Mormon History, Apr 29, 1846

[Minutes, Apr. 29, 1846] Minutes of the Dedication of the [Nauvoo] Temple April 30th, 1846. 7:45 p.m. Present at the dedication of the House of the Lord this evening[:] Zebedee Coltrin Mephibosheth [S]i[rr]in[e] spec- Graham Coltrin tator through the mistake & John Coltrin invitation of Joseph Young Thomas Bullock William W. Phelps Wandle Pace [Mace] John Kempton Charles W. Patten Joseph Young William Anderson Phineas [H.] Young Phineas Richards John M. Bernhisel Samuel W. Richards Jesse K. Nichols Franklin D. Richards J[acob] W Beech Benjamin Brown John Young Curtis Bolton Abel Lamb Truman O. Angel John S. Fullmer As the quorum entered the room for dedication the hymn was sung in a solemn and very impressive manner and we beheld over the stand of the Melchizedek Priesthood The Lord has beheld our Sacrifice = Come after Us - in beautiful gold letters - [and] after conversation on the subject of "Eternity" another hymn was sung. (Orson Hyde & Joseph L. Heywood entered while [we were] singing). Elder Hyde remarked that he [was] left [feeling the] same as he did as he landed at J[erusalem] & descended the Mount of Olives. He was alone. Pres[iden]t [Brigham Young] was anxious and felt glad * & feels that this Temple is built to the opposition of half headed apostates and blood thirsty opponents & laughs and feels thankful to God that he sees this hour for the world preys upon [us] "and my prediction is that the poor shall be blessed" [and] we all see for ourselves the folly of Rigdonism (A[lmon] W Babbitt came in) [and] Strangism will be a stink in their own noses. I feel solemn and childlike, that silence is the most impressive * With regarding to Major [William B.] Warren and [Illinois] Governor [Thomas] Ford[,] I feel that they are in a course [that is] impossible. We never asked them to convey [escort Mormon emigrants] They come here against our petition. Major Warren wants us to petition for 10 men to stay here where they like, we have a deal depending upon the next court at Carthage [Illinois][.] If we retain this sway it will perhaps prevent a more swarm from coming on. (I speak confidently[.] When Porter Rockwell came in with mail I met him. The last time he came[,] [he] was intoxicated.) Elder Hyde then called for the brethren to clothe themselves which they did & they called for a hymn when "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" was sung. Elder Hyde then requested the brethren to form a circle [and] offer the signs and then dedicate the House, they moved to the front part of the Melchizedek Stand and formed a circle. Elder O[rson] Hyde President (Elder Wilford Woodruff entered). This temple has been built in 5 years and the Gov[ernmen]t has oppressed us more and more every year and now they drive us away from it and now"I prophesy in the name of the Lord God of Hosts that this Government shall begin to be oppressed and be oppressed more and more every year and at the end of five years they shall be as badly oppressed as this people now is and they shall not know which way to look for Sunday""It is the general government." (Amen.) The circle again formed & offered the signs. After the signs were offered Joseph Young was appointed mouth who offered prayer to our Father in Heaven * & all responded heartily. J[oseph] Young said he felt real praise and not feather praise[.] Felt well. O[rson] Hyde [said] if we take a course to break down [the] unruly and aid the * the Lord will - * W[ilford] Woodruff[:] I feel well and happy that I am in the house of my friends and that there has been a great victory gained over the devil and that there are many evil people and now coming into Nauvoo[.] We have gained a great victory building this Temple and as great as any in the world [have] received [persecution][,] [none] have borne as much as the Latter Day Saints. I have seen hours at midnight when I have offered up the signs in the closet alone and not a soul in all the east room. I could enter into [a] connection with [these signs] as to the blessings of God. I am thankful to be in the Council of the Honored Ones of Israel * when we can't wade[,] let no one swim. God is on our side. I have felt that the prayers of this circle have been offered up for me - * W[illiam] Anderson says as Brother Hyde has prophesied he would tell what was spoken in tongues and give the translation of it and he fully believed it. I rejoice in this thing and am willing to do all in our power to accomplish these things [and] get away [with] the brethren - * The following are designations of where the people sat in the Stands: PH [Presiding High Priesthood] Wilford Woodruff[,] Orson Hyde[,] Joseph Young[;] PSQ [Presiding Seventies Quorum] Almon W. Babbitt[,] Joseph L Heywood[,] John S. Fullmer[;] PHQ [Presiding High Priests Quorum] John M. Bernhisel and A[bel] Lamb[,] Zebedee Coltrin[;] PEQ [Presiding Elders Quorum] F[ranklin] D Richards[,] C[urtis] E Boltin[,] Wandle Mace[,] W[illiam] W Phelps[,] Thomas Bullock[;] PAQ [Presiding Aaronic Quorum] Phineas Young[,] Truman O Angell[,] Jesse K Nichols[;] PPQ [Presiding Priests Quorum] C[harles] W Patten[,] John Coltin[,] W[illiam] A Anderson[;] PTQ [Presiding Teachers Quorum] Phineas Richards[,] John Thompson [Kempton?][,] Samuel W. Richards[,] Benjamin Brown[;] PDQ [Presiding Deacons Quorum] M[ephiboseth] Irvine [Sirrine][,] John Young[,] Graham Coltrin[,] Jacob Beech[.] O[rson] Hyde[:] May we rise before we close. We shall offer up our Hosannahs and where there's [time, to] shout out the ranks of the [priesthood this] evening. The order of it is Hosannah, Hosannah, Hosannah to God and the Lamb Amen Amen and Amen[,] and I don't know that there'll be any hour [available] if we should speak it out [in] the angels voices [tongues]. We belong to God. [I] feel like giving one shout in the House of God. If this is your mind signify it by rising upon your feet (all upright). The signs and shouts (thank God [for] being [here][.] You are dismissed with the blessings of thy Lord and your God Amen.) - * The brethren adjourned to the attic story where a table was spread and loaded with "A Feast of Fat Things For the Righteous" in the shapes of wine, grapes[,] intestines [?] cakes &c &c which made a delightful banquet & was blessed by Elder Wilford Woodruff after which the feast was partaken of in great good harmony & happiness in testimony of the occasion of the dedication of the House of the Lord. Elder Hyde gave out for the Temple hands [officiators] to enjoy themselves tomorrow at 2 p.m. F[ranklin] D. Richards received [gave] thanks to Elder Hyde in behalf of the Quorum #1 for the invitation to meet with them in the dedication of the House of the Lord. Elder Hyde met to reciprocate the kindness and desired [for it] to be continued[,] to be remembered that God may bless us & so in the day when he shall bring the righteous to himself.

[source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

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