History at my fingertips

Miguel visited recently the Nauvoo Temple while he was in the University of Iowa. This Temple was the second temple constructed by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. 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 fire and a tornado before being demolished.

In 1937, the Church reacquired the lot on which the original temple had stood. The Church built a temple on the original site whose exterior is a replica of the first temple, but whose interior is laid out like a modern temple. On 27 June 2002, this new temple was dedicated as the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.