Tuesday, August 26, 2025

D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner on Isaiah 2:1-2 Having Multiple Fulfillments

  

This passage of Isaiah can have multiple meanings:

 

1.     The Salt Lake Temple in the Rocky Mountains. President Wilford Woodruff mentioned this Isaiah passage in the Salt Lake Temple dedicatory prayer (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, 337)

2.     The New Jerusalem Temple in Independence, Missouri (D&C 57:1-3 and headnote)

3.     The Old Jerusalem Temple (D&C 133:12-13) (D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, The Old Testament Verse By Verse, 2 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2013], 2:183)

 

Here is the excerpt from the dedicatory prayer for the Salt Lake temple:

 

O Lord, we regard with intense and indescribable feelings the completion of this sacred house. Deign to accept this the fourth Temple, which Thy Covenant Children have been assisted by Thee in erecting in these mountains. In past ages Thou didst inspire with Thy Holy Spirit Thy servants, the prophets to speak of the time in the latter days when the mountain of the Lord’s house should be established in the tops of the mountains, and should be exalted above the hills. We thank Thee that we have had the glorious opportunity of contributing to the fulfillment of these visions of Thine ancient Seers, and that Thou hast condescended to permit us to take part in the great work. And as this portion of Thy servants’ words has thus so marvelously been brought to pass, we pray Thee, with increased faith and renewed hope, that all their words with regard to thy great work in gathering Thine Israel and building up Thy kingdom on earth in the last days may be as amply fulfilled, and that, O Lord, speedily. (Wilford Woodruff, “Great Salt Lake City Utah Temple Dedicatory Prayer,” April 6, 1893, repr. Selected Manifestations, comp. Davi M. Reay and Vonda S. Reay [Oakland, Calif.: Self-Published, 1985], 133)