What's your reaction about this historic news? Would enjoy hearing your respectful insights below and what this means for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Community of Christ.

Surely the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owe a debt of gratitude to the Community of Christ for the love and care with which they have preseved and cared for our common heritage. Although there must have been anguish and sadness in having to take this decision, I hope the Community of Christ will be able to feel that the buildings and artifacts are in some sense still "in the family".

All of the statements given by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including by President Nelson himself, have been very gracious and complimentary toward the Community of Christ. 👏

I’m grateful for everyone being kind with their comments. I’m LDS but my sister in law is a Pastor in the Community of Christ Church. Before she became my sister in law, her congregation had a huge fundraiser to raise money to help send my LDS nephew on his mission. ❤

Thank you for this video. I'm a Community of Christ member in Colorado. Emotions for us are very raw at the moment. First let me say I know the LDS Church will take very good care of these properties and will treasurer their historical importance to both of our churches. In that respect I am happy for the LDS community. For me the sale was important in two ways. First, that this deal was made is not something I thought would ever happen (no matter who the buyer is - if we had to sell, this is the correct buyer). More so though, the fact that it was kept so secret. We received an email with a video that basically said this is what we just did. With no notice that the sale was being considered, no chance to prepare or come to terms, it was a very hard shock which plays into the higher emotions for me. While I don't think having a say in the decision would have changed the outcome, we're usually a fairly open church and this level of secrecy is not something we're used to. Frankly that hurts. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Again, thanks for posting this video from an outsiders perspective, I appreciate it.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I can say that I was stunned by the news. I didn't think it would be possible, this place is so important to us church members that no money could ever pay for it. A very historic day for us.

Wholeheartedly agree. The Community of Christ took care of all these things, and that's something we should NOT forget.

As an LDS member, I am so excited for this but like you said, temper it with gratitude for the Community of Christ Church for its stewardship of all the things acquired. None of us should be spiking the football. I have full confidence that these sites will get the reverence and respect they deserve for all people regardless of denomination to continue to appreciate.

Thank you Community of Christ for your love, care, kindness, and humility in sharing the sacred Kirtland Temple. Thank you Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for being a wonderful team member. Together we are strong as we testify of Jesus Christ by our warm hearts and supportive actions.

I’m so grateful that they chose to sell to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and not to anyone else. I feel like the highest level of reverence for and utmost care of those items and properties will result from their choice in selling those sacred things to us. 🙏🏻

I am am a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith, the Prophet Joseph's brother and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1991 we were on a Joseph Smith Sr. family reunion tour. I got to spend my 19th birthday in Kirtland. That evening we had a family reunion meeting in the Kirtland temple presided over by a stake president from the (then) RLDS Church. His lovely wife was with him. These "good people" ARE my family! They are literally my cousins. I have enjoyed getting to know some of them as they have joined us at these reunions because its for the whole Smith family. ❤ I pray for continued love and cooperation... and peace.

I always appreciate your level un- biased approach to all these relationships and religions. You are a man of peace and the Lord loves you so much. ❤

David, I just want you to know that I have been following both sides of this interesting turn of events. The FB posts I have seen from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have expressed empathy, graciousness, and extreme gratitude to the Community of Christ for their dedicated stewardship over these historical assets which are precious to both our congregations. My heart goes out to those who may be saddened by this. I have full confidence that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will maintain these properties with the promises of public availability - even going so far to allow continued Community of Christ annual meetings for their members to take place in the Kirtland Temple. I hope their sadness and concerns will be allayed in the future as they see that these historical assets will still be available to them and others who are not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This is like the LA Dodgers moving back to Brooklyn. Huge. Monumental. Thank you Community of Christ for being such wonderful stewards over these sacred spaces and artifacts for so long.

I have visited the Kirtland Temple and the historic buildings in Nauvoo many times. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I always enjoyed the visits and especially the dedication of the members of the Reorganized Church now Community of Christ. They were knowledgeable, friendly, reverent. and respectful. Wonderful to be with them.

The Kirtland temple is a learning temple and it will remain that. Thank you to the Community of Christ for your awesome stewardship and dedication these many years!

