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Doctrine & Covenants 109-110 Part 2 • Dr. Anthony Sweat • Sept 29-Oct 5 • Come Follow Me - followHIM | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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Doctrine & Covenants 109-110 Part 2 • Dr. Anthony Sweat • Sept 29-Oct 5 • Come Follow Me

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Wed Sep 24 2025

Summary

followHIM Podcast Summary

Doctrine & Covenants 109-110, Part 2

Hosts: Hank Smith & John Bytheway
Guest: Dr. Anthony Sweat
Date: September 24, 2025

Overview

This episode explores Doctrine & Covenants sections 109 and 110, focusing on the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple and the visionary events that followed, including the visitations of Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias, and Elijah. Dr. Anthony Sweat, a seasoned Latter-day Saint scholar and educator, guides listeners through the significance of these events for both church history and modern faith, emphasizing their bearing on temple doctrine and the ongoing gathering of Israel.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Structure of the Dedicatory Prayer (D&C 109)

Verses 1–5: Introduction & Plea
- Joseph Smith opens the prayer, seeking acceptance for the temple and blessings for the Saints.
Verses 6–42: Promises of Endowment
- Explores what it means to be endowed with power from on high.
Verses 43–53: Praying for Enemies
- Joseph demonstrates how to pray for those who have wronged the Saints, expressing sorrow yet wishing for their repentance.
- Quote (Dr. Sweat, 00:19):
  “Their souls are precious before thee...have mercy upon the wicked mob.”
- Emphasizes a Christian stance: not tolerating wickedness, but seeking mercy.
Verses 54–67: Praying for the World & Israel
- Joseph expands the prayer, asking for blessings on the rulers of the earth and, specifically, the gathering of Israel.
- Quote (Dr. Sweat, 02:33):
  “This is going to lead into his prayer for the gathering of Israel.”
- Historical context: The small Jewish presence in Jerusalem at the time, compared to its modern population, is seen as fulfillment of prophecy.
Verses 68–80: Blessing Leaders and Saints
- Joseph prays for his own family, church leaders, and all church members.
- Notable moment: Reference to striving in the context of worthiness and temple recommend interviews.
- Song of Solomon Allusion (12:25): “Shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, terrible as an army with banners.”
- The congregation capped the prayer with the “Hosanna Shout” and a spiritual outpouring akin to Pentecost.

2. The Pentecostal Outpouring at Kirtland (109)

Memorable account:
Dr. Sweat outlines how the Saints experienced spiritual manifestations, including visions, tongues, and angelic ministrations both at the dedicatory service and in subsequent meetings.
- Quote (Dr. Sweat, 14:26):
  “It really is a Pentecostal outpouring. Really incredible.”
- The period is referred to as a zenith of heavenly manifestations (17:39).

3. The Theological Impact of Section 110

April 3, 1836—“The Second Greatest Easter”
- This day brought visitations from Jesus Christ and ancient prophets, conferring essential priesthood keys for the salvation of living and deceased Saints.
- Quote (Dr. Sweat, 18:07):
  “Section 110, the events that are in there affect eternity. There’s no other way to say it.”
Setting the Stage for Visitation
- Joseph and Oliver secluded themselves in what is likened to a “Holy of Holies,” facilitating sacred revelation (19:23).
Christ’s Appearance and Acceptance of the Temple
- Quote (Jesus, via Joseph, 29:02):
  “I am the first and the last. I am he who liveth. I am he who was slain. I am your advocate with the Father. Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; lift up your heads and rejoice.”
- Dr. Sweat highlights the repetition of “forgives” throughout the D&C (30:56).
Significance for Modern Temples
- President Nelson’s teaching is cited: every dedicated temple shares in the promise of Christ’s manifestation (32:00).

4. The Restoration of Priesthood Keys

The Visitations of Moses, Elias, and Elijah
- Moses: Restores keys for gathering Israel and facilitating vicarious temple work for the dead (43:06).
  - Emphasized: The scattering was mostly about covenant identity, not geography.
- Elias: Grants the “dispensation of the gospel of Abraham”—the rights, privileges, and promises of the Abrahamic covenant (46:46).
  - Quote (Dr. Sweat, 46:46):
    “The blessings of Abraham are the blessings of seed and covenant and family.”
- Elijah: Bestows sealing power, enabling the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy and uniting families eternally (53:16).
  - Elijah’s role climaxes the restoration sequence, confirming the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
The Nature of Priesthood Restoration
- A process, not a single event. The restoration unfolds through multiple visitations (27:15).
- Restoration of keys enables all temple ordinances and the work for the dead.

