A Lengthy Prayer

Orson Hyde dedicating the Holy Land

What is the oldest recorded dedicatory prayer?

A)                 The dedicatory prayer on the Salt Lake Temple

B)                 The dedicatory prayer on Solomon’s Temple

C)                 The dedicatory prayer on the Kirtland Temple

D)                 The dedicatory prayer on Herod’s Temple

Yesterday’s answer:

(D) His horse

The following is in reference to Gilbert Belnap being chased by the mob from Carthage to Nauvoo after it was discovered that he was a spy for the Prophet Joseph.

   I afterward sat in council with delegates from different parts of the country and secured the resolutions passed by that assembly. I then returned in safety to Nauvoo, but not without a close pursuit by those demons in human shape, uttering the most awful imprecations, and bawling out to meet almost every jump to stop or they would shoot. My greatest fear was that my horse would fall under me. I thought of the instance of David Patton [Patten] administering to a mule which he was riding when fleeing before a similar band of ruffians. I placed my hands on either side of the animal and as fervently as I ever did, I prayed to God that his strength might hold out in order that I might bear the information which I had obtained to the Prophet. There were no signs of failure in accomplishing this purpose until just opposite the tomb. My horse fell on his side in the mud. This seemed to be a rebuke for me for urging him on to such a tremendous speed. We were entirely out of danger and covered with mud by reason of the fall. I rushed into the presence of the Prophet and gave him a minute detail of all that had come under my observation during that short mission. . . .

Autobiography of Gilbert Belnap, Typescript, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University; http://www.boap.org/