Yes us members in general are very grateful for the Community of Christ and their wonderful stewardship and caretaking of the sacred temple and buildings, etc. The Church of Jesus Christ has had a great relationship with them for decades.

David, wow. Thank you so much for this video. As an LDS member I had not thought about their side of this news. I didn't realize they sold it out of desperation or that they were so devoted to the temple. I was only happy for us. Thanks to you, I now feel sorrow for them. The idea that they loved the temple with devotion and sold it out of need breaks my heart. Thanks for the reminder to think about the other person.

As a lifelong LDS member I’ve never gotten a sense of any animosity towards the RLDS/Community of Christ. I think with all the persecution early Restoration churches faced, we just don’t spend time disparaging other religions, and certainly not those with so many common beliefs and shared history. All love and respect to our restoration cousins. We really do love you and feel yours for us! I have no doubt that members of the Community of Christ will feel just as welcome at these sites as they always have; the same loving and warm welcome they give to LDS members.

Yes, I am excited. And yes, I feel so sad for them having to sell such an important part of their (and our) history. I have nothing but love for them. May they be blessed to continue in their love of Christ.

As a member of the church of Jesus Christ, it is incredible, absolut mindblowing. I never ever expected this. I was always impressed by the loving kindness, the respect, the look for common ground by the church leaders towards everyone. This is an extraordinary example for me in my little life. I can not give enough thanks to the Community of Christ for the care of all these things in the last over 100 years. I am sure, nobody will forget this and the Kirtland temple will always be loved, respected and good cared of our church. God bless all the good people in the community of Christ!

Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to work directly with some of the folks at Community of Christ, and they were absolutely wonderful. It was fascinating to get to know them and their church a little better, and I gained a lot of respect for them. As a Latter-Day Saint, I'm glad that the Church will be taking custody of the Kirtland Temple, but I also ache a little for our brothers in Community of Christ, since I know the news must be as difficult for them as it is wonderful for us, especially since they've done such a marvelous job as stewards of these places and artifacts. Hopefully the fact that the Temple will be kept as a historical site for the foreseeable future will dull some of that pain. It'll be interesting to see how things go from here!

We're so grateful for this news. It's been long awaited. We've always believed that this would happen. I'm a 47 YO life long member. I first visited Kirtland as a child and got to return once more about six years ago. It's extremely important to us. We will take very good care of it. I don't believe that our church would ever change it. It's historically significant and it's never been an ordinance house like our other temples. It will be accessible to all for free which is how it should be. All will be welcomed with open arms. And while we celebrate, we also have sincere gratitude for the Community of Christ for their stewardship of the temple. When I last visited, I noticed that it needed some cosmetic repairs and The Church will be able to have the right craftsman do those to maintain the integrity of the building. This transfer is a good thing for all and I hope our COC family will feel loved and always welcome to enjoy the temple going forward. When we were there they told us that they have allowed our church to use the building for filming documentaries and more. I hope that good relationship will continue.

We have said the Kirtland temple would remain a visitor's center. Believe it. We totally respect the Community of Christ. The change of care responsibilities is a good thing for both of us. They are able to get out from under a load of debt and be able to focus on their goals, without worrying so much about finances. They know the properties and items will be well taken care of and they will have access. We know that it had to have been a hard decision for them to make. I have only known one member of the CofC but he was an exceptional person.

Years ago in Los Angeles I sold a car to a man who within minutes asked me if I was a Latter-Day-Saint. Astonished, I asked how he knew, since I was not active at the time. He said, "I can just tell." He was from the Reorganized Church (now Community of Christ) and could sense a spiritual connection even after over a century of separation. We became close and referred to each other as cousins. Later, after I married and living in Salt Lake, a wonderful couple we knew would joke " I was Reorganized before I was organized." They were former Community of Christ members, and I have always been amazed there's still a bond after all this time has lapsed. The Savior wants us to be one...perhaps it's time.

When I heard this announcement, I immediately thought, "This must be as bitterly disappointing for many Community of Christ folks as it is exciting for Latter-day Saints." I hope the sale allows them to continue with their mission and that they know they are always welcome at these historic places just as they have welcomed and shared them with us.

David, you're a great example to all Christians. God bless.

God had his hand in this and on His timeline.

