As you study the Doctrine and Covenants in Come, Follow Me this year, you can deepen your understanding by exploring the stories and viewing photos of places where sacred events occurred. This is one in a series of articles about key Church history sites.
Several historic Church history sites in Ohio have been preserved by the Church for visitors to enjoy either in person or virtually.
Kirtland Temple
In early 1831, the Lord commanded Latter-day Saints to go to Ohio, where they would receive His law, be endowed with power from on high and prepare to share His gospel among all nations (see Doctrine and Covenants 38:32-33). Located about 23 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio, Kirtland was a gathering place of the Saints for the next seven years. They built the Church’s first temple in Kirtland, and Joseph Smith received many revelations found in the Doctrine and Covenants.
On March 27, 1836, the Prophet Joseph Smith offered the dedicatory prayer for the building (see Doctrine and Covenants 109). Read one of Eliza’s recollections from the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. Eliza R. Snow recorded the following: “No mortal language can describe the heavenly manifestations of that memorable day. Angels appeared to some, while a sense of divine presence was realized by all present, and each heart was filled with ‘joy inexpressible and full of glory’.”
On Easter Sunday, April 3, 1836, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery experienced additional “heavenly manifestations” in the temple. The first was a visit by Jesus Christ. He assured them that He accepted the temple, and He declared, “I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house” (D&C 110:7).
The Savior was followed by other heavenly messengers: Moses, Elias, and Elijah. Each committed keys of the priesthood to Joseph and Oliver (see D&C 110:11–16). The restoration of the priesthood, which had begun when John the Baptist visited Joseph and Oliver seven years earlier, continued to unfold.
See the page A Prophet and a Temple in Kirtland, Ohio for more information and photos.
Historic Kirtland
Historic Kirtland, about 23 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio, includes a visitors’ center and seven historic structures: The N.K. Whitney & Co. Store, the Newel and Ann Whitney Home, the Johnson Inn, a schoolhouse, sawmill, and ashery, plus the newly restored Joseph and Emma Smith Home.
Historic Sites Virtual Tours. Experience historic sites from wherever you live in the world. Schedule a live, virtual tour guided by missionaries or watch a pre-recorded video tour.
Plan Your Visit to Historic Kirtland.
Watch a Virtual Tour Video: Whitney Home and Store. Missionaries describe important events that occurred in Ann and Newel K. Whitney’s home and store, including the arrival of Joseph and Emma Smith to Kirtland, a vision of the Kirtland Temple, and the organization of the School of the Prophets.
Watch a Virtual Tour Video: The Sawmill. Missionaries take you to a replica of a sawmill that early Saints built to construct the Kirtland Temple.
Johnson Home
The carefully restored home of John and Elsa Johnson in Hiram, Ohio, is a place where God gave profound revelations to Joseph Smith in the 1830s.
Joseph and Emma Smith lived in this home for one year. While they were there, Joseph received 16 revelations that are now recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. He also worked on his inspired translation of the Bible.
See the Johnson Home page for schedule hours, photos and a virtual tour video.
Joseph and Emma Smith Home
This restored home is where Joseph and Emma Smith lived together and reared their family longer than any other place prior to his death.
The new historic site, located a short walk from the Kirtland Temple, features artifacts and displays. Tours are available. See more information and a video tour in the article “Elder Bednar Dedicates Joseph and Emma Smith’s Restored Home in Kirtland, Ohio.”
Morley Farm
Joseph Smith received 13 revelations while living in a home at the farm of Isaac and Lucy Morley from March to September 1831.
The home that now stands on the property is not open to the public, and it is not the home where the Morleys or the Smiths lived. However, you can walk on a short uphill trail to a place where a group of Latter-day Saints once gathered in a schoolhouse and Joseph Smith prophesied about the future growth of the Church.
Learn more on the Morley Farm page.
Learn more about the Church’s historic sites at history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
The post A Visitor’s Guide to Church History Sites in Ohio first appeared on LDS365: Resources from the Church & Latter-day Saints worldwide.
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