5. Application to Modern Saints

Temple Symbolism & Personal Growth
- Dr. Sweat encourages patience with temple learning:
  - Quote (Dr. Sweat, 64:25):
    “The way the Lord teaches is in parable. The temple is a great parable, meaning the temple endowment is meant to be mysterious.”
- Emphasis: Seek Jesus in every aspect of temple worship.
Inclusivity and Invitation
- Both hosts and Dr. Sweat encourage those hesitant about the temple to remember it is a house of learning, and all efforts are accepted by the Lord, however imperfect.
- Quote (Dr. Sweat, 34:13):
  “There’s a great metaphor there, us being the temple of God as well.”
- Quote (John Bytheway, 68:39):
  “I have a personal testimony that the Lord wants people in the temple... Go there because you’ll find him there like you just promised.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Prayer for enemies & mercy:
“Every soul is precious. These people have done hard things to us, and if they’ll repent, let’s forgive them. But if they won’t, help us overcome the wicked so that thy purposes and thy plans won’t fail.” — Dr. Sweat (01:31)
On modern-day fulfillment of gathering Israel prophecy:
“We literally are seeing a fulfillment of that prayer and prophecy in the latter days.” — Dr. Sweat (03:36)
On the nature of the endowment at Kirtland:
“Endowment is a spiritual capacity, not a ceremony or a presentation.” — Dr. Sweat (36:08)
On the effect of the restoration of priesthood keys:
“If we can’t read section 110 and rejoice, then I can’t help you.” — Dr. Sweat (58:10)
On the temple as a place for the imperfect:
“What I’m offering to the Lord is quite flawed. The joists don’t all line up... but he accepts it.” — Hank Smith (33:24)
On Latter-day covenant work:
“We’re living in the fullness. If you can’t get excited about that, you can’t get excited.” — Paraphrasing Elder Holland & Dr. Sweat (59:23)

Key Timestamps

00:19–02:33 — Joseph Smith’s prayer for his enemies.
02:33–07:44 — The prayer turns to blessing the world and gathering Israel.
09:39–12:33 — Joseph prays for church leaders and members; scriptural references in the language of the prayer.
14:26–17:39 — The outpouring of spiritual gifts at the Kirtland Temple dedication.
18:07–23:31 — Setting up D&C 110 and the significance of the “second greatest Easter.”
29:02–35:34 — Description of Christ’s appearance, forgiveness, and temple acceptance.
39:22–45:15 — Moses restores keys for gathering Israel and work for the dead.
46:46–53:09 — Elias gives the Abrahamic covenant; focus on eternal families.
53:16–57:56 — Elijah’s sealing keys and the completion of the restoration.
64:25–68:39 — Advice and encouragement for those hesitant or struggling to understand the temple.

Tone & Style

The episode is insightful, reverent, but approachable—mixing deep scriptural analysis with anecdotes, humor, and heartfelt testimony. The hosts and guest maintain a conversational tone, layering scholarly knowledge with relatable experiences and plain invitations to action.

Takeaways for Listeners

The Kirtland Temple dedication and following visions are foundational for modern Latter-day Saint temple worship and the gathering of Israel.
The restoration of priesthood keys was a multi-phase, collaborative process involving prophets from previous dispensations, symbolizing the unity of the Lord’s work across generations.
Everyone is invited to learn the lessons of the temple—regardless of imperfect understanding or personal shortcomings.
The Lord values effort and intention; the temple is a house where sincere seekers will find Him.
Modern Saints are participants in the fulfillment of ancient prophecies as temples and covenant communities dot the earth.

For a deeper study, listeners are encouraged to engage directly with Doctrine & Covenants sections 109 and 110, attend the temple, and see how these doctrines and blessings apply personally today.

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Transcript

John Sorensen (0:00)

Welcome back to Today's episode with Dr. Anthony Sweat. Doctrine and Covenants 109 to 110.

Hank Sorensen (0:08)

Anthony, you said that this verses one through five, an intro, a plea, verses six through 42, the promises of an endowment. What do we do Next?