You make some excellent points that I hope will be remembered and considered. I'm a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I joined the church when I was 18 years old, 43 years ago. I love the history of the church and I have been deeply grateful over the years that The Church of Christ has been so good at respectfully taking care of the various historical buildings, documents, and artifacts that are so sacred to both of our churches. My heart goes out to the members of The Church of Christ and I hope that they will feel our love and respect and be able to feel a sense of peace, comfort, and love knowing they have done a great job and a feeling that the Lord is pleased with their great work. I hope also that there will continue to be a great building of love and friendship between all our members, as many of us are cousins. I feel this is an incredible blessing in moving forward in building a Zion Community. I think also that in the long term, Christ will come and conscribe all things into one eternal whole...for ALL things belong to HIM anyway. We are eternally grateful for the beautiful souls who over the last century have taken such good care of these beautiful, incredibly sacred, historical buildings etc. I am grateful to know that in every podcast I have listened to about this sale and the LDS Church's plans going forward, they have said that these buildings will be open to all people and will continue to be a joint purpose within both churches to preserve our shared history.

I think this was a win win for both churches. I’m excited to visit there and Nauvoo in the coming years. Honestly, this might have been the largest historical event in the church during my lifetime.

This is incredible!! I always hoped that the church would one day take ownership of the Kirtland temple. It’s where many of the keys of the priesthood were restored, and where Moses, Elijah, and the Savior Himself appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.

Excellent point- those properties might not have been preserved without the Community of Christ caretaking. 👏👏👏. Thank you 🙏🏼

Thank you for sharing! All members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints should be very grateful for the care that has been given to this sacred historical building, for the very reasons you so kindly shared. Nice job!

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. It was wonderful to hear that the Kirtland Temple has been acquired by us. But my heart goes out to the Community of Christ as circumstances forced them to give up this Temple that was so treasured by them and also the other buildings and precious things. I am grateful they took such good care of it all, and I know they must be hurting right now. God bless you all. ❤

I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and every member I know is excited to have the Kirtland Temple and Mansion House etc., back in our possession. We also are grateful to the Community of Christ Church for their great care in maintaining those. The LDS Church I know will continue to maintain, repair, and keep these structures for visitors to enjoy and learn from.

As an LDS member, a massive THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Community of Christ for being amazing stewards over a sacred building to us both! (And many other items as well!)

As an 8-year convert to the Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints, I want to express just how wonderful your video and information on this historical purchase is for the LDS community and history in general. I do feel sadness for the Community of Christ church and its members. My wife and I have been to this amazing church historical site and being there was a beautiful spiritual experience for us. What impressed me with your work here was that it was not anything negative about the two churches. A lot of things on the internet from people who do not understand the LDS church or have left the church want to put out anti-LDS lies. It's sad but it happens all the time with religion and politics. Thank you again... for your information. I will say that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints WILL keep the Kirkland Temple as is and might even do seismic reinforcing for the structure like they are doing now, for the Salt Lake Temple.

No landscape shift really. Our purpose remains exactly the same -- to invite other to come unto Christ. Buildings and temples are cool, but it's what we do inside them, and what we do within our hearts that really matters. Thanks for giving the people an update! :)

As an LDS woman, I am deeply grateful for the caretaking that the Community of Christ has done for these places that are sacred to both of our churches. I lived in Kirtland for 15 years and watched the leadership of both churches build wonderful relationships. We often visited the temple and surrounding historic places. I exchanged pleasantries with, as well as expressed my thanks to Community of Christ members for their care of these places that are important to me. Some of Joseph Smith's descendants were / are associated with the RLDS Church/Community of Christ. They are literal cousins to many of us, and, as children of God, brothers and sisters to all of us!

