Dedication of the Kirtland Temple (Continued)
Dedicatory Prayer (Continued)
thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the Gentiles;—But thou knowest that we have 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; and the yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the house of David, and the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou didst give to Abraham, their father, and cause that the remnants of Jacob, who have been cursed and smitten, because of their transgression, to be converted from their wild and savage condition, to the fulness of the everlasting gospel, that they may lay down their weapons of bloodshed and cease their rebellions. And may all the scattered remnants of Israel, who have been driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah and be redeemed from oppression, and rejoice before thee.
O Lord, remember thy servant Joseph Smith, jr. and all his afflictions and persecutions, how he has covenanted with Jehovah and vowed to thee, O mighty God of Jacob, and the commandments which thou hast given unto him, and that he hath sincerely strove to do thy will.—Have mercy, O Lord, upon his wife and children, that they may be exalted in thy presence, and preserved by thy fostering hand. Have mercy upon all their immediate connexions [connections], that their prejudices may be broken up, and swept away as with a flood, that they may be converted and redeemed with Israel and know that thou art God. Remember, O Lord, the presidents, even all the presidents of thy church, that thy right hand may exalt them with all their families, and their immediate connexions [connections], that their names may be perpetuated and had in everlasting remembrance from generation to generation.
Remember all thy church, O Lord, with all their families, and all their immediate connexions [connections], with all their sick and afflicted ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth, that the kingdom which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth, that thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners, and be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens, and cause the mountains to flow down at thy presence, and the valleys to be exalted, the rough places made smooth, that thy glory may fill the earth.
That when the trump [?trumpet] shall sound for the dead, we shall be caught up in the cloud to meet thee, that we may ever be with the Lord, 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 upon our heads; and reap eternal joy for all our sufferings. O Lord, God Almighty hear us in these our petitions, and answer us from heaven, thy holy habitation, where thou sittest enthroned, with glory, honor, power, majesty, might, dominion, truth, justice, judgement, mercy and an infinity of fulness, from everlasting to everlasting.
O hear, O hear, O hear us, O Lord, and answer these petitions, and accept the dedication of this house, unto thee, the work of our hands, which we have built unto thy name; and also this church to put upon it thy name. And help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright shining seraphs, around thy throne with acclamations of praise, singing hosanna to God and the Lamb: and let these thine anointed ones be clothed with salvation, and thy saints shout aloud for joy. AMEN AND AMEN. (Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Section 109)
The choir then sung a hymn.
Hymn: The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning
- TUNE—Hosanna.
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning;
- The latter day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning;
- The angels are coming to visit the earth.
We'll sing & we'll shout with the armies of heaven:
- Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
- Henceforth and forever: amen and amen!
The Lord is extending the saints' understanding:—
- Restoring their judges and all as at first;
The knowledge and power of God are expanding:
- The vail o'er the earth is beginning to burst.
We'll sing and we'll shout &c.
We call in our solemn assemblies, in spirit,
- To spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad,
That we through our faith may begin to inherit;
- The visions, and blessings, and glories of God.
We'll sing and we'll shout &c.
We'll wash, and be wash'd, and with oil be anointed
- Withal not omitting the washing of feet:
For he that receiveth his PENNY appointed,
- Must surely be clean at the harvest of wheat.
We'll sing and we'll shout &c.
