The establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kirtland brought together a considerable and growing flock.
In time, this group dominated the population of the area.
It took them nearly three years and considerable funds to build the huge Kirtland Temple at the center of the denomination's settlement. The Saints, as they were called, were clannish, worked together and partially controlled the local economy and elections, which often angered those outside the new LDS religion.