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92-690: The Kirtland Temple is the first temple built by adherents of the Latter Day Saint movement , located in Kirtland, Ohio , and dedicated in March 1836. Joseph Smith , the movement's founder, directed the construction following a series of reported revelations, and the temple showcases a blend of Federal , Greek Revival , and Gothic Revival architectural styles. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and named

184-642: A National Historic Landmark in 1977. Prior to March 5, 2024, the temple was owned and operated by Community of Christ (previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS)) for over a century before ownership transferred to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Construction of the Kirtland Temple was a community effort involving significant contributions from church members, including

276-831: A feet washing and anointing ritual, he saw "the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof ... [and] the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son." In addition, Smith said the streets looked like they were paved with gold, and then taught that any who died without learning about the (restored) gospel who would have embraced it would go to the Celestial Kingdom (The highest level of Heaven in Latter Day Saint theology). Smith also reported seeing Adam , Abraham , and three family members, only one of which had previously died; this experience of Smith

368-591: A quitclaim deed to the temple in 1874. In 1880, the RLDS Church began the Kirtland Temple Suit , in an attempt to gain clear legal title to the temple. The court opinion stated that the RLDS Church was the lawful successor of the original church, but ultimately dismissed the case. Although the case had no legal bearing, the RLDS Church secured ownership of the temple through adverse possession by at least 1901. The local RLDS congregation met in

460-584: A succession crisis which divided the movement into different sects. The concept of temple worship evolved separately in many of these sects and until the 1990s only the sects claiming a succession through Brigham Young continued to build new temples. In April 1990, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church) began to construct the Independence Temple , which was dedicated in 1994. The RLDS Church—now called

552-479: A House of the Lord, but are also where members of the church make covenants and perform sacred ordinances , such as baptism for the dead , washing and anointing (or "initiatory" ordinances), the endowment , and eternal marriage sealings . Ordinances are a vital part of the theology of the church, which teaches that they were practiced by God's covenant people in all dispensations . Additionally, members consider

644-513: A chronic lack of funding and the expulsion of Fetting and his followers (about one-third of the Temple Lot organization at the time) from the Temple Lot church. In 1946, the City of Independence had the hole filled in, and the lot today is mostly covered with grass, with the Church of Christ's meetinghouse and a few trees at the northeast corner. Today, the Temple Lot church has no plans to build

736-475: A daily prayer for peace. During its 1994 World Conference, Community of Christ dedicated the Independence Temple located in Independence, Missouri . The Community of Christ describes this temple as a house of worship and education "dedicated to the pursuit of peace". The church holds a Daily Prayer for Peace at 1:00 p.m. Central Time in the temple's 1,600 seat sanctuary. From around 1901 to 2024,

828-455: A portion of the work. There is some disagreement as to the question if Millet was baptized before or after his building skills were needed and recommended by Brigham and Joseph Young . Either way, he was baptized by Brigham and confirmed by Joseph while in Canada, and Millet came afterwards to help provide methods, labor, and financial support for the building of the Kirtland Temple. This was

920-527: A result, the first temples in South America ( Brazil –1978); Asia ( Japan –1980); and Latin America ( Mexico City –1983) were built and the number of temples doubled from 15 to 36. Church president Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) also accelerated the construction of temples through the use of an even smaller standardized base design and set a goal to have 100 operating temples before 2001. Between

1012-417: A revelation from God, directing the church to build "a house ... wholly dedicated unto the Lord for the work of the presidency," "dedicated unto the Lord from the foundation thereof, according to the order of the priesthood." The First Presidency , which included Smith, Sidney Rigdon , and Frederick G. Williams , oversaw the laying of the temple cornerstone at a ceremony on July 23, 1833. The first cornerstone

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1104-526: A sawmill on Stoney Brook in Kirtland. An ashery was built by Newel K. Whitney during 1823 and 1824. The sawmill was built adjacent to the ashery, and both were used to supply materials to build the temple. At the sawmill, laborers crafted the interior support timbers and intricate woodwork found throughout the temple. The church bought 16 acres of old-growth forest to provide lumber to build the temple. Logs of walnut, cedar, cherry, and white oak were floated on

