Description

Rosel Hyde and the Kirtland Temple

Rosel Hyde was born May 20, 1816, at York, Livingston County, New York. By 1833, his family was living in Freedom, New York and had heard rumors of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Rosel described these events thus,

“In the winter of 1833, I first heard the gospel preached by an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, previous to which time I had the privilege of seeing a portion of the proof sheets from which the Book of Mormon was printed. The reason I did not embrace the Gospel sooner was because of a sort of shyness on my part, being at that time but a young man and never having joined myself to any religious body.”

By 1834, all the members of Rosel’s family had joined the Church, except him. He was not convinced and his father had assured him that it was acceptable to take his time and think it over.

As time passed the convictions of the family deepened until finally in “obedience to the call of the authorities of the Church,” they moved to Kirtland in February 1836.

About one month later, on March 27, 1836, the Kirtland Temple was dedicated. Hundreds of Latter-day Saints attended the dedication ceremonies, including Rosel’s family, but not him. Since he was not yet a member, he could not attend. It was a remarkable and powerful meeting. Rosel’s younger brother, William Hyde said,

“This was, by far the best meeting I have ever attended. The gifts of the gospel were enjoyed in a marvelous manner and angels administered into many.”

While the family was in the temple, Rosel was out working the fields some distance from the Temple. He would later relate that he suddenly heard a sound like “the rushing of many waters.” He looked toward the Temple and “saw the heavenly light that surrounded the Temple.”

Others would witness and describe the same events, speaking of the light and glory that bathed the Temple and of angels and heavenly singing.

Rosel saw and believed. He was “baptized May 8, 1836, by Joel H. Johnson. Rosel would stand true and faithful for the rest of days. He became the father of a noble posterity and one of the earliest pioneers and mayors of Kaysville, Utah. He passed away there in August 1903.

It is a powerfully simple principle—how we act follows what we believe and what we believe is influenced by what we are looking at. If we would go home to our God, then let us learn from Rosel and look toward His house now, the Holy Temple!

Sources: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJ4-XBH

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KWNV-1Q1