Kirtland Temple

The Kirtland Temple (here recreated in LEGO by Arthur Gugick) was the first temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This was built in Kirtland, Ohio, in the 1830's under the direction of Joseph Smith. Soon thereafter, though, economic problems and dissension in the church led Joseph Smith to move with his followers to Missouri and then Illinois. After Smith's death his followers moved to Utah, which is now the home of the LDS Church. Today the Kirtland Temple is operated by the Community of Christ, the descendants of an offshoot of Smith's original church, but members of all LDS traditions honor the church as an important historical landmark of their faith.