Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Latter-day Saint
Out of Kirtland

Out of Kirtland

Last updated on: January 24, 2022 at 2:28 pm by Dan Peterson

Out of Kirtland 2022-01-24T14:28:15-07:00 Dan Peterson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Kirtland Temple, in a fairly standard, almost iconic, view — this one from the visitor center of the Community of Christ.
(Wikimedia Commons public domain photograph)

***

Nobody really knows what the long term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will be for participation in religious worship services. My own hunch is that they will be negative — and that, even in secular terms (since participation in religious communities has been shown to be beneficial for social, psychological, and, yes, even physical health), the consequences of those consequences themselves will be harmful. Here, though, are some interim reports on the topic:

“Contra French on Christianity’s Decline: Has America become a more Christian society as Americans have become less Christian?”

“Christianity Declines — But Not ‘Spirituality’”

“Here’s Who Stopped Going to Church During the Pandemic: Recent research paints a grim picture for local congregations. But it also highlights opportunities.”

“Christians Are Going Back to Church—But Maybe Not the Same One: Amid all the moves and changes of the past two years, many congregations saw turnover accelerate.”

“American secularism is growing — and growing more complicated: Its impact on politics and self-identity looms large, experts say”

“How To Shrink Your Church In One Easy Step”

“Catholic leaders need to start listening to those who have left religion behind”

And this one is not to be missed:

“Omicron is taking a toll on pagans, who depend on conferences for community: The pandemic has also threatened the financial viability of conferences and festivals.”

***

Here are a couple of pieces that some of you might enjoy. The first is taken from three different sources, as indicated:

Joseph Smith recalled that, during the dedication of the Kirtland Temple on 27 March 1836, “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.” (History of the Church, 2:428.)

“God was there [in the Kirtland Temple],” remembered Elder Orson Pratt of the Council of the Twelve, “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. (Deseret News, Jan. 12, 1876, 788.)

“The ceremonies of that [Kirtland Temple] dedication may be rehearsed,” said Eliza R. Snow, who eventually served as general president of the Relief Society from 1866 to 1887, “but no mortal language can describe the heavenly manifestations of that memorable day. Angels appeared to some, while a sense of divine presence was realized by all present, and each heart was filled with ‘joy inexpressible and full of glory.'” (In Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom, (1877), 95.)

The second comes from the Minutes of the Salt Lake City School of the Prophets, for October 1883. (The “Brigham Young” mentioned is Brigham Young Jr., whose father had passed away in 1877.)

Presidents John Taylor and George Q. Cannon, Apostles Erastus Snow, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, and Heber J. Grant, and Elders L. John Nuttall and Zebedee Coltrin present.

Brother Zebedee Coltrin said: I believe I am the only living man now in the church who was connected with the School of the Prophets when it was organized in 1833, the year before we went up in Zion’s Camp. . . .

At one of these meetings after the organization of the school, (the school being organized on the 23rd of January, 1833, when we were all together, Joseph having given instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with our hands uplifted each one praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, a personage walked through the room from east to west, and Joseph asked if we saw him. I saw him and suppose the others did and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother. Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came through; he was surrounded as with a flame of fire. He (Brother Coltrin) experienced a sensation that it might destroy the tabernacle as it was of consuming fire of great brightness. The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him.

When asked about the kind of clothing the Father had on, Brother Coltrin said: I did not discover his clothing for he was surrounded as with a flame of fire, which was so brilliant that I could not discover anything else but his person. I saw his hands, his legs, his feet, his eyes, nose, mouth, head and body in the shape and form of a perfect man. He sat in a chair as a man would sit in a chair, but this appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seemed I should melt down in his presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it thrilled through my whole system and I felt it in the marrow of my bones. The Prophet Joseph said: Brethren, now you are prepared to be the apostles of Jesus Christ, for you have seen both the Father and the Son and know that they exist and that they are two separate personages.

The school room was in the upper room of [Newel K.] Whitney’s store. . . .

***

For those of you who love horror movies, I spent a few moments in the Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” File© this morning, and I came up with this trio of terrifying links to share:

“BYU researchers breed hybrid quinoa to combat global food insecurity”

“From island to island, Tongans help each other find relief after tsunami”

“How the Deseret Mill and Pasta Plant produced a record 1 million cases of food in 2021”

Previous Post

January 22, 2022

Two Notes on Nauvoo History

Next Post

January 24, 2022 Irrelevant arguments against arguments

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 March 2014 August 2013 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ezekiel Joseph Abraham Daniel