In the fall of 1830, four missionaries of the new Church of Christ journeyed
through Kirtland where they shared the message of the Restoration with Sidney
Rigdon and others. Their evangelistic success led to the establishment of
Kirtland as church headquarters and eventuated in the construction of a sacred
house of study and worship known today as the Kirtland Temple.
The “House of the Lord,” commonly known as the Kirtland Temple, was built
between 1833-1836 and served as a center of community life. The Temple served
multiple functions, focusing on worship and instruction. When Kirtland
Temple was completed, it was one of the largest buildings in northern Ohio. It
stands as a symbol of the importance of building community and the spiritual
empowerment that comes from extensive preparation.
The building features two large assembly rooms, tiers of elaborately carved
pulpits at both ends of these rooms, and windows on every interior and exterior
wall. The first floor served as a “meetinghouse,” where people gathered
to worship. The second floor served as a training center for priesthood and
missionary work. The third floor consisted of classrooms and
administrative offices. Classes were held here for Kirtland High School; the
School of the Elders; and Kirtland, Ohio Theological Institution, which included
Hebrew classes. Joseph Smith Jr. (founder of the church) had an office on the
west end of the third floor.
Community of Christ operates and maintains the Kirtland Temple.
For information, including details on scheduling services and classes in the
Temple, contact the Kirtland Temple, 7809
Joseph Street, Kirtland, OH 44094, (440) 256-1830.
Far West and Haun's Mill - Caldwell County, Missouri
In 1838, less than two years after the town’s founding, followers of Joseph
Smith Jr. (founder of the church) had transformed this prairie wilderness into a
thriving community with more than 150 houses, eight storefronts, six blacksmith
shops, two hotels, and a printing office. Local leaders David and John Whitmer,
along with W. W. Phelps, planned to build a house of the Lord on the public
square.
Far West became home to some 5,000 church members, with as many as 7,000 more
living in surrounding Caldwell County. By the spring of 1839, following the
siege at Far West and the arrest of church leaders during what is known as the
“Mormon War,” the town was abandoned and quickly reverted to farmland. The
Church was forced to move from the state of Missouri during the winter of
1838-39, and many moved on together to Quincy, Illinois, and then to Nauvoo,
Illinois.
Directions to these locations can be found here.
The Latter Day Saints sought refuge in Illinois beginning a
community at Nauvoo on the Mississippi River. The city, named after a Hebrew
word carrying connotations of “Beautiful,” flourished until the deaths of
Joseph and Hyrum Smith in 1844. By early 1846 many members had scattered, but
Emma and her family remained. Tours of the Community of Christ properties at the
Joseph Smith Historic Site, including the Visitors’ Center, the
Homestead, Mansion House, Red
Brick Store, and Smith Family
Cemetery are available. For more information contact the Joseph Smith Historic Site, P.O. Box 338, Nauvoo, IL 62354, (217) 453-2246.
The Plano congregation was organized on April 21, 1861, and met at the home
of Elder James Horton. In May 1868, church members passed a resolution to build
a church. In a show of support and encouragement, townspeople contributed
liberally to the endeavor and a local merchant donated the land. Plano Stone
Church was completed and dedicated in November 1868. The pews and pulpit, made
from native lumber by church members, are still in use.
Joseph Smith III (church president and prophet from 1860-1915) and his family
lived in Plano from January 1866-1881. Plano Stone Church served as church
headquarters for that time period. Fourteen General Conferences of the church
were hosted here. Early church publications, including the Holy Scriptures, the 1874 version of the Book of Mormon, and the first Zion’s
Hope, were printed in Plano. In 1974 Plano Stone Church was
designated a Kendal County historic landmark and it was added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 1990. Plano Stone Church has the longest history
of continued service in Kendal County. For information on touring the Plano
Stone Church, contact Lachlan Mackay at 440/256-3318.
In 1870 a stewardship association of church members, known as
the Order of Enoch, purchased over three thousand acres of land in southern Iowa
as a place for gathering. Church headquarters relocated to the emerging
community in 1881 and Joseph III made Liberty Hall his home. Four RLDS Church
presidents lived in Liberty Hall. The church was headquartered in Lamoni, Iowa,
and Liberty Hall was a center of social and religious life for the
community.
During the next 60 years, Liberty Hall served as a home for the aged, a
farmhouse, CCC Headquarters, and a private residence. Now restored to its
1900-1905 Victorian style, Liberty Hall reflects the culture of the large,
middle class Smith family living in a small, mid-western town as well as the
heritage of Community of Christ.
Tours are available March through December. For more information
contact Liberty Hall, 1138 West Main
Street, Lamoni, IA 50140, (641) 784-6133.
The church-sponsored private liberal arts college, Graceland
University, was dedicated in 1895. The campus’ historic Administrative
Building was renovated in 1997. For more information regarding campus tours,
contact Admissions Office, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA 50140; (641)
784-5196; or www.graceland.edu.
In addition to the Temple and Auditorium, take time to visit Independence’s
other historic church sites. The purchase of the 63-acre “Temple Lot” was
negotiated in the Flournoy House, an 1820’s brick building at Heritage Plaza.
Next door is President F. M. Smith’s renovated 1830s brick cabin, now known as
the F. M. Smith Study. For information about these sites, contact Ken
Mulliken at (816) 461-6578.
Walk in the footsteps of early church members on the Missouri Mormon Walking
Trail through Independence, visit the Stone Church and see its stained glass
windows depicting events in church history. Contact Stone Church at (816)
254-2211. Or, visit Mound Grove Cemetery where you can see the graves of Joseph
Smith III, Frederick M. Smith, Israel A. Smith, W. Wallace Smith, and other
church leaders.
