Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Fifty-Seven

Temple Worship as Restored in Nauvoo

The endowment and baptisms for the dead was restored in Nauvoo – On May 4, 1842, Joseph knowing that he may not live to see the Nauvoo Temple completed, introduced the endowment to other leaders on the second floor of his Red Brick Store.  A pastoral scene, similar to the Garden Room in later temples, was painted on a wall, and evergreen branches were put about the room.

About the time the endowment was introduced the first baptism for the dead took place in the Mississippi River near Nauvoo.  To explain this ordinance, and to establish order, and to ensure these baptisms were being properly recorded the Prophet wrote two epistles in September 1842 as recorded in D&C 127 and 128.  We still follow these directives in temples today.

The temple endowment strengthened our ancestors – The saints in Nauvoo, including Albert Petty, my second great grandfather, continued to work on the temple after the martyrdom.  Persecution increased but Brigham Young understood the importance of the saints being endowed before they moved west.  The temple was finished and many members, including Albert and Lucinda Petty were endowed before they left Nauvoo.  It was “the fire of the covenant” they “made in the House of the Lord that burned in their hearts” that gave them strength to endure the hardship they encountered.

We live at a wonderful time – Joseph said that temple worship as we practice it are things  “…which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, and shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fullness of times” (D&C 128:18).  Primary children understand baptism for the dead, and young people come to the temple in great numbers all in fulfilment of this prophecy.

Alma prayed diligently to know more about the resurrection and the spirit world.  His prayers were answered when  an angel revealed to him the additional knowledge found in Alma 40.  However, the knowledge our children have of the resurrection (see D&C 76) and the spirit world, including work for the dead, (see D&C 138) far surpass the knowledge the saints had in Alma’s day.

All previous dispensations rejoiced in our dispensation because a new dimension and magnitude of vicarious temple work would be revealed.  Elder James E. Talmage wrote of our dispensation:  “The present is the age of greatest import in all history, embodying as it does the fruition of the past and the living seed of the yet greater future.  The present is the dispensation of fullness, for which the dispensations of bygone centuries have been but preliminary and preparatory.  The saving and sanctifying labor incident to modern Temples surpasses that of the Temples of earlier times as the light of the full day exceeds the twilight of the dawn” (The House of the Lord, p. 197).

Testimony – Often parents bring  their children to the temple where they are taught and believe that “families can be together forever.”  Children look forward to when they can do baptisms for the dead.  Youth are coming to the House of the Lord in unprecedented numbers.  The Lord has inspired amazing computer technology primarily for the advancement of His work.  He is raising up gifted generations to which this technology comes naturally.

The Lord is hastening his work.  Worldwide there are 300 temples that are either operating, under construction, or in the planning stage.  The work of this dispensation that takes place on both sides of the veil, and it will expand until it touches every person who has ever lived on this earth.  We all can be part of it as we worship and serve in the temple.