Kirtland Flats

Visit the Kirtland Schoolhouse and learn of the simple nature of education in the early 1800s. The school house is a replica of the original built on this spot in 1819.

The Kirtland schoolhouse was a place of secular and spiritual education where the Saints responded to the commandment to receive "instruction in all things." Throughout the 1820s and 1830s, the elementary aged children from the neighborhood gathered here to learn reading, grammar, penmanship, and arithmetic—the very basics of education in the early nineteenth century.

In addition to serving as a school, this building played an important role in the public life as Kirtland's "town hall" and as a gathering place for various groups. The school also served as a place for the Saints to gather weekly to worship through prayer, devotional music, sermons, and partaking of the sacrament.








Nestled within the beauty of Historic Kirtland, the Kirtland Sawmill stands as one of the few functioning sawmills from the 1830s.

The Kirtland Sawmill was built by the Church to provide work for newly gathered Saints and to process lumber for the building up of Kirtland, including the construction of the temple. On land owned by Newel K. Whitney and through the expertise of Joel Hills Johnson, the sawmill was constructed in 1834 to "cut lumber for the Lord's house."

A typical day for those building the temple began at the sawmill with a prayer meeting seeking a blessing upon the day's labor. Those working on the Temple itself then walked up the hill while the six or so men laboring at the sawmill went to work.







Before the restoration of Kirtland as it was in Joseph Smith's time, one of the first things you would spot upon entering Kirtland was the Whitney Store, where the Word of Wisdom revelation was received. In fact the old highway used to go right next to this store.

Visit Newel K. Whitney's store, restored to its 1830 condition. Whitney's general store, established in 1826, was the first store in the Kirtland area.

Late in 1830, members of the newly organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were directed to gather to Ohio. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife Emma were among the first to travel to Kirtland, arriving at Newel K. Whitney's general store in early February 1831. The Whitneys, who were converts, welcomed the Smiths and opened their home to the Prophet and his wife.

Several months later, in December 1831, Newel K. Whitney was called as the second bishop of the Church. As bishop, he used part of his store to organize goods that were used to help the needy. He also allowed Joseph and Emma to live at the store and use a room as an office. While living at the store, Joseph received about 20 divine revelations that have since been included in the Doctrine and Covenants. A room in the store also housed the School of the Prophets, allowing leaders of the Church to study the gospel together.

While in the area, see the John Johnson Farm Home about 30 miles south of Kirtland.