The saints began construction on this temple in 1833 and it was dedicated March 27, 1836. It is currently owned and maintained by the Community of Christ Church.
Across the street to the north of the Kirtland Temple is the Kirtland North Cemetery. In the 1830s it was known as the Kirtland Mills Burying Ground. In those days a Methodist meetinghouse stood on the southeast corner. It was the practice of members of the various congregations at the time to be buried near their churches. Among the earliest burials on record is Philo Ingersoll who died in 1827.Early members of the Church also buried some of their dead there, including Jerusha Barden Smith, first wife of Hyrum Smith; and Mary Duty Smith, Joseph Smith's grandmother. Other well-known members include John Johnson, the parents of Newel K. Whitney; Oliver Cowdery's father and the parents of Isaac Morley.
LDS vistors center just down the road from the Kirtland Temple
Newel K. Whitney Store-Built in 1826 this general store was an important gathering place for the community. Whitney provided rooms inside for church meetings, offices and a home for Joseph Smith and his family during part of their stay in Kirtland, Ohio.
General Store-called as the second bishop of the LDS church Whitney used rooms in his store to organize goods to help the needy.
This was part of the prophets family's living quarters.The Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife Emma lived in the Whitney store for about 18 months. And it was there that Joseph worked on translating the Bible. The Prophet also received numerous revelations in what is known as the Revelation Room above the store.
Next to the Revelation Room is the room where the School of the Prophets was held; it’s Adam Jones’s favorite place in Kirtland. Adam, 17, from the Stow Branch in Akron, Ohio, lives about an hour’s drive from Kirtland. “I really like the School of the Prophets Room,” he says. “I like the spirit there. There’s a peacefulness that testifies of what the Saints went through and what they accomplished in Kirtland to help the gospel go forward.”
Visiting the rooms where the Prophet taught the early missionaries and where he received so many important revelations—such as the oath and covenant of the priesthood (see D&C 84) and the Word of Wisdom (see D&C 89)—has strengthened Adam’s testimony of the Restoration. “Being here helps your faith and helps you understand about the history of the Church.”
Clark Haymond, 17, of the Solon Ward in Kirtland has a personal connection to the School of the Prophets Room. “I was able to be ordained to the priesthood there above the Whitney store,” he says. “It was really special because prophets studied there. It was a very spiritual and touching experience.”
This is where the Prophet Joseph Smith and his family slept while staying at the Whitney Store in Kirtland, Ohio.
The ashery was an important industry that helped the Saints raise funds to build the temple and other Church buildings. Consecrated to the Church by Newel Whitney, the ashery is where potash and pearlash were made. Both of these ingredients were used in making items such as soap, paper, gunpowder, cloth, and glass.
Beautiful scenery all around it!
