Appearance of Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias, and Elijah to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple (April 3, 1836)

On Easter Sunday, April 3, 1836, one week after the Kirtland Temple dedication, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were in the temple after assisting in distributing the sacrament. They retired behind the lowered curtains or veil at the west pulpits and knelt in prayer. Their understanding was opened, and they saw Jesus Christ standing upon the pulpit’s breastwork. His appearance was described with eyes like a flame of fire, hair white as snow, a countenance brighter than the sun, and a voice like rushing waters; under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, like amber. Christ declared that he was the first and the last, that he had lived and been slain, and that he was their advocate with the Father. He said their sins were forgiven, that he had accepted the Kirtland Temple as his house, that his name would be there, that he would manifest himself to his people in mercy, and that the fame of the house would spread to foreign lands. Moses, Elias, and Elijah then appeared in succession and restored priesthood keys, including the sealing power.

A non-Latter-day Saint resident of Kirtland, Lucius Pomeroy Parsons, recorded in a letter dated April 10, 1836, that the community was aware of the solemn assembly occurring in the temple. He specifically noted that it was held for several nights in succession, restricted to prophets and elders, and that reports circulated among the locals that the Savior had appeared personally to those inside, accompanied by angels who endowed the elders with the power to work miracles.