Don't Miss This Study — “THE GLORIES OF HIS KINGDOM”

Hosts: Emily Freeman & David Butler
Date: September 22, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, Emily Freeman and David Butler take listeners on a “field trip” to the Kirtland Temple, focusing on Doctrine & Covenants sections 109 and 110. They explore the story of the temple's construction, the meaning and blessings of temple worship, and the spiritual promises described in the dedicatory prayer and subsequent visions. With vivid retelling, personal experiences, and scriptural analysis, the hosts invite listeners to reflect on how the “glories of His kingdom” can be present both in sacred spaces and in everyday life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: The Kirtland Temple’s History

• Sacrifice and Poverty:

  • Building the temple required immense sacrifice from impoverished saints, yielding a vivid portrait of devotion (04:08–06:57).

  • Neighborhood skepticism, labor in scarcity, and people giving everything—even their china to sparkle in the plaster—are highlighted as testimonies of faith.

    “This building is just a testament and a witness of people who just love God so dearly that they were willing to give everything, literally everything.” — David Butler (06:35)

• Parallel Extremes:

  • Kirtland’s era was one of “rich blessings and extreme poverty,” with faith and hardship interwoven (06:57).

2. Doctrine & Covenants 109: The Dedicatory Prayer

• A Prayer Received by Revelation:

  • Joseph Smith’s prayer was penned by revelation, establishing a template for future temple dedications (08:22–09:05).

• Out of Poverty & Sacrifice:

  • The prayer expresses gratitude for the people’s faith and sacrifice:

    “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.” (10:25, quoting D&C 109:5)

  • The hosts reflect that God often manifests Himself most clearly amid our lack and sacrifice (10:43–11:39).

• The House of God’s Attributes:

  • Verses 8–9 enumerate what a “house of God” embodies: prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory, order—a foundation for personal and communal holiness (12:35–14:00).

• Application to Personal Life and Home:

  • The symbolism of an “unfinished temple” represents ongoing personal spiritual construction (15:30).
  • Listeners are encouraged to replace the word “house” with “life” or “home,” making the scriptural principles intimate and actionable (16:39).

• Traditions & Symbols:

  • The mezuzah tradition—scripture on the doorpost—serves as a physical and spiritual reminder to “lean into God,” fostering everyday holiness (17:51–19:53).

3. Promises & Blessings of the Temple (D&C 109:13–78)

• Experiencing Holiness:
  • Anyone who enters the temple feels God’s power—everyone is welcome to “cross the threshold,” even if not authorized for further participation (22:20–23:20).
• Growth and Learning:
  • The temple as a “school” where we grow in the glory of God and prepare for more (24:33–25:25).
• Transformation and Covenant:
  • Through worship, our behavior and outlook are marked with holiness; even mistakes are anticipated and provided for, with repentance and restoration as part of the blessing (25:58–26:52).
• Armed with Power:
  • Temple goers are “armed with power, His name, and angels,” especially as they serve and bear the “great and glorious tidings” (27:10–27:28).
• Protection and Deliverance:
  • No adversary can ultimately harm those aligned with temple covenants—God will “fight for us,” offering “full and complete deliverance” (28:03–29:29).
• Family and Connectedness:
  • Blessings extend not just to individuals, but to families and immediate connections (31:25).
• Ultimate Aspiration:

  • The petition for “an infinity of fullness”—a promise that exceeds human understanding (32:51–32:56).

    “Please bless us to be enthroned where you are with glory, honor, power, majesty, might, dominion, truth, justice, judgment, mercy, and an infinity of fullness. I don't even know what that means, but I want it.” — David Butler (32:51–32:56)

4. Doctrine & Covenants 110: Manifestations in the Temple

• Fulfillment of the Dedicatory Prayer:
  • A week after the dedication, the Lord appears, affirming heartfelt thanks and acceptance of the saints’ sacrifice (34:08 onward).
• Spiritual Outpourings – “Kirtland Endowment”:
  • New revealed truths (e.g. salvation of the dead), ordinances (washing/anointing), Pentecostal spiritual experiences, and bestowal of priesthood keys for gathering, sealing, and eternal marriage (35:42–37:41).
• Great Visitors and Blessings:

  • Moses, Elias, and Elijah confer essential priesthood keys; but first, Jesus appears, declaring:

    “Your sins are forgiven you. I am your advocate with the Father… Let the hearts of all my people rejoice who have with their might built this house to my name. For behold, I have accepted this house and my name will be upon it.” (38:45–39:38 paraphrased)

  • The promise: “I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house” (“mercy” as “especially active compassion”) (39:38–40:00).

• Ongoing Promise:
  • The Lord assures: “This is the beginning of the blessings that are about to be poured out.” (40:06)

Memorable Quotes & Key Timestamps

• On Sacrifice:
  • “People literally gave everything… we would work on the temple, sometimes with shoes and sometimes with no shoes, just because they would wear out and they wouldn’t have money to get new.” — David Butler (06:35)
• On Personal Reflections:
  • “I need to remember to be the woman in the green dress… take those moments of pause in the middle of my errand, in the middle of the work that is my everyday life, and look at what I'm building…” — Emily Freeman (14:41)
• On Temple Blessings:
  • “Once you start reading temple dedications and their promises, you are going down a rabbit hole… turned it into a temple dedication addiction.” — David Butler (09:22)
• Prayer for Infinity:
  • “Please bless us to be enthroned where you are with… an infinity of fullness. I don't even know what that means, but I want it.” — David Butler (32:51)
• Christ’s Manifestation:
  • “For behold, I have accepted this house and my name will be upon it… thank you for building this house to my name. And I accept it.” — David Butler (39:07–39:38)
• Mercy Defined:
  • “I will manifest myself to my people in especially active compassion in this house.” — Emily Freeman (39:38)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [04:08–06:57] — The enormous sacrifice required to build the Kirtland Temple
• [08:22–09:05] — The dedicatory prayer received by revelation
• [10:25] — “Out of our poverty we have given of our substance…”
• [12:35–14:00] — What it means to build a “house” of God
• [15:30] — The symbolism of the unfinished temple painting
• [16:39] — Applying temple principles to home and life
• [22:20–23:20] — The power and sanctity of crossing the temple threshold
• [27:10–29:29] — Promises of protection and deliverance
• [31:25 & 32:51] — Blessings for families and the “infinity of fullness”
• [34:08–37:41] — Section 110: The Lord’s acceptance and the outpouring of keys
• [39:38–40:00] — “Especially active compassion” and the enduring promise of mercy
• [40:06] — “The beginning of the blessings…”

Tone & Spirit

• The conversation carries warmth, enthusiasm, and wonder, blending scriptural insight with playful camaraderie and heartfelt testimony. The hosts use vivid imagery, stories, and gentle humor to draw listeners into both historical events and personal spiritual application.

Concluding Invitation

The hosts end by encouraging listeners to reflect on their own sacrifices, revisit the promises associated with temple worship, and to see themselves as unfinished temples in whom God is continually at work. The message: the glories of His kingdom are not only past miracles, but also unfolding in our lives, homes, and hearts today.