Ohio is experiencing a resurgence of attention in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now home to both the oldest temple in the Mormon movement and its newest U.S. temple. The Kirtland Temple, built in the 1830s, is a significant historic site, while a new temple in Independence, dedicated on August 16, represents the church's ongoing global expansion.
The Kirtland Temple, located northeast of Cleveland, holds a pivotal place in early Mormon history. It was in this building that Joseph Smith, the movement's founder, proclaimed divine revelations and initiated rituals and beliefs that distinguished his followers from other Christian denominations. Early members reported visions of prophets, angels, and Jesus Christ within its walls. The temple was dedicated in 1836 with a hymn, "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning," which continues to be sung at dedications today.
This historic structure is considered the first "temple" in the movement, a designation for a place of higher spiritual significance compared to regular meetinghouses. After periods of turbulence, doctrinal disputes, and financial conflicts led many early members, including Smith, to move west, the Kirtland building eventually came under the stewardship of Community of Christ, a church that also traces its origins to Joseph Smith. In 2024, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquired the Kirtland Temple and other historic properties from Community of Christ for $192.5 million.
While the Kirtland Temple no longer functions as an active place of worship for the LDS Church and remains open to the public as a historic site, it draws tens of thousands of visitors annually. Pace Clarke, the Ohio Historic Sites Manager for the church, noted that the Kirtland Temple is the origin point for all Latter-day Saint temples, with subsequent structures echoing its foundational teachings.
Complementing this historic landmark is the newly dedicated temple in Independence, a suburb of Cleveland. This modern structure, while architecturally distinct, features a cupola that evokes the design of the Kirtland Temple, symbolizing a connection to its historical roots. This new temple, along with another dedicated simultaneously in Brazil, signifies the unprecedented global growth of temple sites for the LDS Church. Following its dedication, the Independence Temple, like other functioning LDS temples, will be accessible only to members in good standing, who participate in sacred rites such as baptisms for the dead and eternal sealings.
The acquisition of the Kirtland Temple and other historic sites in places like Nauvoo, Illinois, from Community of Christ was described by leaders of both churches as an amicable transaction that allows Community of Christ to better pursue its mission priorities. Despite their separate evolutions and distinct theological views, both churches acknowledge the enduring spiritual significance of the Kirtland Temple.