The Election drama has been wild and crazy. However, we have arrived at some interesting political tipping points. One is that the Trump legal team, after presenting Sidney Powell as part of their legal team in a new conference, has now released a very short blunt statement saying she is not part of the campaign legal team or the President’s personal legal team.
I have my own conspiracy theories as to why the President and his legal team is distancing himself from her.
But the bottom-line is that we have (or will have) a President Elect, which makes this series all the more timely and pertinent. With Biden clearly getting ready to put the lockdowns on steroids and many state militia’s preparing for civil war in this country, the stars seem to be lining up for the President Elect prophecy to take place sometime before January 20th.
The unconditional promises and prophecies about Nauvoo, the Nauvoo House of the Lord, the return of the first laborers of the last kingdom, and the proclamation, are all part of the remedy to this awful situation we find ourselves in.
If this is the time of the President Elect Prophecy, a proclamation is about to go forth telling the kings and political authorities “WHAT WILL BEFALL THEM”. All of the hidden things will be brought to light. “THEY WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT EXCUSE” in the DAY OF VISITATION God will “APPOINT THE PORTION OF THE OPPRESSOR AMONG HYPOCRITES“.
Secret Combinations
In a previous post I provided a link to a magnificent thesis about secret combinations done by a reader of this blog. I think she has done an outstanding job in her research. If there is one thing I felt that she did not develop sufficiently, it is the foundational role that the Jesuits play in the global conspiracy that we are currently witnessing. I have provided various resources pertaining to this topic over the years. Recently another reader has reminded me about the Jesuit Handbook which is a very good resource.
The Two Paths that were offered in Nauvoo
I ended episode #2 of this series by suggesting that the two houses of the Lord that the saints were struggling to build speedily in Nauvoo might just represent two opposing paths that were placed before the saints.
One path was obedience to God and his commandments which would have resulted in the successful completion of the Nauvoo House down in the valley by the river, which God commanded the saints to build in Section 124. The other path was to reject the law of the gospel, practice abominations, and focus on the Nauvoo temple up on the hill that does not appear to have been definitively commanded to be built by a specific revelation.
The Lord had warned the saints before the formal establishment of the church that he would deliver them over to Satan if they harden their hearts
“And now if this generation do harden their hearts against my word, behold I WILL DELIVER THEM UP UNTO SATAN” (book of Commandments Chapter 5:19)
Was Nauvoo the final fulfillment of that warning? Is that where and when the delivering of the hard hearted saints took place?
Once in Nauvoo, the Lord gave a revelation that had several ominous warnings in it.
Among other things, the Lord revealed that the Kirtland Temple had been defiled and the fulness of the priesthood had been taken from the saints who had previously been condemned by the Lord. In the revelation the Lord warned that if the House of the Lord was not completed withn the “sufficient time” allotted, the saints would be rejected as a church with their dead. He also promised that if the saints would hearken to the voice of the Lord they would not be moved out of their place. Nevertheless if they were not obedient and if they polute his holy grounds, they would be moved out of their place.
Joseph Smith would eventually urgently warn the saints that
“.. If the Temple and Nauvoo house are not finished you must run away..”
One another occasion he warned
“if we did not build the temple & Nauvoo house it would proove the ruin of the place that if we did not build those buildings we might as well leave the place & that it was as necessary to build one as the other..”
If the warning in section 124 about finishing the house within a sufficient time was referring to the Nauvoo Temple, it is quite illogical and detrimental for Joseph to have included the Boarding House in his warnings.
I think it is obvious that Joseph realized that the warning in section 124 pertained to the Boarding House. In his mind, if the boarding house needed to be finished, then certainly the temple also needed to be finished within that period of time. The is why his warnings bundled the two houses together.
The Nauvoo Temple was not commanded to be Built in Sections 97 and 124
In this episode I am going to simply refer to these two houses of the Lord in Nauvoo as the “Nauvoo Temple” and the “Nauvoo House” since the Lord designated by revelation that the Boarding house of the Lord by the river simply be called the “Nauvoo House”.
In previous blogs I have pointed out that the Nauvoo Temple building committee assumed that section 97 was the revelation that commanded the building of the Nauvoo Temple. They publicly published this announcement AFTER section 124 was received. They knew that section 124 was not commanding the construction of the Nauvoo Temple which was already under construction before section 124 was given.
Although the temple committee assumed that section 97 was the revelation that commanded the building of the Nauvoo Temple, I have since parsed through the revelation and history relating to is and concluded for my self that it was also referring to the Nauvoo House.
In the last episode of this series I showed why I believe that section 97 was actually the preliminary revelation to section 124, commanding the construction of the Nauvoo House.
I am convinced that God only commanded one house of the Lord to be built in Nauvoo and it was the Nauvoo House.
I believe there was no revelation commanding the construction of the Nauvoo Temple.
I realize this is a very difficult concept for all of us that have been indoctrinated by the orthodox version of LDS history.
I have received a few comments from readers and there still seems to be some die-hards that believe that the Nauvoo Temple was commanded to be built in section 124.
They believe that section 124 begins by commanding the Nauvoo House to be built, but also eventually addresses the building of the Nauvoo Temple.
For this reason, I thought it might be an instructive exercise to do some more parsing of section 124 to look for possible references to the Nauvoo Temple, as well as to provide some additional context to the revelation.
Two Separate Committees
First, let’s start with the calling and composition of the two building committees.
The building committee for the Nauvoo House was called by revelation:
62 Behold, verily I say unto you, let my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Haws, organize themselves, and appoint one of them to be a president over their quorum for the purpose of building that house.
On the other hand, the building committee for the Nauvoo Temple was called by committee:
3 Oct 1840 — In the General Conference of the Church the congregation resolved, “That the Saints build a house for the worship of God, and that Reynolds Cahoon, Elias Higbee, and Alpheus Cutler be appointed a committee to build the same.” Men agreed to”tithe” their labor, working one day in ten on the temple. (Smith, History of the Church, 4:205.)
That is the first red flag.
Similarly, the Nauvoo House was appointed to be constructed by revelation
22 Let my servant George, and my servant Lyman, and my servant John Snider, and others, build a house unto my name, such a one as my servant Joseph shall show unto them, upon the place which he shall show unto them also.
