Hello again, everyone! Huge news from the Church just now has just been shared by the Newsroom and the Church News: a multi-year cooperative effort between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ has led to the transfer of ownership for the Kirtland Ohio Temple and other historic sites in Ohio and Nauvoo from the Community of Christ to our Church.
Among the acquisitions is the original Kirtland Ohio Temple, which will remain as a tourist and historic site. Other papers and sites are included in the deal. I will have a more in-depth analysis on this development later today, as I have other obligations to take care of first. For now, I will let the announcements speak for themselves and extend my thanks once again to you all.
(Added at around 3:00 PM) Hello again, everyone! Here's the additional analysis I promised about today's announcement. The Church and the Community of Christ leaders published an official statement and answers to Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs). The FAQ section shares the transfer of the following items from the Community of Christ to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
"The most significant properties are the Kirtland Temple, the Smith Family Homestead, the Mansion House, the Nauvoo House, and the Red Brick Store. Significant documents and artifacts include manuscripts and the Bible used in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, seven letters from Joseph Smith to his wife Emma, John Whitmer’s history of the Church, original portraits of Joseph and Emma Smith, the cornerstone of the Nauvoo House, the original door of Liberty Jail, and a document with the title of “Caractors,” which may contain a sample of inscriptions from the gold plates. (See the appendix for a more detailed list of items transferred.) (bold and italitc emphasis is mine).
I would just add a point of clarification here: In my report on the "Aging Church Leadership", I mentioned that the appointment of the first female prophet-president of the Community of Christ would not occur until next year, leaving that faith without a top leader in the interim. It appears that, at least at the time these items were transferred, current prophet-president Steven M. Veasey is still actively serving in that capacity as his health permits. So my point about the Community of Christ not having a top leader until next year was incorrect, and that part of my analysis was in error. I apologize for that oversight.
It is also worth noting that the Community of Christ will continue to coordinate with the Church for access to the temple and historic sites that were transferred to the Church today. The appendix to the FAQ shows a complete list of items purchased by the Church from the Community of Christ. This was a massive undertaking. The Community of Christ expressed gratitude to the Church, as this will free up many resources for the Community of Christ. And it appears that the sheer volume of what was transferred was the only reason it has taken so long.
I never thought I'd see this day come. But now that it has, I foresee a time when some portions of a future General Conference of the Church could originate from the Kirtland Temple or other historic sites in that area. The Church did hold portions of the April 1980 General Conference in the Palmyra New York area for the Church's sesquicentennial, which is why I say that. But that is no more and no less than my own theory, so unless and until the Church confirms that will happen at any point in the future, take it with the proverbial grain of salt.
I continue to monitor any and all Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as they cross my radar. In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per the established guidelines.
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