Podcast Summary: Church History Matters

Episode 157 – D&C 109 CFM – The Beginning of Modern Day Temples – E40
Released: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Scott (A) & Casey (B)

Overview

This episode explores the origins and significance of the Kirtland Temple dedication, focusing on Doctrine and Covenants Section 109. Scott and Casey delve deep into the historical, scriptural, and spiritual context of the first Latter-day Saint temple, drawing parallels with ancient temple dedications and discussing the prayer’s enduring doctrinal influence. The episode builds a richly detailed narrative, highlighting the sacrificial efforts of early Saints, unique spiritual manifestations at Kirtland, and the precedent D&C 109 sets for modern temple worship and Latter-day Saint identity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Kirtland Temple in Context

• The Temple as Culmination: The dedication represents the fulfillment of revelations, starting with D&C 2 (Moroni's prophecy to Joseph Smith about Elijah's coming), and building through sections 88, 95, and others urging saints to build the temple.
  • “This is a culmination of lots of sections of the Doctrine and Covenants...This is a big payoff.” – Scott [00:56]
• Recent History: In 2024, ownership of the Kirtland Temple returned to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, enhancing its status as a public historical site and teaching location.
• Nature of the Temple: The Kirtland Temple functioned as a religious, educational, and administrative center—unlike later ordinance-focused temples. It remains open for tours and educational visits today.

2. The Dedication Event: Rituals, Prayer, and Spiritual Manifestations

• Unique Scriptural Moment: D&C 109 is one of only two canonized dedicatory prayers (alongside Solomon’s Temple in 1 Kings 8/2 Chronicles 6). Joseph Smith drew inspiration from Solomon’s scriptural language.
  • “You can see that Joseph was carefully embedded in the scriptures…and it flows and it’s all mixed together with the old and the new.” – Scott [06:04]
• Service Structure:
  • Began at 9:00am with an opening prayer (Sidney Rigdon) and a lengthy (2.5-hour) sermon.
  • Congregational affirmation of Joseph Smith as Prophet.
  • Presentation of church leaders, hymns, a short intermission, Joseph’s address, the reading of the dedicatory prayer, “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning” performed, sacrament administered, testimonies, the hosanna shout (first time in this dispensation), and spiritual gifts—including speaking and interpreting tongues.
  • Ended around 4:00pm.
  • “What a meeting!” – Scott [11:34]
• Spiritual Outpouring: The event was marked by extraordinary manifestations—a literal cloud, a rushing wind, visions, and widespread speaking in tongues.
  • “Almost everybody that was there experienced something. It was kind of a spiritual outpouring that we’ve never seen before or since in the history of the church.” – Casey [28:36]
  • Notable story: a baby in attendance reportedly joined the hosanna shout, remaining quiet for the 7-hour service. [28:36]

3. Dissecting the Dedicatory Prayer (D&C 109)

• Themes and Scriptural Allusions:
  • Gratitude for God’s covenants and mercy (echoing Solomon’s prayer).
  • Acknowledgement of the saints’ sacrifice—“out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name…” [14:23].
  • Quoting and paraphrasing earlier revelations, including D&C 88 (“house of prayer, fasting, faith, glory, order, God”).
  • Pleas for God’s acceptance of the temple and His presence within it.
• Blessings Sought:
  • Outpouring of the Spirit, wisdom and learning, sanctification for those who enter.
  • “Endowment of power from on high” for those who gather, enabling missionary work—“It’s always the idea you get power, then you go out and share God’s good tidings.” – Scott [17:17, 24:14]
  • Protection amid persecution: “No combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people, upon whom thy name shall be put in this house.” [24:14]
  • Deliverance from enemies and forgiveness for the saints’ own transgressions.
  • Comparison to Pentecost: desire for gifts of the Spirit, including tongues, and a “rushing mighty wind” (Acts 2 parallels).
• Evangelical Mission: The prayer acknowledges the coming calamities of the last days (linked back to D&C 1) and frames the temple as a gathering place for Israel, Gentiles, and all willing to receive the gospel. There’s emphasis on proactively sharing the faith before the prophesied judgments are poured out (see [35:41]).
• Mercy for Persecutors & Rulers:
  • The prayer shifts to intercede for the saints’ enemies in Missouri, including prayers for their repentance, echoing Christ’s admonition to pray for one’s adversaries. [39:19]
    • “Have mercy, O Lord, upon the wicked mob who have driven thy people, that they may cease to spoil, that they may repent of their sins if repentance is to be found.” – Joseph Smith’s prayer [39:19]
  • Prays for all nations and their leaders to be softened, for religious liberty, and for the fulfillment of the gathering of Israel.