Conversely, the construction of the Nauvoo Temple was appointed by committee with no definitive revelation commanding the construction being mentioned at that time the appointment was made:
Winter 1839/40 Even as the Saints began to settle Commerce, the Brethren “began to talk upon the subject of building a temple, wherein to administer the ordinances of God’s house. Several councils were held and a place selected where upon the temple was contemplated to be built.” (Clayton, “Nauvoo Temple History Journal,” p. 3.)
1 Aug 1840 — In Nauvoo the First Presidency issued a general epistle, stating, “…it is necessary to erect a house of prayer, a house of worship of our God, where the ordinances can be attended to agreeably to His divine will, in this region of country.”(Smith, History of the Church, 4:186.)
Perhaps that is the second red flag.
It is not difficult to see why the saints in Nauvoo may have been a little confused and conflicted regarding the urgency of building two different houses with two different building committees.
Why did the church need two separate and distinct Houses built unto the name of the Lord?
My next observation does not necessarily prove anything. It may just be some interesting trivia.
it is nevertheless interesting to compare how the members of each temple committee reacted at the time of the succession crisis and who was loyal to Brigham Young and the Twelve, vs those that could not sustain them as having the keys that Joseph held.
| Nauvoo Temple Building Committee succession loyalties |
Nauvoo House Building Committee succession loyalties |
| Reynolds Cahoon: Followed Brigham Young Elias Higbee: Died in 1843 Alpheus Cutler: Initially followed Brigham but excommunicated Apr 1851 |
George Miller: Rejected Brigham Young
Lyman Wight: Rejected Brigham Young John Snider: Followed Brigham Young Peter Haws Initially followed Brigham Young but Excommunicated 1849 |
As pointed out in previous posts, section 124 lists more people by name than any other revelation. It virtually represented a who’s-who of high-profile priesthood holders and leaders in Nauvoo. In it the Lord complements and blesses some while warning others. It is interesting to note that two members of the Nauvoo House committee received some of the most remarkable complements from the Lord. They were clearly among the great men of the restoration. On the other hand, two of the three members of the Nauvoo Temple committee are not even mentioned in the revelation.
Again, this does not prove that the Nauvoo Temple was never commanded to be built. But it does seem significant to me.
| Nauvoo Temple Building Committee
Appointments and Attributes according to 124 |
Nauvoo House Building Committee
Appointments and Attributes according to 124 |
| Reynolds Cahoon: Not mentioned Elias Higbee: Not mentioned Alpheus Cutler: named to the high council of Nauvoo |
George Miller: my servant George Miller is without guile; he may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart; and for the love which he has to my testimony I, the Lord, love him
Lyman Wight: should continue in preaching for Zion, in the spirit of meekness, confessing me before the world; and I will bear him up as on eagles’ wings; and he shall beget glory and honor to himself and unto my name. 19 That when he shall finish his work I may receive him unto myself, John Snider: appointed to quorum presidency to build the house and trusted to receive stock for building house Peter Haws appointed to quorum presidency to build the house and trusted to receive stock for building house |
Another very interesting differentiation between the Nauvoo Temple and the Nauvoo House is the architecture.
The architecture for the Nauvoo Temple was determined by Joseph Smith through trial and error:
Fall 1840 — Joseph Smith “advertised for plans for a temple. He [William Weeks] said several architects presented their plans, but none seemed to suit Smith. So when he went in and showed his plans, Joseph Smith grabbed him, hugged him and said, ‘You are the man I want.'”(F. M. Weeks to J. Earl Arrington, in Arrington,”William Weeks,” BYU Studies, 19 [Spring 1979]: 340.)
On the other hand, very little is mentioned regarding the plans for the Nauvoo House. Section 97 suggests that the pattern was given to Joseph. The architects were
Lucien Woodworth and William Weeks
10 Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that a house should be built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the pattern which I have given you.
Sadly there is very little detailed information about the architecture of the Nauvoo House. it was designed to be a three story L shaped building with two 120 foot wings (holzapfel and cottle) It is my hunch that the shape has something to do with marking the corner of a much much larger geographical area pertaining to the land of Zion.
It appears as if William Weeks was involved in preparing plans for both houses under Joseph Smith’s direction.
One thing that is very important to mention about the Nauvoo Temple is that Joseph Smith had claimed that he would build a temple that was as great as the one that Solomon built:
July 19, 1840: “Now brethren I obligate myself to build as great a temple as ever Solomon did, if the church will back me up”
8 Segments containing House of the Lord Text
Now I am going to share with you my observations in attempting to find a definitive reference to the Nauvoo Temple in section 124.
Frankly, I don’t think there is a commandment to build the Nauvoo Temple in section 124.
It is obvious that the very first mention of building a House unto the name of the Lord begins in verse 22 and it clearly has to do with the Nauvoo House. The 64 dollar question is whether the narrative actually ever transitions to a commandment to build the Nauvoo Temple.
As I parsed section 124 looking for possible transition points from the Nauvoo House to the Nauvoo Temple, I divided snippets of the text into eight different groupings that address the house of the Lord topic.
I was surprised to realize that the house of the Lord theme seemed to be the primary theme that was interwoven throughout the entire revelation. Previously I thought it was simply a small portion of the revelation.
First lets zero in on the first segment pertaining to the House of the Lord that was to be built.
The segment begins by commanding three men who would be called as members of the building committee to build the house. It informs them that Joseph would show them what the house would look like and where to build it. It is important to realize that it is the Nauvoo House that is to receive the gold, silver, copper, brass zinc, precious stones, antiquities and precious trees of the earth from all over the earth to beautify it.
Segment 1
22 Let my servant George, and my servant Lyman, and my servant John Snider, and others, build a house unto my name, such a one as my servant Joseph shall show unto them, upon the place which he shall show unto them also.
23 And it shall be for a house for boarding, a house that strangers may come from afar to lodge therein; therefore let it be a good house, worthy of all acceptation, that the weary traveler may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord; and the cornerstone I have appointed for Zion.
24 This house shall be a healthful habitation if it be built unto my name, and if the governor which shall be appointed unto it shall not suffer any pollution to come upon it. It shall be holy, or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, let all my saints come from afar.
26 And send ye swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto them: Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities; and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth;
27 And with iron, with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth; and build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein.
28 For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.
29 For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth, that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead—
30 For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me.
31 But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me.
32 But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.
33 For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house to me, wherein the ordinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me;
34 For therein are the keys of the holy priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory.
35 And after this time, your baptisms for the dead, by those who are scattered abroad, are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord.
