8 Different Miracle-Stuffed Temple Dedications
What she said so matter-of-factly was that she’d seen angels
at the Draper Temple Dedication. That’s a powerful comment. I looked around for
reactions and although I saw eyes affixed - I heard no gasp. If ever there was a
time to gasp that would have been it!
The whole congregation took it in stride, though. That could be
because angels play such a large part in our history. Joseph Smith used to accurately tell
people exactly when they’d see an angel. The two testimonies closing out this piece included full blown angel sightings too. I actually know a handful of
people that have angel stories. You probably do, too. Someone you know may
share such a story if they think they can trust you.
Our rich history of miraculous temple dedications is a
reason nobody gasped in that sacrament meeting. Everyone knows it’s happened
before. Everyone knows it could happen again. Below are 8 temple dedication experiences where the veil thinned.
Sometimes it thinned a little. Sometimes it thinned a lot. Some of these I’d
never heard until I went looking for specific stories.
Lets start with a
classic. Here are two accounts of what happened during the Kirtland Temple
dedication:
1) Kirtland Temple
1) "God was there [in the
Kirtland Temple], his angels were there, the Holy Ghost was in the midst of the
people . . . and they were filled from the crown of their heads to the soles of
their feet with the power and inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and uttered forth
prophecies in the midst of that congregation, which have been fulfilling from
that day to the present time…
"George A. Smith arose and
began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty
wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose,
being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and
prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with
angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The people of the
neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing
a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were
astonished at what was taking place" (http://www.ldsliving.com/When-the-Kirtland-and-Nauvoo-Temples-Were-Engulfed-in-Spiritual-Fire/s/86126)
2) “I again went up to
Kirtland, to attend the dedication of the temple, and to meet with the solemn
assembly that was there convened. There the Spirit of the Lord, as on the day
of Pentecost, was profusely poured out. Hundreds of elders spoke in tongues,
but many of them being young in the Church, and never having witnessed the
manifestation of this gift before, felt a little alarmed. This caused the
Prophet Joseph Smith to pray the Lord to withhold the Spirit. Joseph then
instructed them on the nature of the gift of tongues, and the operation of the
Spirit generally. We had a most glorious and never-to-be-forgotten time. Angels
were seen by numbers present, and the first endowments were received.” (https://books.google.com/books?id=8L1DAaWdzC4C&pg=PA267&lpg=PA267&dq=%22I+again+went+up+to+Kirtland,+to+attend+the+dedication+of+the+temple,+and+to+meet+with+the+solemn+assembly%22&source=bl&ots=MlQb85qnOz&sig=f1EUaAe3h1iAmrIshLwFGJWL5f0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi3tZvIqbvaAhUJZawKHbxXAC8Q6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=%22I%20again%20went%20up%20to%20Kirtland%2C%20to%20attend%20the%20dedication%20of%20the%20temple%2C%20and%20to%20meet%20with%20the%20solemn%20assembly%22&f=false)
That one is
interesting because it shows people being absolutely unprepared for the
outpouring that took place. It’s the only story I am aware of where Joseph
Smith prayed to reign in the spirit a bit.
The Nauvoo temple was never fully dedicated. Parts of it were dedicated – like the attic and the
font, but the whole thing never was. The saints had to leave town fast. Mobs were circling the temple, quite literally. Miraculous visions
were, however, part of the building process. (https://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/07/the-first-nauvoo-temple-so-great-a-cause?lang=eng)
2) Nauvoo Temple
“On the night of March 15, 1846, a man by the
name of Chester Loveland was woken by his mother-in-law raising the alarm that
the temple was on fire.
“It's important to note that
just over a month before, the Nauvoo Temple roof had actually caught fire from
an overheated stove pipe, and so there probably was a double sense of alarm to
see flames devouring the temple once again.