1196-453: A seven-hour service on March 27, 1836. The temple was filled to double its capacity, and many people who wanted to participate could not fit into the packed building. To address their disappointment, Joseph Smith directed them to a nearby schoolhouse used as an overflow building. The service was repeated for them the following Thursday. A reported "one thousand persons" attended the gathering, which introduced such traditional dedication rites as

1288-454: A significant event at the Kirtland Temple. It is recounted that the Lord manifested Himself to them, expressing acceptance of the temple. This event involved the restoration of certain priesthood keys through ancient prophets, namely Moses , Elias (understood to be the Biblical prophet Malachi ), and Elijah . These keys were said to represent various aspects of religious authority, including

1380-462: A small museum. The museum contains artifacts related to the temple and original documents from the Kirtland era. Until 2024, there was also a museum gift shop which featured a broad selection of books on Latter Day Saint history and the various expressions of the movement. Gardens are located outside the temple and immediately north of the temple on the opposite side of Maple Street is the historic Kirtland North Cemetery, which has graves dating back to

1472-459: A temple but sees itself as the steward of the lot until the various Latter Day Saint factions unite around the time of Jesus Christ's Second Coming . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) endeavored to construct a temple in the mid-1840s in Voree, Wisconsin , according to a rather elaborate plan devised by their prophet James J. Strang . Poverty and factional infighting among

1564-633: Is accessed through a trap door beneath the floor of the main-floor chapel, which is used for baptisms of both the living and the dead. Eternal marriages are not performed by the Cutlerites, as they have always rejected that particular doctrine. Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS Church) currently maintains one temple. Unlike those of the LDS Church, the temple is open to the public. Many religious functions take place including communion and

1656-408: Is meant for those who have been baptized to "renew their baptismal covenants," although any person of any or no faith is permitted to partake, and it is common for children under the minimum baptismal age to partake as well. Weekly administration of the sacrament in the LDS Church did not begin until the 1850s. Until the late 1890s or early-20th century, the entire congregation often kneeled during

1748-692: The 1838 Mormon War and the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri left these attempts at temple-building no further progressed than excavating foundations. In 1839, the Mormons regrouped at a new headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois . They were again commanded to build a "House of the Lord"—this one even larger and greater than those that went before. Plans for the temple in Nauvoo followed the earlier models in Kirtland and Independence with lower and upper courts, but

1840-536: The Aaronic priesthood or a member of the Melchizedek priesthood . The sacrament table is prepared before the meeting begins, usually by teachers , by placing whole slices of bread on trays and filling small individual water cups, which are also held in trays. Both bread and water trays are then covered with white cloth. After introductory prayers, administrative business, and announcements, the sacrament portion of

1932-560: The Chagrin River a few hundred yards to the sawmill where they were cut and used to build the temple. The temple was planned to be at the center of a community; church leaders designed a plat for the Kirtland temple similar to the one planned for Zion in Jackson County, Missouri. Nearly all able bodied men who were not away on missions for the church worked on the temple. Under the supervision of Emma Smith , Joseph's wife,

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2024-515: The Hosanna Shout and singing of the hymn written by W. W. Phelps entitled " The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning ." Following a two-and-a-half-hour sermon given by Rigdon, Smith offered a dedicatory prayer that had been prepared by a committee of church leaders, which he indicated was given to him by revelation. Two other church leaders, Brigham Young and David W. Patten , were reported to have been inspired to speak in tongues following

2116-466: The Spanish flu . Passing the sacrament first to the presiding church authority was emphasized in 1946. The sacrament is viewed by adherents as a renewal of a member's covenant made at baptism . According to the sacramental prayers, a person eats and drinks in remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus, promises to always remember him, take his name upon them, and keep his commandments. In return,

