Phebe’s brother, William Draper Jr. who was Zemira’s uncle, wrote that when he was 27 years old he helped with the construction of the Kirtland Temple, and then went back to Canada as a missionary for the Church.13 He was back in Kirtland in 1836 where he witnessed the great heavenly manifestations which accompanied the dedication of the Kirtland Temple on March 27. He recorded, “My pen is inadequate to write or my tongue to express what happened there. Many present spoke in tongues and had visions and saw angels and prophesied.”14
Joseph Smith’s description of this event stated: “. . . a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple . . . many began to speak in tongues and prophesy, others saw glorious visions . . . The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple.)”15
This is very similar to the Bible account of what happened back in the time of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-8. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting . . . And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them . . . And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance . . . Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”
More information concerning miracles at Kirtland was written by Milton V. Backman: “During a fifteen-week period, extending from January 21 to May 1, 1836, probably more Latter-day Saints beheld visions and witnessed other unusual spiritual manifestations than during any other era in the history of the Church.16 What wonder, joy and gratitude would fill the hearts of the Saints who witnessed these things! Knowing that the Drapers and Palmers were there at Kirtland at that time, we suppose that Zemira’s family knew about, and experienced, some of these wondrous occurrences.
More information concerning miracles at Kirtland was written by Milton V. Backman: “During a fifteen-week period, extending from January 21 to May 1, 1836, probably more Latter-day Saints beheld visions and witnessed other unusual spiritual manifestations than during any other era in the history of the Church.16 What wonder, joy and gratitude would fill the hearts of the Saints who witnessed these things! Knowing that the Drapers and Palmers were there at Kirtland at that time, we suppose that Zemira’s family knew about, and experienced, some of these wondrous occurrences.
13- The Mormon Drapers, pp. 62, 63 – Wm. Draper Jr. works on Kirtland temple.
14- Ibid, p. 63 – Wm. Jr. witnesses Kirtland temple dedication miracles.
15- History of the Church, vol. 2, p. 428 – Joseph Smith describes Kirtland temple miracles.
16- Milton V. Backman, The Heavens Resound, A History of the L.D.S. in Ohio, 1830-38 – Miracles.
Click the "Read More ... Sources" link below for 11 more paragraphs from Lenna Cox's history about Kirtland and this period of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
16- Milton V. Backman, The Heavens Resound, A History of the L.D.S. in Ohio, 1830-38 – Miracles.
Click the "Read More ... Sources" link below for 11 more paragraphs from Lenna Cox's history about Kirtland and this period of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
