LDS Visitors Center, Independence, Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LDS Visitors Center |
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Visitors Center in central Independence, Missouri, located south across the street from the Independence Temple, and shown east across the street from the Community of Christ Auditorium, which is just visible to the right.
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| General information | |
| Inaugurated | May 31, 1971 |
| Owner | the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
The Independence Visitors' Center is a special building in Independence, Missouri. It is owned and run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often called the LDS Church. This center opened on May 31, 1971. It sits on a piece of land known as the Greater Temple Lot. This land was bought by Joseph Smith and his friends way back in 1831. The center is very close to the headquarters of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and the Community of Christ temple.
Contents
Discover the History of the Visitors' Center
The land where the visitors' center stands was first bought on December 19, 1831. A man named Edward Partridge bought it for Joseph Smith. Later, the LDS Church bought the land again on April 14, 1904. This church had grown to be the largest of several groups that came from the early Latter Day Saint movement.
How the Land Was Repurchased
The purchase in 1904 was completed by James G. Duffin. He was the leader of the church's Central States Mission. He acted on behalf of the church's top leaders, called the First Presidency.
Clearing Up Land Confusion
After the 1904 purchase, a newspaper called the Kansas City Times spread a rumor. They said the "Utah Mormons" (meaning the LDS Church) had secretly bought the entire Greater Temple Lot. This included a part owned by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot). This smaller piece of land had been part of a court case in the 1890s.
The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) owned the highest part of the land, about 2.5 acres. This smaller area and the larger 63.5-acre area were often confused. Both were sometimes called the "Mormon Temple Lot" in news reports. A researcher named John C. Hamer wrote an article in 2009 to help explain the difference.
Modern Design and Exhibits
The Independence Visitors' Center opened in 1971. Another important LDS visitors' center also opened that year in Nauvoo, Illinois. The way these centers show church beliefs is very modern. They use audio-visual displays and interactive exhibits.
This modern style was the idea of Bernard P. Brockbank. He was a church leader who had used this same approach at the 1964 New York World's Fair.
Future Ideas for the Center
Some people believe the visitors' center was designed to look like the Parthenon. The Parthenon is a famous ancient temple in Greece. This has led to ideas about whether the visitors' center might someday become a temple.
Speculation About a Temple
The Greater Temple Lot was originally set aside for a temple by Joseph Smith in 1831. In 1952, the Kansas City Times published a rumor. It suggested the LDS Church planned to build a temple on the site where the visitors' center now stands.
A writer named Craig S. Campbell looked into this rumor in his 2004 book, Images of New Jerusalem. He was doubtful that the building would ever be changed into a temple.
