The establishing of a house of God referred to in the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple on March 27, 1836, could well apply to the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

For a house of God is exactly what the Tabernacle has been for 125 years, since the first general conference was held in October 1867 in the red sandstone building with its domed, bridge-like roof.". . . Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; (D&C 109:8.)

The Tabernacle has certainly been all of these.

Since the doors first opened to the not-quite-finished structure on Sunday, Oct. 6, 1867, every president of the Church, except Joseph Smith, has preached from its pulpit, giving counsel, guidance and instruction to Latter-day Saints.

At that first conference held in what was then referred to as the "new Tabernacle," excitement ran high. "Long before the hour for conference to commence, the Temple Block was crowded and the seating capacity of the building was taken, with thousands of others standing about the doorways of the huge building," reported the Oct. 3, 1942, Church Edition of the Deseret News on the Tabernacle's 75th anniversary.

Today, however, hearing the inspired messages from the Tabernacle pulpit is no longer confined to the 250-foot by 150-foot venerable structure that has graced Temple Square for more than 12 decades. Conference addresses are beamed to the four corners of the earth by radio, television, satellite and videotape.

Through modern technology, hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints can hear the messages as they are given, which, in effect, has brought the Tabernacle pulpit into the living rooms of Church members or into meetinghouse chapels where conference proceedings are telecast by the Church's satellite network.

Indeed, for 125 years the Tabernacle has been a house of God, where members, with faith exercised and many fasting, learn from the Lord's chosen servants what He would have them receive in each generation; where humble prayers are offered with petitions for His Spirit and blessings.

During conference, there is a special feeling in the Tabernacle. It is a spirit of love and fellowship, of faith and goodwill, but more importantly it is the spirit of leaders and followers all striving together with "an eye single to the glory of God." (See D&C 4:5.) Yes, the Tabernacle is a house of glory.

But that special feeling is not just reserved for those in the Tabernacle. Where God's faithful people meet to hear His word from His servants, there will always be a special feeling, accompanied usually by quiet resolves to draw closer to the Savior.

Who could hear the counsel given to Latter-day Saints in love and kindness to keep the commandments and to live more righteously, and not desire to live in harmony with the teachings of the Savior?

Who could hear President Ezra Taft Benson's magnificent conference discourses on the Book of Mormon, and not have a determination to study the sacred book more diligently and more thoroughly apply its teachings?

Who could hear President Spencer W. Kimball admonish us to pray for the opening of doors to missionary work throughout the world, and not understand the veracity of what he had been teaching us that there is "nothing too hard for the Lord"? (See Gen. 18:14.)

Who could hear President David O. McKay make his profound utterance that, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home," and not realize our great responsibilities to our families?

And who has not been inspired and lifted by the singing of members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who have raised their voices from the Tabernacle for 125 years in hymns of praise and thanksgiving to Him whose life we seek to pattern ours after?

Certainly, the Tabernacle is more than just a building that has attracted millions of visitors through the years to hear its heralded acoustics. It is a distinctive building, both in appearance and purpose, whose walls reverberate with sacred words and hallowed music. It is a building where the Spirit of the Lord has touched countless congregations, a building where the mind and will of God for His people has been taught.

The Tabernacle is a hallowed edifice, dedicated in 1875 by President John Taylor "to be a holy and sacred place wherein thy servants may stand forth to declare thy words and minister unto thy people in the name of thy Son forever."