Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2021
Lesson No. Thirty-Nine

Temple Worship Restored – D&C 109 – 110

The two bookends of the Prophet’s ministry – When Moroni first visited Joseph he spoke about the Book of Mormon plates and also about the coming of Elijah.  (See Joseph Smith History 1:34-39)  These monumental events were the two bookends of Joseph’s ministry.  The first bookend was to bring forth the Book of Mormon.  Nine months after the Book of Mormon was published Joseph received his first revelation on the temple.  He was told to “go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high” (D&C 38:32).  The rest of Joseph’s life was primarily focused on the restoration of temple worship which is the other bookend of his ministry.

The dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple (D&C 109) – This prayer was given by revelation (see D&C 109 Headnote), and it introduces the concept of temple worship.  (See Vs 14, 24)  We are taught that those who worship in the temple are promised the most remarkable blessings, including the following:

“And do thou grant Holy Father that all those who shall worship in this house…that they may grow up in thee, and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost” (D&C 109:14-15) – This is the only place in scripture that the phrase “a fullness of the Holy Ghost” is used.  These are not idle words, and may best be understood by applying the principles of physics.  Physics teach that a small increase in the diameter of a pipe or a conduit exponentially increases the volume that can flow through the conduit.  The Holy Ghost is the conduit that spiritual gifts and powers flow into our lives.  If we can increase the conduit of the Holy Ghost into our lives to a fullness the spiritual gifts and blessings that follow will spill over into every dimension of our lives.  Temple worship will bless us in our marriage, in our family, in raising our children, in our relationships with others, in our work and profession, in our studies, and in our callings.  In short temple worship will bless us in every righteous responsibility and endeavor of our lives.

The temple is a house of faith (D&C 109:16) – The temple gives us power to see with an “eye of faith.”  This is a phrase that is used three times in the scriptures, all in the Book of Mormon. (See Alma 5:15; Alma 32:40; Ether 12:19) Each of these verses suggests the ability to see into the next life and make a connection between choices in this life and consequences in the next.  Many do not connect their choices today with the consequences that will result tomorrow, let alone in the next life.  Temple worship helps us to see with the eye of faith.  Everything done in the temple looks to the future and into the next life for both us and for others.

A current temple recommend (CTR) protects us against the world (D&C 109:24-26) – In our Church CTR stands for “Choose the Right”.  I propose an additional definition – “Current Temple Recommend”.  In the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland temple the Prophet prayed:  "We ask thee, Holy Father, to establish the people that shall worship and honorably hold a name and standing in this thy house, to all generations and for eternity; That no weapon formed against them shall prosper…; That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house” (D&C 109:24-26, emphasis added).  To honorably hold a name and standing in the House of the Lord is to have and use a current temple recommend.  Beginning at age 12 we should all have a current temple recommend for the rest of our lives.  A CTR is a standing invitation to come to the temple.

“I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house” (D&C 110:7) – This is the promise given to those who worship in the temple.  The Lord continues: “Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in the consequences of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house…and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people” (D&C 110:9-10). 

The restoration of the keys of the sealing power (D&C 110:13-16)– Peter, James and John came in June 1829 and restored the Melchizedek Priesthood to Joseph and Oliver.  They gave them the keys of the kingdom, the keys of this dispensation, and the apostleship.  Elijah came on April 3, 1836 and brought the keys of the sealing power, and the Lord thus revealed the total and complete use of the priesthood.  This authorized the priesthood to be used to bind on earth and to seal everlastingly in the heavens.   Through this sealing power all of the ordinances of the gospel are sealed and eternal so we can enjoy the blessing that come from them both in this life and the next.  (Attend a sealing session and listen closely to the final blessing of this ordinance.)

Testimony – Those who learn to worship in the temple know from personal experience that the Lord does fulfill His promise to manifest Himself to them in mercy in His house. (See D&C 110:7)