The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States, in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois, in the winter of 1846, the church attempted to sell the building, finally succeeding in 1848. The building was damaged by arson and a tornado before being demolished.
Undated photograph of the Nauvoo Temple
Rendition of the Nauvoo Temple published in Harper's Monthly
A Sunstone from the original Nauvoo Temple in a case in front of LDS Church's Visitor Center in Nauvoo
Nauvoo Temple burning
Temple (Latter Day Saints)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a temple is a building dedicated to being a house of God and is reserved for special forms of worship. A temple differs from a church meetinghouse, which is used for weekly worship services. Temples have been a significant part of the Latter Day Saint movement since early in its inception. Today, temples are operated by several Latter Day Saint denominations. The most prolific builder of temples of the Latter Day Saint movement is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church has 350 temples in various phases, which includes 190 dedicated temples, 51 under construction, and 109 others announced. Several others within the movement have built or attempted to build temples. The Community of Christ operates one temple in the United States, which is open to the public and used for worship services, performances, and religious education. Other denominations with temples are the Apostolic United Brethren, the Church of Christ, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Salt Lake Temple, operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the church's best-known temple. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, it is the centerpiece of the 10-acre (40,000 m2) Temple Square.
The Kirtland Temple was the first temple of the Latter Day Saint movement and the only temple completed in the lifetime of Joseph Smith
The Nauvoo Temple: built in 1846, destroyed soon after, and rebuilt in 2002
Temple in Salt Lake City on "Temple Square" circa 1897