How a Tiny Church Battled for the Temple Lot (R Jean Addams)

Returning to Jackson County: A History of the Temple Lot Church

Rick Bennett sat down down with historian R Jean Addams in 2020 to explore the fascinating history of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), often referred to as the “Hedrickites.” Addams, whose wife is a descendant of the sect’s founder, Granville Hedrick, provides a deep dive into how this small group returned to Independence, Missouri, to reclaim the original temple site dedicated by Joseph Smith.

https://youtu.be/vBmd_8RCktE

Key Historical Moments:

• Return to Missouri: While many restoration groups moved west or stayed in Illinois, Granville Hedrick received a revelation in 1864 to return to Jackson County, Missouri, in 1867. His brother, John Hedrick, was the first to return in 1865, and the group began purchasing the lots that make up the specific temple site.

• Temple Lot Case: In the 1890s, the RLDS Church (now Community of Christ) sued the Temple Lot church to seize ownership of the property. In a surprising twist of history, the Utah-based LDS Church secretly funded the Temple Lot’s legal fees to help them retain the land and prevent the RLDS church from winning.

• Trials by Fire: The church has faced significant physical challenges, including arson attacks in roughly 1900 and 1990 that destroyed their buildings. Additionally, an attempt to build a temple in 1929 created a massive excavation site that stalled during the Great Depression; the “ugly hole” remained until the city of Independence filled it in 1946, reportedly after it caught the attention of city officials who wanted to cover the hole when Harry Truman returned home to Independence from the US Presidenty.

Unique Beliefs and Practices:

• Scripture: The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) rejects the Doctrine and Covenants, viewing the changes made to revelations as unauthorized; instead, they adhere strictly to the 1833 Book of Commandments.

• Leadership: They do not have a single church president but are led by a Council of Apostles.

• Worship: Their services include the use of a “common cup” for the sacrament (restricted to baptized members) and the practice of the entire congregation kneeling for prayers. Women generally do not speak or pray during worship services.

Current Status: Despite their small size—estimated at roughly 1,000 members in the U.S. and Canada—the church maintains active missionary work, with growing congregations in the Yucatan, the Philippines, and Kenya. They remain the guardians of the physical “Temple Lot” in Independence to this day.

Jean has written “Upon the Temple Lot.” Check out the book for more information.

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