The Community of Christ have been excellent stewards of these holy properties and relics. The LDS and Community of Christ have a wonderful relationship sharing our history. We are forever grateful for their friendship ❤

Before I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I had called the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints now called The Community of Christ Church. Since I was looking for the true church, I investigated both churches & although I ended up joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints one of the things that stayed with me about the Reorganized Church was that they were very humble & welcoming people. Heavenly Father loves these people too & it will not go unnoticed that they took good care of the Kirkland Temple & eventually sold it to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

John Taylor- “As a people or community, we can abide our time, but I will say to you Latter-day Saints, that there is nothing of which you have been despoiled by oppressive acts or mobocratic rule, but that you will again possess, or your children after you. Your rights in Ohio, your rights in Jackson, Clay, Caldwell and Davies counties in Missouri, will yet be restored to you. Your possessions, of which you have been fraudulently despoiled in Missouri and Illinois, you will again possess, and that without force, or fraud or violence. The Lord has a way of His own in regulating such matters.” God is working His work right now in HIS church and seeing these prophecies literally come forth are incredible miracles! Can’t wait to see what comes next! ❤

Years ago I went on a church history tour, and as my group took tours of the buildings owned by the Community of Christ, I was impressed by how gracious and kind they were to us LDS members. They treated the buildings and artifacts with reverence, and I really felt a kinship with them. Of course, it’s exciting to me that the LDS church has access to these buildings and artifacts; but it wouldn’t be possible without the Community of Christ caring for them all these years. 💕

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I am eternally grateful to the Church of Christ for what they've done & continue to do! My heart breaks for them at their loss of these sacred buildings & artifacts. That said, I hope they can see that our history is truly One! My family are descendants from both the Huntsmans who stayed in Nauvoo out of loyalty to Sidney Rigdon & other early leaders & from those who crossed the plains, following Brigham. The people of the early Church were under so much pressure, fear & heartache that they were truly torn apart as each household had to choose: do I stay or do I go? In the end, I pray that we can all reunite under the umbrella of Christ. Maybe if we can do it, all of Christianity & eventually humble & the honorable of the world can do the same. 🙏😇

So thankful The Community of Christ was willing to sell the temple to the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS church! The LDS Church will carefully use their stewardship of the temple to share with The community of Christ and others who hold it sacred. (I’ve longed to see the day the Church of Jesus Christ would be able to bring the Kirkland temple into the fold.)The church is a temple building church. We treasure the houses of the Lord where we feel closer to Christ and bind ourselves to Him. ❤️☀️ The Kirkland temple is such a historical, sacred place in The Restoration. ☀️

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is only in the situation it is in now because of faithful members living the law of consecration and obeying the commandment of tithing AND importantly the prophets, apostles, and general authorities living the law of consecration and giving their time and talents to building up Zion and not serving themselves. I’m very thankful for the CoC for their stewardship of the Kirtland temple and very thankful for faithful members and to our prophets and apostles throughout the history of the church. There is not a more devoted, humble, and wise set of leaders in all the world.

I am so grateful that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has purchased these properties. I know it will be used for a good purpose. The work is going forward.

It's good that the Kirtland Temple still resides within the care of a Restoration church, and could have easily been demolished or repurposed by a non-Restoration organization even back in the 1800's. But much appreciation for the long invested care from the CoC. The last thing anyone wants is for the CoC to struggle more than they can bear. I know some people have it in their hearts to see it restored as an active Utah-LDS temple again, but I can't personally see the Kirtland Temple being recommissioned for that as it's likely more feasible to build and maintain modern facilities in nearby, more populated areas. I'm know all churches of the Restoration respect its value as a sacred teaching tool for Restoration church history and public outreach open to all, as well as edification for all who believe in Christ. It served its divine purpose at the start of the Restoration and will continue with its current mission, and the Lord will no doubt have its fate figured out when he returns to 'gather all his chickens' (and churches.) The Utah-LDS and CoC are indeed cousins who both love and live the Book of Mormon, so I'd like to think of this move as the Lord persuading one family member to help out another in need.

You are so gracious. I live here in Independence and while I’m excited about this transfer I definitely have sympathy and love for Community of Christ members.

I’m a nobody religion wise, but found you some months ago, watched it all , just so drawn to you. Thank you. 🙏

Many people don't know that the LDS already has a huge presence in Kirtland, sacred and historic buildings. The place is wonderful to visit.

As A member of the LDS church I am overjoyed! This is such an important, amazing building! The Community of Christ has taken such good care of it. Rumor has it the LDS church has actually been paying the expenses and upkeep of it for years. Much respect and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Kirtland Temple will remain as as it is, it will NOT be turned into a normal LDS and will be open to the public free of charge.