2208-509: The lot for this temple is owned and maintained by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) . The Temple Lot church endeavored to construct a temple beginning in 1929, as a result of a revelation that apostle Otto Fetting was said to have received from John the Baptist . A hole for the proposed temple basement was excavated, and architects' drawings were done, but no further work was completed due to

2300-411: The sacrament meeting , the primary weekly worship service, in each LDS Church congregation . Latter-day Saint adherents regard partaking of the sacrament to be a commandment of Jesus Christ; participating in it demonstrates a willingness to remember the atonement of Jesus Christ . In LDS sacrament meetings, the sacrament is passed to members of the congregation after being blessed by a priest from

2392-745: The "centerplaces" of cities designed according to Smith's plan for the City of Zion . Conflict in Missouri led to the expulsion of the Mormons from Jackson County, preventing any possibility of building a temple there, but work on the temple in Kirtland continued. At great cost and sacrifice, the Latter Day Saints finished the Kirtland Temple in early 1836. On March 27, they held a lengthy dedication ceremony and numerous spiritual experiences and visitations were reported. Conflict relating to

2484-443: The 1820s. Just beyond the cemetery to the north is the restored Joseph and Emma Smith home, while the remaining sites of Historic Kirtland Village are a short distance further north. With the LDS Church's acquisition of the temple on March 5, 2024, it will remain a historic building and the church reopened it to the public March 25, 2024 for public tours at no charge. Temple (Latter Day Saints) The Latter Day Saint movement

2576-529: The 1980s, church president Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) directed the church to build smaller temples with similar designs. Before this time, all but the Swiss Temple were at least 45,000 square feet (4,200 m ), and the average size of the first 20 temples was 103,000 square feet (9,570 m ). The new temples varied in size but were generally less than 25,000 square feet (2,300 m ) allowing temples to be built where there were fewer members. As

2668-553: The Aaronic Priesthood offices. (An example of this is using the letters M.P.C. This stood for Melchizedek Presiding Council- also known as the First Presidency). Church members donated labor and building materials, including glass and pottery which was ground up into the stucco . Crushed glassware was mixed with stucco to make the walls appear glistening. Building the Kirtland Temple was a community effort. At

2760-569: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would discontinue its practice of polygamy . In 1887 the US Congress passed the Edmunds–Tucker Act , which disincorporated the church and directed federal officials to begin seizing its assets, potentially including its temples. After a conversation with Woodruff, Logan Temple president Marriner W. Merrill stated that the contemplated public announcement prohibiting additional polygamist unions

2852-517: The Community of Christ—owned the Kirtland Temple from 1901 to 2024, which it used for worship services and special events but also open to visitors, including various Latter Day Saint denominations interested in the building's historical significance. In the late 1880s and in 1890, a desire to continue the ordinance work in temples was a significant consideration preceding Wilford Woodruff's decision (announced in his Manifesto of September 1890 ) that

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2944-488: The Kirtland Temple in 1836. Differing from other churches in the Latter Day Saint tradition, members feel that the first endowment ceremonies were performed in Kirtland, Ohio, although the endowment performed in Kirtland differed significantly from the endowment performed by Smith in Nauvoo. The construction of the Nauvoo Temple and the teaching of the full endowment by Smith are seen as the final steps in restoring

3036-426: The Kirtland Temple, they were considered only a partial endowment, and the Kirtland temple is not the site of the first full temple endowment. The full endowment, according to accounts, was anticipated to occur later when the community settled in Nauvoo. On January 21, 1836, before the temple was completed, Smith wrote in his journal the first of several visions received at the temple. As he and his associates performed

3128-500: The LDS Church, tours are guided by sister and senior missionaries, managed as part of the larger Historic Kirtland Village sites. There were about 50 worship services and/or educational events held each year at the Kirtland Temple. The temple held community services for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Holy Week, as well as the annual Emma Smith Hymn Festival in June. Additionally, members of various Latter Day Saint denominations travel to