“Loveland dressed quickly and
ran outside to see that the temple was again ablaze. However, "He studied
it for a few seconds and realized the flames were not consuming the temple. He
also didn’t see anyone else running to the rescue and concluded it was the glory
of God. He returned to bed"
“And Loveland and his
mother-in-law were not the only ones to notice the flames surrounding the
temple.
“According to The Nauvoo Temple:
“A Monument of the Saints,” another man saw
the belfry appear to be on fire at around 9:45 p.m., but when he reached the
temple, it was unharmed, dark, and secure.
“The same night of these
sightings, a small group of members was gathered inside the temple for a
sacrament meeting that lasted until midnight. According to The Nauvoo Temple:
“A Monument of the Saints,” they were
"overcome with the Spirit" and many spoke in tongues, prophesied, saw
visions, and two heavenly beings were reported being seen in the corner of the
room.” (http://www.ldsliving.com/When-the-Kirtland-and-Nauvoo-Temples-Were-Engulfed-in-Spiritual-Fire/s/86126)
I like the
part where Loveland “concluded it was the glory of God. He returned to bed.”
Makes it all sound very commonplace.
3) St. George Temple
“A private dedication was held
on January 1, 1877, for parts of the temple. On that day temple president and
apostle Wilford Woodruff wrote, “This is a very important day to the Church and
Kingdom of God upon the Earth.”
“As Brigham Young walked to the
stand to speak to the assembled, “the house seemed filled with a heavenly host
and the President’s face fairly shone with the light of the Holy Ghost.”
“He asked if those in attendance
thought he was satisfied with the temple. He then said, “I am not half
satisfied, until I have whipped . . . the devils from off this earth,” and
crashed his hickory cane down on the pine pulpit.
“After the ceremony, the Saints
began to leave the temple but stopped when President Young advised, “Sit down
and calm yourselves and let the devil roar.” When they did leave the temple,
they found their buggies had been upset and trees blown down in a terrible
windstorm.” (http://www.ldsliving.com/-Let-the-Devil-Roar-Brigham-Young-s-Surprising-Statement-After-the-St-George-Temple-Dedication/s/84750)
I think I
may have missed this report of Brigham Young’s glowing face when I made the
list of 11 other instances of that miracle. Notice how this temple was
dedicated in parts too – just like in Nauvoo when everyone was in a hurry. St.
George would be the first temple to be finished in the west and the only one
the saints would have access to. They simple couldn't wait.
Manti was
another big one:
4) Manti
Temple
“During the temple dedication services, there were several spectacular
spiritual manifestations. Former prophets and apostles who had already passed
on were present for that sacred occasion. When Brother John W. Taylor, was
speaking, “a bright halo surrounded him, in which the personages of President
Brigham Young, John Taylor, and a third personage whom [some] believed to be
the Prophet Joseph, were seen.” Brother Jedediah M. Grant was also seen
standing next to his son, Heber J. Grant. Brother Smyth was playing a
selection from Mendelssohn on the organ when “a number of the Saints in the
body of the hall and some of the brethren in the west stand heard most heavenly
voices singing. It sounded to them as angelic, and appeared to be behind and
above them, and many turned their heads in that direction wondering if there
were not another choir in some other part of the building. There was no other
choir.”” (https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/byu-religious-education-student-symposium-2009/restoration-and-history-church/construction)
And of course the temple of all temples
would have to be on the list. 40 years in the making and the dedication did not
disappoint:
5) Salt Lake Temple
“As viewed through the pages of
the contemporary diarist, the dedication emerges as a spiritual event
unparalleled since the dedication of the Kirtland, Ohio, House of the Lord…
“During dedication services in
Salt Lake City, Woodruff "related his vision he had in Boston some 50
years ago. How the Lord showed him the Saints would move to the Rocky Mountains
and build this Temple, and [that] he would be called upon to open it to the
people and dedicate it to the Lord."…
“"The prayer was simply
grand," wrote one witness, "and caused all hearts to overflow with
praise and thanksgiving to our heavenly Father, and so manifest was the Spirit
of God that the vail [sic] was almost rent and we indeed felt we were in the
presence of our God and Jesus Christ our Redeemer and hosts of heavenly
beings..."
