Episode 14 - Mormon Holy Land

Episode 14 is a tour of the Greater Temple Lot in Independence, the holiest place in the Latter-day Saint (Mormon) movement.  This is where Joseph Smith said the Garden of Eden was located, and where Jesus will make his Second Coming.

When you hear Elder Price in "The Book of Mormon" musical sing about "the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County, Missouri," this is where he's talking about.

Currently, this place is home to a number of LDS and LDS offshoot buildings, most notably the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) Temple and Auditorium; the Stone Church (a CofC building); the Church of Christ (Temple Lot); an LDS Visitors Center and meetinghouse; and the UN Peace Plaza.

Unlike LDS Temples, the Independence Temple (with the silver spiraling roof) is open to the public.  I took the tour a few years ago, and was really impressed.

There is an LDS Temple in the Greater Kansas City area, but it's not in Independence.  It just opened (for Mormons with valid temple recommends only) in the Northland, near Liberty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Lot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Temple
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditorium_(Community_of_Christ)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LDS_Visitors_Center,_Independence,_Missouri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Peace_Plaza_(Independence,_Missouri)