Messenger and Advocate (March 1836):277
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Dedication of the Kirtland Temple (Continued)
Hymn: This Earth was Once a Garden Place (Adam-ondi-Ahman) (Continued)
While Zion spread herself abroad,
- We read that Enoch walk'd with God,
- Above the power of Mammon:
And saints and angels sung aloud,
- In Adam-ondi-Ahman.
Her fame was known from east to west:
- Her land was good and greatly blest,
- Beyond old Israel's Canaan:
Her peace was great, and pure the rest
- Of Adam-ondi-Ahman.
When all the earth in glorious bloom,
- Hosanna to such days to come—
- The Savior's second comin'—
Affords the saints a holy home
- Like Adam-ondi-Ahman.
Vote to Affirm Quorums of the Church, Remarks by Joseph Smith, jr.
President J. Smith jr. then rose, and after a few preliminary remarks, presented the several Presidents of the church, then present, to the several quorums respectively, and then to the church as being equal with himself, acknowledging them to be Prophets and Seers. The vote was unanimous in the affirmative in every instance.—Each of the different quorums was presented in its turn to all the rest, and then to the church, and received and acknowledged by all the rest, in their several stations without a manife[s]t dissenting sentiment.
President J. Smith jr. then addressed the congregation in a manner calculated to instruct the understanding, rather than please the ear, and at or about the close of his remarks, he prophesied to all, that inasmuch as they would uphold these men in their several stations, alluding to the different quorums in the church, the Lord would bless them; yea, in the name of Christ, the blessings of Heaven shall be yours. And when the Lord's anointed go forth to proclaim the word, bearing testimony to this generation, if they receive it, they shall be blessed, but if not, the judgments of God will follow close upon them, until that city or that house, that rejects them, shall be left desolate. The following hymn was then sung:
Hymn: How Pleased and Blest Was I
"Come, let us seek our God to-day!"
- TUNE—Dalston.
- How pleased and blest was I,
- To hear the people cry,
And there our vows and honors pay.
- Yes, with a cheerful zeal,
- We'll haste to Zion's hill,
And walls of strength embrace thee round!
- Zion thrice happy place,
- Adorn'd with wondrous grace,
The sacred gospel's joyful sound.
- In thee our tribes appear,
- To pray, and praise, and hear
He sits for grace and judgment there:
- There David's greater Son
- Has fix'd his royal throne:
And humble souls rejoice with fear.
- He bids the saint be glad,
- He makes the sinner sad,
To bless the soul of every guest:
- May peace attend thy gate,
- And joy within thee wait,
A thousand blessings on him rest!
- The man that seeks thy peace,
- And wishes thine increase,
For here my friends and kindred dwells"
- My tongue repeats her vows,
- "Peace to this sacred house!
My soul shall ever love thee well.
- And since my glorious God
- Makes thee his blest abode,
Dedicatory Prayer
He then offered the dedication prayer, which was as follows:
Thanks be to thy name, O Lord God of Israel, who keepest covenant and shewest mercy unto thy servants, who walk uprightly before thee with all their hearts: thou who hast commanded they servants to build an house to thy name in this place. (Kirtland.) And now thou beholdest, O Lord, that so thy servants have done, according to thy commandment. And now we ask thee, holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of thy bosom, in whose name alone salvation can be administered to the children of men: we ask thee, O lord, to accept of this house, the workmanship of the hands of us, thy servants, which thou didst command us to build; for thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation: and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people.
And as thou has said, in a revelation given unto us, calling us thy friends, saying "Call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you; and as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom: Seek learning, even by study, and also by faith.
"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory a house of order, a house of God: that your in comings may be in the name of the