“There were other
manifestations, of a personal character, that accompanied the dedicatory
services. Elder Rudger Clawson recorded in his journal that his wife, Lydia,
"heard some beautiful singing that seemed to come from the North East
corner of the room even though there was no choir in the area.
and declared
that he saw "a beautiful light cross the building above the
chandeliers." Some witnessed the apparent transfiguration of Wilford Woodruff
into the likeness of Brigham Young, while others observed a halo of glory surrounding
Woodruff. One
individual reported seeing on the stand Brigham Young and several members of
the Quorum of the Twelve who had passed away, as well as other spirit beings…
“Another witness recorded that
Woodruff stated that "Our Saviour had appeared unto [me] in the East Room
in the Holy of Holies, & told [me] that He had accepted of the Temple &
of the dedication services, & that the Lord forgave us His Saints who had
assisted in any manner towards the erection and completion of the Temple.”” (https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V31N03_115.pdf)
As the list
grows it’s interesting to see things repeat. Angelic choirs, halos of light, transfigurations and Christ appearances. We are now entering the temple dedications I was not
familiar with – but you'll see the heavens were in attendance:
6) Alberta Temple
1) A special train brought
almost all the high oficials [sic] of the Church to Cardston for the Alberta
Temple’s dedication…
President Heber J. Grant,
who had succeeded Joseph F. Smith in 1918, spoke in each service. David A.
Smith, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, confided that for some time
he had longed for the opportunity of once again counseling with his father, the
late President Joseph F. Smith. “Yesterday,” he testified, “I walked with him
in these halls and by his side I stood while offering up the sacred shout of
Hosanna.” (https://books.google.com/books?id=PLyO80ngRYcC&pg=PA275&lpg=PA275&dq=%22spiritual+experience+in+Alberta+Temple%22&source=bl&ots=dj3lwVNs80&sig=wCwM2ZU6Q4EqOrbHdR_-WwnyYYU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi13_X06L3aAhUIca0KHSzEAlIQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=Alberta%20Temple&f=false)
2) A lady at Cardston who
came to one of the Temple services, did so with the spirit of the adversary in
her heart, but before she got in, her dead husband met her at the gate and told
her that the spirit of the adversary could not enter those sacred portals. She
was so overcome that she went to the apostles and confessed her sins." (http://digitallibrary.uleth.ca/cdm/ref/collection/cardston/id/499)
And speaking
of heavenly patterns – here. Joseph F. makes another appearance:
7) Hawaii Temple
1) “…Speakers [in Hawaii]
typically opened their remarks with an ‘Aloha” and received a warm “Aloha” from
the congregation in response…
“…Some of those who were present
for the temple’s dedication had roots going back to the beginnings of the
church in Hawaii. Sister Manaoheakamalu, who had cared for Joseph [F.] Smith
during his first mission to Hawaii and was now a very old lady, had to be
carried into the temple. She returned a week later to receive her endowment.
While in the temple she heard the voice of President Joseph F. Smith greeting
her with ‘Aloha” and “this caused her to weep for joy.” She passed away only a
short time later.” (https://books.google.com/books?id=PLyO80ngRYcC&pg=PA275&lpg=PA275&dq=%22spiritual+experience+in+Alberta+Temple%22&source=bl&ots=dj3lwVNs80&sig=wCwM2ZU6Q4EqOrbHdR_-WwnyYYU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi13_X06L3aAhUIca0KHSzEAlIQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=aloha&f=false)
Mid-dedication
break. This next one is still from the Hawaii temple dedication – and is wholly
unique on the list:
2) “…the night before the Laie
Hawaii Temple was dedicated in 1921, E. Wesley experienced the following
events:
“”A man came through the door.
He was tall enough to have to stoop to enter. His eyes were very protruding and
rather wild looking, his fingernails were thick and long. He presented a rather
unkempt appearance and wore no clothing at all. . . . There suddenly appeared
in [Smith’s] right hand a light which had the size and appearance of a dagger.
