Far West, Missouri

Far West Missouri Temple
Efforts halted in 1830s
Monument at the temple site in Far West.
Official website• News & images
Additional information Announcement 16 April 1838 Groundbreaking 26 April 1839 by Quorum of the Twelve Location 2024 NW State Highway D, Kingston, Missouri 64650 Notes Site Dedicated. Cornerstones laid and dedicated 26 April 1839. Efforts discontinued in 1800s. The cornerstones remain, covered in glass, as part of a memorial park at the site.

Far West
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	5.5 miles (8.9 km) west of Kingston via County Roads D and H, near Kingston, Missouri
Coordinates	39°40′17″N 94°07′58″W / 39.6715°N 94.1328°W / 39.6715; -94.1328
Area	640 acres (260 ha)
Built	1836
NRHP Reference #	70000324
Added to NRHP	September 22, 1970

Coordinates: 39°40′17.36″N 94°7′58.05″W / 39.6714889°N 94.1327917°W / 39.6714889; -94.1327917

Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint (Mormon) settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri. Today it is a historic site.

The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a 1-mile (1.6 km) square area, centered on a public square which was to house a temple. The design of the town resembled Mormon founder and prophet Joseph Smith Jr.'s plan for the City of Zion, which had been planned to be built in the town of Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. As the town of Far West grew, the plat was extended to 4 square miles (10 km²).

Early Latter-day Saints began to settle in northwestern Missouri soon after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized in 1830. According to a revelation given by Joseph Smith Jr., Independence would be the "centerplace" of the City of Zion when Jesus returned. However, disputes between Mormon and Missourian settlers in Independence led to the expulsion of the Mormons from Jackson County in 1833. Most Mormons temporarily settled in Clay County, Missouri. Towards the end of 1836, Caldwell County was created specifically for Mormon settlement to compensate Mormon property losses in Jackson County. Shortly after the creation of Caldwell County, Far West was made the county seat.

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