Current Lessons
Lesson No. Thirty Three

The Holy Week in Jerusalem and Another Holy Week in Kirtland

The Holy Week in Jerusalem – Modern apostles and prophets have encouraged us to become familiar with the events of Easter week beginning with Jesus’ triumphal enter into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and culminating in His atonement. The atonement of Christ includes His suffering in Gethsemane, His infinite and eternal sacrifice on Calvary, and His glorious resurrection on the first Easter morning. These are the most important event in all time and eternity.

The Holy Week in Kirtland is not well known but it is extremely important – This week began on Sunday, March 27, 1836 with the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, the first temple in our dispensation. It culminated one week later, on Sunday, April 3, 1836 with the visions given to the Prophet Joseph Smith as recorded in D&C 110. (Next week’s lesson will discuss these extremely important visions)

The dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple was given to the Prophet Joseph by revelation and is recorded in D&C 109 – In this prayer the Prophet introduced the idea of temple worship. (See vs 14) Sometimes we speak about going to the temple or going through the temple, however, our focus ought to be to worship in the temple. Temple worship brings many great blessings, including the following:

1. “a fulness of the Holy Ghost” – “All those who worship in this house…may grow up in thee, and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost” (Vs 14-15). This is the only place in all of scripture that the phrase “a fulness of the Holy Ghost” is used. I believe this means that the Holy Ghost will guide us in every dimension of our lives. He will guide us in our marriage, in our family with our children and grandchildren, in all of our relationships. He will guide us in our callings, in our work, and in every worthy effort. Elder Boyd K. Packer expressed it so well: “I have a conviction that the Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the temples. Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service. We will be blessed in all of our affairs. We will be eligible to have the Lord take an interest in our affairs, both spiritual and temporal....Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people” (The Holy Temple, p. 205).

2. “and be organized according to thy laws” (Vs 15) – There is no legislature, parliament, or any person or entity that is part of the world we live in that has any power beyond the grave. Only in the House of the Lord can eternal families be organized on both sides of the veil.

3. “a house of prayer” (Vs 16) – In the House of the Lord many prayers are offered and answered. On any given day there is over 150,000 individual names on the prayer rolls at the Jordan River Temple. This is in addition to the many silent personal prayers offered by patrons and workers.

4. “a house of faith” (Vs 16) – In the temple, better than anywhere else, we can learn to “see with the eye of faith” (Alma 5:15; Alma 32:40; Ether 12:19). These verses are the only place in scripture this phrase is used. To “see with the eye of faith” suggests the ability to see into the future and make a meaningful connection between our actions today and the consequences tomorrow.

5. Special blessing for missionaries are set forth (See Vs 22-23) - We understand why missionaries are endowed prior to their missions or as soon as possible after they have started.

6. “to honorably hold a name and standing in the house of the Lord” (Vs 24) is to have a Current Temple Recommend (CTR, this is another meaning in addition to “Choose The Right”).

7. “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 hall be put in this house” (Vs 25-26). This is a promise to those who use and are worthy of a temple recommend.

Spiritual Manifestations at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple – The Prophet Joseph wrote: “Brother Georg 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 11pm” (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, p 100).

Testimony and application for our day – It is highly appropriate that we connect Easter to the temple and to temple worship. It is in the House of the Lord that we can receive the greatest blessings that Easter brings. It is by worshiping in the House of the Lord that we learn more about Him, and it is where we are given the power of His atonement and of His resurrection in the greatest measure.

Released on March 24th. 2024.