777 Acquired Kirtland Temple Ticker

Kirtland Temple Purchased

Frequencly Asked Questions  

Sites were closed on March 5th and will reopen on March 25th to the public without cost.

Talks began in June 2021 for the purchase, will remain a historical building

Cleveland Ohio Temple announced in April 2022, located in Independence, Ohio

Site preparation is underway.

Community of Christ Q&A;

Full list of Properties and items

The church was looking at the possibility of letting go one third of staff in 2025. Financial transparency with graphs!

COC Employees were offered the option of a position in Independence, Missouri, USA, including a relocation package, or continued employment in their current location through September 2024 with a severance package at that time.

The COC retains historic sites in Plano, IL, Lamoni, IA, and Independence MO. 

The LDS church will provide the temple up to six times a year for meetings and gatherings. – What other groups will be allowed? – 2024 Mormon History Association in June. 

Kirtland Temple Suit

Brigham Young and the 12 wanted to sell the Nauvoo and Kirtland Temples to finance the move to the west.

Temple belonged to Joseph Smith at time of death, ownership is disputed and the temple is sold on the steps of the courthouse to settle his debts. Sells for $150 in 1860 and it eventually gets sold to Joseph Smith III. Several people try to use/buy/sell the temple, but are prevented due to the cloudy chain of title. 

JS III attempts to sell the temple again, but the RLDS presiding bishop sues him (as well as John Taylor) in 1875 and tries to argue that the temple belongs to the church because the deed is only good for the land under the temple.

Judge dismissed the case, but indicated that the RLDS Church was the true successor of the Joseph Smith church because the LDS church had gone rogue, citing polygamy and Adam-God Doctrine.   

Although ownership remained disputed, the RLDS continued to use it and make repairs. By 1901, the ownership of the temple was made clear under the doctrine of adverse possession (“squatters rights” – more than 20 years of use).

Without this care, the temple would have likely fallen into disrepair.

Fate of the Kirtland Temple Joseph Smith Papers Podcast Episode 7

Debunked that the temple was a stable for animals. 

John Hamer presentation on evolution of LDS/COC temples. 

Significant Nauvoo Properties 

Red Brick Store (Reconstructed) – First Endowments 

Mansion House – residence of the Smiths, entertained guests, briefly installed a bar.

Nauvoo House – a commandment to build along with a temple.