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The Temple Lot is a two acre (0.8 ha) grassy field next to the Church of Christ in the center of Independence, Missouri. The name also refers to the original 63 acres (26 ha) purchased by Bishop Edward Partridge, which is now subdivided into property owned largely by the Community of Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Church of Christ. The site, as planned by Joseph Smith, Jr. and other early Latter Day Saint leaders, was to house a complex of twenty four temples or houses of learning, including one temple that Jesus would visit during the events leading up to the Second Coming of Christ.
History of the property
Joseph Smith declared that the City of Zion, or the New Jerusalem, would be built on the American Continent beginning at Independence, to eventually fill the whole Earth. A commonly held Mormon tradition is that Joseph Smith, Jr., the leader and prophet of the Latter Day Saint movement declared the area of Independence, Missouri to be near the site of the Garden of Eden.
On August 3, 1831, Joseph Smith, Jr. and a small group of associates went to a knoll about a half-mile west of the Independence courthouse. Smith then indicated the specific spot where the temple was to stand, and placed a stone to mark the northeast corner. This is a sacred site for all Latter Day Saints. Many Mormons believe that important events to the history of the world will occur at the temple lot—including the beginning of the building the New Jerusalem. Latter Day Saints believe at least one temple will be built on the tract prior to the Second Coming of Christ, ushering in of the Millenial age of peace.
However, this is a controversial topic within the Mormonism movement, as far as the timing of events as well as the type of "temples" was not specified as more generic houses of learning (such as the Kirtland Temple) or the same type of Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which are performed ordinances.
Due to frequent and violent conflicts with residents in the area, most Mormons left Missouri. (See Zion's Camp, Mormon War.) The first groups left Jackson County in 1833, to settle in Caldwell County and Far West. Later, in 1839, Mormons left the entire state of Missouri for Illinois.
Many members of the largest sect of Mormonism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believe that the area will be cleared of its inhabitants and some members of the church be asked to return and begin building the temple.
In 1864, Granville Hedrick, an apostle in the Church of Christ still remaining in Illinois, claimed to have received a revelation directing the church to return to Jackson County. About 60 people did so, and soon purchased eight lots which now comprise the temple lot property. The group made several attempts to build the temple, the most successful of which lost funding to do so during the Great Depression (see below for additional details). Many members of the group at large believe themselves to be "stewards" over the Temple lot until the various Latter Day Saint churches are united again.
In 1891, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (as the Community of Christ was then known) sued the Church of Christ for the title to the temple lot, and initially won, but lost on appeal in federal circuit court.
Attempts to build a Temple
In 1929, the Church of Christ began building the temple, as directed by several reported revelations and visits by an angel, who told them at one point to "move the markers 10 feet east." The revelations described the temple's length as twice its width, at 90 by 180 feet, which concurred with the angel's description. When the church began excavating for the basement, workers found the stones buried by Joseph Smith, in line with the survey markers. This event was noted in the church newsletter, Zion's Advocate. These two stones are currently in the small museum in the Church of Christ, and their original position is marked by two other engraved stones, embedded visibly in the lot. The outer corners of the temple are presently marked by similar stones, for a total of six.
Two events kept the temple from being built: the church divided over the issue of rebaptism, and the Great Depression occurred. The excavation remained for many years, but was eventually filled in and replaced with a grassy field.
On 1 January 1990, a member of the church barricaded himself inside the Church of Christ Temple lot building and set fire to the building, as a protest to prevailing church attitudes. While no one was injured, the building was destroyed, and the member spent several years in prison. It was the second time the building had been burned down, the first time occurring in the late 1800s. Another small fire on the Temple Lot in the early 1990s affected a large lone oak tree, which was removed.
The Articles of Faith and Practice for the church say that the temple will be built "in this generation", and that Zion is to be established here with the return of Jesus. While rebuilding after the fire, the church planted three trees within the boundaries marked for the temple, perhaps indicating a belief that it might be a while yet before Jesus returns.
Museum
A small museum, accompanied by a narrator who will tell the story of the small church, is open during weekdays and admission is free.
External links
- Church of Christ (Temple Lot) web site
- Far West Cultural Center
- The Great Temple of the New Jerusalem