting closed at eleven p. m.” (History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 428).