LDS Church buys property including Haun's Mill and Far West burial ground

[john doe]

Link here: LDS Church buys farmland, Haun's Mill, Far West, Kirtland property from Community of Christ | Deseret News

Also, the Joseph Smith, sr, home in Kirtland, Ohio.

[miztrniceguy]

Sounds like CofC doesn't have the money for continuing upkeep.

[john doe]

Originally Posted by miztrniceguy

Sounds like CofC doesn't have the money for continuing upkeep.

That would be my guess. Rather than sell to developers, they sold to the LDS Church to help preserve the sites.

[norah63]

Glad to see the site will be taken care of.
When we last visited, it was just a cornfield with hardly a marker.
Need to go there again and see what improvements will take place.

[skippy740]

I suppose it's only a matter of time before the LDS church will reacquire the Kirtland temple.

The good news is for the CoC organization: they've got a guaranteed buyer to buy LDS history assets that will preserve these historical sites.

[MiriamA]

I am glad to hear this. I agree with skippy740 in that it probably only a matter of time before they can reaquire the Kirkland Temple.

[Just_A_Guy]

CofChristCousin can probably speak as to this a little bit better, but I strongly doubt the Utah LDS will ever get control of the Kirtland temple. I understand the CoC's finances are not as shaky as we Utah Mormons would like to believe; and even though our views on the roles of temples differ I daresay the CoC does consider the Kirtland temple to be at least as sacred as we do.

[Vort]

Originally Posted by Just_A_Guy

CofChristCousin can probably speak as to this a little bit better, but I strongly doubt the Utah LDS will ever get control of the Kirtland temple. I understand the CoC's finances are not as shaky as we Utah Mormons would like to believe; and even though our views on the roles of temples differ I daresay the CoC does consider the Kirtland temple to be at least as sacred as we do.

As long as the Community of Christ holds the Kirtland Temple sacred, they will not sell it -- nor should they. If they reach the point that it's just a piece of property, and maybe even an embarrassment to them, the LDS Church will happily give them a more-than-fair price. Until that day arrives, if ever, I'm happy for the Community of Christ to own the Kirtland Temple, so long as they do hold it sacred.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by Vort

As long as the Community of Christ holds the Kirtland Temple sacred, they will not sell it -- nor should they. If they reach the point that it's just a piece of property, and maybe even an embarrassment to them, the LDS Church will happily give them a more-than-fair price. Until that day arrives, if ever, I'm happy for the Community of Christ to own the Kirtland Temple, so long as they do hold it sacred.

I live in the Kirtland Stake, and I have frequent opportunities to visit out there. Recently, my ward held a special Monday-night FHE Sacrament meeting in the Kirtland Temple. The Community of Christ understands that we have a shared history and is more than happy to welcome us into the temple and authorize its use for sacred meetings like this, yet I've noticed that each time they do, one of their visitor center staff is always on-site in the meeting with us.

Sitting inside the main chapel waiting for the meeting to begin, I noticed several ward members taking pictures of the pulpits and beautiful windows on their cell phones. The CofC brother who was "chaperoning" us (for lack of a better word) came up to the front and asked everyone not to take pictures inside the temple. I hadn't been taking any, but it occurred to me that while the Kirtland Temple may be a "desecrated" site to many LDS, it's still considered very holy to the CofC, and we should respect that.

Further on that note, one of the people who spoke in that sacrament meeting was our stake patriarch, Karl Anderson, or "Mr. Kirtland," as referred to by President Hinckley. He shared an opinion that he considered the Kirtland Temple to be the second most sacred place on earth, after the Garden Tomb, because of everything that had happened there. I know many people who visit Kirtland say things to the effect that the Spirit feels so much stronger at the LDS-owed sites than in the temple, but I feel the opposite: Jesus Christ and God the Father appeared in the Kirtland temple -- at least 4 times that we know of. All priesthood keys from all dispensations were restored there. Joseph Smith helped build it with his own hands. There is nothing about the Kirtland temple that isn't sacred. Based on my experiences, I can confidently say that the Community of Christ recognizes the importance and gravity of that history (which is shared), and they respect the sacredness of that temple, at least as much at the LDS do, sometimes even more.





(Sorry if that sounded soap-boxy...it wasn't meant to, at least not toward any one person.)

[Palerider]

I agree with the above post. I go to Nauvoo on average of 5-6 times a year. I go to Far West and Independence evry couple of years, was just there last summer. I am happy we bought Hauns Mill. Last time I was there it was not easy to walk around the place. Felt like I was on a Safari and needed to chop woods and debris out of my way.
I also have been to Kirkland several times and been in the Temple. One of my trips there we asked our guide if we could go up to the Third floor. He told us to come back after 5pm and he would take us. We went back and he took us to the 3rd floor and into the basement of the Temple. We felt the Spirit in every corner of the Temple. Awesome
When we go to Nauvoo we spend much of our time at the Smith Homestead. Sitting there on a bench looking over the home, the red brick store and the the mansion house and the graves and looking out at the River. The spirit is very strong and very relaxing.
When I go to Nauvoo with my friends we dont take many tours of anything. When I go with my wife we do some tours.