3220-410: The Latter Day Saint movement. It has been a place of worship and a symbol of the movement since it was dedicated in 1836. Community of Christ owned the Kirtland Temple for more than a century. The LDS Church and Community of Christ announced on March 5, 2024 that ownership of the site had transferred to the former as part of a $ 192.5 million acquisition of historic sites and objects. The transfer between

3312-461: The Latter Day Saint movement. Today, it continues to serve as a historic site, open year-round for guided tours, meetings, and events, attracting visitors from around the world, and around 100,000 visitors annually. The temple's rich history, architectural distinctiveness, and ongoing religious and community use make it a unique landmark in American religious history. In December 1830, Joseph Smith,

3404-548: The Lord of hosts." It is believed to emphasize that when the Jesus comes again , he will come "to his temple." As plans were drawn up to construct a temple in Kirtland, the decision was made to simultaneously begin work on a second temple at the church's colony in Jackson County, Missouri . Surviving plans indicate that both temples would have the same dimensions and approximately the same appearance and both were to be at

3496-780: The Strangites prevented the temple from progressing beyond the planning stage. The church has made no attempt to build temples since Strang's death. From 1855 to 1889, the LDS Church performed ordinances in the Endowment House to allow members to receive the endowment during construction of temples in Utah. Before the Endowment House was built, the Council House was similarly used, between 1850 and 1855. Historically, there were other locations where ordinances for

3588-551: The authorization of the First Presidency . Sacrament (LDS Church) In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper , most often simply referred to as the sacrament , is the ordinance in which participants eat bread and drink water in remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ . Normally, the sacrament is provided every Sunday as part of

3680-591: The breastwork of the pulpit." According to Smith's account, Christ accepted the church's dedication of the temple, and promised blessings according to their obedience. Following the conclusion of this vision of Christ, the account goes on to tell of Smith and Cowdery then receiving visions of Moses , Elias, and Elijah . The account in Smith's journal is the only known telling of this occurrence during his lifetime. The LDS Church canonized it as Section 110 of their Doctrine and Covenants in 1876. Smith's time in Kirtland after

3772-419: The brief building period from 1998 to 2001, 38 of these standardized temples were constructed and dedicated, meeting Hinckley's goal and, during his service as president, the number of temples more than doubled from 47 to 124. The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) performs temple ordinances in its Independence, Missouri, meetinghouse, their only building still in active use, though the church also believes in

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3864-461: The broken bread. The bread is passed to the congregation by priesthood holders, usually by deacons . The prayer on the bread is found in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants : After the bread is passed to the congregation, the bread trays are placed on the table and covered with the white cloth. The water trays are then uncovered and a set prayer is given on the water, which is then passed to

3956-448: The building on a regular basis for Sunday worship until the 1950s. Due to preservation concerns, a new church was built across the street (for the congregation) and the temple saw more direct management and funding from the world church. Until early 2024, the building was used for approximately 50 to 60 worship services, classes, retreats and other special events throughout the year primarily by various Latter Day Saint denominations. Unlike

4048-607: The church founded by Jesus Christ following the Great Apostasy . Because it is an integral part of their worship, Mormon pioneers , upon arriving in the Salt Lake Valley , began plans to build temples there, and built the Endowment House to allow members to receive the endowment until the temples were completed. Initially, the church constructed temples in areas where there were large concentrations of members: Utah , Idaho , Arizona , Hawaii , and Alberta . In

4140-400: The congregation. The prayer on the water indicates that the water represents the shed blood of Christ: After the water is passed to the congregation, the water trays are covered with the bread trays for the remainder of the service. The leftover bread and water are discarded. Latter-day Saints believe the bread and water to be symbols, not the actual body and blood of Christ , and that it

4232-399: The day, the men would construct the temple, and by night would guard it from mobs and vandals. Many church members were important to the construction of the Kirtland Temple. Of particular note is Artemus Millet, who has been credited for providing the method of the exterior wall construction, head stonemason, creating the mix of the exterior stucco, and as the superintendent of construction for

