Representatives from Kirtland and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pose with items autographed by NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young during the city’s Strawberry Festival and Heritage Run weekend in June. Pictured are LDS Quorum of 70 Elder Hugo Martinez (left), Kirtland Mayor Kevin Potter, Kirtland Police Chief Brian McAllister, City Councilman Scott Hamer, LDS Quorum of 70 Elder Kevin Burch, and race weekend organizers Joe and Sarah Jackson. (Courtesy of Jesse Jackson)
Kirtland’s commitment to connecting with faith communities and preserving and restoring historic sites recently earned it recognition from the Mormon Historical Society and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young.
The MHA presented the History Award to the city of Kirtland at its annual meeting in June, calling it an “exemplary partner” between the two faith groups. City officials said they have worked to preserve and restore sites such as Historic Kirtland Village, the Kirtland Temple Spiritual Formation and Visitors Center and the Joseph and Emma Smith Home.
“This work has sometimes required significant costs for the city, such as moving very busy Chillicothe Road to make the area safer for pedestrians visiting the historic site,” MHA Awards Chairman Spencer McBride said in an email, “but Kirtland has worked multiple times with Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to find solutions that work for all parties involved.”
Kirtland’s ties to these two religious groups date back nearly two centuries. Both groups claim ties to the church founded by Joseph Smith Jr. in New York in 1830. Smith moved to Kirtland in 1831 and lived there until 1838.
The Kirtland Temple, like the sites that make up Historic Kirtland, dates back to that time: McBride said the LDS Church began purchasing and restoring several historic sites in the 1970s and 1980s.
The group that became Community of Christ owned the temple for 140 years before selling it to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints earlier this year.
McBride added that the sites attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.
“While the city is not required to cooperate with historic property preservation and restoration efforts, the Kirtland city government and Kirtland residents have been very cooperative over the decades,” McBride said.
“They have demonstrated time and time again that they understand the intrinsic value of preserving and sharing history, and they recognize how fascinating such historic sites are to local communities,” he added. “That’s admirable, and as a historian, I hope Kirtland’s partnership with the historical community will serve as an example for other municipalities.”
The same weekend that MHA held its conference, local organizers hosted the 40th anniversary of the Kirtland Heritage Run. Many guests with ties to the LDS Church came out to celebrate, and race participants were greeted with a video message from Steve Young, former San Francisco 49ers QB, 2005 NFL Hall of Fame inductee and 1995 Super Bowl MVP.
Race weekend organizer Joe Jackson said Young’s connection to racing dates back to 1984, when he attended the first Kirtland Heritage Run.
Jackson said Young left that first event wearing a “Kirtland, Ohio, City of Faith and Beauty” T-shirt. A 1993 edition of Sports Illustrated shows him wearing the shirt and standing next to 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, who had signed with the Kansas City Chiefs that offseason.
“This photograph, along with many other notable events over the years, has led to a wonderful relationship between the city of Kirtland and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Young said in a video address.
Jackson said Young sent the city a 40th anniversary autographed jersey and photo reproduction, and also provided autographed footballs for Kirtland Mayor Kevin Potter, Police Chief Brian McAllister, Fire Chief Tony Hutton and City Councilman Scott Hamer.
Jackson added that Young has been back in town since his first election.
“He really values his relationship with this city and we’re really grateful for the doors that it opened for us by him happening to wear this shirt, literally nine years after the race started in Kirtland,” he added.
Jackson also credits Young with rerouting major roads. He said Chillicothe Road and Kirtland-Chardon Road once ran through historic Kirtland, forcing visitors to cross busy roads to get to various parts of the site.
Jackson said support for the traffic rerouting grew within the City Council after the Sports Illustrated photo became popular and Young visited the city.
According to a 2001 news report, the project was funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“He’s a big supporter of all things Kirtland and truly loves our little town,” Jackson said of Young.
Potter expressed his gratitude on behalf of the city at a city council meeting in June.
“It’s been a wonderful commitment to the city of Kirtland and I’m so grateful,” the mayor said. “I can’t thank Mr. and Mrs. Jackson enough, and I can’t thank the members of their church enough for coming every year and all the service work we do.”
