The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City undertook the restoration of this temple. The original structure was built in the 1830's-40's. When the Mormons left Missouri in 1838-39, and before they moved to Utah in 1847, they lived here in Nauvoo. This building burned down after they left, and later was hit by a tornado which leveled what was left. The Church has decided to rebuild this structure as part of a recreation.
The project was intended to create a permanent structure, able to withstand many years with little maintenance, while retaining the visual appeal of the original wood. Therefore, A. Zahner was asked to replicate the original wood features in metal. All of the unique shaping of wood was remodeled in either aluminum extrusions, flat sheet, and / or castings.