The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns the Kirtland Temple. Title transferred from the Community of Christ on March 5, 2024, as part of a $192.5 million agreement that also moved several historic properties in Nauvoo, Illinois, and a collection of manuscripts and artifacts to the Utah-based church. Before that sale, the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) had held legal title since 1880.
The 2024 Sale
The two churches finalized the deal on March 5, 2024, for a total price of $192.5 million. Both organizations trace back to the religious movement founded in 1830, and the agreement resolved longstanding questions about who should control the physical landmarks tied to that shared history.1The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sacred Sites and Historic Documents Transfer to Church of Jesus Christ
The real estate portion covered more than the Ohio temple:
- Kirtland Temple in Ohio, dedicated in 1836
- Smith Family Homestead in Nauvoo, Illinois
- Mansion House in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith’s later home
- Nauvoo House
- Red Brick Store in Nauvoo
- Joseph Smith Jr. family cemetery in Nauvoo
- Nauvoo Temple visitors’ center
The documents transfer included the original manuscript of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible and the marked Bible used in that project.1The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sacred Sites and Historic Documents Transfer to Church of Jesus Christ
Why the Community of Christ Sold
The Community of Christ has said it will direct most of the $192.5 million into two endowments, the Temple Endowment and the Worldwide Mission Endowment, which generate annual income to support its global mission budget alongside tithes and other revenue. Internal projections put roughly $175 million into endowments and expect that to produce just over $57 million in income between 2025 and 2034.2Community of Christ. Faithfully Funding Our Future: Frequently Asked Questions
Ownership Before 2024
The temple has one of the more tangled title histories of any American religious building. Construction began on June 5, 1833, and Joseph Smith dedicated the finished building on March 27, 1836. When Smith and most members left Kirtland in 1838, the temple was effectively abandoned, and for the next four decades it passed through several hands and served as a school, office space, and occasional meeting place for various splinter groups.3The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kirtland Temple
Joseph Smith III and Mark H. Forscutt bought the building in 1873 for $150, giving the Reorganized Church physical possession but leaving the legal picture cloudy. The Reorganized Church’s Presiding Bishop then filed suit in the Lake County Court of Common Pleas in 1878 to establish a clear claim. On February 23, 1880, Judge L.S. Sherman found that the Reorganized Church was “the True and Lawful successor” to the original 1830 church and was “entitled in law to all its rights and property.”4BYU Studies. Joseph Smith III and the Kirtland Temple Suit
The Utah-based branch of the movement characterized the ruling as a routine property action, while the Reorganized Church treated it as a broader validation of its identity. The practical effect was the same either way: the Reorganized Church, later renamed Community of Christ, held undisputed legal title from 1880 until the 2024 sale.4BYU Studies. Joseph Smith III and the Kirtland Temple Suit
What National Historic Landmark Status Means for the Owner
The Kirtland Temple was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. That status does not restrict what a private owner can do with the property on its own. It does trigger federal oversight whenever federal funding, permits, or agency action touch the site: any federal project that could affect the landmark must go through a Section 106 review under the National Historic Preservation Act, and for projects that could directly and adversely affect the site, federal agencies must plan and act to minimize harm “to the maximum extent possible.” The designation also makes the property eligible for federal preservation grants and certain tax provisions tied to historic structures.5eCFR. 36 CFR Part 65 – National Historic Landmarks Program
Visiting the Temple Under the New Ownership
The Kirtland Temple Visitors’ Center is the starting point for all tours. Guided tours run every half hour and are limited to 25 people, and virtual tours and group visits can be scheduled through the church’s website. The visitors’ center is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.6The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kirtland Temple Visitors’ Center
The Joseph Smith Jr. family cemetery in Nauvoo, which transferred in the same deal, is open to the public around the clock as a self-guided site. The church manages it as a private cemetery in partnership with the Smith family and asks visitors not to move fallen or broken headstones.7The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Smith Family Cemetery