We (as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint) have great respect for the people from the Community of Christ for being careful caretakers of these sacred places, especially the Kirtland temple. Our church knows the importance of this temple to all of the restoration churches. This is one of the reasons that it will be open to the public for free. I know this must have been hard for them to do and painful too. They will be able to enjoy these spaces just like they allowed us to worship inside of them too. We have been allowed to hold meetings in the Kirtland temple in the past. So of course we know that this is a great sacrifice for them and also a concern for the other restoration churches like the Strangite church. I am confidant that this will be a bonding time for all of us who follow the Prophet Joseph Smith and all he sacrificed to restore the fullness of the gospel back to the Earth. I feel like many are connecting especially because of Yotube channels like yours and MBR too!

Thank you for sharing this story accurately and respectfully. It is much appreciated. And thanks to the Community of Christ for their good stewardship of the temple.

After visiting Independence and Community of Christ Temple and other areas owned by them I gained a great love and appreciation for this wonderful group of members. I’m so grateful that they took such loving care of “our” joint heritage and that they were willing to sell The Kirkland Temple and other items to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Much love to Community of Christ.

Everyone upon this earth is a child of God. He and our Savior love us all without measure. We are grateful and thankful to the stewards of the Kirkland Temple and properties. May God continue to bless them and the LDS going forward.

As a Latter-Day Saint, it's great to hear that the Community of Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were able to finally get this handled.

I think it’s sad news that the CofC is desperate for money as their numbers drop and those who remain are predominantly elderly. The good news is that the properties will be in good hands.

Thank you for your reverence in talking about the transfer of this Holy Temple. All Glory to Jesus Christ - Savior of the World. All is well - All is as it should be.

I have to say I have been baffled by so many comments admonishing members of The Curch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to curb their excitement about the acquisition of the Kirtland Temple. Yes, we are happy about it. Yes, we are appreciative of the care the COC has provided. Why would anyone question if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would continue to take care of this sacred building? All of these beautiful historical buildings and temples are painstakingly cared for and preserved.

With the excitement, there is also much chatter to be gracious, humble and not boastful about this sale. We are very sensitive (as we should be) about the transfer. We recognize the sacredness of these properties and artifacts. I can’t think of a better custodian other than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for the continuation of preservation of these things… I’m sure we’ll see some needed improvements or repairs before too long. The Church will give it the “first class” treatment like it does with all its properties. I feel it was the smartest move all around.

Thank you for making this video. I watched with great interest your video about the Stone Church sometime back and as a result of that, I have been wondering this week how you personally were feeling about the sale of the Kirtland Temple. I live in Independence and am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was stunned when I heard the news and contrary to probably what you might expect, my first thoughts were of my friends in other Restoration churches and almost an empathic response of feeling sadness and grief at the transfer of these buildings. As a result, I have taken most of the week to try to figure out what I may be able to say to my restoration friends to let them know that I understand how they must be feeling, and to support them as they process their feelings, while at the same time, I am gradually coming out of the sadness on their behalf and into the joy that this very important temple is now in the hands of my own church and that it will remain a historic site where my restoration friends may visit in the future in order to revisit our common roots.

Thank you for your message. As a member of the SLC church, I am extremely excited and appreciative of the care and stewardship that has been shown by the Community of Christ. I’m glad that relationships have improved so much between the two churches, and hope it will continue and increase in the years to come.

The first thing I thought of when I heard the news of the sale was your Stone Church video! That video is so relevant to this situation!!

Short of balloons and confetti, there was thankful celebration everywhere in LDS circles! Much Respect to the Community of Christ for their exemplary care of our mutual heritage!! Remember what Gamaliel said to the Sanhedrin about Peter and the apostle's preaching: in effect he said "leave them alone. If they are right, we should respect them, because you can't overthrow them; if they are wrong, their sect will die as others have died"! The exact same thing has been repeated about Latter-day Saints, and the attention to detail, the growth around the world with accompanied building and the fulfillment of many prophecies from the O.T. and the New, describes the fulfilment of Daniel's dream of a " rock cut from the mountain without hands, filling the earth"! God Bless you Brother David and your quest! May the cardinals keep you entertained!