36 For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead.
37 And again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name?
38 For, for this cause I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle, that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed which had been hid from before the world was.
39 Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name.
40 And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people;
41 For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times.
42 And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house, and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built.
43 And ye shall build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to build it.
44 If ye labor with all your might, I will consecrate that spot that it shall be made holy.
45 And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
46 But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.
Most of the die-hards that insist that the Nauvoo Temple is addressed in the revelation identify verses 25-27 to be a transition point from the Nauvoo House to the Nauvoo Temple. But frankly, I cannot see it. There is no clear transition and there are too many contradictions to make that assumption.
Verse 25-27 appear to be a continuation of the Nauvoo House that had just been commanded to be built.
Verses 25-43 contain the narrative that has been superimposed upon the Nauvoo Temple according to the orthodox history of the church, but in my reading of it, there is no transition. The entire text is addressing the Nauvoo House.
You will notice that the Lord reiterates in verse 43 what had previously been addressed in verse 22,
that construction on the house has not been started and that it would be built sometime in the future in the location where Joseph had been contemplating it. Section 124 was given on January 19, yet the property on the hill where the Nauvoo Temple was to be built had been obtained many months previously for the purpose of building the Nauvoo Temple and the Nauvoo Temple construction had already begun prior to this revelation.
| 22 ..build a house unto my name, such a one as my servant Joseph SHALL show unto them, upon the place which he SHALL show unto them also. | 43 And ye SHALL build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to build it. |
As you can see, verse 43 is reiterating what had been said in verse 22. The construction of the Nauvoo House being spoken of in section 124 had not yet been started and yet construction on the Nauvoo Temple had already begun. The Church at large had not previously known where to build the Nauvoo House and yet the land for the Nauvoo Temple which was under construction had been obtained many months before this revelation was given. Clearly, it is the Nauvoo House that is being addressed between verses 22 and 43.
Verses 22 and 43 act as book ends to the text showing that no transition to a different house had been made. Only the Nauvoo House was being addressed. It is the House upon which construction had not yet begun. In fact, it is the one in which the location had not yet been determined by revelation.
Here is a brief chronology of the construction of the Nauvoo Temple showing that the location and land had been clearly identified and obtained and the construction had begun BEFORE section 124 was given. This proves that section 124 was not referring to the Nauvoo Temple. Please notice that everything is done by committee and no revelation is ever provided:
Back in August of 1840 the First Presidency issued a general epistle, stating,
“…it is necessary to erect a house of prayer, a house of worship of our God, where the ordinances can be attended to agreeably to His divine will, in this region of country.”(Smith, History of the Church, 4:186.)
In October of 1840 — In the General Conference of the Church the congregation resolved,
“That the Saints build a house for the worship of God, and that Reynolds Cahoon, Elias Higbee, and Alpheus Cutler be appointed a committee to build the same.”
Men agreed to”tithe” their labor, working one day in ten on the temple. (Smith, History of the Church, 4:205.)
The Temple Committee was charged to superintend the work and oversee the entire operation. They also received donations. Those who donated received receipts, usually written by Elias Higbee. (Clayton,”Nauvoo Temple History Journal,” p. 3.)
A limestone quarry in an old stream bed northwest of Nauvoo, but within the city limits, opened. It was located west of Main Street, between Hyrum Street and Joseph Street. Elisha Everett struck the first blow for stone for the temple. William Niswanger operated the quarry, which came to be called the Temple Stone Quarry. Albert P. Rockwood and his assistant Charles Drury supervised the crews cutting the limestone. (Smith, History of the Church, 4:229; William Clayton Journal, Journal History, 31 Dec 1844.)
Later, stone from another quarry was also used. Joseph Smith III stated, that the stone for the Temple came”from a quarry in the north side of the city along the river bank [the Temple Stone Quarry] and some of them from down the river [probably the Loomis Quarry].” (Saints Herald,26 Sept 1949.)
In the Fall 1840 — Joseph Smith
“advertised for plans for a temple. He [William Weeks] said several architects presented their plans, but none seemed to suit Smith. So when he went in and showed his plans, Joseph Smith grabbed him, hugged him and said, ‘You are the man I want.'”(F. M. Weeks to J. Earl Arrington, in Arrington,”William Weeks,” BYU Studies, 19 [Spring 1979]: 340.)
By October of 1840 19 Oct 1840 –
the Temple Committee had contacted Daniel H. Wells about land for the temple. (Clayton,”Nauvoo Temple History Journal,” p. 4.)
Joseph Smith wrote that the Church had
“secured one of the most lovely situation [for the Temple] in this region of the Country.”
He also stated that the Nauvoo Temple was
“expected to be considerable larger than the one in Kirtland and on a more magnificent scale.” (Smith. History of the Church, 4:229; Times and Seasons, 2 [1 Jan 1842]: 259-260.)
The acquisition of the limestone for the temple had already begun by October 12 1840:
A limestone quarry in an old stream bed northwest of Nauvoo, but within the city limits, opened. It was located west of Main Street, between Hyrum Street and Joseph Street. Elisha Everett struck the first blow for stone for the temple. William Niswanger operated the quarry, which came to be called the Temple Stone Quarry. Albert P. Rockwood and his assistant Charles Drury supervised the crews cutting the limestone. (Smith, History of the Church, 4:229; William Clayton Journal, Journal History, 31 Dec 1844.)
Finally, the construction on the Nauvoo Temple had already begun prior to January 19 1841 before section 124 was given:
15 Jan 1841 — The First Presidency reported, “The Temple of the Lord is in the progress of erection.” (Times and Seasons, 2 [15 Jan 1841]: 274.)
It is easy to document that the revelation for the Nauvoo House was given on January 19 1841 and construction had not yet been started and yet the Nauvoo Temple had already been started.
How much more clear can it be that section 124, verses 22 thru 46 are speaking specifically about the Nauvoo house and not the Nauvoo Temple??
Clearly the future place where Joseph was thinking about building the Nauvoo House in verses 22 and 43 of section 124 are different and distinct from the land that had already been acquired for the Nauvoo Temple and upon which the construction project had already begun. Verse 43 proves that the narrative had not transitioned from the Nauvoo House to the Nauvoo Temple.
