How important are temples to the Lord?

When Joseph Smith was on his first mission to Missouri in the summer of 1831, only 17

months after the church was organized. On August 38, 1831, he received a revelation about a temple to be built in

Independence in Jackson County. Then, on December 27, 1832, in section 88, the Lord revealed that a temple was to be

built in Kirkland. So the saints had been commanded to build two temples, one in Jackson County and one in

Kirkland, but honestly, in mortal eyes, it was a task that looked impossible.

Welcome to Meridian Magazine's Come Follow Me podcast. We're Scott and Maureen Proctor and today, we look at Dr.

and Covenants sections 94 through 97 for the Salvation of Zion. We're so glad to be with you again this week and dive into the Scriptures together.

Remember, the revelation in section 88 to build a temple in Kirkland was given in December of 1832, but by June 1, 1833, when section 95 was received,

little progress had been made. Now remember who Joseph Smith is? He is the prophet who would say this the following year in November 1834.

No month ever found me more busily engaged than November, but as my life consisted of activity and unyielding exertions, I made this my rule when the Lord commands, do it.

Why then have the temple not been started in Kirkland? The Lord had said, organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God. Why not begin?

The condition of the Latter-day Saints at that time was almost impossible. Kirkland had only about 175 Latter-day Saints and all of them poor.

Karl Bricks Anderson noted, nearly all who gathered to Kirkland needed assistance of some kind, even Brickham Young, who because of his industry and good business sense, was generally able to provide very well for himself and his family, had virtually nothing when he arrived in Kirkland.

He described how he responded with faith to the prophet's call to gather. When we arrived in Kirkland in September 1833, if any man that ever did gather with the Saints was any poorer than I was, it was because he had nothing.

I had two children to take care of, that was all. I was a widower. Brother Brickham had you any shoes? No, not a shoe to my foot except a pair of borrowed boots. I had no winter clothing except a homemade coat that I had had three or four years.

Any pantaloons? No, what did you do? Did you go without? No, I borrowed a pair to wear till I could get another pair. I had traveled and preached and given away every dollar of my property. I was worth a little property when I started to preach. I had traveled and preached until I had nothing left to gather with. But Joseph said, come up, and I went up the best I could.

Carl Rick Sanderson also wrote, for the early members of the church, building the Kirkland Temple was an unthinkable task. Consider the existing obstacles. Most members were poverty stricken. The church had no financial reserves, and the cost of the temple would be about $40,000 in that day's money.

Few members had construction experience. Few members were available to contribute time and resources. As Maureen mentioned, only 175 church members lived in the Kirkland area in 1833. The church did not own the land upon which the temple was to be built.

Few members possessed construction tools. Church enemies swore to stop temple construction. Now there's a few challenges for you.

In the wilderness, Anderson continued, the following Kirkland Saints painted a dismal picture of their circumstances. Elijah R. Snow said, the saints were few in number and most of them very poor.

Benjamin F. Johnson said, there was not a scraper, which is a hoe, and hardly a plow that could be obtained among the saints.

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