Going On The Road with Monte & Rose

June 18-24 (Missouri/Kansas)

Getting Churched

Neither Monte nor I are particularly “religious” but do consider ourselves Christians living our life based on the tenets of our faith.

We had the opportunity this past week to visit and tour three different churches. We did so out of a sense of curiosity and, in my case, out of my continuing fascination with history and a desire to learn about other cultures and beliefs.

Our first stop was the Visitor Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Independence where we were greeted the moment we stepped through the revolving doors.

The center is situated on the Greater Temple Lot dedicated and purchased by Joseph Smith in 1831.

Joseph Smith was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint Movement. In his short life (he was only 38 when he died) he had attracted tens of thousands of followers.

Smith experienced a series of visions that eventually led to the printing of the Book of Mormon.

The Visitor Center presents Mormon claims and doctrines in a modern audio-visual and interactive format.

Second on our church tours was the Community of Christ Temple located only a few yards from the Mormon Visitor Center.

The Temple is a house of worship and education center dedicated to the pursuit of peace.

According to the International Journal of Mormon Studies, "The Community of Christ (CofC), formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) until 2001, with 250,000 members, is the largest divergent church within the Latter Day Saint tradition. Although claiming a common founder with the LDS church, Joseph Smith, Jr., this church, founded in 1860 and incorporated in the American state of Illinois in 1872, has developed over the last 150 years its own religious iconography and symbolism which differs from that of LDS churches and temples.“

Our tour guide explained that the temple was built in response to a revelation by Wallace B. Smith, church prophet-president, in 1984. The temple is open to everyone who are encouraged to attend the Daily Prayer for Peach at 1: pm on behalf of a selected nation of the world.

The cross is made of over 300 pieces of 100 types of wood from the 50 different countries where the church is present.

A meditation chapel with paintings of the Sacraments being performed around the world opens onto a Japanese

style mediation garden.

The temple evokes the spiral shell of the Nautilus with a stainless steel spire that rises 300 feet. This symbol was chosen because it denotes, “growth from a single point to infinity, dynamism, harmony, unity and the worldwide presence of the church.”

Art displays comprise a collection of modern and traditional religious art from around the world.

Entry to the sanctuary is through an etched glass archway depicting the Sacred Grove where Joseph Smith had his revelations.

This leads to the ascending worshiper’s path of textured stone.

The main sanctuary houses a pipe organ.

Our final church visit was to the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.

When researching things to do along our planned route I had been fascinated when seeing pictures of this church because of its unique architecture and, for me, its focal point the beautiful stained glass window in the sanctuary called The Resurrection Window.

According to the literature I received when touring the church, “The Church of the Resurrection began twenty-seven years ago with a dream of being a church where thoughtful people who were not actively involved in church might become followers of Jesus Christ, grow in their faith, find meaningful relationships, and be sent out each week, inspired to serve God by serving others.”

The three layers of the Resurrection Sanctuary building represent the Holy Trinity.

First layer-a 35-foot limestone wall representing God the Father.

Second layer-the stained glass window representing the Resurrected Christ.

Third layer-consists of seven stainless steel sails, the tallest sail reaching a height of 104 feet. These represent the Holy Spirit who is described in the book of Revelation as the seven-fold Spirit.

The narthex or lobby has several entrances.

At each of the three entrances to the sanctuary from the narthex there is a stone water fountain that is meant to be touched-the water representing baptism and Jesus’ words promising living water for our souls.