It is easy however to see why future generations have merged the two narratives and misunderstood what section 124 was speaking about. Scripture informs us that when God’s people go into apostasy, the truths they had previously known are taken from them. The latter day saints clearly suffer from historical amnesia. Back when section 124 was given, it was commonly understood that it had nothing to do with the Nauvoo Temple on the Hill. That is why the Nauvoo Temple Committee posted their erroneous belief that section 97 was the justification for the Nauvoo Temple.
Let us now review the next segment that speaks about a house to be built
Segment 2
47 And it SHALL come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord.
48 For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before me, saith the Lord.
OH..
MY..
Gosh!
I think we just uncovered a passage that does indeed address the building of the Nauvoo Temple. It does not command the saints to build it, it simply foretells what would happen when they acted presumptuously.
The phrase “it shall come to pass” suggests that the above snippet is actually a prophecy about a future event. I am willing to concede that the above passages may well be referring to the Nauvoo Temple because in fact the saints did attempt to build a house to the Lord’s name without doing the things that God had commanded them. Instead of the saints being blessed with authentic Pentecostal endowments from God in the unfinished house, they were cursed with the masonic endowment which became associated with false sealing ordinances and the corrupt spiritual wife abomination.
Technically, the Nauvoo Temple was never completed by the saints of that generation. This is because they did not obey the commandments and they were cursed. For that reason, the Nauvoo Temple was destroyed. However, the modern apostate church has indeed rebuilt it and has continued to promote a modified version of the endowment that brought the cursing’s that were evident in the first attempt to build it.
This is undoubtedly why the Lord is going to have the strength of his house break down the walls, throw down the tower and avenge Him of his enemies when the appointed time arrives.
“Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen. And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.” (Section 101 57-58)
Bottom-line, the above snippet does not validate a commandment to build the Nauvoo Temple. It does however validate the historical fact that an attempt was made to build a house, but because of the “works” of the saints, it brought cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon their heads, by their follies, and by all their abominations, which they practiced before the Lord in Nauvoo.
Later in this episode we shall observe that the Nauvoo temple was destroyed just like the New Testament temple was destroyed, with not one stone sitting upon another.
Let us now review the next snippet having to do with the house:
Segment 3
55 And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a house to my name, even in this place, that you may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life.
56 And now I say unto you, as pertaining to my boarding house which I have commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it be built unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my servant Joseph and his house have place therein, from generation to generation.
57 For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him.
58 And as I said unto Abraham concerning the kindreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph: In thee and in thy seed shall the kindred of the earth be blessed.
59 Therefore, let my servant Joseph and his seed after him have place in that house, from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord.
60 And let the name of that house be called Nauvoo House; and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting-place for the weary traveler, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this, the cornerstone thereof;
61 That he may receive also the counsel from those whom I have set to be as plants of renown, and as watchmen upon her walls.
62 Behold, verily I say unto you, let my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Haws, organize themselves, and appoint one of them to be a president over their quorum for the purpose of building that house.
63 And they shall form a constitution, whereby they may receive stock for the building of that house.
64 And they shall not receive less than fifty dollars for a share of stock in that house, and they shall be permitted to receive fifteen thousand dollars from any one man for stock in that house.
65 But they shall not be permitted to receive over fifteen thousand dollars stock from any one man.
66 And they shall not be permitted to receive under fifty dollars for a share of stock from any one man in that house.
67 And they shall not be permitted to receive any man, as a stockholder in this house, except the same shall pay his stock into their hands at the time he receives stock;
68 And in proportion to the amount of stock he pays into their hands he shall receive stock in that house; but if he pays nothing into their hands he shall not receive any stock in that house.
69 And if any pay stock into their hands it shall be for stock in that house, for himself, and for his generation after him, from generation to generation, so long as he and his heirs shall hold that stock, and do not sell or convey the stock away out of their hands by their own free will and act, if you will do my will, saith the Lord your God.
70 And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Haws, receive any stock into their hands, in moneys, or in properties wherein they receive the real value of moneys, they shall not appropriate any portion of that stock to any other purpose, only in that house.
71 And if they do appropriate any portion of that stock anywhere else, only in that house, without the consent of the stockholder, and do not repay fourfold for the stock which they appropriate anywhere else, only in that house, they shall be accursed, and shall be moved out of their place, saith the Lord God; for I, the Lord, am God, and cannot be mocked in any of these things.
72 Verily I say unto you, let my servant Joseph pay stock into their hands for the building of that house, as seemeth him good; but my servant Joseph cannot pay over fifteen thousand dollars stock in that house, nor under fifty dollars; neither can any other man, saith the Lord.
73 And there are others also who wish to know my will concerning them, for they have asked it at my hands.
74 Therefore, I say unto you concerning my servant Vinson Knight, if he will do my will let him put stock into that house for himself, and for his generation after him, from generation to generation.
75 And let him lift up his voice long and loud, in the midst of the people, to plead the cause of the poor and the needy; and let him not fail, neither let his heart faint; and I will accept of his offerings, for they shall not be unto me as the offerings of Cain, for he shall be mine, saith the Lord.
76 Let his family rejoice and turn away their hearts from affliction; for I have chosen him and anointed him, and he shall be honored in the midst of his house, for I will forgive all his sins, saith the Lord. Amen.
77 Verily I say unto you, let my servant Hyrum put stock into that house as seemeth him good, for himself and his generation after him, from generation to generation.
78 Let my servant Isaac Galland put stock into that house; for I, the Lord, love him for the work he hath done, and will forgive all his sins; therefore, let him be remembered for an interest in that house from generation to generation.
79 Let my servant Isaac Galland be appointed among you, and be ordained by my servant William Marks, and be blessed of him, to go with my servant Hyrum to accomplish the work that my servant Joseph shall point out to them, and they shall be greatly blessed.
80 Let my servant William Marks pay stock into that house, as seemeth him good, for himself and his generation, from generation to generation.
81 Let my servant Henry G. Sherwood pay stock into that house, as seemeth him good, for himself and his seed after him, from generation to generation.
82 Let my servant William Law pay stock into that house, for himself and his seed after him, from generation to generation.
In the beginning of the above snippet the Lord states “And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a house to my name,”
The Lord indicates that He is commanding them AGAIN, a second time, to build the Nauvoo House. This second commandment could simply be the second time within the revelation, but more than likely it is referring to the fact that God had previously commanded the House to be built in section 97, prior to section 124. I think that is the real interpretation.
The next snippet referring to the House begins in verse 111:
Segment 4
111 And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Amos Davies pay stock into the hands of those whom I have appointed to build a house for boarding, even the Nauvoo House.
