Episode 70: D&C 109-110

Ben is joined by Christopher Hurtado for a discussion about the Kirtland Temple dedication. How did the early Saints view the temple and what does the Lord invite us to by way of the symbolism of the temple itself? Does God need a building or is the structure a mode by which we manifest our intention as a people? Prayer is often perceived as a way to inform or persuade God, but if God’s knowledge and will are perfect, prayer can only be a mode of changing us and our perceptions to align with God’s. How does Joseph Smith’s dedicatory prayer show us a pattern of worship and prayer? What can contradictions and inconsistencies teach us about the purpose of prayer? What is the veil that covers our minds and how are we to understand the purpose of the appearance of Jesus and other prophets in the Kirtland temple?