The historical and doctrinal significance of the Kirtland Temple cannot be overstated. It was in that temple that the priesthood keys were restored which allow us to perform temple ordinances. The Jewish people have a tradition of leaving a plate and a place at the table for Elijah on his promise return. That return has already occurred as noted in the 110th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, where the Savior restored the sealing keys which allow us to unite families together forever. Many other biblical prophets also came during that particular revelatory session, with the Savior himself being the first to appear. At the time of the dedication there were many manifestations of heavenly power, such as angels and heavenly flame. Many thought the building was on fire but it was only a spiritual power they were witnessing, not actual flame. This was seen by the young and old, inside and outside, member and non-member alike so to have this building back in the hands of the original church it came from is monumental beyond my ability to express. It is absolutely phenomenal to the nth degree. The temporary custodians have done their job, now it's time for us to pick up where we started and maintain this priceless treasure.

This is a win win with much emotion for many people. While it is sad for those of the CoC church it was becoming clear that their financial obligations were huge. I believe the Lord blessed all and even though to some it may not feel that way there is always a larger picture. If property had to be sold to sustain any word of God who better then those who will cherish and respect it and keep it with a sacred tone. The financial burden is lifted from CoC and they can continue spreading the words of Christ as they see it. At this point any spreading of the word of God is a major thing. He will sort out the rest we just need to gather together as believers in Christ and hang on tight. People who hate the Book of Mormon will still hate us all so as long as we all stick together and lift each other the rest will figure it's way out.

I'm so thankful it will remain open to all as well!

I visited the Kirtland temple last year. Im LDS and had a tour guide from the Community of Christ. She did such a wonderful job, and I was so grateful that they opened it to us so that we could appreciate our shared history. The first thing I said to my husband when I heard the news of sale was, “oh I feel so bad for the Community of Christ.” I am sure this is a heartbreaking announcement for them, even though we are excited to acquire it. One thing I’ve learned in my life is that no church holds a monopoly on “good,” and I have only had the most wonderful experiences with Community of Christ members. I am glad that our church is going to keep it open for public tours, and I hope that the members of our church will make everyone feel as welcome as the Community of Christ did for me.

I always enjoy your videos David, because of the fair and balanced statements made. As fa as this transaction goes, it is without a doubt some of the biggest news ever!!! As with many Latter-day Saints, who have many deep roots into the Kirkland, Ohio period of the Church's history & the Temple it's self. I too, have felt this bond and share a family connection to this history, which when learning about the Kirkland Temple changing ownership was both amazing and shockingly surreal at the same time. There is no doubt that the Church will do everything to preserve all of the properties to the best possible & highest standard of maintenance. As we deeply revere these places & hold them as sacred monuments to be forever cherished. All of the revelations received in the Kirkland area that are contained within the pages of the Doctrine and Covenants, are some of the most epic episodes of Church History. .

Yes there is excitement however we know how it feels to lose property and lands and we have respect and empathy for these our brothers and sisters. I read an article today that the LDS church’s restoration and history department will continue to work with the members of the community of Christ in the preservation and continued historical use of these buildings and documents! Thank you for your channel!

March 27, 1836 was the dedicatory prayer given by President Joseph Smith. Doctrine and covenants section 109.

Thanks for the insights and invitation on being conscientious about the feelings of those who cared for the Kirtland temple these many years. The church will take care of it and ensure the public can enjoy visiting the temple for many years to come.

Great Stuff! My Great (3x) Grand Father's property which was nextdoor to Joseph Smith's house was included in this purchase!

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I visited the Kirtland Temple in October 2019 to make arrangements for a youth conference from our area to visit the Kirtland Temple the following year. (That didn't actually transpire due to the Pandemic of 2020.) But while in Kirtland, I visited their Sunday services, and immediately became acquainted with a warm and caring people. They greeted me at the door, sat down next to me during the service, and afterwards invited me to join them for lunch at a local restaurant. I did join them for lunch, and felt instantly at home with them, as if we had been friends for a long time. Prior to this visit, I had believed that the members of the Community of Christ were our "cousins" in the faith, but afterwards I found them to be our "1st cousins". The roots of that relationship extend back to 1820, and to our common belief in Jesus Christ and in latter-day prophets called of God, the first of whom was the Prophet, Joseph Smith Jr. I hold the highest regard for the members of the Community of Christ, and express appreciation to them for the loving care that was invested by them for so many decades to maintain the Kirtland Temple and its heritage, as a jewel in the Restoration of the Gospel.

