The Kirtland temple

How many times did I get emotional on this 12 day trip? I'm not sure. But my eyes almost leaked twice while in Kirtland.

Once was while I was in the visitor center, which is a short drive from the temple. We went there first. The tour started with a 24 minute movie about what the Saints went through to build the temple there. There was one part where Joseph Smith heard another person speak of their struggles, and he said with such conviction: After much tribulation comes the glory. And it struck me because we first went to Palmyra, and then Independence, then here. Joseph gave everything he had to building this Church up. He was persecuted so severely his entire life. He was a farm boy who was asked by God to lead others in sacred things.

We have it so easy. Like running water, for one thing. And electricity. We have heat all winter long without having to haul or chop any wood. We went to see the Joseph and Emma house, a short walk from the temple. Looking out the window there was a cemetery and then the temple. The cemetery is where they buried their twins. They traveled from New York in the winter, probably contributing to the loss of the babies. They adopted a set of twins, and one of them died too. I can't even imagine. They had 9 children, adopted 2, and only 5 of them made it to adulthood. The twins were named Thaddeus and Louisa, but 2 of their other babies died before receiving names. How can I possibly comprehend such loss?

Emma and Joseph lived in the house by the temple for four years, the longest they ever lived in one place. And then they had to leave for Missouri. They had to leave the temple, and the graves of their children and start all over again. So much deprivation. So much faith. They left Ohio because of persecution. Persecution was the reason they eloped, because Emma's parents didn't like the opposition Joseph was facing. Truth and light can bring out the best in people. And the worst.

They could see the temple being built from their house. (The tour guide said the Church spent 10 years researching the house so they could do their best to restore it.) What kind of faith did it take to build that temple? What kind of faith did it take to leave it behind two years after that? The early Saints had to keep moving forward and not look back. They had all the ingredients for the greatest of joy, but it was always mixed in with the greatest trials.

The Kirtland temple is exquisite. We entered through some very impressive and tall doors, then up some steep stairs. I've been working on getting in shape for a year and a half now, but I was out of breath by the top floor with the steep stairs (I could also argue that the serenity of the building took my breath away). The windows were just beautiful. The history of the building and the people in it - was so tremendous. The middle floor had white wooden benches. The bottom floor had white benches that were padded with red velvety fabric. This was in front of the stand where Jesus came to talk with Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry. And Moses. And Elias. And Elijah. This was shortly after the dedication and is found in D&C 110. We sat on the benches and heard some more history on the dedication of the temple - see D&C 109.

Then one of the biggest highlights of my trip was when the tour guides gave us the lyrics to the hymn The Spirit of God, and asked us to stand and sing it together. We were in a tour group of 25 people, and it was impromptu a Capella. I fought to keep my voice steady because it was only one verse and I was determined to add my full voice to this sweet moment, no matter how much emotion washed over me. It was extraordinary. I was thinking of how my stake president said that singing is a great way to share testimony, and to feel the gospel. And that we should always sing like there were angels helping us. It was a moment when time stood still.

The Spirit of God like a fire is burning! The latter-day glory begins to come forth; the visions and blessings of old are returning, and angels are coming to visit the earth.

We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven, Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb! Let glory to them in the highest be given, henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!

I thought it was amazing that there were three songs sung at the temple dedication. The other two were Adam-ondi-Ahman and Now Let Us Rejoice. I invite you to read these songs, and listen to them being sung. I cannot wait until I get to sing them again with my entire congregation. From now on I will sing them, and I will think of how it was my voice that joined others and bounced off the hallowed walls of that first temple.

The comparison I can make is when someone gives you a new baby, and you hold it in your arms, but you also hold it with your eyes. You stare intensely at it, soaking up every detail of their eye color and tiny nose and big open mouthed smile. You revel in how the little one gazes so deeply into your soul as they stare you down. And you fall in love the moment your eyes meet. That's how I felt when I was in the Kirtland temple. It was precious, it was heartwarming, it was like the rest of the world didn't exist because I was so caught up in the tender moment.

I feel deeply blessed for this experience. The people who built this temple put in the blood, sweat, and tears and set wheels in motion. Because of this kind of faith I could one day receive a random phone call from a missionary in 1988, asking me if I would like to learn more. This building was constructed by such faithful people, and ready to present to the Lord in 1836. That was152 years before I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as an 18 year old in western Canada.

The bottom line is the burning question: What does the Lord ask of me now?

This is the place. This is where I can ponder the great things the Lord has in store for me.

This is the place that reminds me to ask three questions. What do I want? What does the Lord want? And what am I going to do about the difference between the two?