4324-507: The dead was not in use by the church until 1840. According to Tad Walch, from Deseret News , the endowment was given "in full" at the Nauvoo Red Brick Store , in 1842. The Kirtland Temple was not originally white on the exterior as it is today. The original exterior was a bluish-gray according to Truman Coe, a local minister in the 1830s. The roof is believed to have been red, and the front doors olive green. Presently, only

4416-466: The doors are the original color. Temples of nearly identical design were planned at about the same time period in Missouri at Temple Lot (in Independence ), Far West , and Adam-ondi-Ahman . However, none were built because of the 1838 Mormon War which evicted the members from the state. The building cost $ 40,000 to construct. The interior has over 2,500 windowpanes. The temple was dedicated in

4508-420: The establishment of a sawmill and an ashery to supply building materials. The temple features unique architectural elements such as adjustable pews and dual pulpits , reflecting its multifunctional use for worship and education. The third floor was used for academic and religious instruction, emphasizing the importance of Hebrew studies to the faith's theological development. The dedication on March 27, 1836,

4600-671: The evenings, it was used for church quorum meetings. Church members there studied Hebrew, which lasted only a little over two months, but it came to have a significant impact on the evolution of the faith's theology. It also housed a school known by various names over time: the School of the Prophets , also known as the School of the Elders and the School of the Apostles. Joseph Smith established

4692-591: The exterior was influenced by the New England Protestant style. For example, the arrangement of two series of four-tiered pulpits on each end of the assembly rooms for seating the presidencies of the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods was different from other buildings. The pulpits were designed with golden letters to differentiate offices of presiding officials from the church, from the Melchizedek Priesthood Offices, to

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4784-520: The failure of the church's Kirtland Safety Society bank, caused the church presidency to leave Kirtland and move the church's headquarters to the Mormon settlement of Far West, Missouri . Far West was also platted along the lines of the City of Zion plan and in 1838 the church began construction of a new, larger temple in the center of the town. They may also have dedicated a temple site in the neighboring Mormon settlement of Adam-ondi-Ahman . The events of

4876-515: The first structure of its kind built by early Latter Day Saints. The Kirtland Temple is different in purpose from the Nauvoo Temple , built in the 1840s, and from other temples that followed in the Latter Day Saint movement. The temple was used as both a meetinghouse and a formally dedicated temple. At the time of its construction, none of the ordinances now associated with Latter-day Saint temple worship, such as baptism by proxy , endowments, and sealings, had been instituted. The practice of baptisms for

4968-515: The founder of the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints), said he received a revelation directing members of the faith to "assemble together in Ohio." By 1831, members of the church began to gather to the Kirtland area. In December 1832, Smith said he received another revelation that called for the construction of a house of worship, education, and order. On December 27, 1832, he announced that the temple would be built. On May 6, 1833, Smith said he received

5060-409: The gathering of Israel , the gospel of Abraham , and sealing powers. Not long after the dedication, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery reported seeing Jesus Christ "standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit." Throughout its history, the Kirtland Temple has undergone various ownership changes and legal disputes, ultimately maintaining its status as a place of worship and historical significance within

5152-472: The gathering of Israel , the gospel of Abraham, and sealing powers. One of the main purposes of building the temple was to follow one of the Lord’s commandments and to be endowed with power. In order to receive their endowment, the men needed to finish building the temple and they needed to spiritually, mentally, and physically prepare. Part of the preparations involved ceremonial washings and anointings, symbolizing

5244-414: The later built Nauvoo Temple, the Kirtland Temple was never destroyed or burned down. The same stones from the original construction are still in place. Although the majority of church members left the Kirtland area for Missouri in 1838, the Kirtland Temple was never completely abandoned by the church. From its inception to the present day, it has always been operated by a group that can trace their origins to

5336-484: The life of Joseph Smith, a few years before the Kirtland temple was built, Smith dedicated a location in Independence, Missouri, for the building of a special temple, which was to be the center of a New Jerusalem . However, hostile action by non-Mormon citizens resulted in the expulsion of all Latter Day Saints from the area in 1833, and the planned temple did not proceed beyond the laying of cornerstones. As of 2011,