Thank you, David. Bless you!

This exchange is going to bless all of these churches. It’s going to help everybody find joy and happiness. It will continue to be cared for and promoted, and the gospel of Jesus Christ will go forward, having even more expansion of the gospel. As far as I know, the COC is going to have some continued involvement. We all will find a greater gathering of peace and faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ through this.

You've got to go visit Nauvoo! Its a very sacred place where significant restoration events occurred! You may even see a red cardinal!

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I want you to know how much I appreciate your love and compassion for ALL people regarding their religious choices. The Lord wants us all to have this understanding as we are all his children. I am so grateful for my church and its purchase of the Kirkland Temple and other historic items, and I am indeed grateful for the preservation of these items by the Community of Christ church members. They will be richly blessed, as you will be, by their efforts.

Kirtland Temple was completed and dedicated in 1836. The Church left Kirtland in 1839 to Missouri, then on to Illinois. This is great news, The Church of Jesus Christ now owns ALL of the Temples built by Latter-day Saints, and virtually all other buildings and artifacts of the restoration. We appreciate the CoC, and with all due respect to them, their membership is rapidly declining with about 5000 tithe payers, total, with severe financial challenges. Hopefully, this sale will help the CoC and wish them the very best. Fun fact, EVERY Christian denomination is reporting steep declines in membership and finances, except The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which reports a 2% increase in membership today, and steep increase in finances, and hope to spread the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world, asap.

I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint , thank you for your kind view

As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am absolutely ecstatic at this sale and have looked forward to this my entire life. I did not think it would happen during my lifetime so my jaw hit the floor and I was absolutely speechless but on cloud nine when this news broke. We do appreciate their care in preserving the building. There have been noticeable signs of minor decay on the building and several times in the past the church has reached out to purchase the building but the answer has always been no. While we are grateful for the care it has received, we are in a position to restore it and make sure it lasts for another 200 or more years. The history behind this building is absolutely incredible and needs to be kept in the public view. The temple lot in Independence will eventually come to LDS church hands as well, but all in good time. We are not yet ready to build the temple there so it is not expedient for us to have the property at this time. When it is expedient, the property will be ours. And just like with the sale of the Kirtland Temple, it will likely drop as a major surprise and with emotional repercussions all around. Yet the word of the Lord will be fulfilled.

I deeply and gratefully rejoiced with a sting of heartache for our cousins. I will forever be grateful for their sacrifice, stewardship and care of all these sacred items! So glad they were careful in choosing a new caretaker! I have complete confidence that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will care for them as the Community of Christ church has done. Thank you dear cousin for your confidence in us! We love you! 🌸

I really appreciate your even handed approach to your video presentations regarding your visits. I did not see your video on the Community of Christ visit but I sense your sympathy for them. I also appreciate the role they play in sharing the love of Christ. I'm sure the need to sell the Kirtland Temple is a disappointment for them. Keep up your great work. Thank you.

I completely agree and I am grateful for the careful stewardship provided by the Community of Christ over this important temple, and I look forward to the continued care of this historical landmark. Thank you for making these videos, thank you for this work that you are doing.

I'm glad The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns the Kirtland Temple.

My heart reaches out to you Community of Christ. Thank you. May your new goals be reached!

