Page:The Rocky Mountain Saints.djvu/97

Rh, and the east end to the Aaronic Priesthood. The attic story was appropriated as a place for the study of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. This curious mixture of earth and heaven was like the man himself. Had he lived to the age of Methuselah, his span of years would have been too short to have carried out all the projects that had passed through his brain. Thus early he began to study foreign languages, and stimulated the elders to do likewise before they could some of them properly write their own names, or speak their mother tongue. In the beginning of January a Hebrew professorship was established in Kirtland, and on the 21st of that month the long-promised endowment was given, and during three days in the latter part of March the Temple was dedicated.

The endowment and the dedication were very important events in Mormon history, and are, almost more than anything else in the experience of the Saints, claimed to be a divine confirmation of Joseph's mission. The narrative as given by the Prophet and his biographers is too ample to permit of being quoted at length, but can be easily comprehended from a brief statement. The "visions of eternity" were opened to the elders; angels ministered; "the power of the Highest rested upon them;" and "the house was filled with the glory of God." It is very certain that, on the occasion stated, the Saints had a very lively time, and caused a great deal of commotion. An antagonistic writer of the period accused them of being merry from another "spirit" than that which they claimed from above. During the shouting of "Hosanna to God and the Lamb," Joseph claim to have had a marvellous vision, in which he says:

"I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell. I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter, which was like circling flames of fire; the blazing throne of God, whereon were seated the Father and the Son. I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold.  I saw Father Adam,