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Early Latter-Day Saint Temples

In an early revelation, the Lord commanded the Saints to "establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God" (D&C 88:119). The Lord promised the faithful Saints an endowment of power from on high in the special houses of God, or temples, that they built. Temple sites were designated in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois during the first two decades of the Church's existence (1830-1846).

Of particular interest, however, is the site of the temple in Missouri. About this site the Lord spoke to his Prophet:

"Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem.

"Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jun., and others with whom the Lord was well pleased.

"Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation." (D&C 84:2-4.)