Dear Beth,

We read from President Joseph Fielding Smith that the purpose of the Kirtland Temple was not for performing the saving ordinances but “to provide a sanctuary where the Lord could send messengers from his presence to restore priesthood and keys held in former dispensations, so that the work of gathering together all things in one in the dispensation of the fullness of times might go on” (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.2, p.236).

However, some endowment work was done in the Kirtland Temple. The Prophet Joseph Smith recorded the following:

“On the twenty-first day of January, 1836, the First Presidency, and a number of the presiding brethren in the Church, assembled in the Kirtland Temple where they engaged in the ordinances of the endowment, as far as it had at that time been revealed” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Two 1834–37, p.106).

Concerning the Nauvoo Temple, we also learn from President Joseph Fielding Smith that—

“When the Nauvoo Temple was built, it was perfected in all details according to the vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is also true of all the temples constructed since that time in the Church” (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.2, p.236). Baptisms, endowments and sealings were performed in the Nauvoo Temple, but no vicarious work was carried out. We learn again from President Smith (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.2, p.171) that the first vicarious work was carried out in the St. George Temple, the first temple to be completed after the Saints had settled in the west.

Gramps