03/19/2024
The dust has settled a bit, so I believe this is a good time to catch family and friends up on what has been a difficult few weeks. Two weeks ago today, Community of Christ announced the sale of the Kirtland Temple, a very important historic site to my church and one of many that were purchased by the LDS Church. I have served as the director of the historic site for just over two years. It has been an amazing experience, one of the greatest in my life. My staff has become some of my closest friends. My summer interns have been the absolute best! The town of Kirtland has been so supportive. The church here is a wonderful group of people, many of whom have served as guides. We have rekindled a love of this place first felt in 1984 when Anne and I spent the summer here guiding. But times change. We have been in mourning since the moment that we were given the news about the sale. So much has been been written about the purchase over the last few days. I do not want to add to the fray. I just want to thank those COC folks and others that have contacted me to make sure we are OK. We are doing as well as can be expected. Today, the moving companies will come to begin their needed activities. It will be a difficult day. We'll get through it though,. So will my team. So will the church. I want folks to know that Anne, Betty, and I will be moving to Independence, Missouri in the coming months. I will be assuming the role of Director of Hospitality and Guest Ministries at the Independence Community of Christ Temple there. I am looking forward to being closer to family and old dear friends. The transition will be hard. Please keep us close.
(RNS) — After years of resisting, the cash-strapped Community of Christ has sold its prized historic sites to its larger and wealthier cousin, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