Dr. Anthony Sweat (0:19)

The next section 43 to 53, Joseph, exemplifies exactly what the Lord tells us to do is to pray for our enemies. Joseph does that here in 43 to 53. He does a dual thing where he's like in 43 we delight not in the destruction of our fellow men. Their souls are precious before thee. I love that orientation. Their souls are precious. And then he says in 45 we know you've spoken terrible things concerning the wicked. 46 Therefore, O Lord, deliver thy people from the calamities of the wicked. 47 is remarkable. Remember those who have been driven by the inhabitants of Jackson County, Missouri, from the lands of their inheritance. 48 We've been greatly oppressed. Our hearts are full of sorrow. And then look at 50. Have mercy upon the wicked mob. Now these are the people. We lost our Zion.

John Sorensen (1:24)

He's a better man than I am. I'm like, nope, let him have it, Lord, let him have it.

Dr. Anthony Sweat (1:31)

And look at the end of 50 that they may repent of their sins if repentance is to be found at the same time, if there cannot be otherwise, the cause of thy people may not fail before thee. May your anger be kindled and indignation fall upon them. Be wasted away root and branch under heaven. He's showing this beautiful like, hey, every soul is precious. These people have done hard things to us, and if they'll repent, let's forgive them. But if they won't help us out to overcome the wicked so that thy purposes and thy plans won't fail. It's a beautiful prayer for the wicked, not tolerating it, not excusing it, but also a merciful orientation toward those who have oppressed our people at this time and driven us out of our Zion just a few years before.

Hank Sorensen (2:22)

This prayer, that is something that we could all exemplify. I know I could have mercy upon our enemies.

Dr. Anthony Sweat (2:33)

54 to 67 are going to be Now Joseph's going to expand out to blessing the world and in particular the house of Israel. In 54. Notice how he prays that the principles which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely the constitution of our land, be established forever. Then he's going to pray for kings and princes and nobles from the great people of the whole earth, that their hearts will be softened and thy servants can go forth and the work can go forward. And 57, that all the ends of the earth may know that we, thy servants, have heard thy voice and that thou hast sent us. So he prays there for the broader world and the rulers of the world. But now in 58, he's going to pray specifically that we can gather out the righteous and build a holy city. 59. Appoint other stakes. He's praying for the broader church here. But this is going to lead into his prayer for the gathering of Israel in 61. Thou has a great love for the children of Jacob who have been scattered upon the mountains for a long time in a cloudy and dark day. We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob that Jerusalem from this hour may begin to be redeemed then in 64, and that the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou did give to Abraham, their father. Bear in mind, by the way, at that time, there were roughly 7,000 Jews who lived in Jerusalem. Today, there's over a half a million that live in Jerusalem. In 1841, we will send one of our apostles, Orson Hyde, to dedicate the Holy Land. And part of that dedication is for the returning of the Jews. We literally are seeing a fulfillment of that prayer and that prophecy in the latter days.

Dr. Anthony Sweat (14:27)

What a prayer is right when he does finish, by the way, they do sing the spirit of God. W.W. phelps writes that hymn for that dedication. They sing it together. Then they do for the first time what we call the Hosanna shout with that Hosanna shout. This is from Joseph's own journal that day. We then sealed the proceedings of the day by a shouting hosanna to God and the Lamb three times, sealing it each time with Amen, Amen and Amen. Incredible morning. They started the meeting at 9am they concluded at 4pm it was a seven hour dedicatory meeting. I left out there some testimonies from Oliver and Don Carlos. Sidney Rigdon got up and added a few more remarks just because he didn't quite polish it off in his two and a half hours in the morning, I guess. And then this is the best. Brigham Young gets up and speaks in tongues and David W. Patton interprets it and they sing in tongues. It really is a Pentecostal outpouring. Really incredible. That night, by the way. Even more. Joseph will meet with about 300 priesthood holders that evening. This is Oliver Cowdery's journal. The Spirit of God was poured out. I saw the glory of God like a cloud come down and rest upon the house and feel the same like a mighty rushing wind. I saw cloven tongues like as a fire rest upon. Many, many spake with tongues and prophesied. Even that evening they come back and have fulfillments of some of the things Joseph prayed for that very morning. Before we get to 110, sometimes we jump from like, oh, they dedicated it in section 109 on that Sunday. Then the next Sunday, section 110, one of the angels come. But don't overlook that Tuesday and Wednesday of that week. In between, they met again with numerous priesthood leaders. Mostly at this time, Joseph is working with men and priesthood leaders and the councils of the priesthood in Nauvoo. Of course, he expands this to washing and anointing and endowing the women of the church as well. But on Tuesday and Wednesday, in between the dedication and before the next week, Joseph meets. And they have incredible experiences. Visions, prophecy, revelations, tongues, angels ministering. This is Joseph's Journal. On Wednesday, March 30, from those two days of meetings, the Savior made his appearance to some, while angels ministered to others. It was a Pentecost and an enduement or endowment indeed, long to be remembered. And the occurrences of this day shall be handed down upon the pages of sacred history to all generations as the day of Pentecost, so that this day shall be numbered and celebrated. I had to read that just so that we could fulfill that very prophecy. The things that they experienced that day and that week and the next Sunday, they really are a Pentecost and an endowment, a zenith of heavenly outpourings.

