This class, to the number of about sixty, met for instruction once a week. A school of Elders was also organized, over which I was called to preside. Elder Pratt wrote that “in the latter part of summer and in the autumn, I devoted almost my entire time in ministering among the churches holding meetings visiting the sick comforting the afflicted, and giving counsel. Its main purpose was to prepare the brethren living there to go forth as missionaries during the coming winter. In the summer of 1833, a “school of Elders” began in Zion with Parley P. What Was the “School in Zion” and under What Conditions Did It Meet? Sometimes the wickedness of some individuals brings suffering to all, even those who are righteous. Even though many of the Saints did not live as required and were eventually driven out, the Lord indicated here that some truly were worthy. In these verses the Lord commended those in Zion who “are truly humble and are seeking diligently to learn wisdom and to find truth” ( D&C 97:1) and promised that they would be blessed. The promised devastation followed early in November 1833. As it turned out, the Saints did not fully heed this warning. The letter contained Doctrine and Covenants 97, given 2 August 1833, and Doctrine and Covenants 98, in which the Lord warned the inhabitants in Zion to observe His commandments or they would be visited “with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire” ( D&C 97:26). The Prophet, unaware of the problems, sent a letter to the leaders of the Church in Missouri on 6 August 1833 in response to questions concerning the School of Zion. Phelps was destroyed, many of the Saints were turned out of their homes, and Edward Partridge and Charles Allen were tarred and feathered on the public square in Independence, Missouri. I will remember that if I want to see God in His temple, my heart must be pure.On 20 July 1833 the first open violence against the Saints in Jackson County broke out. Today, I will let things go which might prevent me from receiving the full blessings of that experience. ![]() Next week, my wife and I will have the opportunity to visit the temple. “ I Love to See the Temple,” General Conference, April 2021 When we are worthy to receive such teaching, there can grow through our temple experience hope, joy, and optimism throughout our lives. If you or I should go to the temple insufficiently pure, we would not be able to see, by the power of the Holy Ghost, the spiritual teaching about the Savior that we can receive in the temple. Nelson (2018), 369.Ĭommenting on this explanation, President Henry B. And we begin to feel the infinite impact of His matchless life. Nelson provided the following explanation of what it means to “see God:” If we carry those unclean things into His house, they can impede our ability to receive the full blessings of temple worship. ![]() Any anger we may feel toward other people, any unwillingness to follow the guidance we’ve received from God or from His servants, any inappropriate thoughts or feelings of any kind-we need to set those aside with God’s help before entering His holy house. If I want to receive the full blessings of the temple, I need to set aside any impurities in my heart and mind before entering. ![]() However, today, I’m thinking about these verses very differently. Doctrine and Covenants 97:15-16įor some reason, I’ve always associated the “unclean things” that should not be allowed in the temple with people who were unworthy of the experience. Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God. Then, He gave them the following promise, using words reminiscent of the beatitude:Īnd inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it He urged them to build a holy house to be used for thanksgiving and for instruction. In 1833, the Lord taught this principle once again to a group of believers in Missouri. The Savior taught the same principle as one of the Beautitudes:īlessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? King David asked the following soul-searching question:
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