Visit Kirtland Temple the first temple built by the Latter-day Saints

A short drive from Cleveland is a piece of religious history that has stood the test of time. The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark and the first Temple built by the followers of the Latter-day Saint movement. Joseph Smith called the Kirtland Temple the “House of the Lord,” a name that sticks to this day. Visiting the Temple is a religious pilgrimage for many but also an opportunity to stand in the footprints of two men who changed American history, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

Kirtland Temple History

The Temple was constructed from 1833 to 1836 after Joesph Smith received a revelation that called for the construction of a house of worship. By 1838, more than 2,000 believers had settled in the Kirtland area. The Temple served as the center of the LDS movement’s community. Following Smith’s revelation, the first floor was the “House of Prayer,” where upwards of a thousand people often crowded to worship. The second floor is “A House of Learning” and was dedicated to training what was called the “The School of the Prophets.” The “House of Order” was the administrative area of the church.

“And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall commence a work of laying out and preparing a beginning and foundation of the city of the stake of Zion, here in the land of Kirtland, beginning at my house.” – Revelation through Joseph Smith, Kirtland, Ohio, May 6, 1833.

Latter Day Saint movement moves west

The Temple’s time as the center of the LDS movement would be short-lived. By 1839, just three years after its dedication, the once thriving community dwindled to about 100 members. Most Mormons fled west to Missouri with hundreds of followers in 1838. Smith would later be killed in Nauvoo, Illinois.

After Smith’s death, the LDS movement was divided into branches. One branch followed Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley. Another, known as the Reorganization, gained ownership of the Kirtland Temple. Today, they are known as the Community of Christ, and to this day, they continue to care for the Temple.

If you would like to visit, tours are operated throughout the year. There is a “preservation fee,” which is used to help maintain the Temple. Tickets can be purchased at the visitor center.

A visit to Kirtland Temple can easily be combined with the many other wonderful things to do in the greater Cleveland area: Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the James A. Garfield National Historic Site are nearby. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Museum of Art are just a few of the attractions C-town has to offer.