112 This let him do if he will have an interest; and let him hearken unto the counsel of my servant Joseph, and labor with his own hands that he may obtain the confidence of men.
113 And when he shall prove himself faithful in all things that shall be entrusted unto his care, yea, even a few things, he shall be made ruler over many;
114 Let him therefore abase himself that he may be exalted. Even so. Amen.
The concept of raising funds to build the Nauvoo House is an interesting one that might seem to contradict the original command to build the House by the tithing (consecration} of the saints. However, I would point out that he is required to “abase himself that he may be exalted“. That may well be an inference to the act of consecrating everything before he can properly pay stock. (see section 85 which states that people must be tithed in order to receive an inheritance)
I still see no transition to a commandment to build the Nauvoo Temple here.
The next snippet begins with verse 115. The only reason I am separating it from the previous passages is because it begins with “and again..” which may or may not be a significant reason to separate the snippets, since it is essentially extending the same opportunity and blessing of paying stock in the house to Robert D Foster.
Segment 5
117 [Speaking about Robert D. Foster who was to build Joseph Smith’s mansion house] And pay stock also into the hands of the quorum of the Nauvoo House, for himself and for his generation after him, from generation to generation;
Again, no discernable transition to the Nauvoo Temple is taking place and if a commandment to build the Nauvoo Temple had taken place earlier in the revelation it would be extremely confusing that God continues with the Nauvoo House narrative.
The next segment continues with the same general theme of paying stock into the Nauvoo House. I only separate the passages because of the “and again..” beginning of the verses.
Segment 6
119 And again, verily I say unto you, let no man pay stock to the quorum of the Nauvoo House unless he shall be a believer in the Book of Mormon, and the revelations I have given unto you, saith the Lord your God;
120 For that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall be attended with cursings and not blessings, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen.
Again, no transition to the Nauvoo Temple, however the warning about cursings seems to be related to those that don’t truly believe in the Book of Mormon and the “revelations” (D&C)
Obviously both the Book of Mormon and the revelations both stress the necessity of consecrating and having all things equal or the spirit will be withheld.
A keyword search pertaining to the “Book of Mormon” and “revelations“, i.e.., the “commandments” that had been given through Joseph Smith takes us to Section 84 which informs us that one does not actually fully believe the Book of Mormon and commandments given unless one obeys the law of Zion which is contained in them, which includes consecration and monogamy.
| Section 84 | Section 124 |
| 57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written— 58 That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion. |
119 And again, verily I say unto you, let no man pay stock to the quorum of the Nauvoo House unless he shall be a believer in the Book of Mormon, and the revelations I have given unto you, saith the Lord your God; 120 For that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall be attended with cursings and not blessings, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen. |
Clearly, any house of the Lord that the saints might have attempted to construct in the cornerstone of Zion was doomed to failure unless the saints were true believers in the Book of Mormon and commandments that had commanded them to consecrate and live the celestial law of monogamy. Both of those commandments were violated in Nauvoo. To be a true believer in the Book of Mormon and the revelations one must not only give lip service to those commandments, one must actually obey and keep the commandments. This is basically clarifying the prophecy in verses 47-48
“And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord. For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before me, saith the Lord.
Regardless of whether Joseph Smith was inspired or not when he said the saint were not capable of living the laws of Zion in Nauvoo, the holy and infallible word of God makes it clear that blessings would be withheld and cursings would be the result for not keeping God’s commandments.
It is true that God had told the saints that they must wait for a little season of chastisement before Zion could be redeemed. The question is, could the little season of chastisement have ended in Nauvoo if the saints would have repented and lived the laws of God during the Nauvoo period.
Section 105 makes it abundantly clear that “Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom”
Verily I say unto you who have assembled yourselves together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of mine afflicted people— Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now.
But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them; And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom; And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself. (Section 105:1-5)
The next passage also begins with “and again..”. No transition to the Nauvoo Temple exists.
Segment 7
121 And again, verily I say unto you, let the quorum of the Nauvoo House have a just recompense of wages for all their labors which they do in building the Nauvoo House; and let their wages be as shall be agreed among themselves, as pertaining to the price thereof.
122 And let every man who pays stock bear his proportion of their wages, if it must needs be, for their support, saith the Lord; otherwise, their labors shall be accounted unto them for stock in that house. Even so. Amen.
Finally, the last passage informs us that all of the priesthood offices and officers listed in verses 123-143 will have a place prepared in the Nauvoo House which is to be built unto the name of the Lord:
Segment 8
123 Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the officers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchizedek, which is after the order of mine Only Begotten Son.
144 And a commandment I give unto you, that you should fill all these offices [ Pertaining to Patriarch, Presiding Elder and Counselors, President of over the Twelve, Twelve Apostles, High Council, High Priests, Elders, Seventies, Bishopric, Priests, Teachers, Deacons ] and approve of those names which I have mentioned, or else disapprove of them at my general conference;
145 And that ye should prepare rooms for all these offices in my house when you build it unto my name, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen.
Oh My Gosh!!!
Verses 123 through 145 are itemizing all of the priesthood offices and officers that need to be physically housed in the Nauvoo House. It is describing a structure so massive that it is difficult to comprehend how in the world the building is going to be able to accommodate so many boarding rooms. At first blush, the number of rooms for offices and officers appears to be well over 100 and possibly many hundred depending on the number and size of some of the quorums being mentioned. Keep in mind these are the administrative offices of a global organization. How can the structure accommodate that many physical rooms and still accommodate countless “strangers” coming from afar?
It becomes apparent that the “strangers” coming from all over the world, which we have previously identified as the children of Abraham, will be filling many of these priesthood offices. These are essentially the 144,000 Saviors on Mount Zion.
That is a massive sanctuary.
We are talking about what appears to be a metaphysical undertaking that is difficult to comprehend. It appears that the initial “L” shaped structure that was laid out, was possibly only stage one of the Sanctuary. Either that or some type of mystical process is taking place. Of course there could be a huge number of levels to it as well.
For those that have dismissed the Nauvoo House as just a boarding house, and not a house of the Lord need to realize that God refers to the Nauvoo House in verse 145 above as “my house” which they are to “build unto my name“.
This proves that the previous passages in question, that people are attributing as Nauvoo Temple text, are actually speaking about the Nauvoo House.
