History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

112 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
Campbellite church at Mentor, Parley P. Pratt -\vas
mobbed midst music and rotten eggs.
The temple at Kirtland being finished, was dedicated
on the 27th of March, 1836, and on the 3d of April
Joseph and Oliver had interviews with the messiah,
Moses, Elias, and Elijah, and received from them
the several keys of priesthood, which insured to their
possessors power unlimited in things temporal and
spiritual for the accomplishment of the labors assigned
by them for him to perform. 2 The building of this
structure by a few hundred persons, who, during the
period between 1832 and 1836, contributed voluntarily
of their money, material, or labor, the women knitting
and spinning and making garments for the men who
worked on the temple, was regarded with wonder
throughout all northern Ohio. It was 60 by 80 feet,
occupied a commanding position, and cost $40,000.
During its erection the saints incurred heavy debts
for material and labor. They bought farms at high
prices, making part payments, and afterward forfeiting
them. They engaged in mercantile pursuits,
2 'A square mile was laid out in half-acre lots, and a number of farms
were bought, the church farm being half a mile down one of the most beautiful
valleys which it is possible to conceive in a range of country so uniformly
level.' Mather, in Lippincott's Mag., Aug. 1S80. In May 1833 it was revealed
that building should begin. Two houses 55 by Go feet each were ordered,
one for the presidency, the other for printing. Hyrum Smith and two others
vere presented with lots, and directions were sent to the faithful to subscribe
money to aid in building a temple at Kirtland. Times and Seasons, vi. 709-70.
Before its completion, private assemblies were held at the houses of the faithful,
frequently at Smith's. When partly finished, schools were opened in
several of the apartments. It was begun in June 1833, and dedicated March
'27, 1S36. A brief description of the building, arrangement of interior, etc.,
and a full account of the dedication and ordinary services are given in Tullidge's
Women, 76, 80-95, 99-101. Daniel Tyler, in Juvenile Instructor, xiv.
283; Busch, Gesch. der Morm., 74; Kidder's Mormonism, 12-4-6. Probably but
little work was done on it in 1833, for about the front entrances the gilded
inscription, 'Built by the church of Jesus Christ, 1834,' still shines bright as
ever. Salt Lake Herald, June 6, 1S77. See also Smith's account in Times
and Seasons, vi. 708-11, 723-6, and Remy's Journey, i. 302-4. For cuts
of building, see Young's Hist, of the Seventies, 8; Juvenile Instructor, xiv. 2S3;
Pratt's A utobiog. , 140. When nearly finished there was a debt on the building
of from §15,000 to 820,000. Kidder's Mormonism, 124-6. Most of the workmen
were dependent upon their labor for their daily food, which often consisted
of corn meal alone, and that had been donated. Juvenile Instructor, 2S3.
Writing in 1SS0, Mather says: ' Tlie residences of Smith and Rig Ion are almost
under the eaves of the temple, and the theological sem nary is now occupied
by the methodists for a church.' Lippincott's Mag., Aug. 1SS0.