The Saints labored and sacrificed for almost three years to build the Kirtland Temple. They saw the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise that if they would keep His commandments, they would “have power to build it” (D&C 95:11). On March 27, 1836, Saints attended the dedicatory service for the temple, and Joseph Smith offered the dedicatory prayer. He had received the words of the prayer by revelation before the dedicatory service. The prayer is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 109.
Temples Always Require Sacrifice
Follow the link below and review the list of questions members are asked to qualify for a recommend for the temple. As you do, ask the question “how do members sacrifice today or what sacrifices do members make today to enter the temple?”
John Tanner–a Man of Sacrifice
We watched a video in class about John Tanner–an early Church member who made many sacrifices for the Church, especially for the Kirtland Temple, at a time when the Church was in great financial need. The video link for his story is here:
John Tanner Story: Treasure in Heaven
“Some degree of sacrifice has ever been associated with temple building and with temple attendance. Countless are those who have labored and struggled in order to obtain for themselves and for their families the blessings which are found in the temples of God.
“Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure. They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort” (“The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World,” Ensign or Liahona,May 2011, 92).
We Can Feel Strength From Attending the Temple
Here’s a link to the video we watched in class called “Strength Beyond My Own.”