In case you think I have lost my mind or that I have been smoking something, there are multiple textual giveaways that lead us to an even earlier revelation that was given regarding the future building of this massive sanctuary. I am referring to the commandment to build the Lords House in section 88!!!
One of the textual giveaways is in the fact that the above text in section 124 informs us that every priesthood office from the Presidency of the Church and high priest quorum down to the deacons will each have a room in this house. Compare this to the following passage in section 88
And again, the order of the house prepared for the presidency of the school of the prophets, established for their instruction in all things that are expedient for them, even for all the officers of the church, or in other words, those who are called to the ministry in the church, beginning at the high priests, even down to the deacons— (vs 127)
Un-be-freakin-lievable!
The work of the ministry began in Kirtland but it will reach its crescendo in Nauvoo. The final work of the ministry takes place in the mystical Nauvoo House (which is a sanctuary) and it will be where the school of the prophets is held and it will literally house all of the 144,000 and every priesthood officer from the high priests to the deacons.
The Nauvoo House is the Lord’s house. He will reside there.
That’s right, the sanctuary being described in section 84:117-141 is referring to the sanctuary called the Nauvoo House in Nauvoo!!!
By the way, Hyrum paraphrased the prophecy of Isaiah to identify Nauvoo as the “hiding place“.
“..therefore tarry not in any place whatever, but come forth unto this place from all the world, until it is filled up, and polished, and sanctified according to my word, saith the Lord, come ye forth from the ends of the Earth, that I may hide you from mine indignation that shall scourge the wicked..”
Here is what Isaiah says:
20 ¶ Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Section 88 refers to the Nauvoo House as a “sanctuary“.
136 Behold, verily, I say unto you, this is an ensample unto you for a salutation to one another in the house of God, in the school of the prophets.
137 And ye are called to do this by prayer and thanksgiving, as the Spirit shall give utterance in all your doings in the house of the Lord, in the school of the prophets, that it may become a sanctuary, a tabernacle of the Holy Spirit to your edification.
138 And ye shall not receive any among you into this school save he is clean from the blood of this generation;
Notice the following definitions of SANCTUARY in the 1828 websters:
5. A place of protection; a sacred asylum. Hence a sanctuary-man is one that resorts to a sanctuary for protection.
6. Shelter; protection.
It appears as if the Nauvoo House is where the school of the prophets that prepares the 144,000 for the work of their ministry will take place.
It appears as if this is the Sanctuary where the righteous will meet and converse with and be taught by the Lord.
It appears as if this is where he will receive each righteous person to himself and this is where calling and election takes place.
Read the following passages in section 88 very carefully. Everyone assumes it is referring to the building of the temple in Kirtland or Jackson County but it is clearly referring to the Nauvoo House which will eventually encompass Kirtland and Jackson County and all of the land of Zion. It is Nauvoo and the Nauvoo House where the great end times, Solemn Assembly will take place”
117 Therefore, verily I say unto you, my friends, call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you.
[See Joel 1
13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
14 ¶ Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,
15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
[See Joel 2
15 ¶ Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
18 ¶ Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
[Zeph 3
14 ¶ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
118 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.
119 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;
120 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.
121 Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings.
122 Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege.
123 See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.
124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.
125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.
126 Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.
127 And again, the order of the house prepared for the presidency of the school of the prophets, established for their instruction in all things that are expedient for them, even for all the officers of the church, or in other words, those who are called to the ministry in the church, beginning at the high priests, even down to the deacons—
128 And this shall be the order of the house of the presidency of the school: He that is appointed to be president, or teacher, shall be found standing in his place, in the house which shall be prepared for him.
129 Therefore, he shall be first in the house of God, in a place that the congregation in the house may hear his words carefully and distinctly, not with loud speech.
130 And when he cometh into the house of God, for he should be first in the house—behold, this is beautiful, that he may be an example—
131 Let him offer himself in prayer upon his knees before God, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant.
132 And when any shall come in after him, let the teacher arise, and, with uplifted hands to heaven, yea, even directly, salute his brother or brethren with these words:
133 Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.
134 And he that is found unworthy of this salutation shall not have place among you; for ye shall not suffer that mine house shall be polluted by him.
135 And he that cometh in and is faithful before me, and is a brother, or if they be brethren, they shall salute the president or teacher with uplifted hands to heaven, with this same prayer and covenant, or by saying Amen, in token of the same.
136 Behold, verily, I say unto you, this is an ensample unto you for a salutation to one another in the house of God, in the school of the prophets.
137 And ye are called to do this by prayer and thanksgiving, as the Spirit shall give utterance in all your doings in the house of the Lord, in the school of the prophets, that it may become a sanctuary, a tabernacle of the Holy Spirit to your edification.
138 And ye shall not receive any among you into this school save he is clean from the blood of this generation;
139 And he shall be received by the ordinance of the washing of feet, for unto this end was the ordinance of the washing of feet instituted.
140 And again, the ordinance of washing feet is to be administered by the president, or presiding elder of the church.
141 It is to be commenced with prayer; and after partaking of bread and wine, he is to gird himself according to the pattern given in the thirteenth chapter of John’s testimony concerning me. Amen
I have never even noticed the significance of the last few passages of section 124 before now.
I am more convinced now that ever before that the Nauvoo House is indeed the exclusive house of the Lord being spoken of in section 124.
Having parsed through section 124, I cannot find a definitive commandment to build the Nauvoo Temple, although verses 47-48 appear to be a prophecy about the failure of the Nauvoo Temple because of the abominations associated with it.
It is apparent to me why the saints labored on both the Nauvoo House and the Nauvoo Temple in vain.
Since posting the last episode I have been contacted by a reader who admits that it is difficult to identify a real clear transition point they insist that
“..the Lord saying in no uncertain terms that the Nauvoo House is a Boarding House plan and simple. Yes a very special boarding house for sure but a Boarding house nonetheless”
I challenge that claims. The Nauvoo House is much much more than just a boarding house.
They claim that verses 24 through 55 are speaking about the Nauvoo Temple. I believe this is what the orthodox church teaches as well.
Since they feel that the Nauvoo House is only a very special Boarding house, it makes sense that they don’t see verse 24 as referring to it because that verse states that the Lord dwells there when it is kept Holy.
24 This house shall be a healthful habitation if it be built unto my name, and if the governor which shall be appointed unto it shall not suffer any pollution to come upon it. It shall be holy, or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, let all my saints come from afar.
