If you drive into Independence, Missouri, and head toward the corner of Lexington and River Boulevard, you'll see a small, unassuming white building. It looks like a simple neighborhood chapel. Honestly, if you didn’t know the history, you’d probably drive right past it without a second thought. But this specific patch of grass is arguably the most contested real estate in American religious history. This is the Church of Christ Temple Lot.
They aren't the Mormons you see in the news. They aren't the ones with the massive $100-billion-plus investment fund in Salt Lake City, and they aren't the more progressive Community of Christ headquartered across the street in that swirl-shaped skyscraper.
This is a group of a few thousand people who happen to own the very spot where Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, once stood and pointed to the ground. He said that right here was the "center place" of Zion. He even laid a cornerstone in 1831.
Then everything went sideways.
Why the Church of Christ Temple Lot Still Matters
Most people assume that when Joseph Smith was killed in 1844, everyone just followed Brigham Young to Utah. That’s not what happened. It was a mess. Families split. Leadership claims were tossed around like confetti. While the "Brighamites" headed for the Great Basin, other groups—the "Hedrickites"—eventually made their way back to Missouri.
They bought the land back. Basically, while the bigger churches were busy growing into global organizations, this small band of believers focused on one thing: holding onto the dirt.
You’ve gotta respect the tenacity. For over 150 years, they’ve fended off lawsuits from much larger, wealthier denominations. In the 1890s, they went toe-to-toe with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ) in a federal court case that dragged on for years. The bigger church argued they were the "rightful heirs" to Joseph Smith’s property.
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The court actually ruled against the Temple Lot folks at first. But they appealed. They fought. In 1896, the U.S. Court of Appeals basically said, "Look, you guys waited too long to sue, and these folks have the deed."
So, the small guy won.
What do they actually believe?
If you talk to a member today, they’ll probably tell you they aren't "Mormons." They prefer the term "Restorationists." They follow the Book of Mormon (the 1830 edition, specifically) and the King James Bible. But here is where it gets interesting: they reject almost everything that makes the Utah-based LDS church famous.
- No Prophet-President: They don't have one single guy at the top. They are led by a Quorum of Twelve Apostles who are all equal.
- No Polygamy: They’ve always hated the idea. In fact, Granville Hedrick, the man who organized the group in the 1860s, was vocal about how he thought Joseph Smith had "fallen" by introducing such doctrines.
- No Secret Rituals: There are no "endowments" or secret handshakes here. Their worship is very traditional, almost like a 19th-century Methodist or Baptist service but with Book of Mormon scriptures.
- The Temple: They still believe a temple will be built on that lot. Someday.
They actually tried to build it once. In 1929, they started digging. You can still see the remnants of the excavation if you know where to look. But then the Great Depression hit, followed by internal church schisms, and the project stalled out.
Today, the lot remains an open field. It's a park-like setting where anyone can walk around.
The 1990 Arson and the "New" Building
The building you see there now isn't the original one. In 1990, an individual who had been a member of a splinter group set fire to the church. It was a total loss. But the members didn't quit. They rebuilt a modest, functional structure on the same site.
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It’s a bit of a surreal experience to stand there. To your left is the massive Auditorium of the Community of Christ, which can seat thousands. To your right is a large LDS visitors' center. And in the middle is this tiny, independent Church of Christ Temple Lot. It’s like a David and two Goliaths, all sharing the same intersection.
The Weird Truth About Ownership
People often ask why the "big" Mormon church doesn't just buy them out. I mean, the LDS Church has the money. They’ve bought up almost every other historical site from New York to Illinois.
But the Temple Lot isn't for sale. To the members, selling that land would be a betrayal of their entire reason for existing. They see themselves as the "gatekeepers" or "custodians" of the sacred spot. They are waiting for a divine command to build, and until then, they aren't budging.
It’s a strange, quiet standoff that has lasted over a century.
Actionable Insights for Visitors
If you're planning a trip to Independence to see the Church of Christ Temple Lot, keep a few things in mind to make the most of the experience.
1. Walk the Lot, but be Respectful
The grass area is open to the public. You can see the markers for the original temple corners. It’s a great spot for photos, but remember this is sacred ground for several different religions. Keep the volume down.
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2. Visit the Competition
To really get the "Temple Lot" experience, you have to visit all three corners. Go to the LDS Visitors Center to see their high-tech films. Go to the Community of Christ Temple to see the incredible architecture and the peace pipe display. Then, go to the Temple Lot building. The contrast in scale and "vibe" is the real story.
3. Check the Schedule
The Church of Christ Temple Lot is a small congregation. They don't have a massive staff of tour guides. If you want to see the inside of the chapel, your best bet is to show up on a Sunday morning or try to call ahead. Don't expect a polished corporate presentation; expect a chat with a local who really knows their history.
4. Look for the Excavation Markers
Search for the stones that mark where the 1929 temple attempt began. It gives you a sense of the scale they were aiming for—it was much larger than the current little white church.
5. Read the Signs
There are historical markers placed by different groups around the area. They don't always agree on the "facts" of what happened in 1831 or 1844. Reading the subtle differences in how each church describes the same events is a masterclass in how religious history is written.
The story of the Church of Christ Temple Lot is a reminder that in history, sometimes the most important things aren't the biggest ones. Sometimes, it’s just about who stays behind to keep watch over the grass.
To truly understand this site, start your visit at the Independence Visitors Center (LDS) for a broad overview of the 1830s history, then cross the street to the Temple Lot to see the physical markers of the 1831 dedication. Finish at the Community of Christ Temple across the street to see how the "Zion" concept evolved into a global mission for peace. This "triangle tour" provides the only way to see the full, complex picture of this unique American landmark.