Dr. Anthony Sweat (19:42)

Yeah. That's the intent of those veils, from what I understand it. That morning, they met in a general Sunday Easter sacrament meeting service. Then in the afternoon, he is going to meet with church leaders, the presidents of the church. Joseph says he retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed himself in solemn, silent prayer to the Most High. After rising from prayer, the following vision was opened to them. I do think there's a reason why Joseph drops the veils. I'm not sure he's anticipating what happens, but he is saying, okay, I met with the saints in the Morning we had our service. We've administered the sacrament, but there are a few hundred people in the audience. They've probably dropped the rest of the veils and sectioned them into their quorums or their groups. And Oliver and Joseph are going to drop theirs around their pulpits to have their sacred private space in what might be considered the holiest part of the temple. Then this vision of four beings bursts upon them, this visitation of four beings. First of our Savior to fulfill the prayer and accept the house. And then Moses, Elias and Elijah. It really is. This is President Nelson in his 2024 rejoicing in the gift of priesthood keys talk. Jesus Christ declared that he had accepted the temple as his house and made this stunning promise. I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house. This significant promise applies to every dedicated temple today. And I invite you to ponder what the Lord's promise means to you personally. And another quote to back that of what happens here, why it's so crucial. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the quorum of the 12 said, there are, under the direction of the First Presidency and quorum of the 12, three executive councils at church headquarters that oversee these divinely appointed responsibilities based on the keys that were restored in the Kirtland Temple. They are the Missionary Executive Council, the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, and the Temple and Family History Executive Council. So much of the work that the church is doing today is based off what's going to happen in April of 1836 in section 110.

Dr. Anthony Sweat (46:46)

Elias appears in verse 12 and committed the dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed, all generations after us should be blessed. This is the Abrahamic covenant. That's how I would summarize it as well. In other words, this is a promise of the blessings of exaltation. You can have eternal progression, eternal seed, eternal life. It's a promise of the blessings of Abraham or what we call the Abrahamic covenant as a whole. You can have priesthood that is put upon you. The Lord even says in Abraham chapter two, in thy priesthood, that is thy seed. The blessings of Abraham are the blessings of seed and covenant and family. This is a very family centric. When we say the blessings of exaltation, the blessings of Abraham, this Elias is giving these blessings that you can have eternal family and that you can have eternal progression through the covenants and ordinances of the Gospel. We might even say this is the root of eternal marriage right here with these blessings. Now, this Elias, it's either someone named Elias. The Bible dictionary says that in the days of Abraham there was a prophet named Elias, which would make sense. If that's the case, we don't know much about this person named Elias, but that somehow he was connected to Abraham or maybe blessed Abraham. We don't know, Elias can also simply just be a title for someone. So John the Baptist is called an Elias. John the Revelator is called an Elias. Elias could also be a preparer. If that's the case, it could be somebody like Melchizedek, who according to section 84, gave Abraham his high priestly blessings and priesthood. That Elias could be someone like Melchizedek or people like Bruce R. McConkey and others theorized this isn't firm doctrine. They're like, if Elias is a title for someone that gave the dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham, then this Elias is probably Abraham himself. Who better to give the blessings of Abraham than Abraham? But it's either literally someone named Elias who lived in Abraham's time, somebody like Melchizedek who blessed Abraham, or maybe Abraham himself, we don't know. But the key is that he gives the blessings of Abraham, which are the blessings of exaltation, including eternal progression through family.

