Nauvoo Illinois Temple
The Nauvoo Illinois Temple was the second Temple constructed by the early saints of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter day Saints. Construction was started in the spring of 1841 where the members of the church laboured to construct the Temple, hand crafting the details outlined by the architect William Weeks.
The Prophet Joseph Smith who directed the work, explained to William Weeks what he had envisioned and then William Weeks would draw those discussions to plan. Sadly the Prophet Joseph never got to see the completed structure as he died a martyr in June 1844.
Construction was completed and the Temple dedicated in the spring of 1846. At the time it was considered an architectural marvel. Standing as a beacon near the banks of the mississippi river, it was visible from afar off.
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Architectural drawings of the Temple as drawn by William Weeks.
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Details carved by hand out of limestone for the construction of the Temple
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Destruction Of The Temple
Persecucion of the saints grew ever more intense as locals felt threatened by the newcomers and on October 9th 1848 the Temple was destroyed by fire (Arsonists). Everything was destroyed but the four walls, and in 1850 a tornado swept through the county, and rendered what was left of the walls in ruins.
The saints were forced to leave the state and later settled in Utah, now the headquarters of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints.
Temple Resurrection
In 1937 the church bought back a portion of the land that the original Temple was built on and later was able to purchase all of the originally owned Temple block. In April 1999 the Prophet of the Church announced the re-construction of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple. 
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On the 27th of June 2002 the Temple was dedicated after being re-constructed, based on the design drawings from William Weeks and church history archives.
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