5428-526: The living were performed, both indoors and out, as recorded in pioneer journals. One of these is a building known as the Endowment House in Spring City, Utah , built by Orson Hyde . The building is still standing at 85 West 300 South. The Endowment House in Salt Lake City was razed in 1889 after church president Wilford Woodruff learned that plural marriages were being performed there without

5520-549: The mid-20th century, because of the importance of temples in the theology, the church tried to balance density with the travel requirements that attending the temple imposed upon members. Thus, temples were built in Europe ( Switzerland –1955 and England –1958); the Pacific Islands ( New Zealand –1958); and Washington, D.C.  (1974) when membership alone might not have justified the effort. Temple growth continued in

5612-421: The most prolific builder of temples in the Latter Day Saint movement. The LDS Church has 367 temples in various phases, which includes 201 dedicated temples (192 operating and 9 previously-dedicated, but closed for renovation ), 3 scheduled for dedication , 48 under construction , 1 scheduled for groundbreaking , and 114 others announced (not yet under construction). In the LDS Church, temples are not only

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5704-489: The ownership of Community of Christ, temple guides were typically local residents, usually, but not always, members of Community of Christ. During the busy summer months, college-aged adults augmented the temple's staff as part of the Alma Blair Internship Program. Throughout the year, other volunteers traveled to the temple for stints as guides, maintenance staff, or gardeners. Under the ownership of

5796-479: The practice of temple worship. The Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio , were commanded to: Latter Day Saints see temples as the fulfillment of a prophecy found in Malachi ;3:1 (KJV): "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith

5888-407: The prayer ( Messenger and Advocate (March 1836) ). Truman O. Angell recorded in his journal the following account: When about midway during the prayer, there was a glorious sensation passed through the house [Kirtland Temple]; and we, having our heads bowed in prayer, felt a sensation very elevating to the soul. At the close of the prayer, F. G. Williams being in the upper east stand- -Joseph being in

5980-506: The prayer promises that the participant will always have his spirit to be with them. The sacrament is considered the most sacred and important element of normal Sabbath day observance and as such is approached by Latter-day Saints with reverence and in a spirit of penitence . Consequently, all who partake of the sacrament are encouraged to examine their own consciences and prayerfully gauge their own worthiness to do so. If they feel unworthy, they are encouraged to refrain from participating in

6072-436: The principle of constructing special temples such as the ones in Kirtland and Nauvoo. Cutlerites do not designate their meetinghouse as a temple per se , but they believe that it serves precisely the same purpose and that the ordinances performed there are equally as valid as ones done in any pre-1844 temple. These sacred services of the Cutlerites are not open to the public, and participants are forbidden to discuss them outside

6164-400: The purification of their hearts to enable communion with heaven. A few months prior to the temple dedication, Phelps expressed, "We are preparing to make ourselves clean, by first cleansing our hearts, forsaking our sins, forgiving everybody; … putting on clean decent clothes, by anointing our heads and by keeping all the commandments." It's noted that while certain ordinances were performed in

6256-469: The room in which they are performed. Cutlerite meetinghouses are constructed with a main-floor chapel that is always open to the public unless baptisms for the dead are being performed; a second-floor room, which is closed to the public at all times, is reserved for the ordinances of the endowment. Cutlerites do not use the term "endowment" to refer to these rituals; they generally refer to them as "the priesthood ordinances". A rectangular-shaped baptismal font

6348-399: The sacramental prayers, but current practice requires that only the individual giving the prayer kneel. Deacons and teachers did not originally take part in the preparing or passing of the sacrament, a practice which was first adopted in 1898 and was widely implemented in the 1920s or 1930s. Individual water cups, instead of drinking from a common cup, were introduced in 1911 in response to

6440-483: The scale was much increased. New conflicts arose that led to Smith being killed , along with his brother Hyrum , at Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844. The Nauvoo Temple stood only half finished. Eventually, this temple was finished and dedicated. Some temple ordinances were performed before most of the Latter Day Saints followed Brigham Young west across the Mississippi River. Smith's death resulted in