. . . A voice said, “This is your priesthood.” He commanded the person in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ to depart. . . . Immediately when the light
appeared the person stopped and on being commanded to leave, he backed out the
door.”” (http://www.ldsliving.com/When-Cain-Appeared-to-Joseph-Fielding-Smith-s-Brother-And-Talked-with-Apostle-David-W-Patten/s/83424)
And now for
the Oakland temple. This one is also a little different – but beautiful. It is
the most detailed account on the list, and appears to have quite a few
witnesses:
8) Oakland Temple
“…it
was in 1924 that Elder George Albert Smith stood on the balcony of the Fremont
Hotel, at his side was a Brother McDonald, and he said, “Brother McDonald, ““I
can almost see in vision a white temple of the Lord high upon those hills, an
ensign to all the world travelers as they sail through the Golden Gate into
this wonderful harbor.” Then he studied the vista for a few minutes, and said,
“A great white temple of the Lord will grace those hills, a glorious ensign to
the nations, to welcome our Father’s children as they visit this great city.””
“Time went on, and it
wasn’t until 1942, some years later, that we were offered a chance to buy some
property in that location. It was during the Second World War; the owner of the
property needed to sell it. He couldn’t build on it because he had no
materials. And so Elder McKay went out to Oakland and stood on the balcony of
the Fremont Motel with Brother McDonald again, and said, “Now, where was he
pointing, when he
made that prophecy?” So they went over and bought 14 1⁄2 acres for $18,000. Not
bad, huh? Good...and, but they had to go back a little while later and buy 2
more acres for access for $21,000. But time went on with nothing happening
until President McKay became a very influential prophet. And he undertook the
effort to raise the money and prepare for the dedication. And everything went
forward, until just prior to the dedication, he had a stroke. And you’re all
way too young to remember, but we remember in general conference having his son
get up and give his talks in conference, because he couldn’t speak any longer,
could hardly move. But the day of the dedication came, it was scheduled for
November 17, 18 and 19 in 1964. And, his doctor told him, “President McKay,
don’t plan to go. You’re much too weak.”
“And he said, “I am
going to the dedication.” He loved that place. And so they put him on the plane
and took him out and put him in a hotel.
“The morning of the
dedication someone put his head into the room and said, “Is President McKay
coming?”
“And a voice came out
and said, “He’ll be there.”
“Once they got to the
temple and the dedication started, President McKay asked Brother O. Leslie
Stone, who at the time was a stake president, to conduct the meeting. After the
singing by the choir and the invocation, O. Leslie Stone startled the Brethren
and family members present by announcing, “We shall all now have the privilege
of hearing from President McKay.” Remember, now, he hadn’t spoken much for
months. He couldn’t walk really, either. The prophet was wheeled to the pulpit,
and amazingly, stood, both hands grasping the side of the pulpit. He then began
to speak. His enunciation became as clear as it had been years before. Every
vestige of the stroke was gone.
“President McKay’s
son recorded, “My wife, with tears running down her cheeks, whispered,
‘Lawrence, we’re witnessing a miracle.’ I nodded in agreement.” Members of the
Council of the Twelve were crying. At the end of the first session, President
McKay’s son sought out the doctor, and said, “Can Dad keep this up?”
“And the doctor said,
“Lawrence, this is out of my hands. If I hadn’t have been here to see it, I
wouldn’t have believed it.” The Oakland Temple had its day of Pentecost in a
loving and compassionate Father had given to one of His faithful sons the
fulfillment of his heart in fully participating in the dedication of the
temple.”
(https://www.ldsbc.edu/devotionals-archive/1095-the-lord-s-spirit-abides-in-his-temples.html)
Do the heavens still spill over at temple dedications? They
can! Remember the Draper thing at the beginning of this! Dedications happen all
the time. Find one close to you. Go worthy. Go sincerely. Go prayerfully. See
what happens!
These stories are so awesome!
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