From the Green Mountains to the Rockies

iJM L. D. S. Chapel, Independence, Missouri From the Green Mountains to the Rockies OF all the cities in America, the one I had looked for- ward to visiting with the keenest anticipation was Independ- ence, Jackson County, Missouri. From my earliest childhood I had longed for the time when I might stand on the Temple Lot, of which I had heard and read so much. When the time finally came, and I actually stood on the little plot of ground selected by revelation and dedicated by the Prophet of the Lord, the thrill and sense of satis- faction were all that I had expect- ed. And on subsequent visits — some twelve to fifteen in all — I have felt the same thrill and satis- fying influence. Independence is rich in historic significance to every Latter-day Saint. One of the oldest cities in the vicinity, dating back to the early twenties, and one of the early outposts of Western civilization, this favored commonwealth has witnessed the growth of a nation from a few states principally along the Atlantic seaboard and east of the Mississippi to a gigantic empire completely rilling the space between two oceans. It was from Independ- ence and the country surround- ing that some of the earliest cov- ered wagon trains started for the west and for many years this was By JOHN D. GILES Member of the General Board Y. M: M. I. A. one of tb.e principal outfitting sta- tions for the Western emigrants. "DECENTLY the city celebrated ^ its Centennial anniversary as an organized community and this year (1930) joined in commem- orating the Covered Wagon Cen- tennial by sending Boy Scouts to the celebration at Independence Rock in Wyoming on the old Pio- neer trail. From these facts it is evident that the city around which the Latter-day Zion is to be built has a civic as well as a religious historic background. The center of attraction in Inde- pendence is, of course, the Temple Lot. Many years ago, it had a fence around it, but later the fence was removed, giving the impres- sion of a small city park, except for the little church near the east side, and the old baptismal font near the center. The baptismal font is said to have been located near the spot where the lot was dedicated by the Prophet Joseph Smith, August 3, 1831, nearly a hundred years ago. It has not been used for many years. QRIGINALLY a beautiful tract ^ of 63 acres, the lot has been divided and sub-divided until what is left of the parcel still called the Temple Lot contains only about two and three-fourths acres. This is not much more actual ground than is covered by the Temple at Salt Lake and the Annex adjoin- ing and somewhat less than the ground enclosed by the iron fence surrounding the Salt Lake Temple. Of the balance of the original Temple Lot a plot containing 26 acres was purchased by our Church several years ago and the "Reor- ganized" group owns a substantial part. The large auditorium re- cently built by that body occupies a portion of the original plot. What is left of the original piece of ground dedicated in 1831 as the place where the Great Temple is to be built is still the center of interest. Years ago many beauti- ful trees were planted, which, without much care of recent years, have grown into an almost wild state, giving the impression of a small virgin forest.

26 The Improvement Era for November, 1930 nTHE Temple Lot is the highest ■*■ ground in Jackson County. From it, in all directions, the ground slopes to lower levels. It is not on a hill, exactly, but by reason of its location on high ground it gives the impression of being on a hill as one approaches it from almost any direction, especially from the Kansas City side where the ground is consider- ably lower. The surrounding country is typical of the Missouri and Missis- sippi valleys — rolling mounds and hills with tiny valleys between. It would be difficult, if not impos- sible, to find a hundred acres of level land in one piece anywhere in that section. The Temple Lot is owned by the sect known as the "Hedrick- ites" but officially styling them- selves the Church of Christ. The nickname, "Hedrickites," comes from the fact that Granville Hed- rick was one of the organizers of the group. '"THEIR organization dates back 1 to 1856 when some of the "remnants" of the church which had not joined in the move to the west with Brigham Young, but had left the Church and remained behind ,were gathered together and organized into a church. Proceed- ing to Independence to establish themselves, they found that the Temple Lot had been cut into sev- eral parcels and that the last piece, on which the dedication had taken place, was being still further sub- divided and sold as city lots. Lead- ers of the group, fearing defeat for their purpose if the nature of their mission should be discovered, conceived a plan to buy the lots, presumably for the building of homes, and later transfer them to the church. This plan was fol- lowed successfully. When all the lots in the remaining two and three-fourths acres had been pur- chased they were deeded to Gran- ville Hedrick as trustee. In this manner title was secured and in spite of litigation and hardship the little group has been able to main- tain a clear and legal title to this day. A few years ago the group num- bered but a few hundred souls. In about 1926, I was told it had ap- proximately two hundred mem- bers. Later, principally through accessions from other factions, it was said to have increased to more than a thousand. Recently there Lexington Street — -Independence has been a split in the ranks and the present membership is un- known. A year ago an attempt was made by the present owners of the Tem- ple Lot and those who have since either been excommunicated or have withdrawn voluntarily to follow a new leader, to begin building a Temple. An excava- tion 90 by 180 feet was practical- ly completed when one of a series of purported "revelations" threw the church into confusion and dis- sension. Now two groups, both calling themselves the Church of Christ, are attempting to formu- late plans for building the Temple. (To those who may have been disturbed by reports of Temple building in Jackson County it is suggested that reference be made to the article, entitled "The New Jerusalem and its Temple" by El- der Joseph Fielding Smith in the Improvement Era for May, 1930. This article completely answers all questions as to the future of Inde- pendence and the building of the Temple.) A CROSS the street north from ■**■ the Temple Lot is the stone Church of the Reorganized group, for many years the head- quarters or prin- cipal church of that faction. Across the street south is their re- cently construct- ed Auditorium. The Auditorium building of enormous size. Built very much in the general style of the Tabernacle at Salt Lake City with its dome roof, it contains two auditoriums, on different floors, all the church offices and in addition many other features of convenience and utility. The fact that some newspaper articles have erroneously referred to the Auditorium as the "Mor- mon Temple" in Independence has caused some confusion. The build- ers of the Auditorium have been very careful to make it clear that it is not the Temple, that it is an auditorium as its name implies and that it is an edifice devoted to "the spoken word." It in no sense re- sembles a temple but, as stated in the foregoing, is very much after the order of the Salt Lake Taber- nacle and is being used for some- what similar purposes. A SHORT distance to the east of the church on the Temple Lot is the small church built three or four years ago by a group call- ing itself the Church of Jesus Christ. This group withdrew from the "Reorganization" after dissen- sion had caused much confusion. With the formation of the second Church of Christ a few months ago there are now four major fac- tions all concentrated around the Temple Lot, in addition to one or two minor groups trying to main- tain a following. Practically all the land around the Temple Lot in all directions is owned by people who profess be- lief in the mission of Joseph Smith. Our own Church has substantial holdings in Independence, head- quarters of the Central States Mis- sion. On Pleasant Street, not far from the Temple Lot, in one of the choicest sections of the city, is the Independence Branch chapel, a beautiful and commodious build- ing which also houses the mission offices, the mission home, for many is beautiful Part of Original Temple Lot- -Independence