6532-502: The school in 1833, drawing on established American traditions and Old Testament practices, with a focus on integrating specific religious practices to unify members and create a cohesive community. Unlike earlier versions, Smith's school required a dedicated temple and ceased formal operations by 1836 as focus shifted to other community preparations. Additionally, the third floor contained various church offices, including that of Joseph Smith. The interior incorporated unique features, while

6624-407: The service begins. It is customary for the congregation to sing a hymn while the bread is uncovered and prepared. The congregation remains seated while the priesthood representatives stand and break bread into bite-sized pieces. The breaking of the bread represents the broken body of Christ. After breaking the bread and the conclusion of the hymn, the priesthood holder kneels and says a set prayer on

6716-583: The speaking stand next below--rose and testified that midway during the prayer an holy angel came and seated himself in the stand. When the afternoon meeting assembled, Joseph, feeling very much elated, arose the first thing and said the personage who had appeared in the morning was the Angel Peter come to accept the dedication. On Easter Sunday, April 3, 1836, coinciding with the Jewish Passover , Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery reported experiencing

6808-419: The temple a place to commune with God , seek God's aid, understand the will of God, and receive personal revelation . Upon completion (or after the completion of significant renovations), temples are open to the public for a period of time (an "open house"). During the open house, the church conducts tours of the temple with missionaries and members from the local area serving as tour guides, and all rooms of

6900-646: The temple and other church property. By the beginning of 1838, Smith was forced to flee the state, relocating to Far West, Missouri with hundreds of loyalists. After the Mormons moved west in 1838, the temple was used by the Western Reserve Teacher's Seminary. Parrish's group dissolved and by 1841 the remaining Latter Day Saints in Kirtland had come back into communion with the main body of the church, which had subsequently relocated to Nauvoo, Illinois . A period of confusion followed Smith's death in 1844, as rival leaders and factions vied for control of

6992-414: The temple are open to the public. The temple is then dedicated as a "House of the Lord", after which only members in good standing are permitted entrance. Thus, in the LDS Church, temples are not churches or meetinghouses but rather places of more consecrated worship. In 1832, shortly after the formation of the church, Smith said that the Lord desired the Latter Day Saints build a temple; and they completed

7084-488: The temple built in Kirtland, Ohio, was owned and maintained by Community of Christ. This was the first temple built by the Latter Day Saint movement and the only temple completed in the lifetime of Joseph Smith. The LDS Church and Community of Christ announced on March 5, 2024 that ownership of the site had transferred to the former as part of a $ 192.5 million acquisition of historic sites and objects. Four additional Latter Day Saint denominations have built temples: During

7176-610: The temple came into use was limited. In 1837, he became involved with the foundation of a bank known as the Kirtland Safety Society . The failure of this bank was a factor that caused a schism among Latter Day Saints in Kirtland. The dissenters were led by Warren Parrish , Smith's former secretary, and included Martin Harris , one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon . Parrish's group took control of

7268-399: The temple where they are permitted to hold their own services with prior arrangement. A Spiritual Formation and Visitors' Center was opened in March 2007. The center's exterior is inspired by that of the Kirtland Temple, and its layout has been described as reflecting a dove. It enhances the ministries of the temple by providing classroom space, worship space, a multi-use theater, offices, and

7360-577: The temple. In 1845, the Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, under the leadership of S. B. Stoddard, Leonard Rich, and Jacob Bump organized their own church in opposition to those of Brigham Young, James J. Strang and other leaders. This group later merged with a faction led by William E. McLellin whose president was David Whitmer , one of the Three Witnesses. By 1848, another Latter Day Saint faction led by Hazen Aldrich and James Collin Brewster

