Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 10/The House of God
"The House of God."
It will not be deemed improper for us to give the saints and friends of the everlasting gospel, a few words relative to the house of worship now erecting in Kirtland, Ohio. The first stone was laid on the twenty third of July, 1833, when, without faith, yea precious faith in the promises of the Lord, the appearances of the church would have indicated any thing but a speedy completion. Let it be remembered that the unparalleled outrages of the mob of Jackson county, were committed about this time, and the church in its infancy, had to weep over this cruel tragedy as a sore affliction upon the children of Zion.
Trusting, however, in the God of Enoch, who succors the needy, and exalts the humble, a few commenced the work; and though other important matters rolled round, which, to many, would have seemed insurmountable, and calculated to retard the progress of the building, still, the walls and the timbers of the roof were finished, being raised late last fall: and the roof is now covered.
This edifice is stone, to be completed on the outside with a "hard finish of cement." Its length is eighty feet; its width, sixty; its height, from the ground to the top of the eaves, about fifty; from the basement forty four, giving two stories of twenty-two feet each, besides an attic story in the roof for school rooms. It will be lighted with thirty-two Gothic, three Venetian, ten dormer, one circular and two square gable windows. The dome of the steeple will be not far from 110 feet high, and the bell about ninety.
The sum expended, thus far, towards its erection, may be computed at about ten thousand dollars, and the whole cost, when finished, will probably be from twenty to thirty thousand. Like many houses for public worship, this house has been, so far, reared, and must be finished, by donations from the saints, and all that feel an interest in the salvation of the human fam-ily. As a sample of the liberality and faith of the saints at Kirtland, we have the pleasure of saying, that on Thursday the 18th of June last, $950 were subscribed for the work; and, that on Thursday the 25th of the same month, $6,232, were subscribed for the same glorious purpose, making seven thousand one hundred and eighty two dollars. So much for the laudable object of preparing a house where the incomings and the outgoings of the saints may be in the name of the Lord, as in old times.
This noble example is a good pattern, and must be imitated by every well wisher of the cause of Zion. The churches abroad will not, they cannot honestly withhold their abundance or little,—no; they will contribute till the spirit of the Lord will bear witness, and write upon their hearts—"well done thou good and faithful servants"—you shall receive your rewards.—When the saints bless, they may expect to be blessed; be with God and God will be with you.
The honest, who may not as yet have come into the kingdom, and embraced the everlasting gospel, it is to be hoped, will not scruple to lend to the Lord, for he is good to reward; mighty to save, and ever to be honored. Nothing uncommon is solicited of the children of men, when donations are asked: House after house has been reared by subscription; want after want has been supplied by alms; and heart after heart has been feasted and comforted by charity—and surely when our object is good and our motives pure, we shall not be less happy in finding faithful friends for the benefit of fallen man!
We rejoice, when we reflect what the Lord of glory has said on this subject. After giving line upon line according to promise, he has said:—"Therefore, verily I say unto you, my friends, 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 incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High."
Brethren and friends! the commandments of the Lord are sure; the prospect of the saints is cheering; the harvest is great; the laborers are few; the work is glorious; the cause is righteous, and the reward eternal: Be ready, then, to tithe yourselves, and prepare yourselves, that you may be among the happy number who shall be invited to the supper of the great Bridegroom, because you have added virtue to your faith; and knowledge to your virtue; and temperance to your knowledge; and patience to your temperance; and godliness to your patience; and brotherly kindness to your godliness; and and charity to your brotherly kindness:—for "the house of the Lord, built by the Latter Day Saints."—P.