Far West of Former Years
1830s Latter Day Saint Headquarters
In August 1836, W. W. Phelps and John, presidents of the Latter Day Saint Church, selected 1 square mile of land overlooking the rolling native prairie, as the site for a new town to be called Far West. Settlement of this and neighboring lands along Shoal Creek began immediately. Far West became the county seat of Caldwell County, a region set apart by the State especially for the Mormons. In Far West the Saints built some two hundred homes, several dry goods stores and groceries, half a dozen black smith shop, two hotels and a printing office. The city quickly expanded to four miles square, eventually becoming the home of as many as 5,000 inhabitants. Residents excavated and laid foundation stones for a temple for worship on the Public Square. They also erected a large school building on the Square for use as a courthouse, town hall and temporary church. By the fall of 1838, Far West was the hub of community activity extending throughout Caldwell- encompassing nearly 2,000 farms comprised of approximately 250,000 acres purchased from the Federal Government.
The Missouri Mormon experience is an unforgettable point in time in the history of Caldwell County. Many sources herald this as an equally important chapter in Missouri State history. Expulsion of the church from the state in 1838, under Governor Boggs extermination order, left Far West a virtual ghost town. Its former glory quickly faded as buildings and construction materials were hauled away to neighboring communities.
Beyond the memories, all that physically remains of Far West today are four cornerstones of the envisioned Lord's House or Temple at the heart of the former community. Visitor amenities on the Far West temple site include interpretive monuments, markers and public restrooms. The Community of Christ congregation building, later erected on part of the old Public Square, also stands in honor of the experience of early church members.
Far West is located at the common corners of Sections 10, 11, 14 and 15 of Mirabile Township in Caldwell County, Missouri. Visitors may take highway "HH" west from Kingston to the intersection of Highway "D" then drive north 2.8 miles.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acquired the Temple Site and surrounding properites in the 1970s.
Temple Site Markers at Far West
Markers at the Temple Site commemorate the four cornerstones of the envisioned Far West Temple and sections of the Doctrine and Covenants recorded in Northern Missouri.
An additional interpretive marker was erected near the Community of Christ (Formerly RLDS) church building in the 1970s. The location of this 1906 building is also on what was formerly the Public Square of Far West.
Historical Marker at Far West
The marker reads:
In the year of 1836, the County of Caldwell was formed and designated by the Missouri State Legislatu8re as a place for the Latter Day Saints to settle. The Saints who had been previously driven out of Independence, Missouri, moved into this area rapidly and within two years a city of some 3,000 people had risen on this very site. Others bought and homesteaded land in the surrounding area. An excavation was made and corner stones were laid for a temple immediately across the road, northeast of this spot. The first school in the county which also served as the first county court house stoon in this immedite vicinity. Joseph Smith's home stood about 150 yards soutwest of here.
In the fall of 1838, trouble erupted between the Saints and thei neighbors. After considerable bloodshed some 12,000 church members in this ara were forced to abandon their farms and homes. They fled to the neighboring state of Illiinois, but they took comfort in a prophetic promise that those who were faithful would return, along with their children, to this area of Missouri.
John Whitmer Homesite
Back to Caldwell County, Missouri, Map