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Kirtland and Vicinity

Keith W. Perkins

The first white settlers of northeastern Ohio were the French, followed by the English. After the Revolutionary War, a group of land speculators known as the Connecticut Land Company gained possession of this portion of Ohio and sold sections of it to settlers. One of these speculators, Judge Turhand Kirtland, left his name with Kirtland town. When four LDS missionaries arrived from New York and converted many local citizens, the town began to be a Latter-day Saint community.

There are many spots significant to the LDS Church that can be visited in northeastern Ohio, but three are most prominent.

Newel K. Whitney and Company Store. The Newel K. Whitney store opened in a log cabin in 1823. The present frame structure was built in Kirtland, Ohio, by 1827. Operating as a mercantile establishment and as a post office, this building played a major role in the history of the Latter-day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, during the years 1831-1838. The Prophet Joseph Smith arrived in Kirtland on February 1, 1831.

The Prophet later worked on the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible in an upstairs room. He also received a number of significant Revelation in the Whitney store, including the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89) and two important Revelation on priesthood (D&C 84, 88).

In the winter of 1833, in accord with Revelation (D&C 88:127-141), the School of the Prophets, whose purpose was to prepare missionaries to take the gospel to the world, was begun in the store. The United Order, the predecessor of the current welfare system of the Church, also had its beginning in the store, which was used as the bishop's storehouse (D&C 72:8-10; 78:3). Today the building has been restored to its 1830s state and is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a historic site open to visitors.