Church History Matters Podcast

Host: Scripture Central
Episode: 148 – D&C 94–96 CFM – The Start of Latter-Day Temples – E36
Date: August 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the historical and doctrinal context of Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) sections 94–96, focusing on the early efforts to build the Kirtland Temple and establish Kirtland as a center of the Latter-day Saint movement. Hosts Scott and Casey discuss how these revelations represent the beginnings of Latter-day temple building, the challenges faced by early church members, and the intertwining of spiritual and practical concerns in establishing a “stake of Zion.” The conversation also threads through issues of revelation, obedience, church organization, and the meaning and manifestation of God’s love.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Structure & Approach: The Four Cs (Context, Content, Controversies, Consequences)

• Scott and Casey frame their discussion around this model to systematically analyze each section:
  • Context: Historical background and events leading to the revelation
  • Content: Main instructions and teachings of the section
  • Controversies: Challenging doctrinal or historical issues
  • Consequences: Immediate and long-term outcomes following the revelation
    “Going through the context, the content, the controversies, the consequences... that is really, really brilliant way of framing the Doctrine and Covenants.” – A (01:00)

2. Historical Backdrop: Two Church Centers and Chronology Mistakes

• Two Centers: Kirtland (temporary gathering place) and Missouri (intended as the City of Zion), each with unique challenges (02:15).
• Chronological Clarification: Section 94 is out of order due to historical printing errors; corrected dates as of 2013, but the order is retained for consistency (03:05, 04:03).

3. Section 95: The Push to Build the Kirtland Temple

Context (05:31)

• After D&C 88 (Dec 1832), the Saints were commanded to build a House of God in Kirtland for sacred assemblies and the School of the Prophets.
• A committee was appointed but failed to make progress, prompting a rebuking revelation.

Content (06:58)

• Loving Rebuke: The Lord chastens those He loves for neglecting the temple commandment (07:19).

  “For ye have sinned against me, a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment that I have given unto you concerning the building of mine house.” – B (07:29)

• Big Vision: Completion of the temple is essential to fulfill Joel 2:28 (outpouring of the Spirit) and endow church officers with spiritual power (08:16).
• Pentecost Parallel: The coming endowment is likened to the New Testament Pentecost (11:02).

  “It is a Pentecost indeed.” – B (11:22)

• Construction Instructions: Specific architectural guidelines and purposes—worship and learning—are outlined (12:54).

Controversies (16:13)

• Is God’s Love Conditional?
  • Verse 12 suggests the Father’s love may not “continue” with the disobedient, sparking questions.

  “Is God’s love unconditional or conditional?” – B (16:26)

  • Casey draws on Joseph Fielding McConkie’s classroom logic and contemporary language use. President Nelson’s 2003 “Divine Love” talk is referenced to clarify “higher levels” of love/blessings are conditional, but God’s essential love is enduring and universal (19:05–22:55).
  • The hosts urge nuance, comparing love to “trust” and explaining that further blessings require demonstrated faithfulness (23:00).

Consequences (24:46)

• Immediate Action: The Saints respond by organizing, fundraising, and physically commencing construction just days after the revelation (26:54–29:41).

  “Five days after this revelation, and we've got shovels in the dirt and supplies being ordered and we're off to the races.” – B (28:48)

4. Section 96: Overseeing the French Farm and United Firm Expansion

Context (29:53)

• The newly purchased Peter French farm (103 acres) needed oversight for temple building and community expansion. Disagreement led leaders to seek revelation (31:50).

Content (31:50)

• Appointment: Newel K. Whitney is designated to manage the land, which is to be subdivided and strategically used for scripture printing and supporting the United Firm (32:20).
• United Firm Addition: John Johnson is admitted to the United Firm to assist in managing and financially supporting church projects (33:27).

Controversies (34:32)

• Virtually none; the practicalities of management and United Firm operation are non-contentious (34:32).

Consequences (35:01)

• John Johnson moves to Kirtland, assumes management, and the French farm becomes a hub for building and printing efforts (35:01–36:25).

5. Section 94: City Planning and More Building Commandments

Context (36:40)

• By August 1833, Kirtland had land and initial construction begun. The Lord gives additional instructions for comprehensive city planning and infrastructure (37:32).

Content (38:14)

• Zion City Plat: The Lord commands the city be patterned after the Zion blueprint, with the temple at its center and two additional buildings—a house for the First Presidency and a print shop—flanking it (40:41–43:17).

  “You're going to have these three nearly identical buildings in the center of Kirtland that were to be used for worship, in a school of the prophets, first presidency office building, and a sacred print shop to print the translation of the Bible…” – A (43:17)

• Delay Command: These two additional buildings were not to be built until specifically instructed (43:40).

Controversies (44:48)

• Unfulfilled Commandments: Only Kirtland Temple was built; the First Presidency house and print shop were not constructed to specifications in Kirtland or Missouri (46:40).
  • Disruptions: Mob violence/displacement in Missouri derailed building efforts (48:11).
  • Adaptive Fulfillment: Printing was centralized in Kirtland (Doctrine & Covenants 1835 edition). The presidency’s work operated from Joseph Smith’s home (and later, in Salt Lake, fully realized with modern church buildings) (49:43–52:00).

  “They do get it done, just not precisely in the way that they thought it was going to happen.” – A (53:34)

Consequences (54:17)

• Kirtland adapts: Print operations are consolidated into multipurpose buildings, and the Saints improvise as best as possible.
• The overall vision—empowered church leaders and the spread of scripture—is partially fulfilled through these adaptations and becomes a template for future city-building out West (56:32).

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the urgency of following revelation:

  “The Lord is trying to help them prepare... for some pretty serious spiritual blessings.” – B (56:17)

• On how scriptural patterns emerge in LDS culture:

  “If this had come to pass... we’d have three Kirtland temple-looking buildings right in a row.” – B (43:17)

• On conditional love and trust:

  “How much can he invest in you? How much trust can he show in you? You've got to kind of work to that level.” – A (24:00)

• On Saints adapting in crisis:

  “[The Saints] did the best they could with what they had to fulfill the purposes of the revelation, even though they were not able... to build to the exact specifications.” – B (53:18)

• On the recurring theme of opposition:

  “We never begin to build a temple, but that the bells of hell begin to ring.” – A, quoting Brigham Young (48:21)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00: Comparing Nephi and early Saints—plans don’t always work as expected
• 02:15: Two church centers explained
• 05:31: Context for Section 95
• 07:19–09:09: Lord’s rebuke and vision for the Kirtland temple
• 11:02–11:36: Pentecost parallel for Kirtland
• 16:13–24:08: Conditional vs. unconditional love, President Nelson’s “Divine Love”
• 24:46–29:41: Consequences—beginning construction
• 29:53–31:50: Context for Section 96
• 33:27–35:01: John Johnson and United Firm changes
• 36:40–38:14: City plat instructions in Section 94
• 40:41–43:17: Three-building revelation for Kirtland
• 44:48–48:11: Why the Saints didn’t build all commanded structures
• 54:17–56:32: Synthesis—practical and spiritual intertwined

Final Thoughts

Scott and Casey’s discussion reveals the challenges and complexities faced by the early Saints—where spiritual imperatives met gritty reality, and perfect plans were often waylaid or adapted due to unforeseen difficulties. The episode closes by underscoring how revelation, obedience, adaptation, and persistent faith in pursuing “the work of the Lord”—even imperfectly—lay the enduring foundation for future growth, temple building, and the broader Latter-day Saint project.

Next Episode Teaser:
The conversation continues with Section 97, focused on Missouri and the growing persecution there.

End of Summary