4. Restoration & Gathering: The Universal Promise

• Gathering of Israel: The prayer invokes Old Testament and Book of Mormon prophecies, asking for the gathering and redemption of Jews, Lehi’s remnant (Native Americans), and all scattered Israel. [43:54, 48:13]
  • “Anybody can choose to be part of this royal family. It is not exclusive.” – Casey [50:17]
  • “When you receive Jesus, welcome to the family.” – Scott [50:39]
• Inclusivity: Emphasizes Latter-day Saint teaching that all can be adopted into Israel via covenant—“inclusive, not exclusive.”
• Personal Petitions: Joseph pleads for blessings on himself, his family, church leaders, and all afflicted saints [52:01], and for the church to emerge “out of obscurity” as seen in the stone-cut-out and wilderness prophecies (Daniel, Revelation 12).

5. Millennial Vision and Final Supplication

• Eschatological Hopes:
  • Saints hope to be “caught up in the cloud to meet thee” in the resurrection; pray for purity, joy, and eternal reward.
  • “…that our garments may be pure, that we may be clothed upon with robes of righteousness, with palms in our hands and crowns of glory…” [56:01]
• Legacy of D&C 109:
  • Set the pattern for all subsequent temple dedicatory prayers and modern temple worship.
  • Taught Latter-day Saints how to pray, what to pray for, and defined the doctrine of progressive sanctification (“grow up by degrees of glory…”).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Outpouring at Kirtland:

  • "This was a huge undertaking that took years. What a culmination.” – Scott [06:04]
  • “I saw the glory of God like a great cloud come down and rest upon the house...it filled the house like a mighty rushing wind.” – Oliver Cowdery [30:47]
  • “Almost everybody that was there experienced something. It was kind of a spiritual outpouring that we’ve never seen before or since in the history of the church.” – Casey [28:36]

• On Praying for Enemies:

  • “Have mercy, O Lord, upon the wicked mob who have driven thy people, that they may cease to spoil, that they may repent of their sins if repentance is to be found.” [39:19]
  • “The prophet’s a Christian, so he’s following those instructions.” – Casey [39:58]

• On the Universalism of the House of Israel:

  • “Anybody can choose to be part of this royal family. It is not exclusive.” – Casey [50:17]
  • “It’s totally inclusive when you receive Jesus. Welcome to the family.” – Scott [50:39]

• On Restoration as Ongoing:

  • “There’s more to come. And I think it’s super cool that the Nauvoo Temple…was a representation of the church…coming out of the wilderness and being unmistakable.” – Scott [53:25]

• On Rituals Introduced:

  • The hosanna shout and “Spirit of God” became standard in future dedications.
  • “Since it was first utilized in the Kirtland Temple, the hosanna shout has…become a cherished tradition that we still do today.” – Scott [58:04]
  • Mention of the “lost verse” of “The Spirit of God” referring to washings, anointings, and foot washing. [59:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kirtland Temple Context & Ownership: [00:56]–[03:07]
• The Dedication Ceremony Overview: [08:45]–[11:34]
• Dedicatory Prayer Breakdown Begins: [12:30]–[59:35]
• Miraculous Manifestations & “Endowment of Power”: [28:36]–[34:02]
• Praying for Enemies and the Nations: [39:19]–[43:54]
• Gathering of Israel/Inclusiveness: [48:13]–[50:39]
• Personal & Leadership Petitions: [52:01]–[56:01]
• Millennial Hopes/Legacy of Section 109: [56:01]–[70:27]
• Controversy: Who Is 'Jehovah' in the Prayer?: [61:13]–[68:17]
• Consequences and Legacy of D&C 109: [68:34]–[70:27]

Additional Insights

• Naming Conventions (Jehovah, Elohim, Lord):
  Early saints used titles like “Jehovah” fluidly for both the Father and the Son. Modern distinctions (Elohim = Father, Jehovah = Jesus) weren’t formalized until the early 20th century.

  • “There was never any ambiguity that the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost were separate in Joseph Smith’s mind from the first vision forward. But the naming conventions don’t get settled on [until much later].” – Scott [65:59]

• Call for Religious Tolerance:
  Joseph Smith’s prayer and later council teachings stressed the importance of religious liberty and genuine tolerance for differing beliefs—a lesson learned from persecution.

  • “When a man feels the least temptation to such intolerance, he ought to spurn it from him immediately.” – Joseph Smith, via Scott [43:54]

• Resource Recommendations:

  • “Opening the Heavens” (Jack Welch) for Kirtland temple accounts.
  • Carl Anderson’s “The Savior in Kirtland.”
  • Davis & Hoskisson: Article on “Elohim” usage.
  • Future episode: “Voices of the Restoration” on Kirtland endowment details.

Conclusion

This episode masterfully traces the history, scriptural resonance, and lasting doctrinal weight of the Kirtland Temple dedication. It illustrates the immense sacrifice behind the temple, the transformative spiritual experiences at its opening, and the prayer’s central role in Latter-day Saint temple worship and identity. The hosts reveal both the challenges and powerful beauty of early Latter-day Saint faith, setting the stage for the subsequent episode on the Kirtland Temple’s grandest heavenly visitation (Section 110).

“Section 109 invites mortals...to be endowed with power that will enable them to journey to the presence of God, where God lives.” – Scott [68:34]

Next Episode Preview:
Stay tuned for Episode 158, focusing on D&C 110—the climactic event in Kirtland Temple history.