7452-494: The time of building the Kirtland temple, members of the church were in poverty and funds were scarce. Berea sandstone was chiseled from the Stannard Quarry at the base of Gildersleeve Mountain , and lumber was gathered from the surrounding area, particularly from the gravel pits on the other side of Gildersleeve Mountain along Hobart Road. In order to speed up the building process, in the fall of 1833 church members built

7544-656: The two churches began in 2021. The transfer included other historical items and buildings, like the Red Brick Store, the printer manuscript of the Book of Mormon, along with a Bible used by Joseph Smith in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. The Kirtland Temple was used as the meetinghouse for Kirtland's RLDS congregation until the 1950s, when a modern church was built across the street. The temple

7636-421: The visions were "like our (present day) virtual reality." Directions were given to build a "lower court and a higher court," with a promise given that the Lord's "glory shall be there, and [his] presence shall be there." The initial designs called for an interior that was 55 feet (17 m) wide by 65 feet (20 m) long. The building has two primary gathering spaces: an upper and a lower court (or hall). The lower hall

7728-428: The women of Kirtland contributed to the temple's construction by sewing clothing for the workers and crafting materials for the temple itself. They produced carpets and curtains from white canvas, which were utilized to partition the spacious first and second floors of the temple into more private, smaller sections. Additionally, these curtains were strategically placed above the pulpits to offer privacy as required. During

7820-400: Was "the only way to retain the possession of our temples and continue the ordinance work for the living and dead which was considered of more importance than continuing the practice of plural marriage for the present." Temples have held numerous purposes in the Latter Day Saint movement, both historically and their differing expressions today. These purposes include: The LDS Church has been

7912-527: Was attended by approximately one thousand people and included traditional rites such as the Hosanna Shout . Reports of visions and spiritual experiences by church leaders, including the restoration of certain priesthood keys through ancient prophets Moses , Elias (understood to be the Biblical prophet Malachi ), and Elijah , were documented and later canonized in the Doctrine and Covenants. These keys represented various aspects of religious authority, including

8004-550: Was canonized by the LDS Church as revelation and published as Section 137 of the Doctrine and Covenants for the first time in 1981. Days after the dedication, several more visions were recorded in his personal journal. On April 3, Smith had his scribe, Warren Cowdery , write down in his personal journal an account of a spiritual experience Smith and Oliver Cowdery had while praying in the pulpits. In this experience, Smith states that he and Cowdery saw Jesus Christ "standing upon

8096-426: Was conceived as a restoration of practices believed to have been lost in a Great Apostasy from the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Temple worship played a prominent role in the Bible's Old Testament , and in the Book of Mormon . On December 27, 1832, two years after the organization of the Church of Christ , the church's founder, Joseph Smith, reported receiving a revelation that called upon church members to restore

8188-570: Was laid at the southeast corner and construction began immediately. When the building was first being constructed, it was just known as "the House of the Lord." According to the diary of Truman O. Angell , the First Presidency (Smith, Rigdon, and Williams) reported a detailed shared vision of the inside and outside of the temple, to help show church volunteers the envisioned structure. Scott Barrick, director of Historic Kirtland , says that

8280-439: Was most often used for worship, including the sacrament (similar to communion ), preaching, and prayer. It features two sets of pulpits, one on each end, and adjustable pews that allow the audience to face either direction. The upper hall was used for educational purposes, specifically for the School of the Apostles. The building's third floor served multiple functions. During the day, it hosted general academic classes, while in

8372-502: Was organized in Kirtland and maintained control of the temple. This faction also dissolved and most of the members who were in Kirtland eventually joined the Community of Christ (then known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, adding the word Reorganized to their name in 1872) led by Joseph Smith III . In 1860, a probate court in Ohio sold the Kirtland Temple as a means of paying off some debts owned by Joseph Smith's estate. Joseph Smith III and Mark Hill Forscutt purchased

8464-485: Was then experienced through guided tours, community services, and pre-arranged meetings for out-of-town groups. The temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1977. The visitors' center has about 100,000 visitors per year, and according to Sarah Murphy from ABC4 Utah , brings in hundreds of visitors from around the world every week. During

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