26. What can be said of the church as an ecclesiastical system of government?
SECTION VI.
Having paused to consider the church as a system of ecclesiastical government, it now remains for us to return to the historical development of the work of the Lord as connected with the dispensation of the fullness of times.
1. The Kirtland Temple.—During the winter of 1835-36 the temple at Kirtland was completed. This was the first temple built by the church in this dispensation. It was a stone structure, eighty by sixty, and fifty feet to the square. At the front was a tower one hundred and ten feet high. There were two main halls fifty-five by sixty-five feet; four vestries in the front, two on each floor. There was also an attic, divided into five rooms. During the winter of 1835-6 a high school was conducted in Kirtland by H. M. Hawes, Professor of Greek and Latin,[[146]] and the rooms in the attic were used as class rooms and for the meetings of the various quorums of the priesthood. [See note 1, end of section.]
2. Dedication of the Temple.—On Sunday, the 27th of March, 1836, the temple was dedicated with imposing ceremonies, beginning early in the morning—eight o'clock—and continuing all day. As all the Saints could not be admitted at once, the Thursday following, March 31st, the ceremonies were repeated. The service consisted of singing, prayer, preaching, prophesying, speaking in tongues, sustaining the several officers of the church by votes of acceptance and confidence, the offering of a special dedicatory prayer,[[147]] partaking of the Lord's Supper, rendering the grand shout of Hosanna,[[148]] etc. The Spirit of the Lord was poured out in great power upon the Saints, and spiritual manifestations were abundant.
3. Spiritual Manifestations in the Temple.—Frederick G. Williams, counselor in the first presidency, testified that while Elder Rigdon was making the opening prayer, an angel entered the window, and took a seat between himself and Patriarch Joseph Smith, father of the prophet, and remained there during the prayer.
David Whitmer, one of the three especial witnesses to the Book of Mormon, also saw angels in the house.
Apostle Brigham Young gave a brief address in tongues.
Apostle David W. Patten, interpreted the address, and gave an exhortation in tongues himself.