Comments on: 6 Questions for Tom Kimball on the Kirtland Temple

By: Richard and Linda James

Richard and Linda James — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 16:57:37 +0000

My wife and I served as senior missionaries at the Historic Kirtland Visitors’ center in 2007 when the new CoC Kirtland Temple Center was completed and dedicated. We loved visiting the new Temple Visitors’ Center and taking specialized temple tours. We were always make to feel very welcome.

Our LDS Visitors’ Center leaders and sister missionaries were even invited to participate in several of the annual CofC holiday season temple meetings open to the general public. Leaders, missionaries and tour guides from both Churches joined together in annual picnics. Some of the members of both church even shared dinners together and attended the local Rotary Club meetings together.

As LDS missionaries, we thought of our CofC counter parts as “Kissing Cousins” or maybe more appropriately as just friendly “Religious Cousins.” May the 14 years our ancestors shared together never be forgotten and may we always strive to love and respect one another as true disciples of Christ.

By: Clint Johnson

Clint Johnson — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 03:40:40 +0000

My family and I just returned home from visiting Kirtland and Palmyra. I really enjoyed going to the Kirtland Temple. It’s a beautiful place, and I’m extremely grateful for all that’s been done for its preservation and maintenance. I’m glad that it’s common ground for all of the LDS “cousins”. While on the tour, I had to smile that the gate to our pew wouldn’t stay locked for the reasons that Bro Kimball mentions – Amazing that we were seated where the saints gathered and worshipped so joyfully in 1836.
My 3rd great grandfather was passing through the Kirtland on his way back to Illinois a few months before the dedication and heard the message of the Restoration. In March 1836, his entire family (who were of age) were all baptized there.
Thanks for posting this interview – I stumbled on it this evening and it reflects many what I saw and felt during our short stay in Kirtland.

By: NRA Jeff

NRA Jeff — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 20:21:23 +0000

Nice job, Tom, answered in your usual gracious, non-offensive way. Blessed are the peacemakers who build bridges.

By: New Iconoclast

New Iconoclast — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:39:32 +0000

I’m a prairie saint member of the mountain church – an LDS member native to Minnesota, if that made any sense. The Kirtland Temple is one of the few LDS sites I haven’t spent time at in the Midwest, and I include the Cutlerite enclave in Clitherall, MN. I would love to visit, especially now that I have someone to look for!

I’ve found a great deal of pleasure in speaking with our CoC cousins in sites in Independence and Nauvoo, especially in Nauvoo where the CoC sites are a nice respite from the hubbub of the LDS sites. The rebuilding of the Nauvoo Temple, beautiful as it is, didn’t help Nauvoo as a historic site at all.

By: john f.

john f. — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 16:51:15 +0000

This is a really excellent interview and great insights about the temple, its maintenance, and its visitors! Thank you! I haven’t been to the Kirtland Temple but plan to remedy that in the near future.

By: asdf asdf

asdf asdf — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 00:49:59 +0000

This was a very interesting read… Thank you.

The last time I visited, they played an absolutely horrible rendition of “the spirit of god”. Recording was terrible… Hopefully they have updated it.

By: fancyroseblog

fancyroseblog — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 19:15:47 +0000

For those of you who are interested, there will be a Historic Kirtland 5K later this month. I have done it the last two years. I really like it. It represents the cooperation between prairie and mountain saints. We run up temple hill, around the temple, then out to the Isaac Morley farm and back.
http://historickirtland5k.com/

By: Velton Peabody

Velton Peabody — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 15:25:54 +0000

Tom, thank you for the very thoughtful discussion of your relationship with the Kirtland Temple. I enjoyed your unique and respectful perspective.

My first visit to Kirtland came in 1954, soon after my RLDS (Community of Christ) baptism. I was on my way with others from Maine to attend Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa. I don’t remember many details of the formal tour or what our guide said, but I do recall that someone in our party directed the light of a flashlight to the exterior of the building after dark to see sparkle from the smashed china said to have been placed in the original mortar. I have sat many times since in that building’s sacred space for special services and priesthood gatherings. Now that I am retired and live in Independence, MO, I always plan my trips to Maine so that I can visit Kirtland.

By: Kris

Kris — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 02:57:04 +0000

I love the naturalness of the Temple site. Really interesting article. Thank you.

By: Ziff

Ziff — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 02:30:10 +0000

This is excellent, Dave and Tom! Thanks so much for sharing this. And Tom, I’m so happy to hear that you’ve found such a great soft place to land. What a great place!

By: WVS

WVS — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:57:59 +0000

Thanks, Dave and Tom. I’ve been to Kirtland a couple of times and every time I come away with an increased appreciation of the place. Much thanks to the Community of Christ for keeping the temple as a spiritual and historical home for all. Wondering if there are any big plans for restoration/repair in the future?

By: ToddK

ToddK — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 00:26:36 +0000

This is great!
Good for you Tom!! And thanks T&S for posting this interview.
Although I am what you call a “mountain saint,” this temple is, by far, the most meaningful historical site for me in Kirtland. I have taken several busloads of people through Kirtland, and there are always a handful that “expect the worst” from “those other guys,” but I’ve tried to change their view. Great people that have given us tours — beginning with Lachlan Mackay a couple of decades ago — have really helped as well. You could really tell how much he reverenced the sacredness of the place.
And I’m with you, Tom, about the 5 distinct spaces on the third floor. It works. But I have nothing to back it up but the realization of how it would work (including the men and women moving through the 2 separate doors on either side of each room), and the feeling I get when I’m there.

By: Clark Goble

Clark Goble — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 20:53:04 +0000

What a great job.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 19:17:04 +0000

I have been to the Kirkland Temple on two occasions,and enjoyed my visits very much. This is an awesome building with a sacred history.

Great interview, Tom.

By: RCJones

RCJones — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 18:44:32 +0000

I’m a mountain saint. I loved my several visits to the Kirtland Temple. The tours are historical and not designed to proselyte and because of that I felt greater meaning than the other Kirtland tours, and I came away with a lot more information. My last tour of the Temple was just wonderful, and though I don’t remember the guide’s name it sounds like it might have been Tom. I think the Community of Christ is doing a great job, and I too hope that relationship between all the restoration groups can keep improving. The Christ in them will not fight the Christ in us.