# 16 While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating how it might be recovered from the curse upon it…”

In entry #15 we reviewed how God would take the curses off of the scattered remnants of Israel that repent and return to the Lord during the Marvelous Work:

“What are we to understand by Zion loosing herself from the bands of her neck; 2d verse?

We are to understand that the scattered remnants are exhorted to return to the Lord from whence they have fallen; which if they do, the promise of the Lord is that he will speak to them, or give them revelation. See the 6th, 7th, and 8th verses.

The bands of her neck are the curses of God upon her, or the remnants of Israel in their scattered condition among the Gentiles."

In this entry I want to review the prophetic dream that Joseph Smith had while in jail just prior to the martyrdom in 1844. In the dream he returns back to the earth to resume his work which he had referred to as his second commission.

Many years ago while I was visiting Kirtland Ohio I was taking a tour of a church historical site and I began speaking to one of the guides who was a church history buff. After a while he realized that I was a seeker of hidden knowledge and mysteries like himself and he became very animated as we discussed Church History.

For some reason the dream that Joseph Smith had came up and he motioned to me to come into a private room where he wanted to tell my wife and I something.

He was so excited that he could hardly contain himself and he said; Joseph Smith stated in his dream that he returned to HIS FARM!

Yes I said, I remember that but what is the significance of that?

He then said, "Joseph Smith never personally owned a farm in Kirtland!"

OK I said... what is the significance of that?

"Don't you see?" he said... "The Saints in Kirtland were striving to live consecration and the plot of land they were living on was referred to as the "Farm".

He went on to tell me that in the prophetic dream that Joseph had, the "Farm" represents the "consecrated ground" upon which the Saints were striving to have all things in common and the "Barn" represents the "Temple".

I had heard similar interpretations before, but for some reason, the importance of the dream was much more powerful after listening to this brother.

After studying many other prophecies that related to the future significance of the Kirtland Temple, I have come to believe that he is correct in his interpretation.

In light of how Isaiah speaks of the curses of God coming off of his scattered people as they return to the Lord during the Marvelous Work, notice how the Prophet ponders how the farm and temple might be recovered from the curse as well…

Here is the account of the dream he had:

“I was back in Kirtland, Ohio, and thought I would take a walk out by myself, and view my old farm [stake of Zion], which I found grown up with weeds and brambles, and altogether bearing evidence of neglect and want of culture.

I went into the barn [Temple], which I found without floor or doors, with the weather-boarding off, and was altogether in keeping with the farm.

While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating how it might be recovered from the curse upon it, there came rushing into the barn a company of furious men, who commenced to pick a quarrel with me.

The leader of the party ordered me to leave the barn and farm, stating it was none of mine, and that I must give up all hope of ever possessing it.

I told him the farm was given me by the Church, and although I had not had any use of it for some time back, still I had not sold it, and according to righteous principles it belonged to me or the Church.

He then grew furious and began to rail upon me, and threaten me, and said it never did belong to me nor to the Church.

I then told him that I did not think it worth contending about, that I had no desire to live upon it in its present state, and if he thought he had a better right I would not quarrel with him about it but leave; but my assurance that I would not trouble him at present did not seem to satisfy him, as he seemed determined to quarrel with me, and threatened me with the destruction of my body.

While he was thus engaged, pouring out his bitter words upon me, a rabble rushed in and nearly filled the barn, drew out their knives, and began to quarrel among themselves for the premises, and for a moment forgot me, at which time I took the opportunity to walk out of the barn about up to my ankles in mud.

When I was a little distance from the barn, I heard them screeching and screaming in a very distressed manner, as it appeared they had engaged in a general fight with their knives. While they were thus engaged, the dream or vision ended” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843-44 p. 393)

This prophetic dream provides another testimony of the return of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the fact that the Marvelous Work is a separate event from the LDS foundation movement.

The provides other details that we can discuss in a later post, but be assured that the land of Kirtland and the Kirtland Temple play a significant part in the Marvelous Work that will take place at a future time. The unconditional promises about the land of Kirtland and the Kirtland Temple will yet be fulfilled.

It also provides a second witness to section 113 and what we discussed in post #15 that refers to the Gods people needing to have the curse removed in order to return unto him during the marvelous work!