The Cleveland region in Ohio is home to the oldest temple in the Mormon movement and is now preparing to host one of its newest in the United States. The Kirtland temple, built in the 1830s, is the oldest building of its kind in the movement and has recently seen renewed interest following its purchase by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Kirtland temple is considered the first temple in the movement founded by Joseph Smith. It is a site where Smith initiated rituals and reported visions of biblical prophets, angels, and Jesus Christ. While it no longer functions as an active temple, it remains open to the public as a historic site. In 2025, more than 53,000 people visited the Kirtland temple.
Two years ago, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased the Kirtland temple and other historic properties from the Community of Christ for $192.5 million. The transaction, which included properties in Nauvoo, Illinois, was described by leaders of both churches as amicable. The Community of Christ, which also traces its roots to Joseph Smith, stated the sale would boost its capacity to pursue mission priorities. While the building is no longer a functioning temple, the Community of Christ continues to hold several meetings there each year.
As the church focuses on its historic sites, it is also expanding its modern presence in the region. A new LDS temple in a Cleveland suburb is scheduled for dedication on August 16. Once dedicated, it will be the first functioning LDS temple in northern Ohio in nearly two centuries.
Mathias Held, an official with the church's temple department, noted that the new temple's cupola resembles the Kirtland structure as an architectural nod to its predecessor. The new temple is part of an unprecedented global expansion of temple sites for the church.
The Kirtland temple remains a significant landmark on the Mormon history trail. While other sites like those in New York, Missouri, and Illinois are well-known, Kirtland serves as the origin for all Latter-day Saint temples, according to Pace Clarke, the Ohio Historic Sites Manager for the church.