The Improvement Era for November, 1930 27 years past and at present the home of President Samuel O. Bennion, and Zion's Printing and Publisn- ing House, a thoroughly equipped and efficient plant, supplying mil- lions of tracts and other publica- tions annually to our missions, as well as conducting a commercial printing business. The Liahona, the Elders' Journal, is published here and sent to all parts of the world. The Independence Branch of our Church is wide awake and flourishing. Its members give us representation in Independence of which we may justly feel proud. '"THE main street of Independence, running east and west, is Lex- ington street. It is lined, outside the business district, with comfort- able homes, well kept and attrac- tive. Soon after entering Lexing- ton Street, arriving from Kansas City, the Temple Lot is seen at the right (south) . In fact this street cuts off a part of the lot, making its borders irregular. One has no difficulty in locating the Temple Lot by reason of the pres- ence of the little white frame church of the "Hedrickites" or Church of Christ and in the past year by the large excavation in the center of the plot. Independence is progressive. In the business section are to be found modern stores of every description. As the county seat and the close neighbor of Kansas City which now has a population of approxi- mately 350,000, Independence is a flourishing and prosperous place. It is not growing rapidly but maintains itself with growth equal to the average Missouri city of sim- ilar size. A stroll through the residence districts, both north and south of ;■■>:■■.■ . \ _.-.- ;■:■■:■ ■.;.., ■ • v. - J ..v Temple Lot — Independence Lexington street, is necessary in order fully to appreciate the beauty of its setting. In many ways In- dependence is a veritable Paradise. Not far from the Missouri river, it crowns the elevation upon which it has been built, and from miles around it appears as a beautiful forest. The only country I have seen that compares with it in beau- ty of setting and surroundings is that around the Sacred Grove and the Hill Cumorah in Western New York State. The old wagon factory and blacksmith shop which outfitted many of the early covered wagon trains to the west is still standing, nearly a hundred years old. In the days when it flourished first Kansas City, a small village on the banks of the Missouri was called Westport. Between the two towns from 1830 when the first covered wagon train left St. Louis for the West, via Inde- pendence and West- port, to the late fifties and even the early sixties, keen rivalry existed be- tween the two ci- ties, with Westport, its name changed to Kansas City, finally outstripping its ear- ly rival and contin- uing its growth un- til today there is no comparison. dependence has a population of around 12,000. That this is all in keeping with the spirit of the revelations regarding Independence is evident. As it stands today it has every indication of being the ideal nucleus of a magnificent city, which every Latter-day Saint hopes and believes the Zion of latter days shall be. When the time comes for the redemption of Zion and the building of Jackson County there will be a foundation worthy of the city which is to be built there. Nothing that has happened has disturbed my feelings in the least regarding Independence, the estab- lishing of Zion or the building of the Temple. On the contrary all that has happened, especially in the past few years, has strength- ened my faith in the revelations and prophecies regarding Independ- ence and I confidently look for- ward to the time when this Church, under divine guidance, shall proceed to establish Zion and build the Temple of the last days. TN conclusion, the suggestion is -*■ again offered that the article by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, in the Improvement Era for May, 1930, be read and reread in con- nection with what is here written. (Travelers Note: Independence is 10 miles East of Kansas City. It is reached toy interurban car marked "Independence" leaving from near the center of the city, or by paved highway No. 20 leading from the east side of the city.) •a/&2fcs*- Baptismal Font, Temple Lot — Independence TyiTH Kansas vv City in the 350,000 class, In- 'T'HE highest study of all is that -*• which teaches us to develop those principles of purity and per- fect virtue which Heaven bestowed upon us at our birth, in order that we may acquire the power of in- fluencing for good those amongst whom we are placed, by our pre- cepts and example; a study with- out an end — for our labors cease only when we have become perfect — an unattainable goal, but one that we must not the less set before us from the very first. It is true that we shall not be able to reach it, but in our struggle toward it we shall strengthen our characters and give stability to our ideas, so that, whilst ever advancing calmly in the same direction, we shall be rendered capable of applying the faculties with which we have been gifted to the best possible account. — Confucius.