| 455 TIMES AND SEASONS
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL"
Vol. 2.No. 17.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. July 1st, 1841 [Whole No. 29.
Times and Seasons.
City of Nauvoo,
Thursday, July 1st, 1841.
The Temple of the Lord.
We are happy to say that this building is progressing in a manner which does honor to the citizens of this place. On visiting it a few days ago we were agreeably surprized [surprised] to find that the brethren, notwithstanding their poverty, had accomplished so much; and we feel assured if the saints abroad, with their wealth, would make a corresponding effort, that another year would not roll over our heads before the "top stone would be brought up, with shouts of grace, grace be unto it."
The building committee are making every preparation to erect the baptismal font in the basement story as soon as possible. The font, is intended to be supported by twelve oxen, several of which are in a state of forwardness, and are certainly good representations of that animal, and do great credit to the mechanics who are engaged in carving the same. It is intended to overlay them with gold, and when finished will have a very grand appearance indeed.-Most of the labor that is done has been accomplished by the citizens devoting every tenth day gratuitously to that purpose.
While contemplating the foundation which has been so happily begun, we were forcibly reminded of the circumstances, as recorded in holy writ, connected with the building of the ancient Temple at Jerusalem by the Israelites after they had escaped the perils of the wilderness and had obtained a possession in the land of Canaan.
When the time arrived to commence the same, the people engaged in the work with the greatest delight, and vied with each other in their zeal to accomplish a work commanded of Jehovah-so dear to their hearts-and which should tend to shed a still greater lustre [luster] on the Jewish nation. By the wisdom and enterprize [enterprise] of Solomon and his people, the work progressed rapidly; a zeal was manifested by every one who loved the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and who preferred the prosperity of Zion to their own temporal aggrandizement, which was indeed commendable, and which the saints in this age would do well to imitate, and at length was completed, one of the most elegant structures richly adorned with gold and silver and curious workmanship, which for centuries was the pride of that people, and caused thousands from distant nations, to visit it, and enquire [inquire] after that God who had commanded its erection.
The circumstances connected with its dedication were indeed glorious, and sublime. What could be more so? To see the tens of thousands congregated together-their anticipations more than realized-the order of the house-the cloud of the presence of the Omnipotent Jehovah filling the house-the fire from heaven consuming the sacrifices, so that the priests could not stand to minister-to hear the dedication prayer and the simultaneous amens and hallelujahs, which burst from ten thousand voices, were calculated to make a lasting impression on all present, who would feel themselves amply repaid for all their labor and toil in its erection, and who in after ages, would delight to portray the grandeur of the proceedings to their posterity, and ever keep up a feeling of reverence and attachment to their "holy and beautiful house where their fathers worshipped."
After the Jews had been carried away captive to Babylon, their love and attachment to their beloved city and temple; did not decrease; and when Nehemiah got permission of the King to take his brethren who were in captivity and rebuild the temple of the Lord, we observe the same zeal displayed, and laudable ambition manifested by all the descendants of the promised seed. No sooner was the sentence uttered, "We his servants will arise and build," than thousands were ready to engage in the work, the whole Jewish nation was in commotion, they crowded to their beloved city and under the most distressing and unpropitious circumstances, accomplished the object they so much desired, and again dedicated the temple for the worship of the God of their fathers, and enjoyed many great and precious blessings in consequence.
And shall the saints of the last days manifest a supineness and feel less interested for the honor of their God, the glory of the church and the good of mankind than did the Jews of old?-No! We hope they will take into consideration the glory and rich blessings which will result, when such a building is erected, and that these things with all the important circumstances connected with the same, will have their proper weight on every mind, and arouse to energy and enterprize [enterprise] every saint of God whether residing in the immediate vicinity, or in more
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