👉 Latter-Day LEGACY of Church of Christ (Temple Lot)
12,291
Published 2024-05-19
The Church of Christ, often nicknamed the Hedrickites or the "Temple Lot Church," owns one of the most sacred pieces of land in Latter-day Saint history.
In 1831, the site was designated by Joseph Smith for the temple of the New Jerusalem, built in preparation to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Citizens weren't happy, and forced those early Latter-day Saint pioneers out of town. After Joseph Smith was assassinated in 1844, the movement splintered into several groups.
While the majority of Saints pioneered out to Utah under Brigham Young (LDS), many of the Midwest Saints formally reorganized under Joseph Smith's son, Joseph III, what would later become known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS; now known as Community of Christ). But there also were five small Midwest branches who remained unaffiliated. These branches united in 1863 under the leadership of Granville Hedrick, believing they were the true continuation of Smith's original church.
Hedrick's Church of Christ risked it all to return to Jackson County in 1867 to purchase the Temple Lot. Eventually, other Saint branches returned to the area, but things got ugly when the much-larger RLDS (with membership exceeding 40,000 at that time) sued the Church of Christ (with just 125 members) in the 1890's for the land, resulting in a court battle that went back-and-forth. Eventually, the Church of Christ won by appeal.
In the 1930's, nearly 100 years after Joseph's Smith dedication, the Church of Christ attempted to build the temple, but progress was halted with the Great Depression. A big ugly hole remained for years, until Kansas City's own Harry Truman became President of the United States in 1945. Soon after, the City of Independence offered to fill the hole at their dime (probably so Truman wouldn't need to see it if he vacationed in his hometown area).
The Church of Christ survived not just one arson in 1898, but a second one in 1990 (both instances of a former member who had joined other LDS sects). I was told members scrambled to save records. One story that I was told was the podium remained unharmed, many attributing it as their "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego podium."
During the service I attended, the sermon talked about being baptized into one body. After learning more about the Church of Christ's resiliency, I couldn't help but think how they withstood, been forged, and came out baptized by fire through the setbacks they've faced.
Though small, I found this Church to being one of the strongest I've come across.
NOTE: To watch the complete series of interviews with R Jean Addams with Rick Bennett on @GospelTangents , visit • 374: Intro to Church of Christ (Templ...
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▶️ Timestamps:
0:00 A Look Back
1:28 St. Jude
2:29 Common Denominator
4:38 Inside
6:01 Church of Christ History
16:07 Visitor's Center
19:13 Church Service
26:45 Forged Strong
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Gavin Luke - In This Moment
• Gavin Luke - In This Moment
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All Comments (21)
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What'd you think? Let me know below!
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Was raised in the lds church and went inactive in college. I have had this hole in my life but refused to return to church bc of pride anti Mormon literature and other things. Your videos and experiences trying these churches and feeling the unique spirit of the lds church as an outsider flooded me with happy memories I had in it growing up. A quote came to my mind that I haven’t been able to shake since then. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” At that moment I knew the lds church was a true church of God and I dedicated myself to return and ever since I have never felt closer to God and happier. Thank you for sharing your journey bc you are also guiding others on theirs in a powerful way
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My wife and I had the privilege of visiting the Temple Lot in October 2010 and meeting an Elder Sheldon who was wheelchair bound and recently widowed. He preached a sermon to us while we respectfully listened. We exchanged emails and upon returning to Utah discovered he was a distant cousin. Strange world! I feel it is time for the Restoration family to come back together and help prepare for the Saviors return. We are stronger together than being divided. David Boice and Steven Pynaker are helping show the way.
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The Piano guys are LDS members
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Let us pray for the McKinney Texas temple, the Cody Wyoming temple, and the Heber Valley Utah Temple as each local ward community is being heavily persecuted, socially and legally, to stop building of those temples.
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Bless your heart, "Latter-day Saint cousins". What a loving statement.
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As a convert myself, I love this! I've had the strongest impression that you're being called to unite the restoration branches as we near the final chapter. I love your honest, open enthusiasm for all paths that lead us to Our Savior ❤
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You are publishing peace. How beautiful!
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As a somewhat Recent Convert myself..I would probably feel Way to Uncomfortable goung to any other church except The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I respect them and there beliefs, we are all Christians..the differences are just to great for me to overlook
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Definitely love learning about the LDS church.
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Loved this one so much! Some Evangelical Christians call Latter Day Saints cousins, and we as Latter Day Saints have cousin churches, and certainly Catholics and Protestants have cousins, but we are ALL one body in Christ when born again. Today in the LDS ward I was visiting, as we started to sing the opening hymn based on the restoration,, I had a profound vision of Jesus as the Good Sheppard. I was seeing him face His flock of sheep from the top of a small hill. I could see the tops of sheep as if I was at the level of the sheep and we were making our way up the hill. I knew the Sheppard was Jesus and He wanted me to “Follow Him” and all of us sheep wanted to be with Him. I had some very deep connections with the hymn lyrics today that I haven’t had in years. The Lord is reawakening me and I am grateful to learn how He works among many who call on His holy name to do His mighty work in preparation of His return.
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I appreciate this podcast so much. My great, great grandfather- Adna Coleman Haldeman was the second apostle at the creation of the Hedrakites . It took place in Adna’s barn. Later he moved his family and business to Independence, Mo. A member of his wife’s family was sent on a mission to the Mormons of Salt Lake City to try to straighten them out. Funny thing, though, he ended up staying in Utah and converting to the LDS Church and became a devout member for the rest of his life. He is buried in Provo, Utah with his family.
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I feel like one day, all restored church will join together. For sure, not only us, but all followers of Christ, so we all become one church, with one Lord, and one baptism again.
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I'm glad you feel close to all restoration churches!
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You have learned so much! This video is amazingly fact-filled. We are so excited to have you in our church.
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Great video. Always enlightening and I love the term “restoration cousins”
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"Latter Day-Saints cousins" love this. ❤️
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I have yet to watch the vid but I will. I do know God loves all his children and I know His will and plan is to restore all that is lost. That will definitely include the separated and various restoration branches that know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. You David can be a servant that helps to unite all those God loves dearly under the one true God of heaven.
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The guy singing in the congegration at the beginning has a good voice!
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Sooooo interesting. I have learned so much from you. Thank you!
