056 Restoration of “the Priesthood” Through Temple Ordinances?
Mar 26, 2024
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Exploring the restoration of priesthood through temple ordinances in Kirtland and Nauvoo. Discussing the challenges faced by early saints in building temples. Delving into the significance of baptisms for the dead and their connection to priesthood restoration.
Joseph Smith received sacred keys from Moses, Elias, and Elijah at the Kirtland Temple, enabling temple building.
The Nauvoo Temple had the purpose of restoring the fullness of the priesthood through key ordinances and connections.
Baptisms for the dead in Nauvoo emphasized intergenerational priesthood connections, aligning with temple purposes.
Structured requirements for temple work in Nauvoo symbolized a shift towards organized ordinances and family connections.
The foundation laid in Nauvoo for baptisms for the dead set a precedent for comprehensive temple ordinances bridging generations.
Nauvoo's focus on structured temple practices marked a foundational shift towards purposeful ordinances uniting families and priesthood orders.
Deep dives
The Restoration of Keys by Moses, Elias, and Elijah
On April 3, 1836, Joseph Smith received sacred keys from Moses, Elias, and Elijah at the Kirtland Temple, enabling temple building. The Kirtland Temple was planned for a vital purpose, however, the emphasis later shifted to Nauvoo. Keys of authority, including temple ordinances, and the connection of priesthood were discussed.
Temple Building Plans for Far West and Adamon, Diamon
Persecution derailed temple plans in Far West and Adamon, Diamon, creating challenges for the Saints. They fled to swampy Illinois, renamed Nauvoo, where theology, rituals, and keys from Kirtland began to form the purpose of the Nauvoo Temple, focusing on restoring the fullness of the priesthood.
Death Rates and Challenges in Nauvoo
In Nauvoo, high death rates impacted the Saints due to the Missouri Persecutions and settlement challenges. This period led to a focus on baptisms for the dead, aligning with the theme of connecting families through intergenerational priesthood connections.
Revealing the Purpose of the Nauvoo Temple
The construction of the Nauvoo Temple is centered around restoring the fullness of the priesthood, as emphasized in Doctrine and Covenants 124. The temple was designed to unite dispensations, keys, and powers from Adam to the present, focusing on the eternal priesthood order.
Development of Baptisms for the Dead in Nauvoo
Nauvoo witnessed a surge in baptisms for the dead, emphasizing requirements like tithing and structured temple access for these ordinances. The Saints crafted a wooden baptismal font in Nauvoo, eventually replacing it with a stone font and transitioning to temple baptisms in St. George Temple.
Transition to Structured Temple Practices
As temple practices evolved, Nauvoo introduced structured requirements for baptisms for the dead, symbolizing a shift towards organized temple work. Through baptisms in the temple, the interconnectedness of family and priesthood were emphasized, paving the way for future ordinances.
Preparation for Larger Redemptive Theology
The foundation laid in Nauvoo for baptisms for the dead sets the stage for comprehensive temple ordinances that bridge generations and enable the eternal sealing of families. Joseph Smith's teachings establish the framework for temple ordinances, connecting living and deceased family members.
Connection of the Earthly and Eternal Priesthood Order
Through baptisms for the dead and the interconnectedness of family generations, Nauvoo temples symbolize the bridging of earthly and eternal priesthood orders. This transformative process aligns with the restoration of the fullness of the priesthood, aiming to unite humanity within God's eternal family.
Baptisms for the Dead in Historical Context
The practice of baptisms for the dead in Nauvoo revealed a theological shift towards structured temple ordinances connecting living and deceased individuals. Temples became vital in unifying generations through ordinances, setting a precedent for the eternal link between families and the priesthood.
Shift towards Organized Temple Work
Nauvoo showcased a transition to rigorous temple practices, highlighted by structured temple access for ordinances like baptisms for the dead. The establishment of temple recommends and requirements for temple participation signaled a strategic approach to serving both the living and the deceased through symbolic ordinances.
Baptisms for the Dead in Temple Context
Nauvoo's focus on baptisms for the dead transitioned towards temple-based ordinances, emphasizing the significance of structured temple work for individual and familial salvation. The progression of temple practices, including baptismal font dedication and evolving access requirements, marked a foundational shift towards organized and purposeful temple service.
As the climax of the Kirtland endowment on April 3, 1836, Joseph Smith received sacred keys in rapid succession from Moses, Elias, and Elijah. This was the primary purpose for which the Kirtland Temple was built! Joseph had now received all that was necessary for the next phase of temple building which he hoped would take place in Northern Missouri at the settlements of Far West and Adam-Ondi-Ahman. But, due to heinous persecution, neither of these temples ever came to be and the saints found themselves in 1839 as refugees in a swampy, milaria-infested peninsula in Illinois that the Prophet would name “Nauvoo.” It was there over the next few years that the theology, the rituals, and those Kirtland keys, like pieces of a puzzle, began to come together to reveal the stunning purpose of the Nauvoo temple and every temple that would be built thereafter. The Lord referred to this temple-purpose as restoring “the fulness of the priesthood.” The prophet Joseph referred to it as “the restoration of the priesthood” or as the work of connecting “the priesthood.” But what does this mean? And how would the ordinances given to men and women, living and dead, constitute the work of restoring “the priesthood”?
In this episode of Church History Matters we’re excited to talk about all of this!
