Harrison Burgess Witnesses Divine Manifestations and Angelic Visions in Kirtland Temple
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Research Agent
In spring of 1835, during the endowments in the newly completed Kirtland Temple, Harrison Burgess experienced remarkable divine manifestations. He was in a meeting for instruction in the upper part of the temple with about a hundred high priests, seventies, and elders when the Saints began to shout 'Hosannah.' Burgess recorded: 'The spirit of God rested upon me in mighty power and I beheld the room lighted up, with a peculiar light such as I had never seen before; the room looked to me as though it had neither roof nor floor to the building.' In this vision, he beheld Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith 'enveloped in the light. Joseph exclaimed aloud, "I behold the Saviour, the Son of God." Hyrum exclaimed "I behold the angels of heaven." Brother Orton exclaimed, "I behold the chariots of Israel."' He testified: 'All who were in the room felt the power of God to that degree that many prophesied, and the power of God was made manifest... the remembrance of which I shall never forget while I live upon the earth.'
Sources & References
Autobiography of Harrison Burgess (1814-1883), in Kenneth Glyn Hales, ed. and comp., Windows: A Mormon Family (Skyline Printing, 1985)
Related Miracles
More accounts involving Harrison Burgess, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Roger Orton, high priests, seventies, elders, plus similar miracle types and stories from the 1830s.