”Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” — Doctrine and Covenants 88:1191
In June 1833, Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick Williams experienced a vision revealing the design of the Kirtland Temple. This vision included details of the temple's exterior and interior, leading to the creation of plans for both Kirtland and Independence temples. The Kirtland Temple was envisioned to have two spacious assembly rooms, one on each floor.2,3
Frederick G. Williams likely drew the initial floor plans in June 1833. These plans became the basis for construction, which began in earnest with the digging of foundation trenches. The Kirtland Temple, completed in 1836, retained the basic design and dimensions from the original plans, with some adjustments to the interior layout. Later, the plans were used as backing for the Book of Abraham papyri.3