There are numerous problems with that interpretation. One has previously been pointed out in this episode. It is verse 43 which reiterates what verse 22 said. It proves that the Nauvoo House is being spoken of rather than the Nauvoo Temple which was already under construction.
| 22 ..build a house unto my name, such a one as my servant Joseph SHALL show unto them, upon the place which he SHALL show unto them also. | 43 And ye SHALL build it on the place where you have contemplated building it, for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to build it. |
Another problem is that the term “healthful habitation” is a clear reference to the boarding house, which will be inhabited with boarders, not the temple.
It is understandable that since they only see the Nauvoo House as a boarding house, they don’t think that it would necessarily be holy or that the name of the Lord would be upon it, or that the Lord would dwell therein. However they probably didn’t realize that in the closing passages (verses 123-145) The Lord is clearly speaking about the Nauvoo House and he does refer to it again as “my house” which is built to “my name“.
“And that ye should prepare rooms for all these offices in my house when you build it unto my name, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen“
In those passages the Lord is commanding them to prepare rooms for all of the holy priesthood offices and officers in that house. Clearly, this is not just a boarding house. It is an amazing House of the Lord wherein the Lord will dwell with all of his priesthood officers.
One Temple will be Sanctified while Another will be Destroyed
Having now demonstrated that there is no clear transition point from the Nauvoo House to the Nauvoo Temple commanding the saints to build it, let me give you something else to consider.
We know that the Kirtland Temple was accepted by the Lord, then it was defiled by the saints, and yet prophecy assures us that God will cleanse it and once again use it for the purposes for which it was created.
Wouldn’t this be true for the Nauvoo Temple if it was really commanded to be built for a legitimate purpose?
And yet that is not the case.
Prophecy about the redemption of Zion in section 101 informs us that God is going to destroy the Nauvoo temple.
We shall now review what Jeremiah says about Nauvoo and the Nauvoo Temple for a second witness that the Nauvoo Temple was
Jeremiah speaks prophetically about Nauvoo
In Chapters 7 & 32
Whether literally or typologically, Jeremiah speaks about Nauvoo and the Nauvoo Temple. Clearly, in the words of Jeremiah “they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it“
This is one of many reasons why we know that Jeremiah is speaking of the cornerstone of Zion in Nauvoo instead of the center place in Independence Missouri. The profile matches the events that took place in Nauvoo, not Independence.
If you do a keyword search of “called by my name” in the book of Jeremiah, you will see a reoccurring theme regarding the abominations committed in the house that is “called by my name” and how God’s people falsely put their trust in the temple of the Lord. Note the following passages from Jeremiah 7
3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.
4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.
5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;
6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:
7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
8 ¶ Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, [Kirtland Temple??] and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.
13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;
14 Therefore will I do unto this house, [Nauvoo Temple??] which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.
15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. ( Jer 7)
In the High Places of Baal
In chapter 32 Jeremiah gives a narrative that describes Nauvoo
In it he speaks of the final gathering of his people
37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
Interestingly he is revealing that when God gathers his people for the last time, he will return them to the place AGAIN where he had previously driven them from because of His wrath.
This is a perfect description of Nauvoo where the saints had been gathered yet driven by the wrath of the Lord.
37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
42 For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
43 And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
But hold the phone!
The preface of this prophecy reveals that Gods people built the “high places of Baal“!!!
Note that Gods people live in the city being in a valley yet the inhabitants build upon the “high places of Baal“.
We are informed that the Lord commanded them not to do the abomination that is up on the hill. Because of this, the city is delivered over to the sword and famine and pestilence
35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
36 ¶ And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
Because of the abomination that the people got [the dispersed of ]Judah
to participate in, the city was delivered over to the King of Babylon.
And yet, the narrative informs us that the final gathering and time of restoration will come when God will gather his scattered people back to the same city.
The Graven Images on the Nauvoo Temple
Anciently the Lord commanded Israel to not make any graven images in the likeness of anything in heaven above or the earth beneath. Oddly, latter day saints are oblivious to this commandment, assuming that it no longer applies them:
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth Exod 24
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Deut 5
Why images of moons and stars?
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
Why images of a pagan sun god on the Nauvoo Temple?
Do those occult images on the temple on the hill depict the simple fulness of the gospel as taught in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants?
“If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the Lord your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant, and has gone and served
other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, which I have not commanded,
and if it is told you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly. Behold, if it is true and the thing certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel Deuteronomy 17:2-5
The Destruction of the Nauvoo Temple on the Hill
Is it any wonder that the destruction of the corrupt Temple on the Hill in Nauvoo mirrors the destruction of the corrupt Jewish temple in Jerusalem?
In the New Testament Christ prophesied that not one stone would be left upon another regarding the destruction of the corrupt Jewish temple:
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? And do ye not understand them? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here upon this temple, one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down
What about the Nauvoo Temple on the Hill?
Was its fate not a type and shadow of what had happened to the corrupt New Testament temple?
This is a statement from the BYU Religious Studies Center
“The building site was described in 1870 as not having one stone upon another. Where the Saints once practiced their sacred temple ordinances there was now a vineyard.”
There were a series of catastrophes that brought this about.The Fire by Arsonists
The first was a fire that took place shortly after Brigham Youngs failed attempt to sell it to the Catholic Church. According to one historian, it may have been Brigham Young that paid to have the arsonist burn it:
“On Monday, 9 October 1848, at 3 a.m. the citizens of Nauvoo were awakened to witness the great Mormon temple enveloped in flames. It had been set on fire deliberately, apparently as an act to forever discourage the Latter-day Saints from returning to the city. A description of this fire, which resulted in the destruction of the temple, was published in the Nauvoo Patriot”:
“Destruction of the Mormon Temple. On Monday (October 9th) our citizens were awakened by the alarm of fire, which, when first discovered, was bursting out through the spire of the temple, near the small door that opened from the East side to the roof, on the main building. The fire was seen first about three o’clock in the morning, and not until it had taken such hold of the timbers and roof as to make useless any effort to extinguish it. The materials of the inside were so dry, and the fire spread so rapidly, that a few minutes were sufficient to wrap this famed edifice in a sheet of flame.
