Kirtland Temple

Kirtland Temple. . , Dedicated in 1836, the “House of the Lord,” commonly known as Kirtland Temple, served as the center of the community life for the thousands of church members in and around Kirtland. Distinctive design features include two large assembly rooms with tiers of elaborately carved pulpits at both ends, and windows on every interior and exterior wall. Members and friends gathered on the first floor to worship. The second floor was devoted to church leadership education and training. The third floor housed additional schoolrooms and administrative offices., According to a local minister, life for many members was difficult. They lived in what he describes as an “assembly of hovels and shanties and small houses.” They overcame their hardships through great sacrifice, with some giving up “even the necessaries of life” in order to build what was then one of the largest buildings in northern Ohio. Kirtland Temple symbolizes the empowerment that comes from spiritual preparation and dedicated stewardship, while inspiring continuing efforts to build up the communities in which we live., [Second Marker – Erected by The Architects Society of Ohio and the Ohio Historical Society, 1966] , Kirtland Temple. "House of the Lord," Joseph Smith Jr. called this building in his dedicatory prayer March 27, 1836. The solemn, massive weather stained structure stands today as a memorial to Smith's followers who sacrificed their worldly goods to build of local materials this impressive Gothic Revival and Classic style temple., [Additional Stone Marker:] , Kirtland Temple , The House of the Lord , Built 1833-36 , under the direction of Joseph Smith, Jr. , Owned and maintained , By , The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ , of Latter-day Saints , World Headquarters, The Auditorium , Independence, Missouri.