Dr. Anthony Sweat (54:02)

The time has fully come, which was spoken by the mouth of Malachi, testifying that he, Elijah should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children of the fathers lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. Before we read the last verse, obviously Moroni gives a different interpretation or a Moroni translation. It's not that one is right or wrong, he's just translating it. He doesn't say to turn the hearts of the children. He says to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers. He doesn't say, I'll reveal unto you Elijah. He says, I'll reveal unto you the priesthood by the hand of Elijah. He doesn't say, lest you're smitten with a curse. He says, lest the whole earth be utterly wasted. In other words, Malachi, his prophecy and Elijah's priesthood that's going to be restored is going to be able to secure. Joseph will say at another time I could translate plant as seal or secure. I'm going to seal the promises of the patriarchs, the ancient promises of exaltation upon you. And those promises include the blessings of eternal progression and family, so that this earth is not wasted in its purpose. The purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. God's life living like God. And we need to be endowed. We need to gather. Well, I should put it in this order. We need to gather Israel into the covenant. We need to be endowed and promised all the blessings of exaltation. Then we need to seal that up. Those blessings upon people's heads to God and to one another. That's what Elijah is going to do. His power, sometimes called the sealing power, but it is sealing all the blessings of exaltation. It's really Elijah is enabling what Moses and Elias just restored. We cannot gather Israel from all sides of the veil and corners of the earth without sealing keys to seal up those blessings in heaven. We cannot secure what Elias restored of the blessings of Abrahamic exaltation without the sealing power of Elijah. So Elijah really is the pinnacle messenger. These are just two quotes that I grabbed from what Joseph said about Elijah. How shall God come to the rescue of this generation? He shall send Elijah and he shall reveal the covenants to seal the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children of the fathers. Another time Joseph said this. Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the priesthood. Let me give you one last one. Right before he died. This is March of 44. The spirit and power and calling of Elijah is that ye have power to hold the keys of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fullness of the Melchizedek priesthood and the kingdom of God on the earth and to perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God. In other words, Elijah's priesthood enables the fullness of the Melchizedek priesthood or the order of the Son of God. It really is the priesthood because it's the priesthood that makes it so we can become like God to seal those blessings upon our head.

Dr. Anthony Sweat (64:25)

The first thing that I'd say is, remember the temple. It's a house of learning. He calls it in section 88. The way the Lord teaches is in parable. The temple is a great parable, meaning the temple endowment. In particular, the presentation of is meant to be mysterious. And it's meant to communicate across all cultures and time. It's not meant to be figured out on first blush. I don't pretend that I have figured it out. I continue to learn in the house of learning. If anybody right now out there is saying, I don't quite get it, first thing I'd say is, that's okay, because most of the Savior's disciples didn't quite get most of his parables at first. But thousands of years later, we get it. We get some of it anyway, key parts of it. And the temple will continue to unfold unto you and I as we diligently ask, seek and knock. But we can't expect the Lord wants there to be layers of depth for a lifetime of learning. And we can't expect it all to unfold on first visit or even the 10th visit. Give yourself time. The second thing I'd say too, in particular is the Lord's house as he teaches us through symbol and ritual. We like to say that we're a symbolic people, but we're really not. If I could speak to modern American saints anyway, of which I'm most familiar with, we're a very literal people. We're not deeply rooted in symbol and ritual. For the most part, our church is pretty pedestrian in the sense that it's practical. I don't mean that negative. We have a very practical faith. We have a very utilitarian faith. Our church is pretty straightforward. In our Sunday worship, we have Sunday classes. About the only rituals is the sacrament and maybe a blessing. But then we step into the Lord's house and the whole thing is very symbol and ritual, and we're not accustomed to it. Instead of being critical of it, maybe we should ask ourselves how we can be better at interpreting symbol and ritual. That takes a lifetime of learning. But the last Thing I'd say is, I have to say this. The Lord said, it's his house. His name will be upon is the house of the Lord. Every time we go to the temple, let's look for the Lord in every aspect of it, from the clothing to the lighting to the doorways, to when you go into a ceiling room, for example. Why are a bride and a groom, why are they dressed in that high priestly clothing? Because Jesus is our high priest. We are following in his order. We are saying that I am going to live a life based on covenant, and I am going to kneel at an altar that represents an altar of sacrifice, like Jesus sacrificed his life. And I am going to make a covenant over that altar, that I am going to base my life on Jesus Christ and his teachings. And I am going to be promised blessings through the grace of Jesus Christ. I am going to have a chandelier that symbolizes the light of the world sitting above me and windows, and it is all the Savior. Maybe that's my last thing I'd say, is look for the Savior in every aspect of the temple. And the more you look for him, the more you'll find him and the more you'll see that this truly is his house and that his name is there and that his power is there. I hope some of that might help give people some things to look for as they continue to learn to love the house of the Lord.