It was a sight too full of mournful sublimity. The mass of material which had been gathered there by the labor of many years afforded a rare opportunity for this element to play off some of its wildest sports. Although the morning was tolerably dark, still when the flames shot upwards, the spire, the streets and the houses for nearly a mile distant were lighted up, so as to render even the smallest object discernible. The glare of the vast torch, pointing skyward, indescribably contrasted with the universal gloom and darkness around it. “
The Tornado
Another event leading to the ultimate demise of the temple came in the form of a tornado in 1849 the account of the destruction was preserved by the Nauvoo Patriot:
The dreadful tornado on May 27th, which invaded the city of Nauvoo and neighboring places, has been for us, Icarians . . . a spectacle of frightful sublimity, and also a source of mortal anguish, on account of the disasters and catastrophes which have resulted from it, to the inhabitants of this county, and to us. . . .
Here are some particulars of what has happened to us during that storm; in its first blow which has been the most fatal to us, and everyone will certainly think so when they know, that part of the Temple walls was immediately blown to the ground. The Temple, which we were preparing so actively and resolutely to rebuild; the temple which we hoped to cover this year; and in which we were to settle our refectories, our halls of reunion, and our schools; that it is the temple; that gigantic monument, which has become the first victim of the tornado.
Is it a coincidence that God’s whirlwind and other events destroyed the occult temple on the hill with the images of pentagrams and sun gods on the side and without bothering the unfinished foundation of the Nauvoo House in the valley down by the river?
Interestingly, the modern day apostate corporate church has rebuilt the occult monument that the apostate saints were trying to complete in Nauvoo instead of purchasing and rebuilding the Boarding House of the Lord by the river.
Nauvoo must be Redeemed by the Shedding of Blood
The parable of the redemption of Zion informs us that the land of Zion, beginning with the cornerstone of Zion, must be redeemed by the shedding of blood.
The parable informs us that God’s servant will gather the strength of God’s house and pull down the tower of the ENEMY
55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants, and take all the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to tarry;
56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money.
57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.
58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.
Unlike other designated gathering places in Missouri, the entire city of Nauvoo was indeed purchased with money. Yet the enemy infiltrated the saints and caused them to flee.
Hence the need to recover the land from the enemy by the shedding of blood.
Christ shocked the people when he declared, “I have not come to bring peace, but the sword“.
He was speaking ultimately of events that were to take place in the third watch.
God’s army will conquer with the sword.
When the Lord’s army redeems Nauvoo, one of the first things they will do is to throw down the tower of the enemy and avenge God of His enemies.
Whether wittingly or unwittingly, Joseph knew that the “tower” he was building would set the pattern for the apostate modern church to follow in rebuilding the pagan temple:
Speaking of the architecture of the Nauvoo Temple on the hill Joseph declared:
The steeple of our temple will be high enough to answer for a tower- between 100 and 200 feet high. REF
The tower on the temple was very large.
In addition to having abominable images on the walls of the temple, it became a foundational place where the corrupt masonic endowment was performed.
Joseph Smith introduced Brigham Young and others to the masonic endowment first in the red brick store and eventually in the unfinished temple on the hill.
On May 3, 1842, Joseph Smith prepared the second floor of his Red Brick Store, in Nauvoo, Illinois, to represent “the interior of a temple as circumstances would permit”.[26] The next day, May 4, he introduced the Nauvoo endowment ceremony to nine associates: Associate President and Patriarch to the Church Hyrum Smith (Smith’s brother); first counselor in the First Presidency, William Law; three of the Twelve Apostles, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards; Nauvoo stake president, William Marks; two bishops, Newel K. Whitney and George Miller; and a close friend, Judge James Adams of Springfield, Illinois.
Throughout 1843 and 1844, Smith continued to initiate other men, as well as women, into the endowment ceremony. By the time of his death on June 27, 1844, more than 50 persons had been admitted into the Anointed Quorum, the name by which this group called themselves.
The Nauvoo endowment consisted of two phases: (1) an initiation, and (2) an instructional and testing phase. The initiation consisted of a washing and anointing, culminating in the clothing of the patron in a “Garment of the Holy Priesthood“, which is thereafter worn as an undergarment.
The instructional and testing phase of the endowment consisted of a scripted reenactment of Adam and Eve‘s experience in the Garden of Eden (performed by live actors called officiators; in the mid-20th century certain portions were adapted to a film presentation).[27] The instruction is punctuated with personal covenants, gestures, and a prayer circle around an altar. At the end of instruction, the initiate’s knowledge of symbolic gestures and key-words is tested at a “veil”, a symbolic final frontier for the initiate to face the judgment of Jesus, before entering the presence of God in the celestial kingdom.[28]
Even though the Nauvoo Temple was only about half complete when Joseph Smith died, Brigham Young continued to use it to initiate people into the masonic endowment.
“During the winter of 1845–46, the temple began to be used for additional ordinances, including the Nauvoo-era endowment, sealings in marriage, and adoptions. The Nauvoo Temple was in use for less than three months. REF
“..I also gave them up to statutes that were not good..”
Ezekiel 20 informs us that when ancient Israel went into apostasy, God gave them statutes that were not good. This is a type of what happened in Nauvoo.
When the saints refused to repent and reform, God gave them the masonic temple endowment as a false statute
Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, 24because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.
25“Therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; 26and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all [d]their firstborn to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the Lord.” ‘
27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “In this too your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me. 28When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings. 29Then I said to them, ‘What is this [e]high place to which you go?’ So its name is called [f]Bamah to this day.” ‘ 30Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry according to their abominations? 31For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you.
Wicked Church and Civic Leaders will be destroyed
When the appointed time for the redemption of Zion arrives, the Lord is going to destroy all of the wicked leaders of both the apostate church and the nation. Notice the descriptives that the Lord uses regarding this matter:
| Descriptives of the religious leaders of the Lord’s vineyard when the Lord descends out of heaven to reign in his kingdom JST Matthew 21:53-56 | Descriptives of the political leaders of the nation when the Lord comes out of his hiding place according to section 101 |
| 53 And the kingdom of God shall be taken from them and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof (meaning the Gentiles).
54 Wherefore, on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. 55 And when the Lord, therefore, of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those 56 And then understood they the parable which he spake unto them, that the [unrepentant] Gentiles should be destroyed also, when the Lord should descend out of heaven to reign in his vineyard, which is the earth and the inhabitants thereof. |
89 And if the president heed them not, then will the Lord arise and come forth out of his hiding place, and in his fury vex the nation;
90 And in his hot displeasure, and in his fierce anger, in his time, will cut off those 91 Even in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. |
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