Come along with me on a walking tour of Independence, Missouri! We’ll explore the historic Temple Lot Church (Hedrickites) and look at rare photographs from the Great Depression, when attempts were made to build the Jackson County Temple on the very cornerstones Joseph Smith laid in 1831. We’ll also stop by the Stone Church, the oldest church in Missouri, built by Joseph Smith III, and visit the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
As we walk, we’ll trace the same steps once taken by Harry Truman, stopping at the United Nations Peace Plaza and the Auditorium he frequented after returning home from the presidency. Our journey will also take us to the Cutlerite Church and Temple.
It’s a unique chance to experience history, faith, and legacy all in one walk—you won’t want to miss it!
Don’t miss our other Tangent Trips! https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/gt-trips/
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Gospel Tangents
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From Zion to Truman
Join us on an extended walking tour through Independence, Missouri, a city rich with pivotal moments in both the Restoration movement and American political history. From the foundational sites of early Mormonism to the stomping grounds of President Harry S. Truman, Independence offers a unique blend of historical insights.
The Sacred Ground: Temple Lot
Our journey begins at the Temple Lot, a site dedicated by the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith and other Mormon leaders on August 3, 1831. This area was envisioned as the center of Zion, a grand temple complex. Today, it’s surrounded by several significant structures, including the Community of Christ Auditorium and Temple, the LDS Stake Center, and LDS Visitor Center.
The Temple Lot Church, sometimes known as the Hedrick-ites, stands prominently. This site has seen its share of trials; the first and second churches built here were both tragically destroyed by fire. A particularly heartbreaking incident in 1990 saw a former member reportedly burn down a church with the misguided belief that it would expedite the rebuilding of the temple. Plans for a larger temple with groundbreaking and footings were halted by the Great Depression, leaving a famous foundation hole. Interestingly, artifacts like stones, found by Otto Fetting, are on display, hinting at the never-realized Greek-style design. The envisioned temple’s footprint was surprisingly small, especially compared to later temples like Nauvoo or Salt Lake.
Inside the Temple Lot Visitor Center, you can see photographs of early leaders and even a display of the Book of Commandments, a precursor to the Doctrine and Covenants, which is apparently being phased out of print and may be de-canonized.
Architectural and Spiritual Diversity:
Other Churches of Independence
Just a short distance away, we visit the Stone Church, which stands as the oldest church in Missouri built by Joseph Smith III. Its interior, with its large pipe organ, impressive stained-glass windows, and wooden pillars, might remind visitors of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, albeit on a smaller scale.
The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has its headquarters in the former Chrisman High School, a building that also operates a lunch program for the homeless.
A particularly unique stop is the Cutlerite Church, established by Alpheus Cutler in 1853. This small denomination, with fewer than a dozen members (most over 70), maintains a distinctive practice: they are one of the few churches outside the LDS Church and some polygamous groups that practice baptisms for the dead and endowments. Their building serves a dual purpose, with a chapel on the first floor and a “temple area” on the second, where sacred” temple work is conducted.
Early Mormon Footprints and Conflicts
Independence also holds the memory of early Mormon settlers and the tensions they faced. We visit the site of Edward Partridge’s home and the relocated Jones Flournoy Home, where Jones Flournoy lived in 1831 when he sold the Temple Lot to the Mormons. The Frederick Madison Smith Study, though moved from its original location five miles east, reminds us of the grandson of Joseph Smith who, as prophet of the RLDS Church, advocated for “supreme directional control”. This policy caused many members, including Otto Fetting, to leave and join other factions like the Hedrick-ites or Fettingites.
The Rathbun home, specifically the site of Robert and Hannah Rathbun’s blacksmith shop, recalls a violent incident on July 20, 1833, when their shop was broken into, leading to their forced departure from the county. The Printing Office of WW Phelps, where “The Evening and the Morning Star” newspaper was published, was destroyed in July 1833. This act of destruction was sparked by Phelps’s printing of “Free People of Color,” which local Missourians, in a pro-slavery state, perceived as an invitation for Black people to enter Missouri.
The Log Courthouse, erected in 1827, served as the temporary seat of Jackson County government and dates directly to the period when Mormons were in Jackson County. The original location of Governor Boggs’s home is now just an empty field. Governor Lilburn Boggs, initially friendly, later issued the infamous Extermination Order against the Mormons. The Noland House, a popular inn, was where Joseph Smith and other Mormon leaders were held under house arrest in 1838, occasionally visiting the desolate Temple Lot.
The site of an early jail is now the Truman National Historic Site Visitors Center. In 1833, it held prominent Mormons like Sydney Gilbert, William McLellin, John Corrill, and Isaac Morley, & Porter Rockwell.
Presidential Presence: Harry Truman
Independence also celebrates its connection to President Harry S. Truman, who made his mark both before and after his presidency. The UN Peace Plaza commemorates the formal announcement by President Truman in the nearby Community of Christ Auditorium on June 27, 1945, that the U.S. was a signatory to the United Nations. At the Public Square, you’ll find a statue of General Andrew Jackson, presented by President Truman in 1949. The Log Courthouse holds an interesting personal connection, as Harry Truman served as a judge there. This building was still used as late as 1932.
The Truman Home is a private residence, though free tickets can be obtained at the museum. Interestingly, this historic home is located just around the corner from the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints headquarters. Truman was known for his daily habit of walking two miles before breakfast, and a famous false headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” is commemorated nearby.
Have you visited all these sites in Independence?
Don’t miss our other Tangent Trips! https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/gt-trips/
Copyright © 2025
Gospel Tangents
All Rights Reserved
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