As a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints member and former historical sites sister missionary, I'm extremely grateful to the Community of Christ. We couldn't have asked for a better steward of the temple. I served as a tour guide missionary at the Hill Cumorah Historical Sites, and we had all the restoration church members visit us because we share the same history. Our leaders instructed us to be respectful, gracious, and kind to all. We even had the opportunity to give out over 2 dozen copies of the Book of Mormon to their youth as a gift and thank you for the visit. That said and putting myself in the Community of Christ's position, I can certainly imagine how they must be feeling: if I heard that the Hill Cumorah sites were being sold to any of the other restorationist churches, I'd be shocked, heart-broken, and worried about how respectful they'd be with the way we'd set-up the site. I'd worry they'd change the history of the place to fit their narrative, which could potentially offend or misinform others. I can sympathize with the loss and pain their feeling. As a historical sites sister missionary, I can confidently assure any Church of Christ members that if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes any changes to the exterior or interior, it will only be to restore any damaged or worn-out materials so that they can look as they did when they were first built or designed. The restoration team will base their work on historical records and images and any modern materials will only have preservation in mind when designed: for example, when the Church restored the log cabins at the Peter Whitmore and Smith farms, the team scoured the region looking for cabins that had been built during the same time to get the kind of wood available in the upstate New York area during the early 1800s. However, they also applied materials to the wood that would preserve it against the elements (and upstate NY has some pretty harsh elements during the winter and rainy seasons) but that would still keep the wood looking the color, grain, and texture it had when it was first hewed and built into cabins in the 1800s. I don't know what the tour guides or missionaries will say to visitors, but I believe they will acknowledge the Church of Christ members' roles in keeping the temple preserved and safe, even it that acknowledgment isn't formally in the tour literature or tour guide scripts.

I'm extremely grateful for what the Community of Christ has done in preserving these historical sites. I hope they always feel completely welcome to visit them just as they always have. We love our christian cousins!

you are so right. As an LDS member, I feel joy and getting "back" this historical monument, but now I can also empathize with those who have lost it! thank you for helping me see their side!!!

Thanks Always appreciate your comments

Slight history correction: the Saints moved from Kirtland first to northwestern Missouri, where they were unable to build a temple, then they moved to Nauvoo.

Just wanted to say how grateful I am at the tremendous grace you have shown towards All the churches you have visited. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints... I've seen other KZfaq personalities go out of their way to find Fault... I have not seen that from you... your heart is RIGHT! May your journey continue to be blessed

Respect to the CoC- but we are very excited about Kirtland. It’s a hard balancing act trying to be sensitive and excited.

I’m grateful that there is a “restoration church” big enough and financially stable that could stand by and respectfully purchase these amazing assets. I don’t know how the Community of Christ is setup, but assuming they borrowed against these assets, debt was coming due, or they were teetering on bankruptcy, these assets could have fallen into anyone’s hands. The LDS church was playing their part and I’m sure have had many past conversations. They have always been respectful of historical sites, so I would only assume they will continue to do so.

“The Kirtland Temple will remain an historic building.” This quote is from the joint-statement issued by the two churches. This mutual understanding was memorialized in the transfer agreement. ALL Restoration Movement churches owe a deep debt to the Community of Christ for its careful and wise stewardship of the temple for nearly 200 years. They have also been incredibly kind and willing to share with everyone. Maintaining the temple as an historic building is the best use of the property. The Kirtland Temple was built primarily for a special purpose: the restoration of keys by those who held them anciently. While it was used for other things, it stands as a testament of those sacred events. So it is much more important and valuable as a standing witness than as a functioning temple. It also makes no sense to convert it to a functioning temple because it’s too small, and it’s on the National Register of Historic Places. I’m confident the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will conduct any needed historical preservation, and perhaps even seismic upgrades given its proximity to the New Madrid Fault. But I’m equally confident that the Church will keep it open for all to enjoy, and to come and see themselves.

Thank you for your video. I am a member of Community of Christ. I had the opportunity to be a guide last fall at the Kirtland Temple and have had opportunity to worship there and attend retreats. It is a special place to me. It was heartbreaking to hear if the sale, yet I understand the position that leadership was put in with financial problems the church faces. I have some friends who are LDS that I have made through the John Whitmer Historical Association and I know you will take of the buildings and artifacts that you have purchased.

Conservative members of the RLDS church in the 1970's talked about the future, increasingly liberal leadership selling the Temple. This is NOT a surprise to those that left the RLDS beginning in 1982, it was a matter of time.

I am grateful that the Community of Christ has taken such great care over these historic sites. Thank you. I hope that along with payment, the LDS church as also offered financial advice so that the Community of Christ can truly take the payment and create a long term financial plan so that they don’t need to sell properties or other things in the future to cover expenses.