LDS Visitors Center, Independence, Missouri
Encyclopedia
The LDS "Mormon" Visitors Center, Independence, Missouri (dedicated on May 31, 1971) is one of the more notable visitors centers owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owing to its placement on the Latter Day Saint Greater Temple Lot dedicated and purchased by Joseph Smith, Jr. and his associates in 1831, only a few yards from the rival "Hedrickite" church headquarters building
and the rival Community of Christ Temple and Headquarters building
.
acting on behalf of Joseph Smith, Jr. on December 19, 1831. It was repurchased on April 14, 1904 by James G. Duffin, President of the Central U.S. States LDS mission, acting on behalf of the First Presidency of the LDS Church
.
A few months later, the Kansas City Times
published a rumor (but corrected itself the next day) that "Utah Mormons" (LDS) had secretly purchased the entire Greater Temple Lot, including the "Hedrickite" Temple Lot
portion, the highest-altitude 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) portion of the 63.5 acres (256,975.6 m²) purchased by Mormons in December, 1831 (the 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) portion was repurchased by Granville Hedrick
in the years 1867 through 1877). Both designations of real estate are often confused, because since 1867, both the 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) area and the 63.5 acres (256,975.6 m²) area have been described in newspaper and other media reports as the "Mormon Temple Lot." A January 2009 online article by Community of Christ
researcher John Hamer entitled "The Temple Lot: Visions and Realities" helps clear up the confusion.
The LDS Visitors Center opened in 1971, the same year as another particularly notable LDS Visitors Center, the
LDS Visitors Center in Nauvoo, Illinois. The style of presenting Mormon claims and doctrine
s in a modern audio-visual
and interactive format was specifically the brainchild of LDS General Authority
Bernard P. Brockbank
, who had overseen implementation of the style at the 1964 New York World's Fair
.
, one of the world's most renowned temple
s, thereby further raising issues of semantics
, as to whether the LDS Visitors Center is by definition a temple
constructed on the Greater Temple Lot dedicated and purchased by Joseph Smith, Jr. and his associates for that purpose in 1831. An October 1952 Kansas City Times essay written by a friend and admirer of RLDS Church Historian Heman C. Smith (1850 - April 17, 1919) published the rumor that the LDS church intended to build an LDS Temple
on the site today occupied by the LDS Visitors' Center. In his 2004 book Images of New Jerusalem author Craig S. Campbell examines the rumor, but is skeptical the building may be "converted someday" into an LDS Temple.
Church of Christ (Temple Lot)
The Church of Christ is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement headquartered in Independence, Missouri on what is known as the Temple Lot. Members of the church have been known colloquially as "Hedrickites", after Granville Hedrick, who was ordained as the church's first leader in July 1863...
and the rival Community of Christ Temple and Headquarters building
Independence Temple
The Temple in Independence, Missouri, is a house of worship and education "dedicated to the pursuit of peace". It dominates the skyline of Independence, Missouri, USA, and has become the focal point of the headquarters of the Community of Christ...
.
History
The property upon which the Visitors Center stands was first purchased by Edward PartridgeEdward Partridge
Edward Partridge was the grandson of Massachusetts Congressman Oliver Partridge, Esq., and a member of a family noted for commercial, social, political, and military leadership in Western Massachusetts. One of the first converts to the Latter Day Saint movement, he was baptized in or near Seneca...
acting on behalf of Joseph Smith, Jr. on December 19, 1831. It was repurchased on April 14, 1904 by James G. Duffin, President of the Central U.S. States LDS mission, acting on behalf of the First Presidency of the LDS Church
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
.
A few months later, the Kansas City Times
Kansas City Times
The Kansas City Times was a morning newspaper in Kansas City, Missouri, that was published from 1867 to 1990.The morning Kansas City Times, under ownership of afternoon The Kansas City Star, won two Pulitzer Prizes and was actually bigger than its parent when its name was changed to the...
published a rumor (but corrected itself the next day) that "Utah Mormons" (LDS) had secretly purchased the entire Greater Temple Lot, including the "Hedrickite" Temple Lot
Temple Lot
The Temple Lot, located in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, is the first site to be dedicated for the construction of a temple in the Latter Day Saint movement...
portion, the highest-altitude 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) portion of the 63.5 acres (256,975.6 m²) purchased by Mormons in December, 1831 (the 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) portion was repurchased by Granville Hedrick
Granville Hedrick
Granville Hedrick was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement after the 1844 succession crisis. In 1863, Hedrick became the founding leader of the Church of Christ , which is one of many churches that claim to be a continuation of the Church of Christ founded by Joseph Smith, Jr...
in the years 1867 through 1877). Both designations of real estate are often confused, because since 1867, both the 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) area and the 63.5 acres (256,975.6 m²) area have been described in newspaper and other media reports as the "Mormon Temple Lot." A January 2009 online article by Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
researcher John Hamer entitled "The Temple Lot: Visions and Realities" helps clear up the confusion.
The LDS Visitors Center opened in 1971, the same year as another particularly notable LDS Visitors Center, the
LDS Visitors Center in Nauvoo, Illinois. The style of presenting Mormon claims and doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
s in a modern audio-visual
Audio-visual
The term Audio-Visual may refer to works with both a sound and a visual component, the production or use of such works, or to equipment used to create and present such works...
and interactive format was specifically the brainchild of LDS General Authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard P. Brockbank
Bernard P. Brockbank, Sr. was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1962 to his death. Brockbank was an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve from 1962 to 1976 and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy from 1976 to 1980...
, who had overseen implementation of the style at the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
.
Theories on future use
The LDS Visitors Center in Independence, Missouri is also notable for being reportedly designed after the ParthenonParthenon
The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although...
, one of the world's most renowned temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
s, thereby further raising issues of semantics
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning. It focuses on the relation between signifiers, such as words, phrases, signs and symbols, and what they stand for, their denotata....
, as to whether the LDS Visitors Center is by definition a temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
constructed on the Greater Temple Lot dedicated and purchased by Joseph Smith, Jr. and his associates for that purpose in 1831. An October 1952 Kansas City Times essay written by a friend and admirer of RLDS Church Historian Heman C. Smith (1850 - April 17, 1919) published the rumor that the LDS church intended to build an LDS Temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
on the site today occupied by the LDS Visitors' Center. In his 2004 book Images of New Jerusalem author Craig S. Campbell examines the rumor, but is skeptical the building may be "converted someday" into an LDS Temple.
External links
- Independence Visitors' Center at LDS.org, official web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints