D&C 109:1-35

109:1-9 - One of the things that I think is important to remember when reading section 109 is that the Lord himself dictated it, it wasn’t just what Joseph Smith thought was a good idea to say, it was of divine origin. The prayer begins with the statement that the Lord had “commanded thy servants to build a house to thy name in this place. And how thou beholdest, O Lord, that thy servants have done according to thy commandment.” The IM comments, “President George Q. Cannon wrote that the Kirtland Temple had been built at the ‘utmost self-sacrifice. Nearly three years had been occupied in it construction; and during this time the Saints had given of their substance and had toiled without ceasing to make a habitation fit for the ministration of angelic visitants and of the Holy One, Himself. The consummation of this work had been very near to the Prophet’s heart, especially since the tribulations in Missouri had shown that no house of the Lord could be erected speedily in the center stake of Zion.’ The Lord did ‘accept of this house,’ as it evident from the manifestations that accompanied its dedication and also the glorious vision recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 110, which took place there shortly afterwards.” The prayer even states that this temple was built “through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house of thy name,” and remember that the Lord is saying this, he’s recognizing the sacrifice that has been made for this temple. When the Lord describes the purpose of the temple, there is a heavy emphasis on education and learning. The lord mentions wisdom, books, learning, study, etc. The IM says, “in a revelation given to the School of the Prophets, the Lord commanded the elders to organize themselves and build a house for prayer, fasting, and learning. Verses 6-9 quote the revelation given at that time. Elder John A. Widtsoe stated: ‘It is thrilling to look back over our history to the time of the Kirtland Temple. The men left their farms, fields, and shops in the evenings and climbed to the top story, the attic story of the Kirtland Temple, there, in provided classrooms, to study various subjects, languages, mathematics, history, geography, and a variety of subjects. Really out people began there what we call today adult education. It was thought (by others) that an older man could not learn; only young people could learn. Since that time the world has come to quite a different conclusion. Today a man is never too old to learn. A woman is never too old to learn. The power to assimilate knowledge remains with us to the last day. Somehow these forebears of ours in the Church understood that.’”

109:10-20 - The IM made a chart about the promises that had been made in previous revelations and them being asked for now saying, “The Prophet Joseph Smith asked the Lord that the Saints receive the blessings promised to them in various revelations already given:

1. That god’s glory would rest upon His people and upon the Kirtland Temple.
2. That those who worship in the temple would be taught properly.
3. That the people would ‘grow up’ in the Lord, receiving a fullness of the Holy Ghost.
4. That the house of God would be all it was meant to be with no unclean thing permitted therein.
5. That when the Saints transgressed, they would return quickly to the Lord.
6. That His servants could go forth armed with power and protected by the angels to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.
7. That He would establish His people forever against all the enemies who fight against them.
8. That their sins would be forgiven.
9. That the powers of the Pentecost would come upon them.
10. That the servants of God would have the power of the covenant and bear testimony of it throughout the world.
11. That the servants of God would be delivered from the calamity of the wicked and the judgments that are promised.
12. That the Lord would have mercy on the nations of the earth, softening their hearts to prepare them for the gospel message.
13. That stakes of Zion would be appointed so the gathering might roll forth.”

109:21-23 - The IM has an interesting comment on what it means to reverence the house of the Lord, and this is truly pertinent to  me as I’m not the quietest person. The IM says, “Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that ‘the most decorous conduct- unmarred by loud laughter, unnecessary conversation, untoward actions of any sort, or even by evil thoughts- is essential to reverencing the Lord’s sanctuary. And that is said of his temples of also true of his meetinghouses.’ President Joseph F. Smith said: ‘Self-respect requires, among other things, that one shall behave like a true gentleman, in a house of worship. No self-respecting person will go to a house devoted to the service of God to whisper, gossip and visit; rather, it is one’s duty to put on self-restraint, to give one’s undivided attention to the speaker, and concentrate the mind upon his words that his thoughts may be grasped to one’s benefit and profit.”

109:24-35 - The next section was a little bit difficult for me to understand when I initially heard it because I didn’t at that time know that the Lord had revealed this prayer. I thought that Joseph Smith was the one who was praying for destruction to befall his enemies and I thought that that was a little bit weird, but it makes sense knowing that the Lord wanted this prayer to be said this way. I guess this is the ultimate “praying by the Spirit.” The prayer continues by asking for protection from their enemies, both physically and “to confound, and astonish, and to bring to shame and confusion, all those who have spread lying reports abroad.” The IM comments, “’The Lord is here with us,’ said President Brigham Young, ‘not in person, but his angels are round us, and he takes cognizance of every act of the children of men, as individuals and as nations. He is here ready by his agents, the angels, and by the power of his Holy Spirit and Priesthood, which he has restored in these last days, to bring most perfect and absolute deliverance unto all who put their trust in Him, when they are ready to receive it; and, until they are ready, the work of preparation must be vigorously progressed in, while at the same time we in patience must possess our souls.’ The Saints in the future will face opposition and persecution, and then this inspired dedicatory prayer will be a source of comfort, for, as the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, Satan will marshal all of his available forces to stop the kingdom, but he will not prevail: ‘No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.’”