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Oliver Cowdey Describes The
Dedication of the Kirtland Temple

On Sunday, March 27, 1836, Oliver, Joseph, and several other leaders of the church entered the House of the Lord to prepare for the dedication service. When the service began a thousand Saints were packed into the building. At 9:00 a.m. Joseph started the service, which would last all day. To Oliver,

"The Spirit was poured out – I saw the glory of God, like a great cloud, come down and rest upon the house, and fill the same like a mighty rushing wind. I also saw cloven tongues, like as of a fire rest upon many."

Having been to the "mountaintop" the Sunday before, Oliver did not anticipate an even greater outpouring of the Spirit of God. It was on April 3, 1836, that the house was crowded again with around a thousand people. Preaching services were held in the morning, and the afternoon included the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. At the end of the service, Joseph and Oliver went to the pulpit in the west end of the building, lowered the veil hanging from the ceiling, and knelt in silent prayer. After their prayers were finished, their eyes were opened in a vision.

"We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit before us, and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire, the hair of his head was white like the pure snow, and his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun, and his voice was as the sound of rushing water, even the voice of Jehovah, saying – "I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth; I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father. Behold your sins are forgiven you, you are clean before me, therefore lift up your heads and rejoice . . . this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people. Even so. Amen."

From Phillip Legg, Oliver Cowdery, The Elusive Second Elder of the Restoration, pp. 102-103

March 21, 2002